In the News: July 9, 1968

These are the top stories for July 9, 1968.

 

School desegregation ordered in suburban Chicago. The South Holland School District has lost the first school desegregation case filed in the North. U.S. District Court Judge Julius J. Hoffman granted a preliminary injunction against the district. This ruling prevents discrimination in the assignment of teachers and students. The school board voted to appeal the decision.

 

Seven taxi cabs in Brooklyn, New York were set aflame on Monday by a mob of angry gypsy cab drivers. The mob ordered drivers out of their taxis and set them on fire. Thirteen other cabs were damaged by the mob. Police believe that the gypsy cab drivers were upset by new taxi legislation that had recently taken effect.

 

Look magazine columnist Drew Pearson claims that President Johnson's decision to withdraw from the presidential race was provoked by his daughter's doubts about the war. Lynda Bird reportedly asked her father why her husband, Marine Corps Captain Charles Robb, had to fight in Vietnam. The question moved the President so deeply, Pearson reports, that Johnson made a decision to withdraw from the race.

 

Sirhan Sirhan, accused killer of Senator Robert Kennedy, has been secretly transferred to another prison. The move, which places him near the Los Angeles Hall of Justice, will make it more convenient for him to attend court.

 

A congressional study claims that banks are becoming the most important force in the economy. The report raises questions about anti-competitive practices and conflicts of interest in the banking industry. It emphasizes that the trend, if allowed to continue, will shift power to a small, centralized group.