SMITH. v. CITY OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI No. 03–1160

SMITH ET AL. v. CITY OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, ET AL. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 03–1160.

Argued November 3, 2004—Decided March 30, 2005 In revising its employee pay plan, respondent City granted raises to all police officers and police dispatchers in an attempt to bring their starting salaries up to the regional average. Officers with less than five years’ service received proportionately greater raises than those with more seniority, and most officers over 40 had more than five years of service. Petitioners, a group of older officers, filed suit under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), claiming, inter alia, that they were adversely affected by the plan because of their age. The District Court granted the City summary judgment. Affirming, the Fifth Circuit ruled that disparate-impact claims are categorically unavailable under the ADEA, but it assumed that the facts alleged by petitioners would entitle them to relief under Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U. S. 424, which announced a disparate-impact theory of recovery for cases brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII).

Held: The judgment is affirmed. 351 F. 3d 183, affirmed. March 30, 2005 FULL TEXT in PDF Format SMITH. v. CITY OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI No. 03–1160

the Last Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production Reactors in Russia

Canada and the United States Cooperate to Shut Down One of the Last Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production Reactors in Russia

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and United States Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to assist with the permanent closure of one of the final operating weapons-grade plutonium production reactors in Russia.

Under the MOU, Canada will contribute $9 million Canadian (U.S. $7 million) to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Elimination of Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production (EWGPP) program. The Canadian contribution to this initiative is part of its $1 billion pledge under the G8-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

The goal of the EWGPP program is to permanently shut down three Russian nuclear reactors and replace them with fossil energy plants. These reactors, which provide necessary heat and electricity to two regions in Siberia, also generate a significant amount of plutonium that could be used to make nuclear weapons. The Russian government has agreed to permanently shut down the reactors once replacement energy is provided.

“This agreement is key to halting the production of nuclear weapons materials,” said Minister Pettigrew. “We are pleased to be able to cooperate with our U.S. partners on this important security initiative.”

“Ending the production of weapons-grade plutonium is a non-proliferation priority for the United States and the international community,” said Secretary Bodman. “The signing of this MOU with our Canadian partners is another key step toward meeting this priority.”

The Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction is a critical initiative for preventing terrorism relating to weapons of mass destruction. Canada is currently contributing to projects in all four of its priority areas: dismantlement of nuclear submarines; destruction of chemical weapons; re-employment of former weapons scientists; and disposition of fissile materials. The United States pledges approximately US$1 billion annually for activities under the Global Partnership.

SOURCE: energy.gov Media contacts: Mike Waldron, 202/586-4940 Sébastien Théberge, 613/995-1851 Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Number: R-05-092 March 30, 2005