We examine the legal battle ahead. Brown then, a Major Hedge Fund has been charged with securities fraud and Insider Trading. Hari sreenivasan explores the indictment and the effort to root out financial crimes. Woodruff some of californias most dangerous felons are on a Hunger Strike after being held in isolation for years. We go inside the prison to see what conditions are like for the inmates and their guards. I believe that certain people should be isolated. But without no sunlight, going years with no sunlight, it would be nice to look out a window and see the outside. That would be nice. Woodruff officials in pyongyang unveiled a new cemetery for korean war veterans, the first of several ceremonies for the 60th anniversary of the end of the conflict. We get a rare report from inside north korea. Woodruff and the conversation about race continues after the zimmerman verdict and president obamas personal reflections. We have our own roundtable about the pressures and dangers faced by young black men. Brown thats all ahead on tonights newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. And by the alfred p. Sloan foundation. Supporting science, technology, and improved Economic Performance and Financial Literacy in the 21st century. And with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. And. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff the Obama Administration today challenged voting laws it says discriminate on the basis of race. Attorney general eric holder made the announcement in philadelphia before a meeting of the National Urban league pledging to focus first on texas. We cannot allow the slow unraveling of the progress that so many, throughout history, have sacrificed so much to achieve. Woodruff the attorney generals declaration signaled the Justice Departments first move to protecminority voters since the Supreme Court invalidated part of the landmark Voting Rights act last month. In its five to four decision, the court in effect removed a critical Provision Requiring states with a long history of voter discrimination to get federal approval prior to any changes in voting practices. But today, eric holder said his department would rely on surviving portions of the act. We plan, in the meantime, to fully utilize the laws remaining sections to ensure that the Voting Rights of all american citizens are protected. My colleagues and i are determined to use every tool at our disposal to stand against discrimination wherever it is found. Woodruff and with respect to texas, he said the states recent history could still make it subject to federal pre approval. Based on the evidence of intentional Racial Discrimination that was presented last year in the redistricting case, texas v. Holder as well as the history we believe that the state of texas should be required to go through a preclearance process whenever it changes its voting laws and practices. Woodruff still, holder pressed congress to take bi partisan action to reinstate preclearance requirements. Its incumbent upon congressional leaders from both parties to guarantee that every eligible american will always have equal access to the polls; to ensure that we will never turn our back on the hardwon progress of the last hundred years; and to consider new solutions that are equal to the challenges of the 21st century. Woodruff but the governor of texas rick perry criticized the d. O. J. s move. His statement said, quote officials in other Southern States once subject to pre clearance are watching the Justice Departments actions closely. Many, like north carolina, have enacted or fasttracked new voting eligibility rules in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision. For more on the implications of todays news, we turn to nina perales, the Vice President of litigation for maldef, the Mexican AmericanLegal Defense and educational fund. And hans von spakovsky. He is a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and testified recently at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Voting Rights act. Welcome to both of you to the newshour. So, nina perales, to you first, what do you make of the attorney generals announcement today . How significant is this . Well, we very much appreciate the announcement and the effort of d. O. J. To support our request in the texas court, that texas be put under continuing supervision under the Voting Rights act. Its sorely needed. Texas is the poster child for why we continue to need the protections of the Voting Rights act. And i hope that d. O. J. s effort is just the beginning of. Econtinued involvement in Voting Rights in texas. Woodruff soreliy needed. Whats your reaction . Im not sure thats true. It shows the critics of the Supreme Court decision that knocked out section 5 of the Voting Rights acts are wrong. This shows there are still very powerful tools in the Voting Rights act that the attorney general can use. In fact, this is the right way to do it. Rather than having just blanket coverage of a number of states based on 40yearold data, the Justice Department is going to have to go to court, convince a court and produce evidence that texas has engaged in discriminatory conduct, and should be put under supervision based on current conditions. And thats the way it should be. Woodruff youre suggesting thats a harder pull, a harder argument to make than it was before the Supreme Court ruling. Well, yeah, but because the texas was covered under section 5 before the Supreme Court ruling based on data that was 40 years old. It was based on turnout information from the 19641968, and 1972 president ial elections. Whereas now, justice will have to bring Current Evidence that theyre discriminating, and that they will continue to discriminate unless theyre put under court supervision. Woodruff so nina perales, explain what the challenge is in texas that the Justice Department is saying its going to support. Well, the challenge has largely been litigated. We filed suit against texas by we i mean various civil rights organizations in texas sued the state over their 2011 redistricting plans. Weve been able to secure relief so far, and at this point, the really important question in the case is whether texas is going to be put under the continuing supervision of the Voting Rights act. I have to respond to hans in saying that pointing out that texas has not made it through a single redistricting round since the 1960s without one or more of its redistricting plans for the state being struck down as discriminate or, racially discriminate or against minorities, and that was certainly the case in this round as well, where two courts found Racial Discrimination problems with the states redistricting plan. So we think that texas is perfect for the kind of preclearance obligation that was removed in the shelby decision by the Supreme Court, but which can be hestored by our federal court here in texas if it sphiendz that the coverage is warranted. Woodruff so shes saying texas situation is perfect for the Justice Department to continue for the federal government to continue to be involved under the surviving language in the Voting Rights act. Well, it will be if if they can prove intentional discrimination. I mean, one of the problems with section 5 was that it had an effects test woodruff when were talking about section five, just so the audience understands, what are we talking about . Section 5 was a special provision of the Voting Rights act saying a small number of covered jurisdictions could not make any changes in their voting laws without getting the preapproval of the federal government, either department of justice or a federal government. And the coverage was based on having less than 50 turnout in these federal elections back in 64, 68, 72. And the problem with the statute one of the problems was that they never updated that formula. Even though today blacks vote at higher rates in many of the covered states dispp the other problem was thas an effects test. In other words, there can be no intent to discriminate, no purposeful discrimination, and yet, if it supposedly has a disparate intarkt then it violates the law. Woodruff so bottom line here, nina perales, is does the Justice Department action make it more make it easier for you and others who are challenging redistricting, future redistricting decisions in the state of texas, does it make it more likely that youll be successful well, i think its always helpful when the Justice Department comes in and supports the position of Voting Rights advocates. And id also like to point out that i think it could be really critical in additional cases that are wound to be brought in texas. We still are struggling with discrimination not just at the state level but at the local level. D. O. J. Recently denied preclearance, before the Supreme Court decision, to a redistricting plan in the area of corpus christi, texas. We have ongoing Voting Rights litigation in houston. I was just meeting with somebody today over the Dallas City Councils recent redistricting plan. Seats my hope that the department of justice doesnt simply support our effort to get continuing coverage in texas statewide, but also that they come in and help us address these discrimination issues that are popping up on the local level. Woodruff is what the Justice Department doing healthy . You said a minute ago its better for them to do under this provision than the one the court knocked down. But is this is this healthy for american democracy . Is it is it healthy for the federal government to be involved in poverbal voter discrimination . Of course. Look, if theres actual discrimination going on, the Justice Department should be there to try to stop it and remedy it. The problem is this law has been atbiewdz in many instances in the past. Parts of the Voting Rights act, a good example is the fact that that they objected to south carolinas voter i. D. Law and it was really a frivolous objection. South carolina had to spend 3. 5 million in court to fight them, and they were successful, and they beat the Justice Department. Woodruff are you saying this texas move is frivolous . I dont know. I havent seen the evidence that they would fall within section 3. One thing to keep in mind is section 3 requires you to show that the state has violated the 14th and 15th amendment rights of texas residents. I havent seen the evidence yet that that has occurred. Woodruff how do you respond to that, nina perales . We do have substantial evidence of racially discriminatory intent in the 2011 redistricting plans, and in fact, a federal government in washington, d. C. Last year pursuant to the preclearance provision found that texas had intentionally discriminated against minority voters in its state senate plan, as well as the congressional plan and found that the state had slid backwards in the stated house plan. Now, that decision was subsequently advocated by the Supreme Court following its decision in shelby because of the changes now that the court has declared in the coverage provisions. But we have absolute confidence that the federal government in san antonio, texas, where were trying our case, is going to look at that and he was come to the same conclusion as the court in washington, d. C. Woodruff final quick word from both of you. Nina perales, does what the attorney general announced today support you and what youre doing in texas . Yes. The continuals announcement supports us. Not just in the short term, in terms of some of the relief that were trying to get in texas redistricting, but in the long term. We look forward to the support of the Justice Department in remedying all of the local violations that we fight here in texas. Woodruff and how do you see that . Well, i i hope she does get help, but i should point out, for example, the last five years, the Obama Administration has only filed one lawsuit under section 2 of the Voting Rights act to try to stop voting discrimination. So they havent been very effective in enforcing other parts of the vote, rights act. Woodruff we going to leave it there, hans von spakovsky, nina perales, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Brown still to come on the newshour charges of Insider Trading against a hedge fund; california inmates on a Hunger Strike; the 60th anniversary of the end of the korean war. Plus, being a black man in america. But first, the other news of the day. Heres kwame holman. Holman federal prosecutors indicted four russian nationals and a ukrainian for hacking corporate computers to steal millions in cash and goods. Theyre charged with stealing some 160 million credit and debit card numbers then creating and selling their own cards in the largest such case in u. S. History. The operation targeted 17 american and international corporations, including j. C. Penney, 7eleven and nasdaq resulting in losses of more than 300 million. U. S. Attorney paul fishman said two of the alleged hackers are in custody. The individuals charged and arrested in this case are the ones at the top, the ones who steal the data that they sell to the folks who cash out. By arresting two of the key players and identifying three of the others we believe we have taken a major step toward dismantling this organization. Holman prosecutors said the other three suspects in the case remained at large. Police in northwest spain are questioning the driver of a train that derailed catastrophically after apparently traveling at an excessive speed. At least 80 people on board died and nearly 100 were injured. The crash happened last night outside Santiago De Compostela, as the citys annual catholic festival was getting underway. We have a report narrated by Lewis Vaughan jones of independent television news. Reporter from just above the wreckage, the man filming here is repeating the words, what horror. Hundreds of people were in these carriages. On top of the bank, train seats are scattered on the ground, and one whole carriage landed here will. People are trying to rescue passengers inside. Down on the track, other attempts to help seem futile. These are the moments just before the crash. We have stopped the picture, but as the train rounds the corner, the carriages tip, and smash into the bank. The crash happened around 8 40 last night. This is one of europes worstever train crashes. Just two smiles from Santiago De Compostela station. This morning, the work of clearing through the destruction here, peoples suitcases are being taken away. The huge scale of all this visible in the smallest facial expression. The spanish Prime Minister has declared three days of official mourning across the country. He said, today, we have lived through a terrible, dramatic accident which i fear will stay in our memories for a long time. The carriages have been winched away. Questions now about how this could have happened and with speed a factor, one of the train drivers is being investigated. Holman the state department confirmed one of those killed in last nights crash was an american. Five americans were among the injured. A new wave of bombing and shooting attacks swept across iraq today, killing at least 42 people. The deadliest blast happened inside a busy cafe north of baghdad. 16 iraqis died. The recent increase in violence has claimed the lives of more than 550 people so far this month. Chinese officials have charged ousted politician bo xilai with bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power. Bo ran the metropolis of chongqing for five years, and was a rising star in the communist party. But early last year he was caught up in a scandal involving his wife and the murder of a british businessman. The 64yearold bo hasnt been seen in public for 17 months. His trial is expected begin within weeks. The death toll in the twoanda halfyearlong syrian conflict has now surpassed 100,000. Thats according to an estimate out today from the United Nations. The grim milestone came as u. S. Secretary of state john kerry met with leaders of syrias opposition at the u. N. He urged them to seek a political solution to end the civil war. The Labor Department toda