The California Supreme  Court upheld a state law on Monday allowing illegal immigrants who attend high school in California for three years and graduate to pay lower in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.

The unanimous ruling reverses a lower-court decision siding with opponents of the law who said it unfairly favors illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens who live outside California and are charged much higher out-of-state tuition rates.

The measure, passed by the state legislature in 2001, was challenged in court on behalf of students who are U.S. citizens and claimed they were illegally denied the in-state tuition break carved out for undocumented students.

Nine other states have adopted similar tuition laws, and legal challenges are pending in two of them -- Nebraska and Texas, lawyers for both sides in the California case said.

Kris Kobach, attorney for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, which brought the California suit, said Monday's decision was "flawed in numerous ways" and vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kobach, whose group estimates more than 25,000 illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition each year under California's statute, said there was a good chance his side would prevail if the nation's high court agreed to hear the case.

From Caterpillar to Chevron to Google, some of the best-known names in corporate America are scooping up smaller companies, finally putting the piles of cash they've been sitting on to use and positioning themselves for a stronger economic recovery.

The volume of mergers and acquisitions is still running well below what it was in 2007 before the Great Recession, but the burst in activity is a sign of economic vitality and shows that companies are starting to shake off some of their caution.

"Our pipeline is bursting," says Robert Profusek, head of mergers and acquisitions at the law firm Jones Day, who advised Continental Airlines when it was acquired by the parent of United for $3.2 billion. "We are gearing up for an incredible M&A boom."

M&A volume reached $2.25 trillion in the first 10 months of the year, a 28 percent increase over last year. August was the highest month on record, with $307 billion in deals, more than double August 2009, according to Dealogic, which tracks such data. October remained strong with $202 billion deals, up 32 percent from last year.

The man who halted the morning commute on the Bay Bridge for two hours last week and claimed to have pipebombs in his vehicle, is set to make his first court appearance today.

Authorities say the Antioch man stopped his SUV on the upper deck last Thursday morning, dialed 911 and threatened to blow up the span. Police say he also waived a pellet gun and threatened to kill himself.

His 16-year-old daughter, who was in the SUV, managed to escape during the standoff.

Carlos-Valentino ultimately surrendered. He told officers he was angry and suicidal because of marital problems.

The Supreme Court will not stop subpoenas issued to an advocate for chronic pain patients who is under investigation for obstruction of justice.

Siobhan Reynolds and her organization, the Pain Relief Network, are being investigated because of her involvement with a doctor and wife who illegally prescribed painkillers to dozens of patients who later died.

The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Reynolds.

Reynolds wanted justices to quash grand jury subpoenas and her contempt citation for not turning over subpoenaed e-mails and documents.

The court filings in Reynolds' case have been sealed.

A medical examiner says two Detroit-area toddlers probably drowned before their bodies were scalded with hot water.

Dr. Carl Schmidt says the deaths of 13-month-old Johnathan Sanderlin and 15-month-old Ella Stafford were not an accident. He testified Monday at a court hearing to determine if their father, Steven Nicholson of Allen Park, will go to trial on murder charges.

Police say Nicholson drowned them on Oct. 19. Defense attorney William Winters III claims it was a "horrible accident," not a crime.

Schmidt says Johnathan had burns on 80 percent of his body while Ella had burns on 25 percent.

Friends and family told Nicholson they love him as he entered court. The judge immediately warned against any additional outbursts.

Attorneys for Wesley Snipes will try to convince a central Florida judge the actor deserves a new trial arguing the jury was biased.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday before U.S. District Court Judge William Terrell Hodges. It's unclear whether Snipes will attend.

Snipes argues some jurors decided he was guilty before hearing any evidence and prosecutors hid damaging information about a key witness.

Snipes was found guilty of willfully failing to file federal tax returns. The star of the "Blade" trilogy faces a three-year prison sentence.

Defense lawyers say they received e-mails from two jurors who claim three other jurors made up their minds before the 2008 trial began. An e-mail said the verdicts were a compromise.