A federal appeals court has struck down Michigan's ban on the consideration of race and gender in university admissions.

In a 2-1 decision Friday, the court said Michigan's Proposal 2 is unconstitutional because it burdens minorities. Voters approved the amendment to the state constitution in 2006, and the court notes the only way people who disagree with it can seek change is in another statewide vote.

The law has forced the University of Michigan and other public schools to change admissions policies giving minorities preferential treatment.

The ban passed with 58 percent of the vote nearly five years ago and also applies to government hiring.

California, Nebraska and Washington state have similar bans. Arizona and Colorado voters have rejected them in recent years.

Metro Atlanta started the week under the threat of a court order that could have shut off its main water source for 3 million people, making Georgia the needy neighbor in legal negotiations with neighboring Alabama and Florida.

It ends the week holding some of the best cards at the table.

A ruling Tuesday from a three-judge panel on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an lower court order that would have severely curtailed Atlanta's access to water from Lake Lanier on the Chattahoochee River starting in July 2012 unless the three states struck a deal.

Then the appeals court went even further, saying that Georgia has a legal right to water from the lake.

Those involved in the dispute say the ruling fundamentally strengthens Georgia's hand in the long-running fight with its neighbors over how much water metro Atlanta can take from a watershed serving all three states. Georgia officials have been negotiating under the gun for the last two years because of the looming water cutoff.

"We're in a better position because the court has now removed the 2012 deadline," said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who said he still wants to negotiate a final agreement. Alabama has already said it will appeal the ruling to the full court, while Florida Gov. Rick Scott's office was still reviewing it Wednesday.

The Supreme Court won't revive baseball star Roger Clemens' lawsuit against his former personal trainer for claiming he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormones.

The high court on Tuesday refused to hear an appeal from the seven-time Cy Young winner, who has an upcoming perjury trial in Washington.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out Clemens' defamation suit against his longtime trainer Brian McNamee, saying a Texas federal court didn't have jurisdiction over Clemens' claims involving statements McNamee made in New York.

Clemens wanted that decision overturned, but the high court refused to take up the case.

McNamee said in New York he had injected Clemens with steroids and HGH and repeated those allegations during an interview at his New York home to a writer for SI.com.

Clemens has denied using performance-enhancing drugs, and testified in front of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in February 2008 that he never used drugs in his 24-year career.

Prosecutors say that was a lie and have charged him with false statements, perjury and obstruction of Congress. The former pitching star's criminal trial is expected to begin on July 6.

An 18-year-old student has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in a case that has brought unusual attention to a Hasidic Jewish enclave in New York.

Shaul Spitzer of New Square is accused of severely burning a neighbor, Aron Rottenberg, with gasoline on May 22. Rottenberg claims Spitzer was acting at the direction of the village's chief rabbi because Rottenberg had stopped praying at the rabbi's synagogue.

Spitzer was arraigned Friday in Rockland County Court on charges of attempted murder, attempted arson and assault. His lawyer entered not-guilty pleas to all charges. He said outside court that Spitzer did not intend to harm anyone or to burn down Rottenberg's house.

He also said the chief rabbi had no involvement.