The Justice Department’s top anti-trust official Bill Bear said in a conference call American and US Airways are viable and healthy. He said they basically want fly where they fly without competition and he added that in his words consumers would get the shaft. The two airlines say they’ll vigorously defend their position in court, including their claim that the merger would enhance competition. But a study by the general accountability has found that the merger would reduce competition not only on seven of the twelve nonstop routes where American and US Airways currently compete but also on more than 1,600 other domestic routes. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.

Israel is releasing more than two dozen Palestinian prisoners in a good-will gesture on the eve of revival of Middle East peace talks. But Israel’s decision to expand Jewish settlements is drawing protests from the Palestinian authorities while in some calls for a boycott. 

The North Carolina conference of the NWCP and other groups are challenging the state’s new Voter ID Law in court. NPR’s Cathay Lora reports the lawsuits say the measure signed by the governor yesterday, or Monday, places undue burdens on voters and discriminates against African Americans.

Reverend William Barber with the North Carolina and WACP says the law violates the voting rights act and intentionally suppresses the African American vote.

“I’ll complaint. We’ll show how this voter suppression bill in its many eerie elements revisits the tactics of Gem Crowl in the 21 century.”

The law requires that government issued votal ID to vote. It reduces early voting and ends same day registration. The ACOU and other groups have also filed legal challenges calling the law a disaster. Cathay Lora, NPR News.

The Republican governor of North Carolina is staunchly defending his decision to sign that new voter ID measure into law. Governor Palma Correy told WBUR’s here and now the state has one goal to eliminate the possibility of voter fraud.

“I have a votal idea. It’s a good idea for voting. And it’s a good that 34 states require some form of ID to vote. Or still I had no identification required for voting. And we’re actually in the minority with regard to what those states are doing.” 

De Corry says he takes exception allegations at the measures that thinly veiled the attempt of curbing polling access to minorities, the elderly and young voters who might lean Democratic.

Before the closing bell, DOW was up 31 at 15,451. This is NPR News.

New Jersey voters are choosing candidates who will run for the seat of the late US Senator Frank Lautenberg. The winners of today’s primary will face off in a special election this fall. NPR’s Joe Rose has an update.

A rainy morning in New Jersey did nothing to dispel expectations of low voter turnout for the unusual August primary. And to be fair there is little suspense on either side of the ticket. New York Mayor Corry Booker is the only Democrat who is well-known across the state. His three opponent -- congressman Frank Palauan and Rush Holt and New Jersey assembly speaker Sheila Allover – have struggled to connect with voters outside the district they represent. On the Republican side, businessman Steve Nonagon is expected to cruise to an easy victory, but no Republican has won a senate seat in New Jersey in 40 years. Welver wins the special election in October will serve out the remaining 15 months of Lautenberg’s term. Joe Rose, NPR News, New York.

Six people affected by Superstorm Sandy as well as the daughter of a legislator who wrote a law creating the New Jersey lottery are among 60 county garage workers who are now multi-millionaires. The group dubbed Ocean 16 claimed a third of the recent $440 million [power bolgac patamount them chose of Otawata] who talked about almost missing out.

“(It’s) just a miracle and shocking and… after 34 years in almost retiring last year, this happens and I just don’t have known the choice.”

And many apolice men claim the powerpaul prize, the holder of the third winning ticket, also New Jersey has not been announced.

I’m Lhakshimi Sign, NPR News in Washington.