Court says workers' wives merit pregnancy benefits
| Washington
The Supreme Court ruled Monday employers must provide the same pregnancy insurance benefits to wives of male employees as they do to female employees. The 7-2 decision upheld a lower court ruling from Newport News, Va., that to deny or provide less extensive medical benefits to the wives of male workers constitutes sex discrimination against male workers.
In other action, the court:
* Ruled unanimously that police can look inside purses, wallets, and other personal belongings when booking a suspect.
* Let stand a lower court ruling that hospitals cannot deny access to women seeking abortions for any reason.
