5 things you need to know Monday
1. Supreme Court may issue major decisions
Will Monday be the day that the Supreme Court issues decisions on same-sex marriage or Obamacare? It's anybody's guess, but the court is running out of time, as its term ends this month. The issues of whether gays have a constitutional right to marry and the future of President Obama's health care law are probably the most closely watched of the court's remaining cases. On same-sex marriage, most legal experts predict the court will rule in favor of the gay and lesbian plaintiffs. The outcome of the Obamacare case, which hinges on four words in the 2010 law's text, is much more in question. Other major issues also remain for the court to decide: Fair elections, racial discrimination, clean air, capital punishment all await rulings over the next two weeks.
2. Greece, European creditors meet as debt deadline looms
Global financial markets will be hanging on news from Luxembourg on Monday, where Greece and its eurozone creditors are scheduled to meet in a last-ditch effort to avert default. Failure to reach a deal could shake global financial markets and result in the debt-plagued country's exit from the euro. Greece owes its creditors — the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission — 1.6 billion euros in debt repayments by month's end, which is also when the country's bailout agreement expires. The creditors are insisting the country make painful budget cuts before extending the last part of a 240 billion euro bailout package, without which Greece says it will default.
3. U.S. health insurers in talks about possible deal
Two of the USA's largest health insurers are in a dance toward a possible deal. Anthem, the second-largest U.S health insurer, has made four bids this month for smaller rival Cigna, including one Saturday totalling $54 billion in cash and stock. But Cigna president and CEO David Cordani rejected the deal on Sunday, saying it "is inadequate and not in the best interests of Cigna's shareholders." If finalized, an Anthem takeover of Cigna would step up the anticipated consolidation of the industry. Shares of Humana, another of the largest insurers, closed up 20% on May 29 following reports that the company was exploring a potential sale.
4. More Hope Solo controversy for U.S. women at World Cup
The U.S. women's soccer team is again awash in Hope Solo controversy just before a World Cup match. Team USA faces Colombia in the Round of 16 Monday night in the wake of a weekend People magazine interview with the star goalie. Solo spoke out on allegations that she smashed her then-17-year-old nephew's head against a concrete floor in a 2014 incident and then was belligerent toward police officers after her arrest. "I wish my name was cleared," Solo said. "But people still believe I hit a child." The U.S. team opened the World Cup just as ESPN's Outside the Lines reported on her ongoing domestic violence scandal, but Solo played well in spite of the publicity and the team advanced. Now, as the USA heads into the do-or-die knockout phase, it again must deal with negative publicity that Solo could have avoided.
5. Man who allegedly caused flight diversion to appear in court
A 42-year-old man whose disruptive behavior allegedly caused a United Airlines Rome-to-Chicago flight to divert to Northern Ireland is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. The Belfast International Airport Constabulary said in a statement Sunday that the man with dual Italian and American nationality is also set to be charged with disruptive behavior on board an aircraft and common assault. Airport officials did not elaborate on the man's actions or his identity. Rick Sliter, 42, from San Diego, told the Daily Mail that he'd heard the passenger "was really being a nut job, cursing people out, staring at people and changing his shirt four or five times in the bathroom." The flight, UA971, touched down on Saturday to "offload" the disruptive passenger. However, since the flight crew had exceeded their hours, the 269 passengers and 14 crewmembers had to wait until Sunday to continue their trip. Some of them had to sleep on the airport floor because of a shortage of hotel rooms. United said it would refund customers' airfare and offer other perks.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Severe weather — possibly even tornadoes — is expected in the Great Lakes area. The Southeast can expect storms, while it will be mostly dry in the West.
Stocks: U.S. stock futures were higher Monday.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Jane the Virgin, Requiem for the Dead: American Spring 2014 and POV: Out in the Night.
If you missed this weekend's news, we've got you covered here.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.
You can also subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox or find us on the Yo! app: justyo.co/usatoday.