News roundup: New lawsuit planned against Jindal voucher program … Texas AG accuses Google of withholding evidence … Feds announce first major solar plant on tribal land

Published Jun 22, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Jun 22, 2012)

Tailor made: A teachers union says it is preparing a lawsuit opposing Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program. Leaders of the Louisiana Association of Educators say they will file their challenge against the education reform today in Baton Rouge district court. The union objects to the use of the state's public school financing formula to pay for tuition to private and parochial schools. The LAE will join another union, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, which filed two lawsuits earlier this month against education programs Jindal pushed through in the recent legislative session.

Lone Star showdown: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is accusing Google of improperly withholding evidence in order to stymie an investigation into whether the company has been abusing its dominance of Internet search. The allegations surfaced in a court filing earlier this week as part of Texas' two-year probe into Google's business practices. Texas is among at least six states examining whether Google manipulates its Internet search engine's influential recommendations to stifle competition and drive up online advertising prices.

Catching some rays: Federal officials have approved a solar plant on an Indian reservation outside Las Vegas, marking the nation's first commercial-grade solar energy project on tribal land and new territory for the Obama administration's renewable energy agenda. U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he signed off on a plan with the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians to launch a 350-megawatt solar plant capable of powering 100,000 homes. Officials plan to break ground this fall. The Associated Press has the full story here.