61.   Questions remain about whether the state law can erase the presumed federal protections without congressional action.

62.   Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts and a leader of efforts to get federal protections for patients, praised the ruling.

63.   Some state officials are hoping to forestall federal protection of the prairie dogs by creating a voluntary regional plan to conserve them.

64.   Stern acknowledged that the clinic recently asked for federal protection.

65.   Texas Republicans have been resisting federal protection for the salamander.

66.   The agency could extend federal protection to them only on an emergency basis.

67.   The House bill would also permit religious organizations to circumvent federal civil rights protections on employment.

68.   The legislation would also eliminate federal protections enjoyed by nursing homes and hospitals that have given them leverage in federal court to argue for higher reimbursement rates.

69.   The Modern does not normally apply for federal protection against seizure, but relies instead on New York state law, a spokeswoman said.

70.   The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that federal protections against sexual harassment in the workplace should extend to cases involving members of the same sex.