UPDATE ~ Bankruptcy judge approves federal extension of US Airways financing News
UPDATE ~ Bankruptcy judge approves federal extension of US Airways financing

[JURIST] Following up on JURIST report from earlier today, US Bankruptcy Judge Stephen Mitchell has now approved a deal between US Airways [corporate website] and the federal Air Transportation Stabilization Board [official website], extending the government's financing of the troubled airline until June 30. The previous deal between the parties was set to expire Saturday. Executives for the airline stated that the six-month extension will allow time to find a new investors, accumulate the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to emerge from bankruptcy, and begin to transform the airline into a low-cost carrier. Read the US Airways press release on the deal. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.