Supreme Court news in brief

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Among the appeals the Supreme Court declined to hear Monday:

_A challenge to federal airport regulations requiring passengers to show identification before they board planes.

_An effort by an Iranian opposition group to challenge the United States' designation of the organization as a foreign terrorist organization.

_A case involving independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader and his vice presidential runningmate in the 2004 general election. Nader and his runningmate have been ordered by state courts to pay $81,100 in costs to Pennsylvania residents enlisted by the Democratic Party to sue seeking Nader's removal from the ballot.

_A lawsuit by some insurance companies alleging makers of a blood-pressure medicine agreed not to compete against each other. The insurers are contesting a missed a deadline for pulling out of a financial settlement with the pharmaceutical companies.

_A challenge to New Jersey consumer protection and usury laws filed by the nation's largest rent-to-own company which operates 43 stores in New Jersey. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled last year that Rent-A-Center Inc. is subject to a 30 percent interest rate cap per year that applies to other retailers who allow customers to pay for their purchases in installments.

_A case in which Texas officials want to regain control of the Medicaid program of preventative health care for children that is the focus of a class-action lawsuit. Texas has been seeking to dissolve a consent decree regarding the program, saying the state is fully complying with federal requirements.

_A request from EchoStar Communications Corp. (DISH), which has been trying to overturn a court order barring it from providing broadcast network TV programming to its subscribers.