Ban upheld on outside aid for candidates in unions

The Supreme Court Monday upheld a labor union rule barring candidates for union office from accepting campaign contributions from nonunion members. The 5 -to-4 decision was a victory for United Steel Workers officials, who had challenged a lower court decision that had permitted dissident union leader Edward Sadlowski to accept financial help from outside.

The high court also agreed to decide whether Americans are violating copyright laws by videotaping programs off their TV sets.

In another case, the court volunteered to help settle a complicated six-year-old fight over which state -- if any -- can collect death taxes on the estate of Howard Hughes, the billionaire recluse.