[Phillips:] Checking news cross-country now: In Washington, a defiant group of occupiers refuse to pack up their gear. The ban began Monday at noon. Protesters can still stay in the park around the clock, but their tents must be open at all times. In California, the admissions officer accused of inflating college entrance exam scores since 2005 has resigned. The president of Claremont McKenna College says SAT scores were exaggerated by 10 to 20 points. And they're still waiting for winter in parts of Minnesota. In fact, it's been so warm that many local businesses are seeing as much as 30 percent drop in sales. Industries like ice fishing and snow removal have all taken a big hit. Kicked off the ballot for speaking poor English? Not so fast says this city council hopeful. Here's CNN Thelma Gutierrez.
[Thelma Gutierrez, Cnn Correspondent:] In the small border town of San Luis, Arizona, Alejandrina Cabrera is somewhat of a political celebrity, without having to spend a day in office.
[Alejandrina Cabrera, City Council Hopeful:] They're my friend.
[Gutierrez:] The married woman of two made national headlines after her bid for a seat on the San Luis City Council was blocked by the city's mayor.
[Cabrera:] He say I can't speak English, read and write.
[Gutierrez:] At issue, Cabrera's fluency in English. She's a United States citizen. She was born in Arizona. But like many people in this small agricultural town who live and work on both sides of the U.S.Mexican border, Cabrera was raised in Mexico where life is more affordable. When she was 17, she came back to the U.S. to finish high school. But by then, Spanish was her primary language. Cabrera says no one in San Luis, where most people speak Spanish had ever questioned her English skills until she decided to run for public office.
[Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla, San Luis, Arizona:] She does not understand English.
[Gutierrez:] Juan Carlos Escamilla, the mayor of San Luis, says under Arizona law, elected officials must be proficient in English. He says Cabrera doesn't qualify to run for office. And as a citizen, he filed a lawsuit against her. And she was forced to take an English proficiency test paid for by local taxpayers to stop her candidacy. Cabrera says this is political payback because she spearheaded two recall campaigns against the mayor. [on camera]: Not a personal vendetta against her?
[Escamilla:] Not personal. Not a personal vendetta to get her, absolutely not.
[Gutierrez:] After a lengthy court hearing, Cabrera was disqualified from the race. Her attorney, John Minore, says her civil rights have been violated. [on camera]: She did not pass her proficiency test.
[John Minore, Cabrera's Attorney:] What test is there to pass though? There's no test in the statute. And they're denying her the political process, and let the people of this community decide they want her on the city council or not.
[Gutierrez:] What do you tell those people who say, but you're a citizen, you live here now and you're running for office, you need to speak English?
[Alejandrina Cabrera, Running For City Council:] I will speak English. A little, maybe, but it's enough for the city council.
[Gutierrez:] Cabrera says she's taking her appeal all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court. Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, San Luis, Arizona.
[Phillips:] So what's 21 miles wide and hurling closer to earth by the hour? An asteroid, of course. We'll have the details next.