Luke Skywalker
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The U.S. Supreme Court is seen from the dome of the U.S. Capitol in 2013.(Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images)
1. Supreme Court may issue major decisions
Will Monday be the day that the Supreme Court issues decisions on same-sex marriage or Obamacare? It's anybody's guess, but the court is running out of time, as its term ends this month. The issues of whether gays have a constitutional right to marry and the future of President Obama's health care law are probably the most closely watched of the court's remaining cases. On same-sex marriage, most legal experts predict the court will rule in favor of the gay and lesbian plaintiffs. The outcome of the Obamacare case, which hinges on four words in the 2010 law's text, is much more in question. Other major issues also remain for the court to decide: Fair elections, racial discrimination, clean air, capital punishment all await rulings over the next two weeks.
2. Greece, European creditors meet as debt deadline looms
Global financial markets will be hanging on news from Luxembourg on Monday, where Greece and its eurozone creditors are scheduled to meet in a last-ditch effort to avert default. Failure to reach a deal could shake global financial markets and result in the debt-plagued country's exit from the euro. Greece owes its creditors — the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission — 1.6 billion euros in debt repayments by month's end, which is also when the country's bailout agreement expires. The creditors are insisting the country make painful budget cuts before extending the last part of a 240 billion euro bailout package, without which Greece says it will default.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, left, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker participate in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit in Brussels in June 2015. Tsipras and eurozone leaders plan a make-or-break summit Monday to try to prevent a Greek default.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Emmanuel Dunand, AP)
3. U.S. health insurers in talks about possible deal
Two of the USA's largest health insurers are in a dance toward a possible deal. Anthem, the second-largest U.S health insurer, has made four bids this month for smaller rival Cigna, including one Saturday totalling $54 billion in cash and stock. But Cigna president and CEO David Cordani rejected the deal on Sunday, saying it "is inadequate and not in the best interests of Cigna's shareholders." If finalized, an Anthem takeover of Cigna would step up the anticipated consolidation of the industry. Shares of Humana, another of the largest insurers, closed up 20% on May 29 following reports that the company was exploring a potential sale.
The Anthem Blue Cross headquarters is seen in February 2010 in Woodland Hills, California.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: David McNew, Getty Images)
4. More Hope Solo controversy for U.S. women at World Cup
The U.S. women's soccer team is again awash in Hope Solo controversy just before a World Cup match. Team USA faces Colombia in the Round of 16 Monday night in the wake of a weekend People magazine interview with the star goalie. Solo spoke out on allegations that she smashed her then-17-year-old nephew's head against a concrete floor in a 2014 incident and then was belligerent toward police officers after her arrest. "I wish my name was cleared," Solo said. "But people still believe I hit a child." The U.S. team opened the World Cup just as ESPN's Outside the Lines reported on her ongoing domestic violence scandal, but Solo played well in spite of the publicity and the team advanced. Now, as the USA heads into the do-or-die knockout phase, it again must deal with negative publicity that Solo could have avoided.
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1999 USWNT World Cup Champion Briana Scurry discusses how the current team is dealing with the news surrounding Hope Solo. USA TODAY Sports
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