April 2010 Current Events: U.S. News

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

World News | Business News | Science/Disasters News

Here are the key events in United States news for the month of April 2010.

• Government Issues Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Guidelines (Apr. 1): The Environmental Protection Agency issues formal guidelines for the amount of greenhouse gas emissions cars will be able to produce. The new emissions and mileage standards would mean that combined fuel economy average for new vehicles must be 35.5 by 2016.
• Obama Announces Revised U.S. Nuclear Strategy (Apr. 5): President Obama announces a revised American nuclear strategy that will limit the instances in which the U.S. will use nuclear weapons. Part of the strategy includes renouncing the creation of new nuclear weapons. However, Obama points out that exceptions will be made to countries such as Iran and North Korea who have violated the nuclear proliferation treaty in the past. This announcement significantly changes the protocol of past administrations; the United States is declaring for the first time its commitment not to use nuclear weapons against nonnuclear states.
• Duke Wins Men's NCAA Basketball Championship (Apr. 5): Duke University's Blue Devils beat Butler University's Bulldogs 61–59 in the men's NCAA basketball championship game, ending Butler's 25-game winning streak and taking the title in the other university's hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana.
• UConn Wins Women's NCAA Basketball Championship (Apr. 6): After a disappointing first half, returning NCAA women's basketball champions University of the Connecticut beats Stanford University 53–47. UConn has won 78 straight games and has remained undefeated for two entire seasons.
• Court: F.C.C. Cannot Enforce Net Neutrality (Apr. 6): A federal appeals court rules that the Federal Communications Commission cannot legally enforce a "net neutrality" rule, that is they do not have the authority to prevent Internet Service Providers from charging more money for those who use the Internet more often or slowing the connection to video streaming sites. This decision may inspire Congress to pass new laws that will give the F.C.C. greater authority in this respect.
• Justice John Paul Stevens Announces Retirement (Apr. 9): Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announces he will retire this summer, after serving on the court for 35 years. Though he was appointed in 1975 by a Republican president, Gerald Ford, and considered a moderate conservative at the time, he has proved to be one of the most reliably liberal-voting judges on the court. Stevens is the most senior member of the court. President Obama promises to name his nominee for the position quickly; it will be the second opportunity for Obama to select a Supreme Court justice in his first two years of office. His first pick, Sonia Sotomayor, proved divisive and controversial, but was confirmed to the position in August 2009.
• Phil Mickelson Wins Masters Golf Tournament (Apr. 11): Phil Mickelson wins his third Masters golf tournament with 16-under-par total score of 272. He is only the fifth golfer to win the Masters three times.
• Strict, Controversial Immigration Law Enacted in Arizona (Apr. 23): The governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer (Rep.), signs into law the country's toughest immigration bill. It is designed to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Law enforcement officials are now allowed to ask those people suspected of being illegal immigrants for their proof of citizenship or visas. Critics are already deriding the law for its "Nazism."