Appeals Court Upholds California’s Affirmative Action Ban  - A federal appeals court upheld California’s affirmative action ban on the use of race, ethnicity and gender in public college and university admissions on Monday. The ruling marks the second time the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the state’s landmark voter initiative supporting Affirmative Action, Proposition 209, which was passed in 1996.(Photo: Kristopher Skinner/Contra Costa Times/MCT/Landov)