The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had accused the restaurant of “severe and pervasive” harassment of female, black and Hispanic employees.

A black antismoking group said the legislation failed to adequately protect the health of African-Americans because it would not ban menthol flavorings from cigarettes.

The legislation would ban candy, fruit and spice flavorings in cigarettes, but specifically exempts menthol flavorings.

25 million homes have at least one TV set that will go dark when the nation converts to digital television in nine months, and 10 million of those homes are “completely unready” for the switch.

It is unclear how African-American preference for menthol cigarettes developed in the first place, but it seems the answer involves cultural and taste preferences as well as tobacco industry marketing.

The ban of most flavored cigarettes, an attempt to curb its appeal to young people, would exempt menthol cigarettes, popular among African-Americans, a group with high cancer rates.

Among the millions of clips on the video-sharing Web site YouTube are 11 racially offensive Warner Brothers cartoons that have not been shown in an authorized release since 1968.