Over the years, prison inmates have used newspapers and magazines to hide contraband. They've rolled them up to use as spears and they've used them as fuel for fires.

But that's not enough reason to ban prisoners from having them, a federal appeals panel ruled yesterday.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a rule at the state prison in Pittsburgh banning inmates in a disciplinary unit from having newspapers, magazines and photographs "cannot be supported as a matter of law."

It was not immediately clear whether the state would appeal.

An inmate had argued that the policy violated his free speech rights.