GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY
Reluctant Kentucky clerk gets time for gay marriage appeal
MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) β A Kentucky county clerk who objects to same-sex marriage will not have to issue marriage licenses while she takes her case to a federal appeals court.
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis is being sued by two gay couples, and U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered her last week to issue them licenses despite her objections. But on Monday, he granted her request to stay his decision while she pursues her case before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Davis has refused to grant marriage license to anyone in Rowan County since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Kentucky’s governor ordered her to issue the licenses immediately, or resign. She told the judge that after consulting God, she decided she couldn’t comply.
Bunning said Monday that Davis is not entitled to more time before complying or resigning, but since “emotions are running high on both sides of the debate,” he delayed his order anyway.
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258-c-25-(Adam Beam, AP correspondent)-“to get it”-AP correspondent Adam Beam reports the ruling by U.S. District Judge David Bunning leaves couples wanting to get married in Rowan County, Kentucky in limbo. (17 Aug 2015)
< 257-c-22-(Adam Beam, AP correspondent)-“I just issued”-AP correspondent Adam Beam reports U.S. District Judge David Bunning has issued a decision regarding a Kentucky county clerk who objects to same-sex marriage and refuses to issue marriage licenses. Updated: 08/17/2015-08:35:09 PM ET (17 Aug 2015) < 259-c-25-(Adam Beam, AP correspondent)-“Frankfort until January”-AP correspondent Adam Beam reports Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis faces possible sanctions if she loses the lawsuit on her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Updated: 08/17/2015-08:35:10 PM ET (17 Aug 2015) < 234-a-04-(Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, in AP interview)-“deny her faith”-Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, says a Kentucky County clerk shouldn’t be forced to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (17 Aug 2015) < 236-a-10-(Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, in AP interview)-“core religious beliefs”-Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, says local officials other than Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis can issue marriage licenses. (17 Aug 2015) < 235-a-09-(Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, in AP interview)-“exercise of religion”-Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, says the Rowan County clerk shouldn’t be forced to choose between her faith and her job. (17 Aug 2015) < 220-a-04-(Laura Landenwich (LAN’-den-wich), attorney for same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, in AP interview)-“about state actors”-Attorney Laura Landenwich, who represents same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, says public officials don’t have a religious right to refuse to do their duty. (17 Aug 2015) < 221-a-12-(Laura Landenwich (LAN’-den-wich), attorney for same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, in AP interview)-“an elected office”-Attorney Laura Landenwich, who represents same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, says Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis’s religious rights aren’t being violated. (17 Aug 2015) < 219-a-10-(Laura Landenwich (LAN’-den-wich), attorney for same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, in AP interview)-“the inevitable result”-Attorney Laura Landenwich, who represents same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, says she hopes the appeals court promptly upholds a court order requiring a county clerk to issue the licenses. (17 Aug 2015) < GAY MARRIAGE-TEXAS-SETTLEMENT Texas gay couple settles suit over marriage license denial GRANBURY, Texas (AP) β Attorneys for a gay couple who sued a Texas county clerk who denied them a marriage license on religious grounds say they’ve reached a settlement of the lawsuit. In a statement, attorneys for Jim Cato and Joe Stapleton said Monday that they’ve settled their federal lawsuit against Hood County Clerk Katie Lang for what they’ve spent in attorneys’ fees β almost $44,000. Hood County Attorney Lori Kaspar referred requests for comment to the county’s special attorney, Grant Blaies of Fort Worth, Texas, who didn’t return messages. Cato and Stapleton filed the lawsuit July 6 after they’d been refused a marriage license for almost a week after the Supreme Court recognized the right of gay couples to marry. The couple was granted a license the day they filed their lawsuit. THAILAND-EXPLOSION Rush-hour Bangkok bombing at busy shrine kills 18, hurts 117 BANGKOK (AP) β Officials in Thailand say a bomb exploded Monday within a central Bangkok shrine that is among the city’s most popular tourist spots, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 100. The blast from an improvised explosive device exploded during evening rush hour as the area was filled with tourists, office workers and shoppers. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. The detonation occurred at Erawan Shrine, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma, but is extremely popular among Thailand’s Buddhists as well as Chinese tourists. Although Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, it has enormous Hindu influence on its religious practices and language. 2016-IOWA SOAPBOX-FIORINA Carly Fiorina vows to defund Planned Parenthood DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) β Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina says “there is no excuse” for the behavior of Planned Parenthood officials in undercover videos. Fiorina spoke of her own faith and reverence for life in a soapbox question-and-answer session with attendees at the Iowa State Fair. But she said, “You do not have to be pro-life to understand the hideous nature of what is going on” in the Planned Parenthood videos. Fiorina said, “You can only be horrified when you see employees picking over a petri dish for body parts while they say, ‘Look, it’s a baby.'” The crowd of hundreds cheered when she pledged to defund Planned Parenthood if she’s elected president. Fiorinia said, “This is about the moral character of our nation.” Sound: 256-a-05-(Carly Fiorina, GOP presidential candidate, in soapbox question-and-answer session at the Iowa State Fair)-“solace of faith”-GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina says faith has helped her in tough times. (17 Aug 2015) < 255-a-08-(Carly Fiorina, GOP presidential candidate, in soapbox question-and-answer session at the Iowa State Fair)-“purpose and meaning”-GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina says life is precious. (17 Aug 2015) < 253-a-15-(Carly Fiorina, GOP presidential candidate, in soapbox question-and-answer session at the Iowa State Fair)-“must be defunded”-GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina says she was shocked at the behavior of Planned Parenthood officials in undercover videos. (17 Aug 2015) < 254-a-12-(Carly Fiorina, GOP presidential candidate, in soapbox question-and-answer session at the Iowa State Fair)-“of our nation”-GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina says she was horrified by undercover videos of Planned Parenthood employees handling aborted fetuses. (17 Aug 2015) < 213-a-17-(Carly Fiorina, Republican presidential candidate, in remarks at Iowa State Fair)-“a better job”-Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina says the government leans toward helping big companies and the wealthy in this country. ((note length of cut)) (17 Aug 2015) < 212-a-04-(Carly Fiorina, Republican presidential candidate, in remarks at Iowa State Fair)-“must be defunded”-Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina says Planned Psrenthood shoukdn’t get any federal money. (17 Aug 2015) < HOUSTON HOME-FAMILY SLAIN Grief and memories at funeral for 8 fatally shot in Houston HOUSTON (AP) β About 200 mourners have attended the Houston funeral for a family of eight, including six children, who were killed at their home earlier this month. A gospel choir sang as the Jackson family’s eight caskets were arrayed before the congregation at the Fallbrook Church. Killed in the Aug. 8 shootings were 40-year-old Valerie Jackson; her husband, 50-year-old Dwayne Jackson; 13-year-old Nathaniel, 11-year-old Honesty, 10-year-old Dwayne, 9-year-old Caleb, 7-year-old Trinity and 6-year-old Jonah. David Conley, the mother’s former domestic partner and father of Nathaniel, is charged with capital murder in the slayings. Authorities say he handcuffed most of the family members and eventually shot each in the head. The bodies of the family will be taken for burial to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where Valerie Jackson once lived. JEWISH SITE SHOOTINGS-TRIAL Jury selection begins in Kansas Jewish site shootings OLATHE, Kan. (AP) β Jury selection has started in the capital murder trial of an avowed white supremacist who admits killing three people outside of two Jewish sites in suburban Kansas city last year. Frazier Glenn Miller Jr. appeared upbeat as he was wheeled into a Kansas courtroom Monday wearing a jacket and tie and with his hair neatly combed. The 74-year-old Aurora, Missouri, man has chronic emphysema and has been using a wheelchair and oxygen during courtroom proceedings since his April 2014 arrest. Miller has admitted that he gunned down a woman, man and teenager outside of two Jewish centers in Overland Park, Kansas. He said he was targeting Jews, although none of the three turned out to be Jewish. Miller is representing himself in the trial, which is expected to last several weeks. He could get the death penalty. ANTI-SEMITIC GRAFFITI-SAN ANTONIO 2nd case of anti-Semitic vandalism in San Antonio SAN ANTONIO (AP) β San Antonio police are investigating the second incident of anti-Semitic graffiti to be found on a property belonging to a Jewish congregation. A maintenance worker discovered the graffiti Monday on a storage shed belonging to a Conservative synagogue. Linda Moad, executive director of the Agudas Achim congregation, says the words “Jew Jew” were painted on the shed and two grills were missing. This comes just days after about 30 buildings and vehicles were vandalized in a San Antonio neighborhood near Rodfei Sholom, an Orthodox synagogue. The graffiti included swastikas and references to the Ku Klux Klan. The two synagogues are just a few miles apart on the city’s north side. Already $11,500 has been offered as an award for information leading to the initial vandals. TEXAS COMMISSIONER-MUSLIM POSTING Top Texas official won’t apologize for Muslim-bombing post AUSTIN, Texas (AP) β A spokesman says Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller won’t apologize for a shared post on his Facebook page that appears to suggest using an atomic bomb on the Muslim population. The post shows a mushroom cloud and says Japan has “been at peace” with the U.S. since the 1945 bombing of Nagasaki. The end of the caption reads, “It’s time we made peace with the Muslim world.” Miller spokesman Todd Smith said Monday the commissioner didn’t personally share the post but won’t begin a “witch hunt” to find who on his staff did. Smith said he doesn’t personally condone the message but noted the positive comments it generated. Miller, a Republican, previously made headlines for repealing a ban on deep fryers in Texas public schools after taking office in January. ORLANDO AIRPORT-REFLECTION ROOM Orlando airport to open room where Muslims can pray ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) β Orlando International Airport is opening a reflection room where Muslim travelers can pray. Airport officials announced last week they were opening the room ahead of the start of service of Emirates Airline at the Central Florida airport. Direct daily flights between Orlando and Dubai start Sept. 1. The flights are expected to bring more Muslim travelers to the Orlando airport than it has previously experienced. Currently, Muslim travelers to Orlando International Airport must pray in public or in a nondenominational chapel. The reflection room will have a place for pre-prayer washing, racks so worshippers have a place to put their shoes while praying and signs showing which way is north, south, east and west since Muslims typically face Mecca when praying. POPE-PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN POVERTY Camden diocese launches campaign ahead of pope’s visit CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) β The Diocese of Camden is using the 40-day lead-up to Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia to raise awareness of poverty throughout southern New Jersey. Bishop Dennis Sullivan said Monday that the pope’s arrival for the World Meeting of Families gives them the opportunity to focus on the poor and take action. Sullivan notes the diocese comprises the state’s poorest city, Camden, and its poorest county, Cumberland. Sullivan dubbed the campaign the “40 Days of Pope Francis,” as the diocese looks forward to the pope’s Sept. 26-27 visit. The diocese will conduct open houses at its eight Catholic Charities centers to allow visitors to learn about the diocesan social services network and the people it serves. The diocese’s six high schools will also hold a food drive. PERU-CARDINAL-PLAGIARISM Peru newspaper yanks columns cardinal allegedly plagiarized LIMA, Peru (AP) β A leading Peruvian newspaper says it will no longer publish columns by Roman Catholic Cardinal Luis Cipriani after he was caught plagiarizing two popes. The unattributed texts were found last week in two columns that El Comercio published, one earlier this month and the other in May. They were discovered by reporters at the news website Utero.pe, which determined that Peru’s cardinal had lifted texts from Paul VI and Benedict XVI. El Comercio verified the findings Friday, saying on its website that Cipriani had penned his last column for the paper. It deleted the two columns from its website. The conservative 71-year-old cardinal apologized Saturday on a radio program and asked listeners to “pray that we pastors are always true to the teachings of the church.”
