New Jersey judge allows same-sex marriage; state plans appeal
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A New Jersey judge ordered state officials on Friday to allow same-sex couples to marry starting on October 21, saying the current civil union system unfairly deprived them of federal benefits available to married couples.
Bankrupt Stockton, California says has deals with key creditors
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Stockton, California said on Friday it had struck tentative deals opening the door to settlements with two major creditors, and putting the city at the “beginning of the end” of its bankruptcy case.
In big shift, Exxon to provide same-sex marriage benefits
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp said on Friday it will extend benefits to spouses of its U.S. workers in same-sex marriages, a sweeping reversal by one of the world’s top companies following a landmark Supreme Court ruling in June.
Prosecutors decline to charge man arrested in Dodgers fan stabbing
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – San Francisco prosecutors on Friday declined to file charges against a 21-year-old Northern California man arrested in the stabbing death of a Los Angeles Dodgers fan during a fight after a baseball game, saying he may have ac…
U.S. rights groups urge boycott of Barilla pasta after anti-gay remarks
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. and international gay rights supporters called on Friday for a boycott of Italian pasta maker Barilla, whose chairman said he would never feature a gay family in its advertising.
Gambling pro Archie Karas charged with defrauding casino
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – World-renowned professional poker player Archie Karas, has been arrested on charges of cheating and defrauding a casino after authorities say he was caught marking cards at a California blackjack table.
Miss Teen USA’s former classmate accused as webcam peeper
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf said on Friday it was “weird” to learn that the 19-year-old California man charged with hacking into her webcam and taking nude photos in a so-called “sextortion” case, was a high school classmate.
Tennessee moves to single-drug executions despite pentobarbital shortage
(Reuters) – Tennessee said on Friday that it will begin to use only pentobarbital to execute death row inmates despite a shortage of the drug.
Judge denies former New Orleans mayor’s bid to delay trial
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – A judge on Friday denied an effort by former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to postpone his corruption trial, which he said had been compromised by inflammatory comments posted online by prosecutors.
Plane crashes on anti-coca mission in Colombia; U.S. pilot killed
BOGOTA (Reuters) – An American pilot was killed and a U.S. co-pilot seriously injured on Friday when their plane crashed while on a mission to eradicate coca plants in southern Colombia, police said.
