Alabama’s Only Openly Gay Lawmaker Overjoyed as State Recognizes Gay Marriage

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On Monday Alabama probate judges can begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It’s the result of a decision last month from a federal judge in Mobile striking down the state’s ban on gay marriage. Although Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an order late Sunday instructing probate judges not to grant such licenses. Birmingham Representative Patricia Todd is the only openly gay lawmaker in the state legislature. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke to her about this turn of events. Todd starts by explaining what happened last week when an envelope with no return address was delivered to her Montgomery office.

 

Mideast clashes breach Olympic truce as athletes gather for Winter Paralympic Games

Fighting intensified in the Middle East during the Olympic truce, in effect through March 15. Flights are being disrupted as athletes and families converge on Italy for the Winter Paralympics.

A U.S. scholarship thrills a teacher in India. Then came the soul-crushing questions

She was thrilled to become the first teacher from a government-sponsored school in India to get a Fulbright exchange award to learn from U.S. schools. People asked two questions that clouded her joy.

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Iran fires missiles at Israel and Gulf states after U.S.-Israeli strike kills Khamenei

Iran fired missiles at targets in Israel and Gulf Arab states Sunday after vowing massive retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the United States and Israel.

Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year iron rule

Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's second supreme leader, has been killed. He had held power since 1989, guiding Iran through difficult times — and overseeing the violent suppression of dissent.

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