Federal Judge Puts Temporary Hold on Same-Sex Marriage Decision
Alabama same-sex couples who hoped to get marriage licenses today will have to wait at a few more weeks to see if the state will legally recognize their relationships. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Callie Granade ruled in favor of a lesbian couple from Mobile who are legally married in California. The judge said Alabama violated the couple’s constitutional rights when the state didn’t allow one woman to adopt the other’s biological son.
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange asked the judge for an indefinite stay on her decision, citing the Supreme Court’s expected ruling on gay marriage cases in June. But the judge said same-sex couples shouldn’t be left in limbo.
Instead, on Sunday she put a 14-day hold on her ruling. This will give the state time to ask the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a lengthier stay.
The judge also indicated she’ll soon answer the key question of whether state probate judges must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples once the stay is lifted.
Before the stay was announced on Sunday, the association representing Alabama’s probate judges said it was possible some of Alabama’s 68 probate judges would issue marriage licenses.
In Jefferson County, probate judges in Birmingham and Bessemer planned to issue marriage licensees before the stay was announced.
WBHM’s Ashley Cleek spoke to a couple seeking a marriage license who were turned away this morning at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The chief clerk, Jackie Rhodes, said she couldn’t issue marriage licenses, but told the couple they should come back on February 9 or 11.
The Anniston Star reports that couples were turned away in Calhoun county, too.
Light from satellites will ruin majority of some space telescope images, study says
Astronomers have long been concerned about reflections from satellites showing up in images taken by telescopes and other scientific instruments.
Defense Department is reviewing boat strike video for possible release, Hegseth says
In a speech on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, saying: "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."
Bama, Miami in, Notre Dame out and Indiana No. 1 in College Football Playoff rankings
Nobody paying attention for the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana – yes, Indiana – leading the way into this year's College Football Playoff.
McLaren’s Lando Norris wins first F1 title at season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Red Bull driver and defending champion Max Verstappen won the race with Norris placing third, which allowed Norris to finish two points ahead of Verstappen in the season-long standings.
A ban on feeding pigeons ruffles lots of feathers in Mumbai
The pigeon population has exploded — a result of people feeding the birds. For some it's a holy duty and a way to connect to nature. Critics point to health risks tied to exposure to pigeon droppings.
UN humanitarian chief: world needs to ‘wake up’ and help stop violence in Sudan
The UN's top humanitarian and emergency relief official has told NPR that the lack of attention from world leaders to the war in Sudan is the "billion dollar question".
