6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2005
California bill OKs same-sex marriages
BY STEVE LAWRENCE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —The California Legislature yesterday became the first legislative body in the country to approve same-sex marriages, as gay-rights advocates overcame two earlier defeats in the Assembly.
The 41-35 vote sends the bill to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The bill's supporters compared the legislation to earlier civil rights campaigns, including efforts to eradicate slavery and give women the right to vote.
"Do what we know is in our hearts," said the bill's sponsor.
San Francisco Democrat Mark Leno. "Make sure all California families will have the same protection under the law."
Leno's bill had failed in the Assembly by four votes in June, but he was confident he could get it through on a second try after the Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill last week.
Democratic Assemblyman Paul Koretz called bans on gay marriage "the last frontier of bigotry and discrimination, and it's time we put an end to it."
Assemblyman Tom Umberg, a Democrat who abstained when another gay marriage bill fell four votes short in June, said he
was concerned about what his three children would think of him if he didn't join those "who sought to take a leadership role in terms of tolerance, equality and fairness."
But opponents repeatedly cited the public's vote five years ago to approve Proposition 22, an initiative put on the ballot by gay marriage opponents to keep California from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries.
"History will record that you betrayed your constituents and their moral and ethical values," said Republican Assemblyman Jay La Suer.
New storm threatens Florida
BY JILL BARTON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.
About 120 miles of Florida's Atlantic coast were under a tropical storm warning yesterday as a new system formed just offshore and threatened to dump up to 15 inches of rain in parts of the state.
The tropical depression could strengthen into Tropical Storm Ophelia by today, which prompted the warning from north of Jupiter to Titusville, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was expected to bring tropical storm conditions — winds of at least 39 mph — to the state by this morning.
this morning.
"The primary concern is very heavy rains," hurricane specialist Richard Pasch said. Five to 10 inches were expected over the next few days, with some isolated areas possibly getting
15 inches. The rain was expected to hit areas affected by last year's Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Much of the region has recovered, but some homes remain covered in tarps as owners await new roofs.
At 8 p.m., the depression had top sustained winds of about 30 mph and was centered about 165 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. It was drifting northward with slow northwest movement expected later yesterday.
Emergency management officials in St. Lucie and Indian River counties said they were monitoring the depression for developments but were not taking any protective action.
Two other storms were out in the open ocean yesterday as the busy hurricane season continued. Tropical Storm Nate was expected to strengthen south of Bermuda, while Hurricane Maria weakened on its way to the
colder waters of the north Atlantic.
lance.
At 5 p.m., Nate, the 14th named storm of the season, was centered about 275 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with top sustained winds near 60 mph. Forecasters said it could reach hurricane strength, with winds of at least 74 mph, by today.
It wasn't moving, though it was expected to eventually make a turn to the northeast over the next 24 hours, forecasters said
"Perhaps by the end of the work week it could be posing a threat to Bermuda, but not the U.S.," hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.
Maria peaked late Monday as a Category 3 hurricane with top wind speeds at 115 mph. By 5 p.m.yesterday, it was centered about 575 miles east-northeast of Bermuda, forecasters said.
Maria is the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Flocking to Farmer's Market
Kim Andrews/KANSAN This is Lawrence local Bassam Chahine's second year to sell food varieties at Lawrence's Farmer's Market. The Farmer's Market will be open this year until Novemeber.
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