1. Gay weddings become reality in Hawaii with new law
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii has issued 40 licenses for same-sex marriages in the first hours since the state began allowing the unions.
State Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo said Monday 39 licenses were for couples on Oahu. One was for a couple on Maui.
The state began accepting applications for licenses on its website at midnight.
The state has up to two days to issue a marriage certificate once a marriage is performed if a couple obtains their license online.
Okubo said the department has certified one of the same-sex marriages already.
Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie last month signed legislation allowing gay marriage. Lawmakers passed the measure after a special legislative session.
A University of Hawaii researcher said gay marriage will boost tourism by $217 million over the next three years.
2. Lebanese army taking over in second-largest city
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AP) — The government authorized the army Monday to take charge of security in Lebanon’s second-largest city of Tripoli for six months, following deadly sectarian clashes by rival sides stemming from the civil war in neighboring Syria.
Many fear that the violence in Tripoli — only 18 miles from the Syrian border — could tip the rest of Lebanon back toward chaos. At least 12 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in the latest fighting that broke out Saturday.
The decision by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati after a high-level security meeting at the presidential palace is meant to diminish fears that the fighting was spreading out of control in the northern port city. But the army is weak and has been largely unable to stop the violence. Dozens of soldiers have been killed and wounded in Tripoli this year, often caught in the crossfire between rival gunmen.
Sectarian clashes linked to the war in Syria often flare in Tripoli between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
3. Ind. GOP state senator to step down after 36 years
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A longtime state senator from southeastern Indiana isn’t seeking re-election next year.
Republican Sen. Johnny Nugent of Lawrenceburg announced Monday he would retire at the end of his current term. Nugent was first elected to the Senate in 1978. He has held numerous leadership positions and sponsored many gun rights measures.
Nugent joins a growing list of veteran senators who will leave the Legislature.
Republicans Allen Paul of Richmond and Tom Wyss of Fort Wayne and Democrat Lindel Hume of Princeton also have said they won’t see new terms next year.
Recent legislative sessions have been filled with divisive battles over education policy, the right-to-work law and other hot button issues. The 2014 session will likely see a battle over the proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
4. Conn. to end fight of release of Newtown 911 calls
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut prosecutor says he will not appeal a judge’s order to release 911 recordings from last year’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
State’s Attorney Stephen Sedensky III led the investigation into the Dec. 14 shooting that killed 20 children and six women.
He said Monday that the decision was made in consultation with others including an attorney for the town of Newtown.
A Superior Court judge ruled last week that Sedensky did not demonstrate why the calls should be exempt from public information laws in a case brought by The Associated Press.
Newtown officials announced earlier Monday that the tapes will be made public Wednesday.
The AP will review the content and determine what, if any, of it would meet the news cooperative’s standards for publication.
5. China launches first moon rover, the ‘Jade Rabbit’
BEIJING (AP) — China launched its first rover mission to the moon Monday, sending a robotic craft named Jade Rabbit to trundle across the lunar landscape, examine its geology and beam images back to Earth.
A rocket carrying the rover aboard an unmanned Chang’e 3 spaceship successfully blasted off early Monday from a launch center in southwestern China and was scheduled to arrive on the moon in mid-December, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
“We will strive for our space dream as part of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation,” Xichang Satellite Launch Center director Zhang Zhenzhong said.
If the Chang’e 3 successfully soft-lands on the moon, China will become the third country to do so, after the United States and the former Soviet Union. A soft landing does not damage the craft and the equipment it carries. An earlier Chinese craft orbited and collected data before intentionally crash-landing on the moon.
“Chang’e” is a mythical Chinese goddess of the moon, and “Yutu” — or “Jade Rabbit” — is her pet.
Read More
IPR: Indiana will no longer move forward with its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
By Indiana Public Radio / 1 hours agoIndiana is no longer moving forward with its climate action plan.
Muncie Ironman participant dies following race
By Staff Reports / 20 hours agoFollowing Muncie's Ironman 70.3 triathlon July 12, a race participant has passed away, according to a post made by the race's official Facebook page July 15.
PHOTOS: Muncie holds 46th annual Iron Man Triathlon
By Kylee White / 2 days agoOn July 12th, Muncie held its 46th annual Iron Man Triathlon at Prairie Creek Reservoir.
