via Nicole Neroulias, Reuters Gay marriage proponents in the Pacific Northwest cheered a U.S. court ruling on Tuesday that overturned a California ban on same-sex nuptials, in what they saw as boost to their cause a day before a key vote to legalize such unions in Washington state. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals … Continue reading
via Nick Visser, The Advocate Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said she wishes she had supported gay marriage years ago in a new interview with XM Satellite Radio’s Michelangelo Signorile. She also criticized New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s recent assertion that marriage equality be put on the ballot, rather than have state legislators decide the issue. … Continue reading
via Rachel La Corte, The Huffington Post The Washington state Senate is set to take a crucial vote Wednesday on a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill has narrow support in the Senate, but is expected to pass because supporters have secured 25 “yes” votes – the minimum required for approval. Five senators, two … Continue reading
via Dave Crary, The Huffington Post With a flurry of coast-to-coast developments this week, same-sex marriage is back in the political spotlight and likely to remain there through Election Day as a half-dozen states face potentially wrenching votes on the issue. In Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, bills to legalize same-sex marriage have high-powered support … Continue reading
via Rachel La Corte and MIke Baker, The Huffington Post Gay marriage proponents urged their supporters not to become complacent following news the Legislature has enough votes to make Washington the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. Democratic Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen says she’ll support the measure, becoming the 25th vote needed to pass the … Continue reading
via Marie Diamond, ThinkProgress Federal imprisonment for unpaid debt has been illegal in the U.S. since 1833. It’s a practice people associate more with the age of Dickens than modern-day America. But as more Americans struggle to pay their bills in the wake of the recession, collection agencies are using harsher methods to get their … Continue reading
via Hope Yen, The Huffington Post In the run-up to the 2012 elections, the federal government is ordering that 248 counties and other political jurisdictions provide bilingual ballots to Hispanics and other minorities who speak little or no English. That number is down from a decade ago following the 2000 census, which covered 296 counties … Continue reading
Don’t Quit, 99%. Get Louder. Occupy Every Street. United States Alabama Occupy Auburn Occupy Birmingham Occupy Huntsville Occupy Mobile Occupy Tuscaloosa Alaska Occupy Alaska Occupy Anchorage Arizona Occupy Arizona Occupy Flagstaff Occupy Phoenix Occupy Prescott Occupy Sedona Occupy Tempe Occupy Tucson Occupy Yuma Arkansas Occupy Arkansas Occupy Fayetteville Occupy Little Rock California Occupy Arcata Occupy … Continue reading
via Jennifer Preston, The New York Times What began as a small group of protesters expressing their grievances about economic inequities last month from a park in New York City has evolved into an online conversation that is spreading across the country on social media platforms. Inspired by the populist message of the group known … Continue reading
Four states have announced that they will be raising their minimum wage rates for 2012, led by Washington state, which will become the first in the country with a minimum wage over $9 per hour. The 37-cent bump in Washington will hike the wage to $9.04, or $1.79 per hour more than the federal minimum … Continue reading
Two of the three suspects believed to be involved in a potential 9/11 anniversary plot against New York or Washington are of Arab descent and traveled to the United States last week, according to a U.S. government official. Authorities are operating under the assumption that two of the suspects have arrived on U.S. soil, and … Continue reading
NEW YORK — Security worker Eric Martinez wore a pin depicting the twin towers on his lapel as he headed to work in lower Manhattan on Friday, unfazed by a report of a credible but unconfirmed terror threat before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. He worked downtown then and lived through it. … Continue reading