On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that gay couples have the right to marry nationwide. But some of Alabama’s judges are refusing to grant that right. APR’s Alex AuBuchon reports on a new development that may unify the state’s policy.
U.S. District Judge Callie Granade of Mobile says county probate judges in Alabama are required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Granade had ruled a month ago that counties should issue the licenses, but stayed that decision pending the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Now the federal judge has declared that her earlier decision is in effect, and probate judges must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Granade’s decision says probate judges can’t discriminate against gay couples.
But some counties have stopped issuing marriage licenses altogether, same-sex or otherwise, and this order will not apply to those counties.
A World War II-era seaplane is foundering in the surf on the northern Gulf Coast after a mishap during filming.
The vintage PBY-6A flying boat has been partially submerged near the Alabama-Florida state line since Monday. Crews towed it near the beach after the aircraft began taking on water further offshore. Workers are now trying to figure out how to get the aircraft out of the water.
The twin engine aircraft was built in 1945. It's being used in the filming of a new Nicholas Cage movie about the U.S.S. Indianapolis disaster. The Navy ship was torpedoed and sank in 1945 after delivering the first operational atomic bomb.
Only 316 of the nearly 1,200 crew members survived, and many were eaten by sharks in the Pacific Ocean.
A new report card has poor marks for Alabama when it comes to high schools giving girls equal opportunities in sports.
The study is by the National Women’s Law Center. It says Alabama is forty ninth out of fifty one states with a 58-percent large gender equity gaps when it comes to Title Nine.
Eight states in the south rank in the bottom ten of the state. Neena Chaudhry** is the Director of Equal Opportunities in Athletics at the NLWC says that’s no coincidence…
“Where football is very prominent, schools have to take a really hard look and make sure they’re providing girls with the same kinds of opportunities to play sports and get the same benefits that the boys get. What our data shows, is that across the country, girls are not getting enough opportunities to play sports.”
Chaudhry says sports provide lifelong benefits for girls, including better health and academic outcomes. Chaudhry challenges high schools in Alabama to take closer look at their programs to close that gender-equity gap.