A lawyer for gay couples across Alabama has asked a federal judge to force reluctant probate judges to issue marriage licenses. A-P-R’s Stan Ingold has more…
Shannon Minter is legal director of National Center for Lesbian Rights. She says every probate judge is now required to issue marriage licenses on an "equal basis."
The group wants the judges to comply with the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says gay and lesbian couples have a fundamental right to marry.
Minter filed a motion Monday asking U.S. District Judge Callie Granade to issue a permanent injunction directing probate judges to issue the licenses. Granade issued a preliminary injunction in May, but put the order on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled.
Minter says the next step is to seek court sanctions against judges who continue to discriminate against gay couples.
Another small earthquake has been reported in western Alabama.
The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 3.8 tremor was recorded this morning near Eutaw - roughly 35 miles southwest of Tuscaloosa. USGS officials say the earthquake happened at a depth of a little more than three miles underground.
Officials say more than a dozen small earthquakes had been recorded since November 20 in Greene County and each was a magnitude 3.8 or less.
A state earthquake expert says researchers have installed a seismic monitor northwest of Eutaw to look for the cause of the seismic activity.
Today is the last day for Alabama small-business owners to apply for a free Birmingham business seminar at Regions Field in August. Inner City Capital Connections helps small-businesses in economically distressed areas achieve their full potential.
Leroy Abrahams is the North Central Alabama area president for Regions Bank. He says ICCC brings an incredible amount of resources directly to small-business owners…
“It’s about recognizing opportunities and helping businesses find the right opportunity. Business owners will have not only the benefit of the experts that have come to present, they’ll also have individual coaches, and they’ll have the benefit of being able to work with each other.”
Abrahams hopes entrepreneurs take away encouragement to move on and continue to focus and achieve their goals. Although the program is in early August, entrepreneurs must apply for it no later than today at midnight on the group’s website. Applicants will receive an official invite by the end of July if they’ve been accepted.