Jubilant Same-Sex Couples Rush to the Altar
A federal judge struck down Oregon’s decade-long ban on same-sex marriages yesterday at noon and within an hour, officials in Lane and Multnomah Counties began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Four gay and lesbian couples brought suit late last year, arguing Oregon’s marriage laws discriminate against same-sex couples and exclude them from a fundamental right.
State officials refused to defend the ban, and U.S. District Judge Michael McShane denied a request by the National Organization for Marriage to intervene and defend it on behalf of the group’s members.
McShane then threw out Oregon’s decade old same-sex marriage ban, saying it was unconstitutional.
An appeals court Monday morning refused the group’s request for an emergency stay of McShane’s decision.
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It is election day and as of late yesterday only about one in five registered voters in Lane County had returned their ballots for today’s primary election. Of the 201,375 ballots mailed ten days ago, only 42,080 had been sent back.
Thousands of ballots are expected to come in today, but results will have to be dramatic I order to match the primary turnout four years ago, the last time Oregon voters decided on candidates for the Governor’s race. The turnout in Lane County in 2010 was just over 42-percent. Last years’ primary turnout was 36-percent.
It’s too late to mail your ballot… In order for it to be received in time to be counted, it must be dropped in one of more than 20 ballot drop sites in the county,including the one in front of the Florence Justice Center.
Initial election results will be available at eight pm.
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The Boys and Girls Club will be offering a program aimed at keeping kids active this Summer. It’s called “Find Your Verb” and offers prizes like Bicycles, athletic shoes sand boards and even a dirt bike in exchange for proof of activity.
The way it works, according to Boys and Girls Club Director Jonathon Hicks, is that students between first and twelfth grade register and get a scorecard to track their activity during the summer month: the more activity; the better the prize.
The club will be kicking off the program next week during three special events at Roby’s Furniture, Coastal Fitness, and Hawaiian Time/Old School Furniture.
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