Texas appeals court overturns ruling that had voided transgender widow’s marriage

HOUSTON – An appeals court has overturned a judge’s ruling that had voided the marriage of a transgender widow whose firefighter husband died battling a blaze.

Texas appeals court overturns ruling that had voided transgender widow’s marriage

Alleged wrong-way driver charged with 6 counts of murder in Southern California freeway crash

LOS ANGELES – A woman who police say drove the wrong way on a Southern California freeway, sparking a deadly head-on crash, has been charged with six counts of murder.

Alleged wrong-way driver charged with 6 counts of murder in Southern California freeway crash

Gay rights group: Leading Kan. Democrat too tepid in opposition to discrimination rights bill

TOPEKA, Kansas – Gay-rights advocates are lashing out at the Kansas House’s leading Democrat, saying he showed only tepid opposition to a bill protecting people who, based on their religious beliefs, discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Gay rights group: Leading Kan. Democrat too tepid in opposition to discrimination rights bill

Legal expert: Ruling on pharmacy that supplies Mo. execution drug could have wide implications

ST. LOUIS – A legal expert says a ruling temporarily prohibiting a compounding pharmacy from selling execution drugs to Missouri could have implications across the country.

Legal expert: Ruling on pharmacy that supplies Mo. execution drug could have wide implications

Facebook users, others react to social media site creating alternative options for gender

Facebook announced on Thursday that its 159 million U.S. users now have dozens of options for completing the gender question on their profiles. The social media giant has been working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights groups to expand the choices beyond male and female. The result: a «custom» option that lets users pick from about 50 terms, including transsexual, androgynous and intersex.

Facebook users, others react to social media site creating alternative options for gender

Gay marriage supporters cheer setback for constitutional ban in conservative Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – Opponents of an effort to place Indiana’s gay marriage ban in the state constitution won a surprising victory Thursday as the Senate effectively pushed off a statewide vote on the issue for at least two years, and possibly longer.

Gay marriage supporters cheer setback for constitutional ban in conservative Indiana

Appeals court action clears way for medical claims in 2010 BP spill

NEW ORLEANS – A federal appeals court has cleared the way for thousands of workers to be compensated for medical treatment for exposure to crude oil or chemical dispersants during the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Appeals court action clears way for medical claims in 2010 BP spill

$1.4M for NJ woman injured by stage diving Fishbone singer in Pa.; broke skull, collarbone

PHILADELPHIA – A woman who broke her skull and collarbone when a member of the band Fishbone dived from a Philadelphia stage has been awarded $1.4 million.

$1.4M for NJ woman injured by stage diving Fishbone singer in Pa.; broke skull, collarbone

Last call: Suburban Detroit bar honors wish, hosts longtime employee’s funeral attended by 100

TAYLOR, Michigan – A friend, bouncer, father and four-time husband was remembered Thursday in the suburban Detroit watering hole he considered his second home – and the place he had requested for his funeral.

Last call: Suburban Detroit bar honors wish, hosts longtime employee’s funeral attended by 100

Insane Clown Posse again seeking new site for yearly Gathering of the Juggalos festival

ST. LOUIS – Just two weeks ago, organizers of the yearly festival headlined by the rap-metal Insane Clown Posse announced that the multiday concert event would be staged at a mid-Missouri campground after seven years of sometimes sketchy times in southern Illinois.

Insane Clown Posse again seeking new site for yearly Gathering of the Juggalos festival