Gay Marriage To Begin Thursday In SC
A South Carolina court this morning accepted a marriage license from a same-sex couple despite the state's constitutional ban against the practice and the state attorney general's pledge to defend it. A Charleston County probate judge accepted the application from two women. The US Supreme Court decided earlier this week not to hear an appeal of a 4th Circuit Appeals court ruling overturning a Virginia same-sex marriage ban. The 4th Circuit’s jurisdiction includes the Carolinas. As a result, the Charleston judge says he’s required to accept and issue marriage licenses from same-sex couples. The judge plans to issue the couple a license tomorrow, after South Carolina’s 24-hour waiting period. State Attorney General Alan Wilson had vowed to keep fighting a case involving a same-sex couple who married elsewhere and asked South Carolina to recognize their union. After the Supreme Court ruling Monday, the attorney general’s office said it was reviewing the matter.
NC Plans To Comply With Voter Ruling
North Carolina is putting together plans to comply with last week’s appeals court ruling that restores same-day registration and allows ballots cast in the wrong precinct to be counted. Deputy Senior Attorney General Alexander Peters says the state will handle parts of same-day registration by hand instead of using computers. Attorneys for the state want the US Supreme Court to intervene and uphold the new voting law for this fall’s election.
Hornet Jeffery Taylor Pleads Not Guilty
Charlotte Hornets forward Jeffery Taylor pleaded not guilty this morning to assault and property destruction charges. An attorney entered the plea in a Michigan court on Taylor’s behalf. The charges resulted from an incident two weeks ago at an East Lansing hotel. The Hornets banned Taylor from all team-related activities after his arrest. The team says it won’t decide whether to reinstate Taylor until the NBA finishes its investigation. Jury selection for Taylor’s trial is scheduled for next week.
Suspended SC Speaker Bobby Harrell’s Brother Resigns From Commission
Suspended South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell’s brother has stepped down from a panel that screens judicial candidates for state lawmakers. The State newspaper reports that Charleston attorney John Harrell and Greenville attorney Don Sellers have left the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Bobby Harrell appointed both men in 2007. The Legislature elects judges from candidates vetted by the 10-member panel. Last month, Harrell was indicted on campaign finance charges. In a series of ethics complaints, a libertarian think tank said the speaker should not have appointed his brother to the commission. Harrell says he did nothing wrong.
Johnson C. Smith University Bans Tobacco
Johnson C. Smith University is going tobacco-free. The West Charlotte school will ban all tobacco products as well as e-cigarettes on campus beginning in January. Other area schools with tobacco-free campuses include CPCC, Wingate, Pfeiffer and Gardner Webb. JCSU plans to offer programs for students, faculty, and staff who want to quit smoking.
UNCW Wins Million Dollar Grant From State Dept
The State Department has awarded UNC-Wilmington a $1 million grant to exchange faculty and students with a university in Pakistan. NC-WU and the International Islamic University in Islamabad will collaborate on professional development in teaching, research, and community engagement. It’s UNCW’s first ever grant from the State Department.
