Friday, April 27, 2007

N.H. Passes Bill to Allow Same-Sex Civil Unions

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire is set to become the fourth state to offer civil unions for same-sex couples with legislation approved Thursday and sent to Gov. John Lynch, who has said he would sign it.

"This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination," said the governor's spokesman, Colin Manning. "It is in keeping with New Hampshire's proud tradition of preventing discrimination."

Shortly after the Democratic-controlled Senate passed the bill 14 to 10 along party lines, one of the state's best-known gay residents told the Associated Press that he would use it.

"My partner and I look forward to taking full advantage of the new law," said Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, whose 2003 consecration shook up the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Union of which it is part.

New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont already offer civil unions for same-sex couples. Neighboring Massachusetts in 2004 became the only state to allow same-sex marriage.

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· ATLANTA -- Two police officers, J.R. Smith and Gregg Junnier, pleaded guilty to federal and state charges, including manslaughter, in the shooting death of Kathryn Johnston, 92, during a botched drug raid last fall. A third officer, Arthur Tesler, still faces charges in the woman's death.

· BRISTOL, Ind. -- A tractor-trailer slammed into traffic that had slowed for a construction project during a rainy morning, starting a pileup that killed eight people and injured two others, police said.

· Israel will name a forest in northern Galilee after Coretta Scott King as the country replants thousands of trees destroyed during last year's war with Hezbollah. The Coretta Scott King Forest, comprising at least 10,000 trees, will be a living memorial to King's legacy of peace and justice, Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor said at a Washington ceremony launching the initiative.

· LOS ANGELES--A federal prisoner who fled the country after he was temporarily freed to try to donate a kidney to his ailing son will be sent back to Kentucky after being arrested in Mexico, authorities said. Byron Keith Perkins and Lea Ann Howard were arrested in Puerto Vallarta and flown to Los Angeles. Perkins had been released on $10,000 bond in January 2006 but did not show up for the compatibility tests to see whether he could give a kidney to his son Destin.

· WAYCROSS, Ga.-- Emergency officials told residents to evacuate about 100 homes near a wildfire in the Okefenokee Swamp, where gusty winds threatened to spread the blaze across a four-lane highway in southeast Georgia. Wildfires have blackened about 61,100 acres -- or 95 square miles -- of forest and swamp parched by drought. Officials say 18 homes have been destroyed.

· SACRAMENTO--Legislators hoping to avoid a federal takeover of California's overcrowded prisons approved a $7.3 billion plan to add beds and beef up rehabilitation programs. The plan, which now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, would add 53,000 beds for inmates, including 13,000 at county jails.

-- From News Services