Attorney General Eric Holder is recognizing the marriages of more than 1,000 same-sex couples in Utah that took place before the Supreme Court put those unions on hold.
Holder’s action will enable the government to extend eligibility for federal benefits to these couples. The attorney general says families should not be asked to endure uncertainty regarding their benefits while the courts decide the issue of same-sex marriage in Utah.
Feds recognize same-sex couples in Utah
Supreme Court puts Utah same-sex marriage on hold
The Supreme Court has put same-sex marriages on hold in the state of Utah, at least while a federal appeals court more fully considers the issue.
The court issued a brief order Monday blocking any new same-sex unions in the western state. The order follows an emergency appeal by the state following the Dec. 20 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates gay and lesbian couples' constitutional rights.
Boeing machinists approve contract securing 777X jet
Boeing's machinists on Friday narrowly approved a crucial labor contract that secured thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity for Washington state but will cost workers their pensions.
The vote of 51 percent to 49 percent to accept the deal means Boeing Co will build its new 777X jetliner and wings in the Seattle area, where Boeing has built aircraft for more than 90 years.
125th Rose Parade hosts its first same-sex wedding
Standing atop a giant wedding cake float, Aubrey Loots and Danny Leclair exchanged vows New Year's Day in the first same-sex marriage during the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Throngs of spectators cheered as the men, dressed in dark suits, faced each other and held hands before the Rev. Alfreda Lanoix, who officiated the ceremony aboard the AIDS Healthcare Foundation float.
ACLU sues for details of U.S. surveillance under executive order
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to force the U.S. government to disclose details of its foreign electronic surveillance program and what protections it provides to Americans whose communications are swept up.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York, came three days after the ACLU lost a bid to block a separate program that collects the phone calls of millions of Americans.
The latest lawsuit seeks information related to the use of Executive Order 12333, which was signed in 1981 and governs surveillance of foreign targets.
Mass. AG: Countrywide to pay $17.3M in settlement
The Massachusetts state employees' pension fund will receive more than $11 million as part of a settlement with Countrywide Securities Corp., state Attorney General Martha Coakley said Monday.
The settlement was announced as part of Coakley's industry-wide review of residential mortgage securitization practices in Massachusetts.
The total settlement with Countrywide is $17.3 million. It includes a $6 million payment to the state.
Target confirms encrypted PIN data stolen
Hackers who stole data for up to 40 million credit cards and debit cards used in Target stores removed encrypted data containing personal identification numbers — but the theft isn't expected to compromise cardholder accounts — the company said Friday.
"We remain confident that PIN numbers are safe and secure," said a statement issued Friday by Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder.
According to the company, Target does not have access to or store the encryption key within the company's computer systems. When a Target customer uses a debit card in one of the company's stores and enters his or her PIN, the number is encrypted at the keypad with a widely used security program known as Triple DES, the company said.
More Articles...
Page 95 of 228