Also, Mario Andretti appears at tire store opening in Rome, and Southern Tier woman kept mummified remains of husband, twin sister in her home.
From SFGate.com:
Winding up a historic trial over same-sex marriage in California, the lawyer for Proposition 8's sponsors told a federal judge Wednesday that allowing only a man and a woman to wed promotes responsible sex and child rearing, and ultimately ensures the future of humanity.During more than two hours of intense and sometimes skeptical questioning by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, attorney Charles Cooper maintained that society is entitled to reserve its approval of marriage for those who can naturally conceive children.
"The marital relationship is fundamental to the existence and survival of the race," Cooper said in closing arguments before a packed San Francisco courtroom. The reason the state regulates marriage, he said, is to steer "procreative sexual relationships" into a stable family environment so that children can be raised by their biological parents.
» Read the story: Proposition 8 backers: Marriage promotes procreation [SFGate.com]
» Proposition 8 trial: Judge troubled by lack of evidence from defense [MercuryNews.com]
» California court hears closing arguments in same-sex marriage case [The Washington Post]
In other news:
» Mario Andretti greets fans during appearance in Rome [WSYR-TV Channel 9]
» Auburn fertilizer plant project is in jeopardy [The Auburn Citizen]
» Deputy Mayor John Cowin's pay may top $175,000 [centralny.ynn.com]
» Man faces more than 100 years in prison in sex attack [Utica Observer-Dispatch]
» Cuomo brushes aside Lazio's claims [The Buffalo News]
» Poll: Americans more concerned with economy, jobs than oil spill [USA Today]
» Woman kept mummified remains of husband, twin sister in Southern Tier home [pressconnects.com]
» Potsdam man fires at varmint, hits Hospice building [Watertown Daily Times]
» Second-grader's tribute to troops runs afoul of Rhode Island school's no weapons policy (video) [The Associated Press]