Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
FLORIDA COUNTIES ISSUE MARRIAGE LICENSES, HOLD WEDDINGS FOR GAY COUPLES
While Miami judge found no need to wait until a statewide ban on same-sex marriage expired at midnight Monday, most Florida counties held off issuing marriage licenses and performing weddings for same-sex couples until early Tuesday, when U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle’s ruling that Florida’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional took effect in all 67 counties. Florida’s attorney general is still pursuing state and federal appeals seeking to uphold the ban voters approved in 2008, but her effort to block these weddings until the courts finally rule was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.
SPACEX AIMS FOR PRE-DAWN LAUNCH TO THE SPACE STATION
A SpaceX rocket stands poised at Cape Canaveral for a pre-dawn flight to the International Space Station. The unmanned Dragon capsule contains more than 5,000 pounds of supplies and experiments ordered up by NASA. That’s the primary objective for SpaceX. But the California-based company will attempt an even more extraordinary feat once the Dragon is on its way: flying the booster rocket to a platform in the Atlantic. No one has ever pulled off such a touchdown. SpaceX’s billionaire founder says recovering and reusing rockets could speed up launches and drive down costs.
DELIVERY MAN BEING SENTENCED IN MLB DRUG CASE
A South Florida man who admitted delivering steroids in the Major League Baseball drug scandal is facing prison time at a sentencing hearing. Carlos Acevedo is likely to get far less than the 30-year maximum at Tuesday’s hearing in Miami federal court because of his swift admission of guilt in the Biogenesis of America case. Acevedo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute testosterone and the club drug known as “Molly.” Acevedo admitted delivering testosterone to Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch and later injecting some customers.
VETERANS’ NURSING HOME TO BE NAMED FOR MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER
A new state nursing home for veterans is being named for a heroic Vietnam veteran. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs says the facility planned for the St. Lucie County town of Tradition will be known as the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home. Copas was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor last year. He was a machine-gunner who saved four of his wounded comrades and kept fighting until his own death.
DEPUTY ARRESTED FOR DRUG POSSESSION AFTER TRAFFIC STOP
A deputy in north Florida has been arrested after police say they found drugs in his car after a traffic stop. Gainesville police say 25-year-old Corian Garrison was stopped on Sunday at 4 a.m. after making an illegal right turn and for not wearing a seat belt. Officers reported that Garrison, a deputy in neighboring Bradford County, had a joint and several pills containing hydrocodone in his car.
