The nation in brief

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Other Kentucky courts may reach different and conflicting decisions. Employers, health care providers, governmental agencies and others faced with changing rules need a clear and certain road map.”

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who said the state will hire outside attorneys to appeal a decision granting legal recognition to gay couples married out of state, after the attorney general announced he would not pursue the case further Article, this page

Congress advised to keep ‘pot’ illegal

WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. drug-enforcement official urged Congress and others Tuesday not to abandon scientific concerns over marijuana in favor of public opinion to legalize it, even as the administration of President Barack Obama takes a hands-off approach in states where voters have made legal its sale and use.

The deputy administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration, Thomas Harrigan, testified Tuesday before a House oversight panel that easing laws governing marijuana threatens U.S. institutions.

“We should not abandon science and fact in favor of public opinion,” Harrigan said.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use. To date, only Colorado and Washington have allowed the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Several other states, including Oregon and Alaska, are expected to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana within the next year.

N.J. gas blast leaves 1 dead, 7 injured

EWING, N.J. - A gas leak and subsequent explosion destroyed at least 10 houses and damaged dozens of others at a suburban town-house development Tuesday, killing a woman and injuring seven workers, authorities said.

Ewing police Lt. Ron Lunetta said officials couldn’t identify the victim and will await an autopsy for identification and cause of death. It was not clear Tuesday night whether the woman was inside or outside a residence when the explosion occurred.

The blast happened Tuesday after a gas line was damaged by contractors digging in the area, police said. At least 55 units in the complex were damaged, police said, including at least 10 that were destroyed.

Officials said they were hoping that some displaced residents would be able to return to their homes by late Tuesday night, but said the majority of them would not be able to go home until this morning at the earliest.

Police say transgender-teen attack a lie

SAN FRANCISCO - Police said Tuesday that a transgender teen who claimed he was beaten and sexually assaulted in a California high school bathroom later recanted the story.

The 15-year-old student, who is biologically female but identifies as male, had told officers he was leaving a boy’s bathroom late Monday morning at Hercules Middle/High School when assailants pushed him inside a handicapped stall and physically and sexually assaulted him.

The teen was taken to a hospital for treatment and was released Monday evening, authorities said.

But as the investigation continued, officers could not substantiate the facts of the teen’s statement, including the time frame, and the boy lacked any head, face or hand injuries, police said.

On Tuesday, detectives interviewed the student and determined nothing had happened to him, Hercules police spokesman detective Connie Van Putten said.

Texas sets fall governorship face-off

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Republicans picked state Attorney General Greg Abbott in the fight to succeed longtime Gov. Rick Perry, and a rising Democratic star coasted to her party’s nomination Tuesday during the nation’s first statewide primary.

Wendy Davis, who turned heads last summer with a nearly 13-hour filibuster over abortion restrictions, is the first female gubernatorial nominee in Texas since Ann Richards in 1994.

Twenty-six Republican candidates were vying for six of Texas’ top offices. Among them was George P. Bush, the nephew of former President George W. Bush and son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who won the nomination for land commissioner.

U.S. Sen John Cornyn routed Tea Party-backed U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman and six lesser-known primary challengers.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Dan Patrick, who drew heat from fellow Republicans for bemoaning an “invasion” of illegal aliens crossing the Texas-Mexico border, appeared headed for a runoff in the lieutenant governor’s race with longtime incumbent David Dewhurst.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 03/05/2014