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Nation in brief

Gay marriage ruling challenged

By wire services
Published February 6, 2005

NEW YORK - The city will appeal a judge's ruling against the state ban on same-sex marriages, the mayor said Saturday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he wanted the issue to be settled in the state's highest court or in the Legislature.

"If we did not appeal this, I think we would have chaos in this city," said Bloomberg, who said he supports allowing same-sex marriage.

State Supreme Court Justice Doris Ling-Cohan ruled Friday that the state ban is unconstitutional, finding in favor of five same-sex couples who had been denied marriage licenses by the city. The judge said the city clerk may not deny a license solely because a couple are of the same sex.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The three-man crew accused of failing to switch a railroad track before last month's freight train crash and deadly chlorine leak were fired by Norfolk Southern.

The Jan. 6 accident killed nine people, injured hundreds more and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents of Graniteville, S.C. It was the deadliest train wreck involving hazardous material in nearly three decades.

The crew members were not identified by the company. However, at least 15 lawsuits alleging negligence have been filed against Norfolk Southern and at least six of them name as defendants Benjamin Aiken, 50, the parked train's engineer; conductor James Thornton, 56; and brakeman Mike Ford, 48.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has approved a series of incentives for members of elite Special Operations Forces who remain in the military, including a $150,000 bonus for the most experienced and highly trained combat personnel who promise six additional years in uniform, military said Saturday.

The pay and incentives package was devised to stem an exodus of senior sergeants, petty officers and warrant officers to higher-paying civilian security jobs in places like Baghdad and Kabul, Afghanistan, just as they are needed to continue playing a pivotal role in combating terrorists and training indigenous security forces worldwide.

NEW YORK - Madison Square Garden raised the stakes for a property where the New York Jets want to build a stadium by offering $600-million, twice what the Jets have been asked to pay.

The Garden, which has spent millions opposing a proposed $1.4-billion stadium in Manhattan because of fears the arena may draw away lucrative events, made its surprise offer in a letter Friday to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Garden is about two blocks east of the proposed stadium site.

"This is first indication we have received from Madison Square Garden, after months of public discussion, that they are interested in our property," said Tom Kelly, an MTA spokesman. "We will review the proposal."

WICHITA, Kan. - A 17-year-old student has been charged with making homemade bombs that exploded outside the homes of two teachers.

Authorities believe Marcus Curran also set off explosives outside the home of a school secretary and on a high school football field. No one was hurt.

Five of the bombs exploded, two were found unexploded and three were duds, the Reno County sheriff said.

The five devices that exploded were powerful enough to destroy mailboxes and shatter a car windshield. Officials reported the first explosion Jan. 16.

[Last modified February 6, 2005, 00:23:11]