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Court recognizes same-sex couples as parents

By Times wire
Published August 23, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO - Same-sex couples who raise children are lawful parents, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday, and must provide for their children if they break up.

The justices ruled for the first time that custody and child support laws that hold absent fathers accountable also apply to estranged gay and lesbian couples who used reproductive science to conceive.

Being a legal parent "brings with it the benefits as well as the responsibilities," said Justice Joyce Kennard. The court's ruling, involving three separate cases, is the latest to recognize rights of same-sex couples.

Plant recalls 1,856 pounds of beef from Canadian cows

WASHINGTON - A Wisconsin plant is recalling beef that was banned under rules to prevent the spread of mad cow disease but was shipped to wholesalers in Florida and five other states.

The 1,856 pounds of beef included meat from a Canadian cow that inspectors in Canada determined was eligible for shipment to the United States. A Canadian audit two weeks later, however, found that the cow was too old to be allowed entry.

"There is a minimal chance, given the age of the animal and the health of the animal, that there was any risk" to people, said Steven Cohen, a spokesman for the Agriculture Department.

The United States restricts shipments to younger animals because infection levels from mad cow disease are thought to rise with age. The cow in question was 31 months old. Two other Canadian cows less than 30 months old were processed with the older cow, and meat from all three animals was recalled as a precaution.

Consumer groups have criticized the government for not revealing the names of stores involved in food recalls. "When it comes to a case like this, the retailer is never disclosed - how are you ever going to know whether your chuck roast was involved in this recall or not?" asked Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union. "The consumer has absolutely no way of knowing."

Pat Robertson calls for Venezuela leader's death

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson called Monday for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling him a "terrific danger" to the United States.

Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition of America and a former presidential candidate, said on The 700 Club it was the United States' duty to stop Chavez from making Venezuela a "launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism."

"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it," Robertson said. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop."

Electronic pages and a message to a Robertson spokeswoman were not immediately returned Monday evening.

Calif. police find five dead after standoff ends

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Police stormed a home Monday where an armed man was holed up and found five people dead, including two children. Authorities think they were victims of a murder-suicide.

The dead included the suspect, his sister-in-law, her husband and their two children, said Lt. Mike McBride of the Inglewood Police Department. No further details were immediately released.

[Last modified August 23, 2005, 02:45:30]