Gay marriage legislation approved in Washington D.C.

ABCNews.com reports that the D.C. Council voted 11-2 to legalize gay marriage in the nation’s capital on Tuesday.  This is only the first step toward legalizing gay marriage in Washington D.C.   All legislation is voted on twice in the D.C. Council to insure that it does not make a decision hastily.  The council will vote a second time on December 15.  If it passes again, Mayor Adrian Fenty, who supports the legislation will sign off on the bill.  If the legislation passes, Washington D.C. will become the first jurisdiction south of the Mason-Dixon Line to approve gay marriage. 

My Take:  Gaining the right to marry in Washington D.C. would be a major victory for the gay rights community, especially since 31 states have used public referendums to block gays and lesbians from marrying.  Most recently, a referendum in Maine blocked gays from having the right to marry. 

Some Syracuse-area P&C stores may close today

Syracuse.com is reporting that employees at some area P&C Foods Supermarkets will be closed if owner Penn Traffic Co. does not secure a buyer by 5 p.m. today.  It is not yet known how many P&C Foods supermarkets will be affected by the measure. 

P&C Foods’ owner, Penn Traffic Co. filed bankruptcy for the third time in 10 years on November 25.   The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware approved an emergency infusion of $1.87 million from creditors so Penn Traffic could keep their stores open for the week and meet payroll.  The money will not keep the stores running until it can sell most or all of its assets. 

My Take:  Penn Traffic Co. is another victim of the poor economy and now, just in time for the holiday season, more people will not have jobs in Central New York.   

Bob Stoops says he’s staying at Oklahoma despite rumors

ESPN.com reports that Oklahoma’s head football coach, Bob Stoops, said on Monday that he plans on staying at Oklahoma “hopefully for a good while.”  Stoops had been rumored as a possible replacement for now former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis. 

Stoops says that he plans to stay at the University of Oklahoma as long as the university agrees.  Stoops just signed a two-year extension to his contract worth $30 million that will keep him with the Sooners through 2015.    The 11-year head coach has amassed a 116-29 record while at Oklahoma, while coaching the team to seven BCS bowls and a national championship.

My Take:  Bob Stoops was one of the two most prominent coaches whose names had been tossed around as possible replacements for Charlie Weis.  His commitment to Oklahoma, if it is genuine, shows a real commitment to the program and its success.  Notre Dame’s coaching job comes with lots of prestige and pressure.  It will be interesting to see who is willing to take such a job.