Daily News Recap (2-9-15)

By Holly Henrichsen
Assistant Web Director

17 counties in Alabama are allowing same-sex marriage licenses today, as the US Supreme Court denied the State’s request for a stay. Several judges have refused to grant same-sex marriage licenses. The New York Times compared the battle between The federal courts and the state courts to the desegregation battles in the 1960’s. Three of Alabama’s four largest counties are now allowing same-sex marriages. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, nearly two million people, or roughly 40 percent of Alabama’s population, are living in affected counties. In the last four months, the Supreme court has continuously refused to hear appeals from lower court rulings allowing same-sex marriages, which has caused the amount of states with same-sex marriage to increase to 37, including the District of Columbia.

A public hearing will be held Thursday on two high-profile gun bills; open carry and campus carry at the Texas Capitol at 9 a.m. According to the Austin American Statesman it would allow any legal owner of a hand-gun to openly carry his or her firearm without the need of a concealed handgun permit. The hearing will allow public testimony limited to two minutes per speaker.

The City of San Marcos is calling on volunteers to register for the 30th Annual Great Texas River Cleanup on March 7th from 9 am to 1 pm and help make the biggest cleanup in their events history. You could participate in the upper San Marcos portion, which is from Sewell Park to Stokes Park or you could participate in the lower San Marcos River portion, which is from Stokes Park to the Guadalupe River. The event is coordinated in five groups in and along the creeks, tributaries, and the upper San Marcos River and for the past 30 years, the Texas River Protection Association has coordinated volunteers to clean the entire 90 miles of the San Marcos River by picking up trash as they walk the banks and canoe down the river. You are able to sign up for a specific watershed to help clean the river and make a difference! For more information, visit the City of San Marcos website.