In brief: Judge allows Kentucky clerk to deny marriage licenses during appeal

MOREHEAD, Ky. – A federal judge on Monday gave a Kentucky county clerk room to continue denying marriage licenses to gays and lesbians while she takes her religious objections case to a higher court.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis last week to issue licenses to two gay couples, and ruled Monday that she is not entitled to any more delays. But because “emotions are running high on both sides of this debate,” he also stayed his decision while she takes her case to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal.

But Mat Staver, who represents Davis and is the founder of Florida-based Liberty Counsel, said the convoluted order essentially grants her request for more time.

What is clear is that Davis will continue refusing to issue marriage licenses to anyone in this county of about 23,000 people. Until the case is resolved, no new wedding can be legally recognized in Rowan County unless the couple obtains a marriage license somewhere else.

Davis faces fines and possible jail time for contempt of court if she loses her challenge and still refuses to issue licenses. But she can only be impeached from her $80,000 a year job by the legislature, and impeachment proceedings are unlikely even after the lawmakers reconvene in January.

Women earn Ranger designation

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Two women have passed the Army Ranger School and will graduate at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Friday morning, making them the first female soldiers to earn the elite special operations forces tab and complete the Army’s most difficult training regimen.

The Army did not identify the two women, who are both graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A third female candidate, also a West Point grad, is currently in the mountain phase of Ranger School, the second of three arduous training stages.

Despite the historic promotions, neither the two female Rangers nor any other female troops will be sent into combat in the immediate future.

Under a plan announced in January 2013 by then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the Pentagon has been moving toward allowing women to serve in combat roles, with the first positions scheduled to be announced next year.

Florida clinic asks for abortion ruling

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Planned Parenthood in Florida asked a judge Monday for an emergency ruling to allow them to continue to perform abortions at 12 and 13 weeks after a discrepancy with the state about what constitutes first- and second-trimester abortions.

The request comes after state health officials recently inspected 16 Planned Parenthood facilities and said three were performing second-trimester abortions when they are licensed to perform first-trimester abortions.

Executive Director Laura Goodhue said the Agency for Health Care Administration changed its definitions of gestational periods and that the centers were operating in compliance with Florida law. But they’ve stopped providing abortions on women between 12 and 13 weeks and six days until a judge decides.