A trial-court judge ruled Monday that California's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, comparing it to archaic laws that once blocked interracial marriage or promoted \separate but equal' segregation.
If upheld on appeal, the decision could lead to California becoming only the second state in the nation-after Massachusetts-in which homosexuals have the same access to marriage licenses as heterosexual couples.
The ruling, however, does not mean that same-sex couples in California can immediately wed. The decision will be stayed at least temporarily to allow an appeal, which opponents of same-sex marriage say they plan to file. The case likely will end up before the California Supreme Court, which is not expected to rule until next year.
The State Department of Natural Resources is looking to make significant changes to the chronic wasting disease eradication zones, according to Wispolitics.com.
There are currently two eradication zones in the state where the DNR is trying to remove deer that have chronic wasting disease, a fatal degenerative neurological disorder that can be spread through the environment in ways similar to mad cow disease. One zone includes Dane and Iowa counties while the other is to the southeast of Madison in Rock and Walworth counties.
The DNR's proposed expansion would increase the zones around confirmed positive CWD tests in Lafayette, Sauk, Rock and Walworth counties.
The DNR will be holding a series of meetings around the state this week to get feedback from hunters and residents on the proposed expansion.
State Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin, announced Monday he is not running for Wisconsin attorney general in 2006.
Gundrum had been rumored to join Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher and former state U.S. District Attorney J.B. Van Hollen in running in the Republican primary for the right to challenge incumbent Democrat Peg Lautenschlager in November 2006.
But Gundrum said the recent birth of his fifth child-all of whom are under age seven-weighed heavily on his decision not to run.
""They say politics is all about timing,"" Gundrum said in a statement. ""Sometimes, however, the political timing may be right, but the personal timing wrong. That is the situation I find myself in.\
