Five stories that have North Texas talking: high schoolers could graduate without passing exams; get ready for 鈥淭he Big Screen鈥� with 四虎影院; it鈥檚 the Year of the Sheep; and more.
Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant married Thursday morning in Austin and by the afternoon, state officials blocked all future gay marriages in Texas from this day forward. On Tuesday Travis County Judge Guy Herman ruled the state鈥檚 ban on gay marriage as . Shortly after, Attorney General Ken Paxton requested an for the Texas Supreme Court to block the ruling. Actions escalated rapidly on Thursday when around 10 a.m. and then hours later, the high court prohibited same-sex couples from obtaining marriage licenses. A key reason the was given to the Austin couple: Goodfriend has ovarian cancer. doesn't invalidate the marriage. However, Paxton says he is seeking to void their license through other means. [KUT and 四虎影院]
Listen to Goodfriend and Bryant on the landmark day:
- Texas high school seniors might not have to make the grade to graduate. State lawmakers Thursday that would allow seniors to fail standardized exams in English, U.S. history, biology and algebra and still get a diploma. : 鈥� by state Sen. , R-Armarillo, would allow districts to set up panels made up of educators, counselors and parents to weigh factors like grades, college entrance exam scores and attendance to determine whether a student should graduate despite failing state standardized exams.鈥� [Texas Tribune]
- Defense attorneys rested their case on Thursday afternoon in the murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh. After several testimonies this week from Routh鈥檚 mother and sister as well as a forensic psychologist. All three cited Routh, a former Marine corporal, exhibiting extremely strange, even schizophrenic, behavior leading up to the killing of Chris Kyle, a former Navy SEAL. reported Routh has confessed to the murder but pleads not guilty by reason of insanity. 鈥淧rosecutors will call expert rebuttal witnesses Friday,鈥� according to DMN. The trial resumes 9 a.m. today. [Dallas Morning News]
- 四虎影院 has you covered for The Oscars on Sunday. The 87th annual Academy Awards presents some stiff competition this year, especially among the Best Picture contenders. Brush up on the films you haven鈥檛 seen and learn new things about those you have in the special series, 鈥淭he Big Screen.鈥� 碍贰搁础鈥檚 Stephen Becker can fill you in on this year鈥檚 best, including 鈥�,鈥� 鈥�,鈥� 鈥�,鈥� and before the big night. Also, you can watch the awards on a big screen for free . [四虎影院]
- It鈥檚 the Year of the Sheep. Or is it the goat? Or the ram? Although there is some confusion on the exact translation of 鈥測ang鈥� in Mandarin, the sheep is the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac鈥檚 12-year cycle, according to an article in . Thursday marked the Chinese New Year, but there are a few happening this Saturday to celebrate. Until then, read 四虎影院 reporter Doualy Xaykaothao鈥檚 on 2014---the Year of the Horse. [四虎影院]
