SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Supreme Court today gave a thumbs up to Gov. Pat Quinn’s showcase $31 billion public works program and the video poker that’s supposed to help pay for it.

The 7-0 ruling allows state lawmakers and the governor to exhale after an appellate court had thrown out the deal earlier this year. You can read the state Supreme Court opinion here.

More than just bricks-and-mortar projects involving schools, roads and sewers were at stake in the ruling by the seven Illinois justices. Also at issue were new and controversial sources of state revenue: Increases in driver’s license and license plate fees, higher taxes on alcohol, candy, soft drinks and beauty products, and the video gambling. All were targeted to cover the cost of construction bonds plus interest.

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Illinois Senate President John Cullerton hailed today’s court ruling.

“This ruling serves as a reminder of just how important the 2009 jobs program was and what the General Assembly can accomplish when politics is set aside and people participate” said Cullerton, D-Chicago, a reference to Democrats and Republicans coming together on the construction deal.

The appellate court had sided with an argument that the law creating the construction program had too many different issues tied together.

The state Supreme Court, in a decision written by Justice Anne Burke, maintained the General Assembly’s actions were valid and dealt with a single matter rather than several unrelated matters.

The laws all fell within the boundaries of an overall effort to put together a “capital plan” for the state, she wrote.

The state has borrowed roughly $4 billion to get the construction projects started, said Kelly Kraft, a spokeswoman for Quinn’s budget office. Kraft said $1.3 billion of that is left to spend.

Since the construction program began, the state has raked in more than $640 million from the increases in driver fees and additional taxes, according to documents on the state treasurer’s website.

The increased taxes and fees have been collected for a little less than two years, and it was possible that a ruling against the state would have required expensive refunds. That in a state that already carries a multibillion-dollar backlog of overdue bills.

The legalization of video gambling at bars, restaurants and truck stops was the most controversial element and promised the most money to the state. But the new gambling hasn’t materialized because the state Gaming Board is still working to create a large new regulatory program. In the meantime, dozens of municipalities have rejected the new form of legal gambling.

A recently approved expansion of casino gambling, which is not part of the lawsuit, would require regulators to expedite video gambling.

The case before the Supreme Court involved a multifaceted challenge to a series of bills approved by lawmakers in 2009 and signed by Quinn that created and funded the public works program. Rocky Wirtz, best known as owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, also heads his family’s liquor distributorship empire and he alleged in a lawsuit that various provisions of the law were unconstitutional.

A circuit court rejected the Wirtz allegations. Then in January a state appellate court issued a narrow but potentially devastating decision for Quinn and state lawmakers: The law was unconstitutional because it violated the “single-subject rule,” a provision that prohibits combining various unrelated subjects into the same bill. The appeals court stayed enforcement of its ruling  while it was appealed to the Supreme Court.

The “single-subject rule” was designed to prevent bundling less popular initiatives into more palatable bills to make them easier to pass, a process known as logrolling.

Logrolling was a popular legislative tool from the state’s beginnings. Legislation that then-state Rep. Abraham Lincoln pushed in 1837, linking a massive public works program with a move of the capital to Springfield, was the inspiration for the “single-subject rule” being adopted in the Illinois Constitution. The state later defaulted on its debt from the 1837 public works plan.

The appellate court ruled the various aspects of Quinn’s public works program did not fit within a single broad category of “revenue” and that the state’s arguments were “unconvincing.”

The appeals court said provisions that included mandating a University of Illinois study on the effects on Illinois families of purchasing lottery tickets, a required quarterly accounting by the state of public works expenditures and a change in truck-weight limits had “no natural and logical connection to revenue to the state.”

But Attorney General Lisa Madigan, on behalf of the Quinn administration, argued to the Supreme Court that the law’s provisions fell under a single umbrella of “capital projects,” not the subject of “revenue” that the appeals court used.

Pressing the necessity of keeping the public works program intact, Madigan’s appeal to the Supreme Court noted it was passed by lawmakers “when the state’s economy was suffering the effects of the severe recession gripping the entire nation.” She noted that in the 15 months prior to passage of the plan, the state’s unemployment rate rose from less than 6 percent to more than 10 percent.

Quinn had forecast the public works program would create or retain 439,000 jobs over six years.

Lawyers for Wirtz and his distributorship, Wirtz Beverage Illinois LLC, also alleged that the state improperly raised taxes on beer at a lower rate than those on wine and spirits.

His lawyers said Wirtz and his firm “seek to have the constitution enforced as written, rather than ignored for purposes of expediency as it was in the legislation challenged here.”

An FBI spokesman said Monday that it does not appear a stun gun found aboard a JetBlue plane that landed late Friday in Newark was intended to be used in an attack.

Bryan Travers, a spokesman for the FBI’s Newark office, said information from the investigation so far suggests that no attack was imminent. He would not detail why investigators think that.

The stun gun was found by a crew that was cleaning Flight 1179 from Boston around 10:20 p.m. Friday, after the flight had landed and all 96 passengers were off the plane.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police removed the stun gun from the plane and handed it over to the federal Transportation Security Administration, which is responsible for screening passengers.

The investigation, being led by the FBI’s office in Boston, is focusing on how the stun gun got onto the plane, Travers said.

“People get caught bringing stuff to the checkpoint all the time,” he said.

Travers said that by Monday morning it was not clear who may have brought the gun aboard.

Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman said there were no indications the stun gun was fired.

JetBlue spokesman Sebastian White said the plane’s next flight was slightly delayed.

Mitt Romney’s Jewish supporters find solace in the fact that, like them, Mitt Romney comes from a “religious minority.”

An “emphasis for Romney in his appeal to Jewish backers is the shared experience of being in a religious minority,” the Jerusalem Post wrote Monday morning. “Romney, 64, is a Mormon. ‘Mitt and I can appreciate coming from another heritage,’ his wife, Ann, told the Republican Jewish Coalition in April.”

The Post cites Romney’s “readiness to compromise in order to seal a deal” as another prominent Team Romney selling point for Jewish backers.

Gallup released polling last week showing Pres. Barack Obama’s approval rating is falling among Jewish voters. During June 2011, 60 percent of Jewish Americans liked the job Obama is doing — a figure 14 percent higher than Americans in general, but still a significant drop from Obama’s 68-percent favorability rating among Jewish voters in May 2011 or the 78-percent approval rating Jews gave Obama at the time of his 2008 election.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency examined two competing schools of thought regarding the cause of Obama’s falling Jewish numbers in an article published Sunday.

“The question is whether Obama’s Jewish popularity dip since ’08 stems from the same cause of his fall generally — America’s persistent economic problems — or whether it has to do with the president’s policies on Israel. Apparently the interpretation depends on who is answering: Democrats and Gallup say it’s the economy; Republicans say it’s Israel.”

EMAIL: jaskar@desnews.com twitter: askargo

Oil fell to the lowest level in a
week in New York as concern that the European debt crisis will
spread to Italy caused the euro to tumble against the dollar and
after Chinese imports slumped.

Oil dropped as much as 2 percent after Austria’s Finance
Minister Maria Fekter said euro-area finance ministers would
discuss Italian debt issues. The euro fell to a six-week low
against the dollar. A 10 percent decline in Chinese imports and
rising unemployment in the U.S. may indicate fuel demand will
falter in the world’s biggest crude-consuming nations.

“There’s some pressure on oil from concerns in the euro
zone,” said Tom Bentz, a broker with BNP Paribas Commodity
Futures Inc. in New York. “The euro got hit pretty good. The
negative jobs data in the U.S. from last week has cast a
negative cloud over the market, and there continues to be some
signs of slowing in China.”

Crude for August delivery fell 50 cents, or 0.5 percent, to
$95.70 a barrel at 10:05 a.m. on the New York Mercantile
Exchange. Earlier, it touched $94.32, the lowest level since
July 1. Prices have risen 26 percent in the past year.

Brent oil for August settlement declined $1.86, or 1.6
percent, to $116.47 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures
Europe exchange. The European benchmark contract was at a
premium of $20.77 a barrel to U.S. futures. It reached $22.13 on
July 8, just shy of a record $22.29 on June 15.

A meeting of European Union and European Commission chiefs
today was enlarged to include European Central Bank President
Jean-Claude Trichet, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and European Economic Commissioner Olli Rehn, amid
speculation Italy may be engulfed by the crisis and divisions on
how to structure aid for Greece.

Euro Tumbles

The euro dropped 1.5 percent to $1.4049. Earlier, it
touched $1.4026, the lowest intraday price since May 25.

Government reports in China showed net oil imports shrank
10 percent in June to the lowest level in eight months,
according to Bloomberg calculations, while inflation surged to a
three-year high. A U.S. Labor Department report July 8 showed
that the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to the highest
level this year in June.

The U.S. and China are the two largest oil-consuming
countries.

China imported 19.7 million metric tons and exported
270,000 tons of crude, customs data showed. Net imports of fuel,
including gasoline and diesel, rose to 1.36 million tons in June
from 930,000 tons in May, according to the data. Net purchases
reached a 29-month high of 2.07 million tons in December.

U.S. equities also tumbled the most in two weeks on the
Italian concerns and Chinese inflation report.

The Standard Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.2 percent to
1,328.07. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 114.50
points, or 0.9 percent, to 12,542.70.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Margot Habiby in Dallas at mhabiby@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Dan Stets at dstets@bloomberg.net.

Groupon is changing its privacy policies to allow it to collect more information as it offers more deals targeted to users based on their locations.

The Chicago-based deal site announced the changes in an email to its 83 million subscribers Sunday, saying that the new policies are part of an effort to provide greater transparency about the way it handles private information about users.
The announcements come as the company seeks to go public and on the heels of its launch of Groupon Now, a mobile service that provides instant deals based on a user’s location.

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“In short, if you use a Groupon mobile app and you allow sharing through your device, Groupon may collect geo-location information from the device and use it for marketing deals to you,” the company said.

The company broadened its definition of “personal information” to include “interests and habits” and said a partnership that provides travel deals with Expedia means that personal information can be shared with the travel site if users subscribe to receive travel deals.

Groupon said other information it collects and shares with Expedia and for use on Groupon Now could include relationship information, transaction information, financial account information and mobile location information.

The deal company said customers can control what is shared and collected by Groupon.

Consumers can manage their email preferences and subscriptions through their account setting, how cookies are handled through their browsers and can opt out of being targeted by certain third-party advertising companies by clicking links provided in the Groupon’s privacy policy. Users who wish to opt out of receiving offers from Groupon’s business partners can follow opt-out instructions that come in emails those companies send out. Users can also stop their mobile devices from sharing location information with Groupon by adjusting the privacy settings on their phones.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) — Shares of Arch Chemicals (NYSE:ARJ) were gapping up Monday morning with an open price 11.2% higher than Friday’s closing price. The stock closed at $42.17 Friday and opened today’s trading at $46.88.

The average volume for Arch has been 182,900 shares per day over the past 30 days. Arch has a market cap of $963.9 million and is part of the basic materials sector and chemicals industry. Shares are up 11.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

Arch Chemicals, Inc., a biocides company, provides chemistry-based and related solutions to destroy and control the growth of harmful microbes in the United States and internationally. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.8, above the average chemicals industry P/E ratio of 13.6 and below the SP 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Arch as a buy. The company’s strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in stock price during the past year, impressive record of earnings per share growth, revenue growth, reasonable valuation levels and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. You can view the full Arch Ratings Report.

Get more investment ideas from our investment research center.

Interested in other stocks that are gapping up? Get free SMS text alerts sent to you when the action happens by texting UP to 95370 or select from multiple alert options.

For more information on Arch Chemicals Inc. click any of the following:

Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:54am EDT

* Sees IPO of 22.3 mln shares at $16-$18/shr

* Key stockholders Bain Capital, Caryle, THL not selling
shares in IPO

* IPO to get better-than-anticipated reaction from investors
- analyst

(Rewrites throughout, adds analysts comments, details,
background)

By Brenton Cordeiro and Tanya Agrawal

BANGALORE, July 11 (Reuters) – Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc,
known for its Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins ice cream, has
set a price range for its public offering, valuing the company
at as much as $2.3 billion, at a time when IPOs have had mixed
reception from investors.

The company, taken private in a $2.4 billion deal in 2005 by
a consortium including Bain Capital, Carlyle Group and
Thomas H. Lee Partners, said it was offering about 22.3 million
shares at a price band of $16-$18 apiece.

“Dunkin’ Brands has been transformed quite dramatically into
something new relative to the takeover. There are some very
smart people directing the company,” said David Menlow,
president of IPOfinancial.com. “I think it (the IPO) will get a
better-than-anticipated reaction from investors.”

While most tech offerings, including those from LinkedIn
Corp and Yandex , had strong trading debuts,
companies like Vanguard Health Systems priced its IPO
below its filed range, and Stewart Stevenson LLC postponed its
market debut.

The initial public offering of Toys R US , the
world’s largest toy retailer is now expected in 2012. It had
filed for an IPO in May last year.

“The Dunkin’ brand is not time sensitive. It has developed a
huge brand awareness with Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins,”
said Scott Sweet, senior managing partner at IPO Boutique.

“Consumers will travel for miles to get to Dunkin’ Donuts.”

Dunkin’ Brands, with over 16,000 outlets in 57 countries,
earned $26.9 million on revenue of $577.1 million in the year
ended Dec. 25.

Previously part of Allied Domecq, it competes with Dairy
Queen, Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks Corp . When
Pernod Ricard the world’s No.2 spirits maker, acquired
Allied Domecq in 2005, it ditched the Dunkin’ Brands businesses.

“Dunkin’ is probably recession resistant. They have a lot of
growth in their business,” said BGB Securities analyst Sam Yake.

Bain Capital, Carlyle and THL would collectively will own
about three-fourths of the company after the offering. None of
them are selling their shares in the IPO.

In a regulatory filing on Monday, Dunkin’ Brands said it
expects to receive net proceeds of about $348.4 million from the
offering.

Dunkin’ Brands, which expects to list on Nasdaq under the
symbol “DNKN,” plans to use the proceeds to repay debt and for
working capital.

In May, the company filed for an IPO of up to $400 million.

Post IPO, the company will have about 126.4 million shares
outstanding excluding the over-allotment option.

(Reporting by Brenton Cordeiro and Tanya Agrawal; Editing by
Don Sebastian and Gopakumar Warrier)

An economist would actually call the decision not to sell the ball a completely rational move

Over the weekend, New York Yankee Derek Jeter joined a small club of major leaguers to achieve 3,000 hits. But the hit came with a twist: Jeter crushed it deep over the left-field fence for a homer. So unlike most milestone hits that remain within the park, this one was caught by a fan, 23-year-old Christian Lopez. The real shocker: rather than cash in by auctioning off the ball, he gave it back to Jeter. Is he nuts? An economist would say that his decision was perfectly reasonable.

So how much money might the ball have fetched? According to one Bloomberg report, it almost certainly could have been sold for somewhere between $75,000 and $250,000 at auction. What did he get for giving it back to Jeter? The Yankees did show their appreciation. The New York Daily News reports:

In return for his big-hearted gift the Yanks have given the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Lopez, four luxury box seats for every game of the rest of the season, plus the playoffs.

He also got several signed bats, balls and jerseys and a meeting with Jeter – but the sweetest gift was the love Lopez felt from other Yankees boosters.

Business Insider estimates that the seats alone are probably worth about $40,000. But that’s still a ways off a possible $250,000 haul. Did Lopez make a huge mistake?

Criticizing Lopez’s decision as crazy misses the maxim that “money isn’t everything.” But more importantly, it ignores an important aspect of basic economics that supports that maxim: utility theory. It teaches that money isn’t a person’s ultimate goal. Instead, they seek to maximize their personal utility. Think of utility as happiness: while money certainly plays a role in happiness for many people, it isn’t all that matters.

Seeing this theory in practice isn’t difficult. Different people have different preferences. Imagine two people with precisely the same aptitude for math. One might go to Wall Street and happily make gobs of money. The other might choose to teach high school instead, giving up fortune for a job he or she feels is more rewarding or enjoyable. For some — if not most — people, money is only a small part of what defines their happiness.

In the case of Lopez, his personal utility prioritized whatever satisfaction that he would derive by giving the ball back above the monetary benefit that would result from auctioning it off. And that’s perfectly rational. In this case, the perks that the Yankees provided may have just been a bonus to Lopez.

To another person, however, giving the ball back might have been completely irrational. For example, a New York Mets fan might have sold the ball. Feeling less allegiance to Jeter and the Yankees, this person might have preferred the money. We can only imagine what a Boston Red Sox fan might have done with it. Perhaps a Yankee-hater would have destroyed the ball out of pure spite.

You could argue that Lopez didn’t realize how much the ball could have been sold for, so he might have behaved differently even to maximize his own utility had he known its value. But even now, after we can be certain that several people have informed him of how much money he gave up, he doesn’t appear to regret the decision. From the Daily News article:

“I would do it the same way if I had to do it all over again,” Lopez said, sipping a beer as he watched CC Sabathia hurl a 1-0 gem. “I’ve had no second thoughts. It was the right thing to do. I wouldn’t change anything.”

And why should he? His internal preferences dictated precisely the action he took.

Image: Lopez shakes hands with Jeter. Credit: REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine

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The White House meeting between President Obama and congressional leaders on a debt and deficit reduction deal ended with little progress on Sunday. The lawmakers plan to keep meeting daily until a deal is struck, officials said. (July 10)

Gallery

Debt ceiling doomsday scenario: What happens if Congress fails to raise the debt limit and the U.S. can no longer make payments on its obligations?

Click the chart for more market data.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — U.S. stocks sank Monday as investors were spooked by worries that Europe’s debt crisis could spread to Italy, one of Europe’s largest economies.

The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) sank 146 points, or 1.2%, in the early going. The SP 500 (SPX) fell 19 points, or 1.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) fell 36 points, or 1.3%.

The selling was broad-based, with only two Dow stocks in the black. Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500) and JPMorgan (JPM, Fortune 500) were among the worst performers, while McDonalds (MCD, Fortune 500) and Home Depot (HD, Fortune 500) clung to modest gains.

In Europe, stocks fell sharply in London, Frankfurt and Paris on concerns about Italy’s banking sector and the nation’s debt load. European officials have called meetings Monday to discuss Greece and other debt-stricken members of the European Union.

Traders are concerned that the fiscal problems facing smaller EU members such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland may be spreading to larger members of the monetary union.

“Contagion fears are a negative for euroland,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Avalon Partners.

Investors flocked to assets that are seen as safer alternatives to stocks. The U.S. dollar gained 1.4% against the euro, while demand for U.S. Treasurys rose, driving yields lower. Gold prices rose near record levels and oil prices dropped.

In the United States, investors have been grappling with signs the nation’s economy is deteriorating, including a much weaker than expected report on the nation’s job market last week. The ongoing political impasse on the U.S. debt ceiling is also weighing on the market.

Job market stinks! Let’s buy U.S. bonds? – The Buzz

Meanwhile, the second quarter corporate reporting period gets underway this week, with results from Alcoa after the closing bell Monday.

The three major indexes posted modest gains last week as concerns about the U.S. economy continue to weigh on the market.

Economy: There are not major economic reports on the agenda Monday, but investors will keep a close eye on the deficit showdown in Washington.

Lawmakers will resume talks to raise the debt ceiling, and President Obama is scheduled to hold a news conference on the issue Monday morning.

Companies: News Corp. (NWSA, Fortune 500) sank 4.6% as the company continues to deal with the fallout stemming from the”News of the World” hacking scandal. Investors expressed concern that the hacking scandal may stop regulators from approving News Corp.’s bid to purchase British TV provider BSkyB.

Dow component Alcoa (AA, Fortune 500) will be the first major company to release quarterly results, due out after the closing bell Monday. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the aluminum maker to post earnings per share of 32 cents on revenue of $6.31 billion.

World markets: European stocks dipped in morning trading. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 1%, the DAX in Germany lost 2% and France’s CAC 40 declined 2.4%.

Asian markets ended mostly lower. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong dropped 1.7% and Japan’s Nikkei lost 0.7%. The Shanghai Composite was the lone bright spot, increasing 0.2%

Currencies and commodities: The dollar strengthened against the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound.

Oil for August delivery slipped $1.50 to $94.70 a barrel.

Gold futures for August delivery rose $12 to $1,553.60 an ounce.

Bonds: The price on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury fell, pushing the yield down to 2.97% from 3.15% late Friday.  

Tiger Woods to Make ‘Special Announcement’ Monday

Published July 11, 2011

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May 12: Tiger Woods hits from the second fairway during the first round of The Players Championship golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

LOS ANGELES –  Fourteen-time major champion Tiger Woods is set to make a “special announcement” Monday on the Golf Channel, but details on what he would be addressing were a mystery.

The 35-year-old announced last week that he was pulling out of this week’s British Open as he continues to recover from knee and Achilles injuries, and the unknown nature of this latest address sparked speculation across the web that he would be taking an extended break from the game.

There was even some suggestion that he may retire, although Woods only said last week, “I think my best years are still ahead of me and I’m very confident and optimistic about the future.”

Woods has been out of action since the middle of May after pulling out of the Players Championship with a mild medial collateral ligament sprain to his left knee and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon, suffered while hitting a shot from under a tree at the Masters in April.

The three-time British Open champion said last week that he would be more careful and take his time in coming back this year so as to fully get over his injuries.

Woods has not won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open and remains winless overall since late 2009, shortly before it emerged that he had multiple affairs, ultimately ending his marriage with Swedish model Elin Nordegren.

The announcement will take place Monday at 11:00am ET, when he will sit down with the Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman.

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After a three-day hiatus, jury selection resumes Monday morning in the trial of Roger Clemens, the former star pitcher accused of lying to Congress about taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Before we start exploring the nitty-gritty of today’s crop of potential jurors, I thought I would point out a story that ran Sunday about the selection process.

Among my favorite moments so far, all reported in that story, were the response of Roger Clemens’ attorney to a potential juror who said she was a Redskins fan; a juror who said baseball players all spit and scratch themselves; and another who disclosed only going to Nationals Park to catch the opera.

Oh, and federal prosecutors have asked many potential panelists to rate their sporting zeal on a scale of one to 10.

The box score so far: The judge has selected 18 potential jurors to sit on a final pool of 36 people eligible to sit in judgment of Clemens. Prosecutors and defense lawyers will then winnow that pool down to the final12. (There will also be four alternates.)

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton started on Wednesday with a group of 50 eligible D.C. residents. If he strikes more than three other potential jurors from that bunch, he must call in another 50 D.C. residents and read them all an 82-item questionnaire. That is a time-consuming process to say the least, and he is hoping to avoid having to do that. Still, Walton hopes to have jury selection wrapped up by Tuesday afternoon.

The trial is expected to last at least a month. Clemens is accused of committing perjury, obstructing Congress and making false statements when he testified before a House committee that he never took steroids or Human Growth Hormone.

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The Associated Press

SANDWICH, England — Coming off a record-breaking win at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy is paired with Ernie Els and Rickie Fowler for the first two rounds of the British Open.

England’s Justin Rose tees off on the 14th hole during a practice round at Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, England, Monday, July, 11, 2011. The British Open Golf Championship will be held at the course from July 14-17th 2011. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Germany’s Martin Kaymer tees off on the 15th hole during a practice round at Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, England, Monday, July, 11, 2011. The British Open Golf Championship will be held at the course from July 14-17th 2011. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland had a 16-under score last month at Congressional. He’s favored to make it two majors in a row at Royal St. George’s.

Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa will play the first two rounds with American star Phil Mickelson and defending PGA champ Martin Kaymer.

The world’s top-ranked player, England’s Luke Donald, is paired Thursday and Friday with Ryo Ishikawa and Sergio Garcia. Donald solidified his spot in the rankings with a four-stroke victory this past weekend at the Scottish Open.

___

July 11, 2011 10:41 AM EDT

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

What would you do if you were suddenly in possession of the home run ball that Derek Jeter sent over the wall for his 3,000th hit? Knowing you, the scene would probably go something like this, below:

But 23-year-old Yankees fan Christian Lopez, who snagged the home run ball on Saturday, chose to be a good Samaritan rather than a happy miser. As you probably know by now, Lopez elected to give the ball to Jeter, albeit after the Yankees promised him a bunch of signed gear, free luxury box tickets for the rest of the season, and (drum roll here) free parking.

What would you have done? Sports Collectors Daily estimates that the ball could have earned Lopez as much as $300,000, or perhaps more if he held onto it for awhile. But Lopez contends that some things are more important than money.

DAFFY: What? Are you crazy?

Lopez says he has a bunch of student loans to pay off, and he’s probably going to be on the hook for taxes on the free stuff the Yankees gave him. So, was he honorable or foolish? Our operators are now taking your calls.

***
ABOUT LAST NIGHT

What you missed while dressing up for a night on the town …

• Only two hours until Tiger Woods’ big announcement. What could it be? There are some interesting guesses in the comments here.

• One of the greatest U.S. soccer goals ever, as called by Gus Johnson.

• Phillie Phanatic vs. Billy Idol.

***

TODAY IN MARK TRAIL …

Mark Cuban’s evil plans are endless, it seems.

Let’s take a moment to discuss a professional sport that isn’t locked out. On behalf of gmenhq.com, congratulations to Derek Jeter on  joining the 3,000 club on Saturday. In case you missed it, here is a link to the solo home run shot into left field.

Jeter had a monster game going 5 for 5 against the Rays, and I tip my hat to them, who showed the captain a great deal of respect after his home run shot by applauding with the rest of the crowd. I have watched Jeter since his rookie season, where he has truly been the face of the modern day Yankees. There are so many great memories of this team over the past 15 or so years, and he was always at the forefront leading his team to victory.

This day was so special that fellow professional New York sports players have come out to congratulate him on this accomplishment. Several Giants players, alumni and front office workers took to their computers to congratulate Jeter, check out Giants 101 to read on.

Even Giants captain Eli Manning had a few things to say to Jeter, who has served as an inspiration on how to lead a team in the tough New York market. You know it’s a special day in sports when members of other leagues take time to watch and comment on a historical feat. Congratualtions Derek!

U.S. women’s soccer team give fans thrills, chills

Social media lit up Sunday afternoon as the shorthanded U.S. women made an incredible late-game comeback to defeat favored Brazil. Along the way, they picked up some new fans of soccer and delighted those who already love the beautiful game. See if your reaction matches those below. (Did you miss it or want to see it again? Watch it on ESPN3 now.)

On ESPN.com Conversations

35cham: It was not just a victory. It was a victory extracted from the jaws of defeat. Well done USA world Cup team!

SGTRJ: One of the most thrilling sporting events, period, in any sport, men or women’s. … Really, if you didn’t watch the game, you’d swear some hyper sentimental Hollywood director dreamed the whole thing up. Just a thrilling win for US women’s soccer.

OSegura19: I’m so glad that non-American people were cheering for the U.S. in the stadium. It gave me chills when people started chanting USA! USA! USA!

Cster0905: Seriously, the class and execution of Megan Rapinoe’s cross could never be overstated. That was a thing of beauty – and exceptionally accurate. Abby was the emotional engine of the team today but, Rapinoe’s cross was the reason we tied the game.

trhyne: If they intended the re-kick on the second-half penalty to be due not to Solo but another player, she WOULDN’T have been given a yellow card. The attempt to retroactively rationalize a missed call is iffy.

SJansen22: As a fan of the United States, I’d say the referees weren’t that bad. I think the Red Card was a bit over the top but it’s plausible at full speed. I could see giving a penalty there but no red card. The encroachment call was technically right and the ref showed consistency in being very tight on penalties.

Tratu: Marta may be the best player right now, but she is also the best complainer on the field. I think that is why she was booed. I expected to see a great player and all I saw was a great complainer most of the time.

pjreiter: Way to go U.S.A.! We definitely needed this as a country. However, let’s please stop the lame “Team of Destiny” stuff. Soccer has nothing to do with destiny. It’s about skill and a little luck.

potsos76: One of the greatest games of football I’ve ever seen and certainly the most dramatic. Brazil has the individual talent, the USA has the fitness. The referee and her crew couldn’t help but insert themselves into the outcome with a truly amateur display of of officiating with terrible calls and omissions on both sides. Excellent display by the US team to come back and win it.

Chonch McSomething: I’m glad people won’t let Brazil’s poor sportsmanship/gamesmanship die. I’m a guy and I can only watch women’s soccer because they actually play rougher than men. I’ve become increasingly annoyed with the USMNT because of their increased use of diving as a way to eliminate a perceived disadvantage when playing European and South American teams and it’s been steadily pushing me away from the sport. It was a pleasant surprise to see the non-US fans rally to support our team for playing honorably and with heart and determination. I think it clearly shows how hungry the rest of the world is to return to a more honest style of play.

cjkinger: Ah sweet justice: Erika flopping, then getting a yellow card for it, but the best part is the USA gets the equalizer in EXTRA TIME as a result of Erika’s flop.

More Women’s World Cup on ESPN.com

On Twitter

JulieFoudy (@JulieFoudy) … Two moments where I had to collect myself. Ahhh. What a night.

sethmeyers21 (@Seth Meyers21) I will be petitioning @ESPYs to add a 5th nominee for “Best Play” on Wednesday. #Wambach

LeBron James (@KingJames) USA!! #HopeSolo. Congrats ladies

Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker): We gotta win the world cup after that comeback win!!!!

blakegriffin (@BlakeGriffin) This will probably be my only tweet about women’s soccer but Hope Solo has serious swag. Congrats to the us women’s team

Matt Barkley (@MattBarkley): Just saw the USA game on my DVR!!!! Wowwww I have goosebumps alll over! Unbelievable! Go USA!!!

brandichastain (@BrandiChastain) 2011 World Cup has been an amazingthe best is yet to come.Abby Wambach and Co. were just stellar tonight.How do you say winner? U-S-A

Eric LeGrand (@BigE52_RU) When I get better I may have to try out some of these soccer skills. After watching that game. Extra hyped right now. Team USA

Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) Watching the World Cup and seeing these women play w/ so much heart and determination make me so proud 2 b an American! #heartofchampions

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On Facebook

Keith Cunningham: I know little about soccer, but anyone who cannot appreciate the athletic achievement displayed by this team doesn’t really understand. It’s not about the sport really it’s about the athletes. If you don’t get it, stick to your video games. Well done USA ladies!

Charles Sowell: That should definitely win an ESPY next year! In fact, I want to be the first to nominate this victory for the comeback of the year ESPY for 2012!

Cory Seitzinger: Best female soccer match I’ve ever seen!! What perserverence, despite the officials trying to take the game from them! UNBELIEVABLE

Chris Ellerbe: don’t like “football” that much buuutt..yea that was awesome! with the ref tripping every two mins. , bad calls, 10 on 11, and Brazil faking injuries to waste time..which came back to bite them in the butt. very impressive ladies.

Roberto Tinajero: Best soccer game I have ever watched. Men or women it’s been absolutely amazing.

Comment on http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Thanks to her ubiquitous hit “Friday,” Rebecca Black quickly went from YouTube sensation to starring in a Katy Perry video for that singer’s equally ubiquitous hit “Last Friday Night.” Now Black is ready to take her career to the next level.

She’ll release a new song, “My Moment,” on July 18, according to The Hollywood Reporter The song was written by Brandon “Blue” Hamilton (Justin Bieber) and Quinton Tolbert and the production credits include Charlton Pettus.

The video is less kitschy (but perhaps just as literal) than her “Friday” video. It will include footage of her attending red-carpet events and receiving an award at her junior high school. It will “tell the story of her sudden rise to fame,” according to a statement. “It’s a fairy tale story, but it happened in real life.”

Black is also working on finishing up her five-track EP, which will be released in August. “We’re thinking about it; we have so many different options right now. We’re trying to decide which route we should take,” Black told MTV News earlier this year about her career plans and following up her viral smash.

“I really like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez; all just the fun upbeat stuff, teenager songs,” she said of her musical inspirations. “My dream duet would be Justin Bieber. Even just doing something with Taylor Swift, or any of my favorite artists would be so cool.”

Are you looking forward to Rebecca Black’s next single? Tell us in the comments!

Emily Maynard

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When a couple get engaged on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, “I get caught up in the moment just like our viewers do,” host Chris Harrison tells PEOPLE.

But when a couple part ways, like Bachelor Brad Womack and his fiancée, Emily Maynard, recently did – well, that’s a different story.

“I believed Brad and Emily would work,” says Harrison, whose one-on-one chat with Maynard will air during The Bachelorette Monday, 8 p.m. on ABC. “I knew the interview was going to be very difficult for her and for me.”

From the moment her car pulled up in front of the Bachelor mansion, the single mom from Charlotte, N.C., couldn’t conceal her heartbreak, Harrison says.

“She saw the house and she saw me, and from there on it was really an emotional roller coaster for her. It was tough for her to be back in that house where it all started,” he says.

“She thought she’d be planning a wedding or even be married to Brad. She told me in the interview, ‘I never thought I would be this girl coming on this show saying why we broke up and why it couldn’t work.’ ”

Harrison says that if Maynard had her way, she never would have appeared on camera to confirm the split.

“I want people to know she was very reluctant to come on,” Harrison says. “Because of all of the media attention, all the tabloids, all the paparazzi and this insatiable appetite for information on the relationship, she kind of bit the bullet and was the one to step forward and it was incredibly brave of her to speak up all by herself.”

He added, “In a way, it wasn’t an interview, but this was her saying it out loud for the first time and making it real.”

From the PEOPLE TV Archive

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  Wow. Where to even begin?

So, Jason Stackhouse is still tied to that bed frame up in Hotshot, and now, thanks to some certainly illegal Mexican Viagra, that old, stained mattress is the site of — yes, I’ll just go ahead and call it — the most unsettling sex scene in the history of the show this side of Bill’s head-turning romp with Lorena last year. Midway through his migration from human to werepanther, Sookie’s brother is called on to begin his child-fathering duties by a desperate Crystal, who’s excited to replenish the ranks of her pack with some outsider blood. But really, did the young ‘uns have to stand in the background and watch the procreatin’ take place? That’s just not anything you want to see.

Better to think about our newly amnesiac Eric Northman, who agrees not to bite Sookie — or touch her without her permission — after she offers to help him recover his sense of himself. She takes Eric back to her home (which, of course, he doesn’t recollect having purchased) and invites him in — admonishing him not to track mud on the rug. She offers to find him something of Jason’s to wear, which, of course, seems silly as there’s no possible way Eric and Jason are the same size, but I digress.

In any case, Sookie phones Pam to tell her about Eric’s condition, and the vampire arrives at the house terrified for the safety of her maker. Pam is convinced that Bill sent Eric to deal with the witches’ coven, knowing full well that he might not make it out of the encounter alive (or is that undead?). Pam convinces Sookie that she needs to hide Eric for the immediate future, and Sookie reluctantly agrees.

As for the witches who cast that spell, Lafayette believes his best course of action is to go to Fangtasia and beg Eric’s forgiveness, though Jesus and Tara are convinced that doing any such thing is tantamount to suicide. Ignoring their advice, he ducks out of his shift at Merlotte’s and heads to the club, where Pam intends to torture whatever information Lafayette might have out of him. But before long, Tara and Jesus arrive to rescue him, Tara brandishing a gun loaded with wooden bullets as Jesus suggests that the circle might be able to reverse the spell if Lafayette is released unharmed. Pam tells them they have 24 hours to bring Marnie, the leader of the coven, to her or face, well, rather dire consequences.

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With the last edition of Britain’s News of the World tabloid in hand, Rupert Murdoch descended on the U.K. Sunday to face the growing phone-hacking scandal that prompted the paper’s closure. (July 10)

Timeline

News of the World scandal

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It was a weekend of babies in the celebrity world, as Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy welcomed a baby boy into the world on Saturday night.  A rep confirmed that the Oscar-nominated actress gave birth to a healthy baby boy in Los Angeles, who weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz.  This little bundle of joy is Hudson and Belamy’s first baby together, and he’ll join big brother Ryder, Hudson’s 7-year-old son with ex-husband Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes (Kate certainly likes those musician types doesn’t she?).

Hudson and Bellamy officially announced their romance in late spring 2010 and confirmed Kate’s pregnancy in January 2011.  Hudson initially shot down rumors of tying the knot with her Grammy-winning beau, stating, “I don’t feel it necessary to get married,” on the British chat show The Graham Norton Show.  Yet on April 27th the mother of two debuted an engagement ring (worth an estimated $200,000) on the Today show that nearly knocked poor Matt Lauer out of his seat.  Hudson slyly remarked, “I haven’t really announced it, I was waiting for someone to notice.”  Who wouldn’t notice that thing?

Does the couple plan on having more kids in the future?  It’s highly likely.  Hudson told Marie Claire last month that “I love being pregnant…. I could be pregnant all the time.”  But for now it’s just the start to a wonderful family with a brand new baby for Grandma Goldie to spoil.  Hudson, Bellamy and the baby are expected to spend time together at Bellamy’s home in London while he records a new album.  Congrats to the happy parents!

Source: US

By CHARLES WILSON, Associated Press
–
1 hour ago

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A 16-year-old boy accused of shooting a former classmate at a central Indiana school last spring has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Morgan Superior Court Judge D. Thomas Gray issued his verdict Monday after a brief trial in which accused shooter Michael Phelps of Martinsville and victim Chance Jackson were the only two to testify.

Phelps was accused of shooting the 15-year-old Jackson at Martinsville West Middle School on March 25. Jackson survived but is still recovering.

Phelps testified he intended to kill Jackson when he shot him.

Phelps had previously waived a jury trial, and prosecutors and defense attorneys waived opening arguments Monday.

Gray scheduled sentencing for Aug. 12.

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

By CHARLES WILSON, Associated Press
–
1 hour ago

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A 16-year-old boy accused of shooting a former classmate at a central Indiana school last spring has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Morgan Superior Court Judge D. Thomas Gray issued his verdict Monday after a brief trial in which accused shooter Michael Phelps of Martinsville and victim Chance Jackson were the only two to testify.

Phelps was accused of shooting the 15-year-old Jackson at Martinsville West Middle School on March 25. Jackson survived but is still recovering.

Phelps testified he intended to kill Jackson when he shot him.

Phelps had previously waived a jury trial, and prosecutors and defense attorneys waived opening arguments Monday.

Gray scheduled sentencing for Aug. 12.

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Bachmann leads Romney in new Iowa survey

How to honor former first lady Betty Ford

Bachmann leads Romney in new Iowa survey

How to honor former first lady Betty Ford

(CBS News) 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dazzled this weekend in Southern California.

From polo to shining with the stars, Prince William and his new bride, Catherine, had a full schedule for their one stop in the U.S. – their first official visit to the States.

CBS News Royal Contributor Victoria Arbiter said on “The Early Show” the stop was an enormous success for the couple, as well as the British royal family as a whole.

Pictures: William Kate wrap up California tour

“(The trip) really promoted their interests, put them right back at the forefront of media coverage, and so I think William and Kate can go home very happy, having also raised – early estimates are saying – $5 million for charity.”

The trip to the U.S. included a polo match. William’s team won, and the prince himself scored four points. A good thing, too, according to Arbiter, because William is a “terrible, shocking loser.”

“He’s very competitive, but he’s a good player, he and (his brother Prince) Harry,” Arbiter said. “I’m delighted to say his team did win. … It was nice for us, because Kate was presenting the prize, the Tiffany and Co. cup, which meant we did get to see a little royal kiss. We haven’t gotten to see one of those since the wedding day on the balcony.”

“Early Show” co-anchor Erica Hill said, “It did feel a little royal, though. It was the kiss on two cheeks. Not a kiss-kiss, (but) still very nice!”

Pictures: Newlyweds attend BAFTA gala
Pictures: William and Kate at charity polo match
Pictures: William and Kate arrive in California

The couple also attended an event for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, of which William is president. And the stars, for once, Hill noted, seemed star-struck themselves.

Arbiter agreed, saying, “Nicole Kidman was positively giddy at the idea of meeting the prince. She thought she might be too shy to even speak with him, but her mother was very proud she was going. The idea was to take 42 up-and-coming British artists, whether they were writers, actors, set designers and put them in among Hollywood’s movers and shakers to give them a head start. And William is very keen to focus on the needs of young people and give them a chance in life.”

The couple also visited inner-city children on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, the homeless capital of the world. Arbiter explained that 30,000 at-risk kids live within a three-mile radius of the center.

Arbiter said, “William is so focused on the needs of the homeless — he took on Princess Diana’s patronage of (the United Kingdom charitable organization) Centrepoint. Much of what they do in city arts compliments the work of Centrepoint. … Kate painted a fabulous red snail and William, he was asked to help with a giant red tortoise. He got clay all down his suit and hand prints.”

Hill noted the couple also flew home on a commercial airline.

“People are often surprised to learn the royal family does, every now and then, fly commercially,” Arbiter said. “They would have had their entourage with them, flew first class. They were in the front first two seats, and the entourage would have acted as a buffer between the rest of the passengers. But they’re very proud to fly British Airways. And for Kate’s mother, who’s a former British Airways flight attendant, it’s quite a nice full-circle moment.”

Arbiter added, “They need to get home just like everyone else. (There’s) no need for them to fly a private jet all that way when British Airways has a flight going in the same direction. It’s another way to support British industry, which was the whole idea of this trip.”

(CBS News) 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dazzled this weekend in Southern California.

From polo to shining with the stars, Prince William and his new bride, Catherine, had a full schedule for their one stop in the U.S. – their first official visit to the States.

CBS News Royal Contributor Victoria Arbiter said on “The Early Show” the stop was an enormous success for the couple, as well as the British royal family as a whole.

Pictures: William Kate wrap up California tour

“(The trip) really promoted their interests, put them right back at the forefront of media coverage, and so I think William and Kate can go home very happy, having also raised – early estimates are saying – $5 million for charity.”

The trip to the U.S. included a polo match. William’s team won, and the prince himself scored four points. A good thing, too, according to Arbiter, because William is a “terrible, shocking loser.”

“He’s very competitive, but he’s a good player, he and (his brother Prince) Harry,” Arbiter said. “I’m delighted to say his team did win. … It was nice for us, because Kate was presenting the prize, the Tiffany and Co. cup, which meant we did get to see a little royal kiss. We haven’t gotten to see one of those since the wedding day on the balcony.”

“Early Show” co-anchor Erica Hill said, “It did feel a little royal, though. It was the kiss on two cheeks. Not a kiss-kiss, (but) still very nice!”

Pictures: Newlyweds attend BAFTA gala
Pictures: William and Kate at charity polo match
Pictures: William and Kate arrive in California

The couple also attended an event for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, of which William is president. And the stars, for once, Hill noted, seemed star-struck themselves.

Arbiter agreed, saying, “Nicole Kidman was positively giddy at the idea of meeting the prince. She thought she might be too shy to even speak with him, but her mother was very proud she was going. The idea was to take 42 up-and-coming British artists, whether they were writers, actors, set designers and put them in among Hollywood’s movers and shakers to give them a head start. And William is very keen to focus on the needs of young people and give them a chance in life.”

The couple also visited inner-city children on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, the homeless capital of the world. Arbiter explained that 30,000 at-risk kids live within a three-mile radius of the center.

Arbiter said, “William is so focused on the needs of the homeless — he took on Princess Diana’s patronage of (the United Kingdom charitable organization) Centrepoint. Much of what they do in city arts compliments the work of Centrepoint. … Kate painted a fabulous red snail and William, he was asked to help with a giant red tortoise. He got clay all down his suit and hand prints.”

Hill noted the couple also flew home on a commercial airline.

“People are often surprised to learn the royal family does, every now and then, fly commercially,” Arbiter said. “They would have had their entourage with them, flew first class. They were in the front first two seats, and the entourage would have acted as a buffer between the rest of the passengers. But they’re very proud to fly British Airways. And for Kate’s mother, who’s a former British Airways flight attendant, it’s quite a nice full-circle moment.”

Arbiter added, “They need to get home just like everyone else. (There’s) no need for them to fly a private jet all that way when British Airways has a flight going in the same direction. It’s another way to support British industry, which was the whole idea of this trip.”

After years of bucolic images of New England and Iowa same-sex weddings, New York‘s gay couples are pushing the glamour factor as they race to the altar to legally wed at last, beginning July 24.

• 

  By Mario Tama, Getty Images

  Joe Bednar, right, and Phil Mason march in New York City’s pride parade June 26, two days after state lawmakers legalized same-sex marriage.

By Mario Tama, Getty Images

Joe Bednar, right, and Phil Mason march in New York City’s pride parade June 26, two days after state lawmakers legalized same-sex marriage.

Ceremonies are booked from the Four Seasons to Gracie Mansion, where the mayor himself will officiate at the wedding of two aides.

Yet even before New York joined five other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing these marriages, the trend’s economic and social impact was becoming visible since Massachusetts led the way in 2004.

It can be seen in impersonal statistics and in the deeply personal stories of gay couples, their supporters and the opponents of this cultural shift.

• MORE: N.Y. legalizes gay marriage

• BLOG: Gay marriage impact: Changing minds

An estimated 9% of the 581,300 same-sex couples in the USA have married in this country since 2004, according to studies by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

In several reports, drawn on data from state administrative offices, surveys and Census data, the institute finds:

Gay marriage status by state

Same sex marriage and civil union laws by state:

• Six states plus the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage: Connecticut (2008), Iowa (2009), Massachusetts (2004), New Hampshire (2010), New York (2011) and Vermont (2009).

• Five states permit civil unions: Delaware (2011), Hawaii (2011), Illinois (2011), New Jersey (2006) and, as of July 2, Rhode Island. Three of those states — Delaware,Hawaii and Illinois — also have laws restricting marriage to one man and one woman.

• Gay marriage and civil unions are still a legal battleground in New Mexico where no law currently forbids either.

• Forty-one states have laws or constitutional amendments restricting marriage to one man and one woman.

Source: Human Rights Campaign

•About 50,000 same-sex couples have married in places where it is legal and during the time it was legal in California.

•An additional 30,000 couples who say they’re legally married may have wed in Canada or Europe.

•About 38% of same-sex couples living in states that allow them to marry are currently married.

•The divorce or dissolution rate for same-sex and opposite-sex couples remains about the same, about 2% of couples per year in any state that has marriage or civil union registrations.

Gay marriage appears to have had no measurable impact on the rates of marriages, divorces or childbirth among state residents who are not gay, says Brad Sears, executive director of the Williams Institute.

Child custody and parental rights cases are too few and too scattered among the courts to establish any pattern, Sears says.

New York can expect a cloudburst of wedding confetti come July 24, Sears says. He estimates, based on other states, that about half of all same-sex couples will marry or have a civil union in the first three years after such ceremonies become legal.

The “I do” deluge in Massachusetts pumped about $100 million into the state economy from 2004 to 2007, the institute found.

One couple could turn up in two states’ tallies.

Keith Hershberger and Kevin Green, a Brooklyn couple who once planned to move to Massachusetts, were 32nd in line to get a marriage license in Cambridge Mass., the first day they were available in 2004.

They wed in Lynn, Mass., in a double ceremony with friends. Now they’re planning a recommitment ceremony in New York.

“Our experience has been all positive,” says Hershberger, who recalls how his father, who once shunned him for speaking about his gay life, is now “a quiet champion for gay marriage.”

That’s the kind of story that disturbs Kris Mineau, president of the 20-year-old Massachusetts Family Institute.

Over time, this trend, he says, has a “destabilizing effect on the values of our children and it is a threat to religious liberty and free speech.”

“Gays think this is a breakthrough to a new frontier, and we see it as a gateway to the breakdown of the family. If we don’t esteem the unique role of a man and a woman in committed matrimony, I fear for our nation,” says Mineau, who cites the Bible for his beliefs and describes himself as an evangelical Christian.

Most of the nation’s major religious denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as well as Mormons, Orthodox Jews and Muslims, do not permit their clergy to wed same-sex couples.

However, since 2004, several liberal denominations have begun to welcome gay clergy and agree to gay ceremonies.

Among them: the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Reform branch of Judaism.

The National Organization for Marriage — now revving up a campaign to drive New York Republicans who voted for gay marriage out of office — and the Alliance Defense Fund say religious protections in marriage-legalization bills are inadequate to protect individuals and damaging to religious institutions, particularly faith-based non-profit organizations.

Alliance attorney Austin Nimocks cites an example: The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston ceased offering adoption services because it would not allow gays to adopt children.

Posted | Updated

After years of bucolic images of New England and Iowa same-sex weddings, New York‘s gay couples are pushing the glamour factor as they race to the altar to legally wed at last, beginning July 24.

• 

  By Mario Tama, Getty Images

  Joe Bednar, right, and Phil Mason march in New York City’s pride parade June 26, two days after state lawmakers legalized same-sex marriage.

By Mario Tama, Getty Images

Joe Bednar, right, and Phil Mason march in New York City’s pride parade June 26, two days after state lawmakers legalized same-sex marriage.

Ceremonies are booked from the Four Seasons to Gracie Mansion, where the mayor himself will officiate at the wedding of two aides.

Yet even before New York joined five other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing these marriages, the trend’s economic and social impact was becoming visible since Massachusetts led the way in 2004.

It can be seen in impersonal statistics and in the deeply personal stories of gay couples, their supporters and the opponents of this cultural shift.

• MORE: N.Y. legalizes gay marriage

• BLOG: Gay marriage impact: Changing minds

An estimated 9% of the 581,300 same-sex couples in the USA have married in this country since 2004, according to studies by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

In several reports, drawn on data from state administrative offices, surveys and Census data, the institute finds:

Gay marriage status by state

Same sex marriage and civil union laws by state:

• Six states plus the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage: Connecticut (2008), Iowa (2009), Massachusetts (2004), New Hampshire (2010), New York (2011) and Vermont (2009).

• Five states permit civil unions: Delaware (2011), Hawaii (2011), Illinois (2011), New Jersey (2006) and, as of July 2, Rhode Island. Three of those states — Delaware,Hawaii and Illinois — also have laws restricting marriage to one man and one woman.

• Gay marriage and civil unions are still a legal battleground in New Mexico where no law currently forbids either.

• Forty-one states have laws or constitutional amendments restricting marriage to one man and one woman.

Source: Human Rights Campaign

•About 50,000 same-sex couples have married in places where it is legal and during the time it was legal in California.

•An additional 30,000 couples who say they’re legally married may have wed in Canada or Europe.

•About 38% of same-sex couples living in states that allow them to marry are currently married.

•The divorce or dissolution rate for same-sex and opposite-sex couples remains about the same, about 2% of couples per year in any state that has marriage or civil union registrations.

Gay marriage appears to have had no measurable impact on the rates of marriages, divorces or childbirth among state residents who are not gay, says Brad Sears, executive director of the Williams Institute.

Child custody and parental rights cases are too few and too scattered among the courts to establish any pattern, Sears says.

New York can expect a cloudburst of wedding confetti come July 24, Sears says. He estimates, based on other states, that about half of all same-sex couples will marry or have a civil union in the first three years after such ceremonies become legal.

The “I do” deluge in Massachusetts pumped about $100 million into the state economy from 2004 to 2007, the institute found.

One couple could turn up in two states’ tallies.

Keith Hershberger and Kevin Green, a Brooklyn couple who once planned to move to Massachusetts, were 32nd in line to get a marriage license in Cambridge Mass., the first day they were available in 2004.

They wed in Lynn, Mass., in a double ceremony with friends. Now they’re planning a recommitment ceremony in New York.

“Our experience has been all positive,” says Hershberger, who recalls how his father, who once shunned him for speaking about his gay life, is now “a quiet champion for gay marriage.”

That’s the kind of story that disturbs Kris Mineau, president of the 20-year-old Massachusetts Family Institute.

Over time, this trend, he says, has a “destabilizing effect on the values of our children and it is a threat to religious liberty and free speech.”

“Gays think this is a breakthrough to a new frontier, and we see it as a gateway to the breakdown of the family. If we don’t esteem the unique role of a man and a woman in committed matrimony, I fear for our nation,” says Mineau, who cites the Bible for his beliefs and describes himself as an evangelical Christian.

Most of the nation’s major religious denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as well as Mormons, Orthodox Jews and Muslims, do not permit their clergy to wed same-sex couples.

However, since 2004, several liberal denominations have begun to welcome gay clergy and agree to gay ceremonies.

Among them: the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Reform branch of Judaism.

The National Organization for Marriage — now revving up a campaign to drive New York Republicans who voted for gay marriage out of office — and the Alliance Defense Fund say religious protections in marriage-legalization bills are inadequate to protect individuals and damaging to religious institutions, particularly faith-based non-profit organizations.

Alliance attorney Austin Nimocks cites an example: The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston ceased offering adoption services because it would not allow gays to adopt children.

Posted | Updated

Mitt Romney’s Jewish supporters find solace in the fact that, like them, Mitt Romney comes from a “religious minority.”

An “emphasis for Romney in his appeal to Jewish backers is the shared experience of being in a religious minority,” the Jerusalem Post wrote Monday morning. “Romney, 64, is a Mormon. ‘Mitt and I can appreciate coming from another heritage,’ his wife, Ann, told the Republican Jewish Coalition in April.”

The Post cites Romney’s “readiness to compromise in order to seal a deal” as another prominent Team Romney selling point for Jewish backers.

Gallup released polling last week showing Pres. Barack Obama’s approval rating is falling among Jewish voters. During June 2011, 60 percent of Jewish Americans liked the job Obama is doing — a figure 14 percent higher than Americans in general, but still a significant drop from Obama’s 68-percent favorability rating among Jewish voters in May 2011 or the 78-percent approval rating Jews gave Obama at the time of his 2008 election.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency examined two competing schools of thought regarding the cause of Obama’s falling Jewish numbers in an article published Sunday.

“The question is whether Obama’s Jewish popularity dip since ’08 stems from the same cause of his fall generally — America’s persistent economic problems — or whether it has to do with the president’s policies on Israel. Apparently the interpretation depends on who is answering: Democrats and Gallup say it’s the economy; Republicans say it’s Israel.”

EMAIL: jaskar@desnews.com twitter: askargo

Mitt Romney’s Jewish supporters find solace in the fact that, like them, Mitt Romney comes from a “religious minority.”

An “emphasis for Romney in his appeal to Jewish backers is the shared experience of being in a religious minority,” the Jerusalem Post wrote Monday morning. “Romney, 64, is a Mormon. ‘Mitt and I can appreciate coming from another heritage,’ his wife, Ann, told the Republican Jewish Coalition in April.”

The Post cites Romney’s “readiness to compromise in order to seal a deal” as another prominent Team Romney selling point for Jewish backers.

Gallup released polling last week showing Pres. Barack Obama’s approval rating is falling among Jewish voters. During June 2011, 60 percent of Jewish Americans liked the job Obama is doing — a figure 14 percent higher than Americans in general, but still a significant drop from Obama’s 68-percent favorability rating among Jewish voters in May 2011 or the 78-percent approval rating Jews gave Obama at the time of his 2008 election.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency examined two competing schools of thought regarding the cause of Obama’s falling Jewish numbers in an article published Sunday.

“The question is whether Obama’s Jewish popularity dip since ’08 stems from the same cause of his fall generally — America’s persistent economic problems — or whether it has to do with the president’s policies on Israel. Apparently the interpretation depends on who is answering: Democrats and Gallup say it’s the economy; Republicans say it’s Israel.”

EMAIL: jaskar@desnews.com twitter: askargo

The Garridos pleaded guilty in April to kidnapping, raping and confining Dugard and were sentenced last month to long prison terms. The plea deal spared the victim from having to testify. During the trial, it was revealed that parole officials repeatedly visited the Garridos’ Antioch home but never ventured into the backyard, where they might have found Dugard.

She was discovered by police in 2009. When Dugard finally wrote down for police the name she had not used for 18 years, “it was like breaking an evil spell,” she said. “It was like a piece of me came back.”

–Martha Groves

ALSO:

Royal couple’s fans line up early for downtown L.A. appearance

Prince William, Catherine head to skid row to visit Inner-City Arts

Hollywood A-listers turn out for royal couple in L.A.    

Photo: ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, left, speaks with Jaycee Dugard in her first interview since being kidnapped near her South Lake Tahoe home in 1991, when she was 11.  (Jill Belsley, ABC News / July 1, 2011)

The Garridos pleaded guilty in April to kidnapping, raping and confining Dugard and were sentenced last month to long prison terms. The plea deal spared the victim from having to testify. During the trial, it was revealed that parole officials repeatedly visited the Garridos’ Antioch home but never ventured into the backyard, where they might have found Dugard.

She was discovered by police in 2009. When Dugard finally wrote down for police the name she had not used for 18 years, “it was like breaking an evil spell,” she said. “It was like a piece of me came back.”

–Martha Groves

ALSO:

Royal couple’s fans line up early for downtown L.A. appearance

Prince William, Catherine head to skid row to visit Inner-City Arts

Hollywood A-listers turn out for royal couple in L.A.    

Photo: ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, left, speaks with Jaycee Dugard in her first interview since being kidnapped near her South Lake Tahoe home in 1991, when she was 11.  (Jill Belsley, ABC News / July 1, 2011)

By Dan Strumpf

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)–Oil futures declined Monday, weighed by worries of debt contagion spreading in Europe and signs of weak crude demand in the U.S. and China.

Light, sweet crude for August delivery fell $1.14, or 1.2%, to $95.06 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on ICE Futures Europe gave up $2.23, or 1.9%, to $116.10 a barrel.

Senior euro-zone officials prepared to meet Monday to discuss another round of aid for Greece. They are aiming forestall a spread of the region’s debt crisis …

By Dan Strumpf

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)–Oil futures declined Monday, weighed by worries of debt contagion spreading in Europe and signs of weak crude demand in the U.S. and China.

Light, sweet crude for August delivery fell $1.14, or 1.2%, to $95.06 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on ICE Futures Europe gave up $2.23, or 1.9%, to $116.10 a barrel.

Senior euro-zone officials prepared to meet Monday to discuss another round of aid for Greece. They are aiming forestall a spread of the region’s debt crisis …

(AFP)
–
1 hour ago

LONDON — Shares in BSkyB plunged on Monday amid a phone hacking scandal endangering a multi-billion-dollar bid by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. for control of the British pay-TV company.

BSkyB stock slumped to 693 pence from 750 pence at the close on Friday, a drop of 7.6 percent. It recovered slightly by mid-day to 705 pence, a drop of six percent.

Shares in the satellite broadcaster slumped below the 700-pence a share offer price made by News Corp. last year for the 61 percent of BSkyB it does not own.

BSkyB’s shares were tumbling on Monday as Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg urged media baron Murdoch to scrap his bid for BSkyB amid the hacking scandal.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was due to address parliament on his decision to ask for new advice on BSkyB in a statement due at 1530 GMT.

Murdoch is in London to take personal charge of a situation that has caused the closure at the weekend of the News of the World tabloid newspaper, owned by News Corp.’s News International division.

Should the British government decide to wave through the deal, BSkyB still needs to agree on a price.

The broadcaster, which has a portfolio including live English Premier League football and blockbuster films, is holding out for more than the £7.8 billion ($12.5 billion, 8.6 billion euros) offered by News Corp. last year.

BSkyB wants an offer in excess of 800 pence a share, while the stock closed at 850 pence on July 4, mirroring the intraday level on June 30. The share price has thus dived by as much as 18 percent in just one week, in turn knocking £2.75 billion off the group’s value.

Analysts said the share price plunge reflected prospects that the deal may be scrapped.

“Investors hate uncertainty and with the markets racketing up BSkyB’s share price over the last few months on expectations of a successful bid coming through, that uncertainty is convincing investors to cash out their gains en masse in case that deal never comes through,” said Joshua Raymond, chief market strategist at City Index trading group.

The News of the World had been dogged by allegations of voicemail hacking for years. A royal reporter and a private investigator were jailed in 2007.

Claims last week that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the families of dead soldiers were targeted escalated the affair into a national scandal engulfing the government, the press and the police.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.
More »

(AFP)
–
1 hour ago

LONDON — Shares in BSkyB plunged on Monday amid a phone hacking scandal endangering a multi-billion-dollar bid by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. for control of the British pay-TV company.

BSkyB stock slumped to 693 pence from 750 pence at the close on Friday, a drop of 7.6 percent. It recovered slightly by mid-day to 705 pence, a drop of six percent.

Shares in the satellite broadcaster slumped below the 700-pence a share offer price made by News Corp. last year for the 61 percent of BSkyB it does not own.

BSkyB’s shares were tumbling on Monday as Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg urged media baron Murdoch to scrap his bid for BSkyB amid the hacking scandal.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was due to address parliament on his decision to ask for new advice on BSkyB in a statement due at 1530 GMT.

Murdoch is in London to take personal charge of a situation that has caused the closure at the weekend of the News of the World tabloid newspaper, owned by News Corp.’s News International division.

Should the British government decide to wave through the deal, BSkyB still needs to agree on a price.

The broadcaster, which has a portfolio including live English Premier League football and blockbuster films, is holding out for more than the £7.8 billion ($12.5 billion, 8.6 billion euros) offered by News Corp. last year.

BSkyB wants an offer in excess of 800 pence a share, while the stock closed at 850 pence on July 4, mirroring the intraday level on June 30. The share price has thus dived by as much as 18 percent in just one week, in turn knocking £2.75 billion off the group’s value.

Analysts said the share price plunge reflected prospects that the deal may be scrapped.

“Investors hate uncertainty and with the markets racketing up BSkyB’s share price over the last few months on expectations of a successful bid coming through, that uncertainty is convincing investors to cash out their gains en masse in case that deal never comes through,” said Joshua Raymond, chief market strategist at City Index trading group.

The News of the World had been dogged by allegations of voicemail hacking for years. A royal reporter and a private investigator were jailed in 2007.

Claims last week that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the families of dead soldiers were targeted escalated the affair into a national scandal engulfing the government, the press and the police.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.
More »

Image: MLB.com

A 23-year-old Verizon customer service rep had history and a potential six-figure payday fall into his lap on Saturday.

And then he gave it back.

Christian Lopez caught Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit — a homerun to right-center — but then returned the ball to the Yankee captain for a price well short of the $250,000 that Bloomberg reported the ball could be worth at auction.

Lopez has over $100,000 in student loans, but he told the New York Daily News, “I know I did the right thing. It never crossed my mind to not give it back. I’m only 23. I have plenty of time to make money.”

He did receive a little something for giving the ball back. The Yankees gave him four luxury box seats for all 32 remaining regular season games, as well as potential playoff and World Series games, worth about a total of $40,000.

Source: New York Daily News

Image: MLB.com

A 23-year-old Verizon customer service rep had history and a potential six-figure payday fall into his lap on Saturday.

And then he gave it back.

Christian Lopez caught Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit — a homerun to right-center — but then returned the ball to the Yankee captain for a price well short of the $250,000 that Bloomberg reported the ball could be worth at auction.

Lopez has over $100,000 in student loans, but he told the New York Daily News, “I know I did the right thing. It never crossed my mind to not give it back. I’m only 23. I have plenty of time to make money.”

He did receive a little something for giving the ball back. The Yankees gave him four luxury box seats for all 32 remaining regular season games, as well as potential playoff and World Series games, worth about a total of $40,000.

Source: New York Daily News