Free Republic

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Friday that he expected same-sex marriage legislation to be approved before the end of the legislative session next week, and indicated that to win passage of the measure he is prepared to yield to Republican concerns for greater protections of religious groups. “I am a proponent of marriage equality, and I’m working very hard to make that a reality in New York,” Mr. Cuomo told reporters on Friday as lawmakers prepared to go home for the weekend. “I am also a proponent of religious freedom, and separation of church and state, so these...

Two police officers are on sick leave after being attacked by a mob in south London after they asked a 15-year-old girl to pick up her litter. One officer was dragged to the ground and kicked while the other was bitten by a girl who jumped on his back. Up to 30 people took part in the attack, which happened in North End, Croydon, on Wednesday afternoon. Trouble flared when the 15-year-old threw her food wrapper back on to the ground and became aggressive. Hospital treatment A girl who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault has been...

It had been a few years since Vern Ballard, 36, was entwined in courtship and obliged to display the affection romance demands. In the early weeks of getting to know this new woman, he said, the two of them passed hours upon hours in conversation but exchanged not an iota of physical contact until she took the initiative. One day, as their friendship inched toward what he hopes is a committed relationship, she covered his hand with her own and let it linger there for 10 minutes. "I need to know how to sustain that," said the City College computer...