WAMU 88.5 : Morning Edition

Gallaudet Official Suspended For Signing Gay Marriage Referendum Petition

Play associated audio

A top official for Gallaudet University who was put on leave for signing a petition regarding the same-sex marriage referendum in Maryland will speak later today in Annapolis, according to the Associated Press.

Angela McCaskill is the school's chief diversity officer, and she was placed on leave for signing a petition to put Maryland's same-sex marriage law on the ballot. But she only signed it so the issue could be decided by the democratic process, according to her attorney, J. Wyndal Gordon.

McCaskill is not "anti-gay," Gordon told AP, noting that she has not expressed her personal view on the matter. She will do that in the voting booth, he added.

Gallaudet is the nation's leading university for the deaf and the hard of hearing. McCaskill, who lives in Upper Marlboro, was placed on leave last week. Gordon is exploring legal options to get her reinstated. 

NPR

James Gandolfini Dies; 'Sopranos' Actor Was 51

Actor James Gandolfini, 51, has reportedly died. Variety magazine reports that he suffered a "sudden stroke." The cause of death is not yet known with certainty, but HBO says the actor may have suffered a heart attack.
NPR

And The Winner Of The World Food Prize Is ... The Man From Monsanto

The prize is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize for food and agriculture." And this year's winners include Monsanto executive Robert Fraley, a pioneer in genetically engineered crops. If there's a single person who personifies the company's controversial role in American agriculture, it's probably Fraley.
NPR

Meet The New Governor: Sharply Partisan And Upwardly Mobile

For years, governors were considered the most pragmatic figures in politics. Now, they're using their states to run ideological experiments.
NPR

Microsoft Responds To Fan Outcry, Changes Xbox One Policies

Microsoft has changed policies regarding Internet connection and used game capabilities for its upcoming Xbox One gaming console. The company says it is responding to feedback from consumers.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.