NPR 2010-01-12

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham.

A federal trial is underway in San Francisco to determine whether the US Constitution bars states from outlawing 1 same-sex marriages. The proceedings 2 began in controversy 3 as the US Supreme 4 Court weighed in on a plan to post video of the proceedings on Youtube. NPR’s Karen Grigsby Bates reports.

Chief US District Judge Vaughn Walker made the decision to videotape the trial. Walker said because of the widespread interest in the issue and its importance, the videos would be posted on Youtube later in the day. But early Monday morning, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling that blocked the video transmission, saying the justices needed more time to review concerns from some witnesses who worried that they may be harassed 5. The ban is expected to remain in place until at least Wednesday. About 100 proponents 7 of same-sex marriage demonstrated and protested outside the courthouse as about a dozen supporters of Prop 6 8 stood silently with placards, supporting the initiative. The trial is expected to last about three weeks. Karen Grigsby Bates, NPR News.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the administration has concluded the tougher sanctions aimed at Iran's ruling elite 8. It’s the best way to prevail on that country to halt its uranium enrichment activities. Clinton said the final goal ahead on sanctions has not yet been given, but she added that the administration officials are moving in that direction after consulting widely with allies. Clinton was speaking to reporters en route to Hawaii for meetings with foreign ministers.

North Korea is calling for the signing of a peace treaty with the US to replace the truce 9 that ended the Korean War. The North Korean government added that ending hostilities 10 with the US and lifting sanctions against North Korea could pave the way for the resumption of nuclear disarmament talks. NPR's Anthony Kuhn has the story from Beijing.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry 11 said in a statement that a peace treaty between Pyongyang and Washington could end hostile relations between the two sides and quickly lead to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. It also said that sanctions imposed on the North after its nuclear tests had created an atmosphere of mistrust, and that lifting the sanctions could bring it back to the negotiating table. In Seoul, South Korea, meanwhile, US human rights envoy 12 Robert King told reporters that North Korea would have to improve its human rights situation which she called appalling 13 before the two countries could improve bilateral 14 relations. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Beijing.

A series of clashes and attacks in Afghanistan has killed six NATO troops including three Americans today. It was the deadliest day for the NATO-led force there in more than two months. The United States troops were killed in a firefight with militants 15 in southern Afghanistan.

The cold wave in the South and a resulting spike 16 in energy demand for heating is being blamed for knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses across the Deep South today. A hard freeze watch is posted in Florida until tomorrow.

On Wall Street at this hour, the Dow Industrial Average is up 26 points.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Federal health officials are pushing all Americans to get vaccinated 17 against the flu, especially the H1N1 swine flu, even though the number of cases of swine flu in the US has been declining in recent weeks. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says there is enough vaccine 18 now for everyone who wants it, not just those in high-risk groups.

"This is a serious disease. We have a vaccine that works, that's plentiful 19, and we really would urge all Americans to step up and protect yourselves and your loved ones, save lives and get vaccinated. " Sebelius speaking to kick off National Influenza 20 Vaccination 21 Week.

Former National Basketball Association star Jayson Williams has pleaded guilty in a plea bargain deal to the shooting death of his former limousine 22 driver. NPR's Mike Pesca has the story.

In the early morning of February 14th, 2002, Jayson Williams pointed 23 a loaded shotgun at his limo driver Costas Christofi. The gun went off, killing 24 the 55-year-old. A jury in 2004 acquitted 25 Williams of aggravated 26 manslaughter but convicted him of trying to cover up the incident by wiping the gun clean and telling those present to lie to police. That jury deadlocked 27 on a manslaughter charge which has been the subject of six years of legal wrangling 28. Today Williams has pleaded guilty to the lesser 29 charge of aggravated assault and must serve at least 18 months in prison. The former New Jersey 30 Nets star was forced out of the game by injury in 2000 but was still paid the entirety of his 86-million-dollar contract. Mike Pesca, NPR News, New York.

Stock prices have been mixed today on the start of a new trading week on Wall Street. The Dow was up 26 points at 10, 644, but the NASDAQ Composite Index is down 11 points.

I'm Craig Windham, NPR News in Washington.