>>Gay Activists Cheer DOMA Decision

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Local gay activists are cheering the Supreme Court striking down the federal Defense Of Marriage Act. Joshua Turner says for he and his partner, it's momentous.

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The ruling extends federal benefits, such as Social Security survivors' benefits, to same-sex couples. The decision also means each state must decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage.

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Gayle Ruzicka with Utah's Eagle Forum says the DOMA ruling likely won't provide momentum for legalizing same-sex marriage here.


>>Local Religious Leaders Sound Off On Gay Unions

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Faith leaders around Salt Lake City are reacting to yesterday's decision by the nation's high court ensuring all marriages are viewed the same by the federal government. church leaders like Reverend John Wester of Salt Lake City's Catholic Diocese say "marriage is a sacred and precious gift to mankind."

In a statement The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reconfirmed the church’s commitment to traditional marriage between a man and a woman while expressing concerns about the decisions.

"By ruling that supporters of Proposition 8 lacked standing to bring this case to court, the Supreme Court has highlighted troubling questions about how our democratic and judicial system operates," said LDS spokesman Michael Otterson. "Many Californians will wonder if there is something fundamentally wrong when their government will not defend or protect a popular vote that reflects the views of a majority of their citizens."

Otterson added that "the effect of the ruling is to raise further complex jurisdictional issues that will need to be resolved." Nonetheless, Otterson noted that "the court decision does not change the definition of marriage in nearly three-fourths of the states." "Regardless of the court decision," Otterson continued, "the (LDS) church remains irrevocably committed to strengthening traditional marriage between a man and a woman, which for thousands of years has proven to be the best environment for nurturing children.


>>Utahns Urged To 'Stay On Offensive' For Traditional Unions

(Sandy, UT) -- Advocates of same-sex marriage say "America needs Utah more than ever." Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court made a ruling assuring all married couples will be viewed the same by the federal government a Utah advocacy group told its members to continue their battle to maintain traditional marriage between a man and a woman. Speakers at yesterday's Celebration of Marriage event told the thousand people in attendance at South Towne Expo Center to quote, "stay on the offensive." In 2004, the state of Utah passed Amendment Three which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.


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>>Huge Synthetic Drug Bust

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First a raid, now 14 Utahns are facing felony charges for allegedly distributing the synthetic drug spice. Frank Smith with DEA Utah says the raided Hurricane warehouse was one of the biggest distribution points.

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The DEA says the six-month sting was the largest in agency history. The Utah participants are accused of distributing over 26-hundred pounds since 2011. Court documents say 150 people packaged and sold the spice in stores and online.


UTAH – The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather warning for large portions of Utah as temperatures are expected to reach triple digits for several days. heat advisory was issued Wednesday afternoon for Glen Canyon Recreation Area, Lake Powell, South Central Utah, Utah’s Dixie and Zion National Park. It was expected to remain in effect through July 1 at 9 p.m. Click here for the latest weather warning information from the NWS.

According to the advisory, temperatures could reach 115 degrees in the St. George area Friday, Saturday and Sunday with highs of about 110 degrees Monday.

Emergency Room Doctor Troy Madsen said people need to be careful when temperatures are this high. He said people can feel light-headed, confused or like they are about to pass out when heat related illnesses take hold. Madsen said heat exhaustion can quickly turn into heat stroke.


>>Doctor's New Trial Date

(Provo, UT) -- A doctor accused of killing his wife has a new court date. Martin MacNeill's trial will start October 8th. His attorneys told the court they didn't get all requested documents from the prosecutor's office. Prosecutors have asked for time to respond. Authorities say MacNeill overmedicated his wife and drowned her in 2011.

>>Georgia Man's Body Found

(Kane Co., UT) -- Investigators say they've found a man who drowned in Lake Powell. Authorities said the body of 61-year-old Joe Coffield of Georgia was recovered yesterday. Coffield lost his life during a Monday boating trip with his wife.


>>T-V Station Says It's Ending 18-year 'SNL' Ban

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- KSL-TV in Salt Lake says it'll begin airing original episodes of "Saturday Night Live" for the first time since becoming an NBC affiliate some 18-years ago. According to station management, the decision to air first-run episodes of "SNL" is a quote, "business decision." The "Tribune" says the station made its decision in the wake of consistently poor ratings for "SportsBeat Saturday," its in-house program currently airing in the same 10:35 p.m. time slot. "SNL" will begin airing on KSL-TV Saturday nights this upcoming fall season.