"What we will be focused on is whether or not there is an appeal period provided. Usually, the ruling does not go into effect until the expiration of an appeal period," Salazar said. 05/15/08 11:03:49 http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/603808.html Figures released Thursday show that new-home sales in Fresno County and some other portions of the state climbed in March from February -- although they were still down substantially from a year prior.

Sales in Fresno County climbed 4.7% from February and prices were up 3.1%. Statewide, sales climbed 11.7% and prices fell 0.5%, the California Building Industry Association reported. 05/15/08 10:52:23 http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/603677.html SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court has overturned a ban on gay marriage, paving the way for California to become the second state where gay and lesbian residents can marry.

The justices released the 4-3 decision Thursday, saying that domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George. 05/15/08 10:33:16 http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/603277.html Tulare County sheriff's deputies are investigating the theft of nearly $43,000 worth of agricultural chemicals in three separate cases -- one in the Porterville area and the other two in the Terra Bella area.

The thefts were discovered Tuesday, according to sheriff's reports made public this morning. 05/15/08 08:08:50 http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/603191.html Nearly 70 marijuana plants -- valued at $276,000 if allowed to mature -- were found growing Wednesday night outside a home in the small farming community of Plainview, Tulare County sheriff's deputies reported this morning.

Investigators said the plants were found growing in plain view while deputies from the Porterville Substation were investigating another matter on the 19600 block of Vista Avenue. 05/15/08 07:48:51 http://www.fresnobee.com/649/story/601991.html In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot.

Domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage, the justices ruled 4-3 in . 05/15/08 11:21:05 http://www.fresnobee.com/649/story/601977.html President Bush gently urged Mideast leaders to "make the hard choices necessary for peace," leaving it to embattled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to stand before a divided parliament Thursday and forcefully declare that this war-weary nation is ready for a historic agreement with Palestinians.

On a day mourned by Palestinians as the 60th anniversary of their uprooting by Israel's independence, Bush mentioned the Palestinians only once in a 23-minute speech to the Knesset - and then only in the context of what a Palestinian state would look like six decades from now. 05/15/08 11:11:08 http://www.fresnobee.com/649/story/601720.html Republican presidential contender John McCain on Thursday listed a series of prospective first-term accomplishments, including winning the war in Iraq, although he said he was not backtracking on his criticism of Democrats for favoring immediate troop withdrawals.

In a mystical speech that also envisioned Osama bin Laden dead or captured and Americans with the choice of paying a simple flat tax or following their standard 1040 form, the Arizona senator for the first time set an outer limit for the war even if he hedged on a specific end date. 05/15/08 10:56:07 http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/601854.html Recent thefts and damage at Rotary Storyland and Playland in Roeding Park are discouraging, but the crimes won't dampen efforts to make the 45-year-old Fresno amusement parks "a world-class attraction," said Barry Falke, executive director.

Thieves and vandals have targeted Storyland and Playland five times since March, damaging a remodeled attraction, stealing candy and making off with a 300-pound foot-pedal boat. 05/14/08 23:14:54 http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/601856.html Creditors have forced local media mogul Harry J. Pappas into a personal bankruptcy filing -- an unusual move that threatens his effort to save Visalia-based Pappas Telecasting Companies from financial disaster.

Filed Monday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, the action could lead a judge to order the sale of personal property to pay off debt. 05/14/08 23:20:00 http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/601851.html SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Schwarzenegger on Wednesday proposed to close the state's $15.2 billion budget gap by borrowing against the state lottery and making major cuts to health and social service programs.

But the governor's revised $144.3 billion budget plan for 2008-09 faced immediate criticism from state lawmakers, setting up a potentially lengthy budget battle this summer. 05/14/08 23:14:51 http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/601846.html Clovis Unified has said it will bar twins Alyssa and Amanda Reta from participating in graduation ceremonies at Buchanan High School because they have not earned a diploma -- but a state official says the district is wrong.

The Reta sisters, who are developmentally disabled, are caught up in statewide confusion among high schools about a new requirement this year that special education students pass the California High School Exit Examination to receive a diploma, said Jill Larson, a consultant with the state Department of Education's assessment, evaluation and support unit. 05/14/08 23:12:10