Apparently because the native coral snake, a colorful and deadly member of the Elapidae family, isn’t impressive enough, we have a King cobra kept as pet escapes from Florida home. Understand that this was totally legal with a state license.

People who support marijuana legalization don’t like the referendum in Ohio. It turns out that ten investor groups are financing the referendum that limits the number of sites where the legal marijuana can be grown to the ten sites that the investors own.

Kentucky clerk jailed for defying court orders on gay marriage

A US judge has ordered a Kentucky official jailed for contempt of court after she has repeatedly refused to issue marriage licences to gay couples.

Kim Davis has said that her Christian faith should exempt her from signing the licenses.

The US Supreme Court declared gay marriage legal in June.
…

US District Judge David Bunning said he had “no alternative” but to jail her, because issuing fines would not change her mind.

“Her good faith belief is simply not a viable defence,” said Mr Bunning. “Mrs Davis took an oath. Oaths mean things.”

It should be noted that Ms Davis essentially “inherited” her position from her mother, and she is so enamored of marriage that she has had four of them.

Position: 22.0N 36.5W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [285°] near 12 mph [19 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph [ 65 kph].
Wind Gusts: 55 mph [ 90 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 70 miles [110 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1005 mb.

Currently about 915 miles [1470 km] West-Northwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

Fred is continuing to hang on despite a forecast of weakening.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]