Daily Briefing: 'A blow against hate'

Jane Onyanga-Omara and Steve Coogan, USA TODAY
·7 min read
2

President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, a major milestone in the fight for gay rights. Ten years have passed since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Also in the news: A destructive winter storm is marching across the United States.

👋 It's Jane Onyanga-Omara and Steve Coogan with Wednesday's news. Did you see last night's meteor shower? The Geminds are one of the biggest of the year.

Now, here we go with Wednesday's news.

Biden signs landmark bill protecting same-sex, interracial marriage

President Joe Biden signed historic legislation Tuesday protecting same-sex marriages nationally, marking a major milestone in the fight for gay rights that follows a seismic change in the nation's attitudes. At a White House ceremony, Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, making it the law that all states recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. "Today, America takes a vital step toward equality, toward liberty and justice, not just for some, but for everyone," Biden said. The new law will protect same-sex marriages if the Supreme Court were to overturn the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which in 2015 legalized same-sex marriages in the U.S. Read more

Blizzard warnings in 6 states as massive winter storm rocks US

A massive winter storm roaring across the West dumped up to 4 feet of snow in parts of Nevada and Idaho, fueled blizzard warnings in six other states and spawned tornadoes that injured several people in the South. More than 25 million Americans were under dangerous weather watches and warnings Tuesday. The storm's march across the nation could last through the weekend when parts of the Northeast could be blasted with more than a foot of snow, forecasters warned. "This is a 'we are not kidding' kind of storm," the South Dakota Department of Transportation tweeted. "BLIZZARD and ICE STORM WARNINGS have been issued.” Read more

Rain from a winter storm creates icy conditions on Tuesday, Dec.13, 2022, in Sioux Falls, SD.
Rain from a winter storm creates icy conditions on Tuesday, Dec.13, 2022, in Sioux Falls, SD.

More news to know now

🌤 What's the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows

They would have been 16 or 17 this year. High school juniors. The children killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012, should have spent this year thinking about college, taking their SATs and getting their driver’s licenses. Maybe attending their first prom. Instead, the families of the 20 students and six educators slain in the mass shooting will mark a decade without them Wednesday. December is a difficult month for many in Newtown, the Connecticut suburb where holiday season joy is tempered by heartbreak around the anniversary of the nation’s worst grade school shooting. For former Sandy Hook students who survived the massacre, guilt and anxiety can intensify. For the parents, it can mean renewed grief, even as they continue to fight on their lost children's behalf. Read more

Flowers adorn a memorial to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, in Newtown, Conn., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Flowers adorn a memorial to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, in Newtown, Conn., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Inflation slowed sharply but stayed high in November

Inflation throttled back significantly for a second month in November as prices for goods that surged during the pandemic continued to dip. Still, inflation remained elevated as the cost of many services kept rising. Consumer prices increased 7.1% from a year earlier, down from a 7.7% rise in October and a 40-year high of 9.1% in June. The inflation increase was at the slowest pace since December 2021 and came in under expectations of 7.3%, which was predicted by some economists. But soaring food and rent costs again offset declining gas prices, according to the Labor Department's consumer price index. Read more

Shoppers line up waiting for Continental Sales to open to buy expired or nearly expired foods, among other items. With inflation still quite high, people are needing to find ways to stretch their dollars.
Shoppers line up waiting for Continental Sales to open to buy expired or nearly expired foods, among other items. With inflation still quite high, people are needing to find ways to stretch their dollars.

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Argentina routs Croatia en route to World Cup 2022 final

Lionel Messi took center stage as Argentina dismantled Croatia Tuesday, 3-0, advancing to the World Cup final. The 35-year-old superstar scored Argentina's opening goal from the penalty spot before assisting his team's third, and Julián Álvarez's second, to put the game out of reach. Read more

What's next: Argentina will play the winner of Wednesday's game between 2018 World Cup winner France and Morocco in the final Sunday.

What's at stake: Argentina will play for its third World Cup title and first since 1986. Messi, who has won Champions League titles and seven prestigious Ballon d'Or trophies, will be seeking his first title to cap off his historic career.

Julian Alvarez, left, celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring a goal during Argentina's World Cup semifinal victory over Croatia Tuesday at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
Julian Alvarez, left, celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring a goal during Argentina's World Cup semifinal victory over Croatia Tuesday at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach dies at 61

Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach died Monday night following complications from a heart condition, the university announced. He was 61. Leach was in his third season with the Bulldogs. He had served as a college football head coach for 21 seasons, with previous stops at Texas Tech (2000-09) and Washington State (2012-19). Read more

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach served as a college football head coach for 21 seasons before his death at the age of 61 this week.
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach served as a college football head coach for 21 seasons before his death at the age of 61 this week.

📷 Photo of the day: Thousands watch Biden sign Respect for Marriage Act at the White House 📷

LGBTQ advocates, plaintiffs in lawsuits who fought for marriage equality and Democratic and Republican lawmakers were among the thousands in attendance as President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law at a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday.

The ceremony featured performances from singers Sam Smith – who is nonbinary – and Cyndi Lauper, who sang "Stay With Me" and "True Colors" respectively. "We can rest easy tonight because our families are validated," said Lauper, who has advocated for LGBTQ rights. "Now we’re allowed to love who we love."

Click here for more photos from the ceremony.

One more thing

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: Respect for Marriage Act, winter storm, Sandy Hook, inflation