On Wednesday, the mayor of Indianapolis, Mayor Greg Ballard, signed an executive order requiring the city to replace its 500 non-police sedans with hybrid vehicles. Indianapolis is aiming to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil. Mayor Ballard says, "our oil dependence in some cases places the fruits of our labor into the hands of dictators united against the people of the United States." But, this will not only will this reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil, it will also protect the environment.
Even though these hybrid vehicles are more expensive than the gasoline-powered sedans they will replace, "taxpayers could save $12,000 over the 10-year lifespan of each new electric and plug-in hybrid." Mayor Ballard has wanted to make this switch for the past few years and now, technology has allowed this change to happen.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50188097/ns/us_news-environment/#.UM_fmqU1bFI

Hundreds of same-sex couples descended upon Seattle City Hall on Sunday, December 9 to get married. Washington is now one of nine states that has enacted same-sex marriage laws. Marriage licenses could be picked up as early as 12:01 on Thursday, but due to the three-day waiting period the earliest these couples could be married was Sunday. Although many places began marrying gay and lesbian couples at midnight on Sunday, Seattle City Hall began marrying couples at 10 am. As couples exited city hall they were greeted by many people cheering and congratulating them. Many people were so happy they called this "a great day, a joyous day."