The Short List: Supreme Court's non-decision; Ebola hits Europe; 'Twin Peaks' to return
Supreme Court says no way it's getting involved in gay-marriage debate
The justices have decided on gay marriage – by not deciding on gay marriage. The Supreme Court refused to get involved in the national debate over same-sex marriage today, leaving intact lower court rulings that will legalize it in 11 additional states. That means eventually gays and lesbians can marry in 30 states. We look at what's next in the 20 states where gay marriage is still banned. And one Paste BN reporter talks about her journey to becoming a wife.
'Twin Peaks' is returning, and everyone is freaking out
Time for a slice of pie and some "damn fine coffee." Twin Peaks, ABC's cult soapy murder mystery that aired only 30 episodes in 1990-91, is returning on Showtime in 2016 for a nine-episode run – and it could continue beyond that. Co-creators David Lynch and Mark Frost will write every episode, with Lynch directing. Everyone's freaking out, including Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman).
Spanish nurse becomes first person to contract Ebola outside of Africa
Ebola has hit Europe. A Spanish nurse who treated a priest from Sierra Leone for Ebola in Madrid tested positive for the virus. It's a big deal because it's the first reported incident of transmission of the disease outside Africa. She was part of a team that treated Manuel Garcia Viejo, 69, a Spanish priest who died in September. Meanwhile, Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed in the U.S. with Ebola, is in critical condition. He's now receiving the experimental drug brincidofovir. There are no proven treatments or vaccines for Ebola, but several Ebola patients treated in the U.S. have received experimental drugs.
Phelps can't swim in 2015 World Championship after DUI
He got his punishment. USA Swimming has suspended Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps for six months for violating the organization's code of conduct after he was arrested on a DUI charge. He will also withdraw from the 2015 World Championship team, which means he won't compete next August in Russia – the tune-up meet for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Phelps said yesterday he is going to rehab.
Drive-thru wait times have gotten 40 seconds longer
No, you're not just impatient. As fast-food dishes get more complex, we're all spending more time waiting in line for our food, according to a new survey. The average time we spend waiting in a drive-thru line jumped nearly 40 seconds in one year — to 219.97 seconds in 2014 from 180.83 seconds in 2013. That's 40 more seconds of hangry.
Extra Bites
Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.
Have you seen it? Stunning images from the Sony World Photography Awards Competition.
Only in Dubai: A $1,000 gold cupcake
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This is a compilation of stories from across Paste BN.
Contributing: Douglas Stanglin, Gary Levin, Richard Wolf, Liz Szabo, Bruce Horovitz, Paste BN