Judge on Prop 8 Publicly Confirms He's Gay

(SAN FRANCISCO) -- Former U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, the federal judge who struck down the gay marriage ban, is publicly acknowledging he's gay.

Judge Vaughn explained it would be inappropriate for any judge's sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin or gender to stop them from presiding over a case.

In the meantime, a federal appeals court has refused to allow same-sex marriages in California while an appeal of the ban makes its way through the courts.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Police: $50,000 Reward for Information on Body Found in Trash

(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Police Department says there is a $50,000 reward being offered for information that leads to the identification of a woman found dead in recycled trash last September.

Authorities say her death is being classified as a murder but a cause of death has not yet been determined. Police say the woman's decomposed body was found amid trash and debris on Sept. 10 of last year.

However, police say there is one clue that gives hope of indentifying the victim. Police say following a review of her dental work, it appears as though the woman had a crown of "very high quality" put in place within two weeks of her death.

Authorities believe the finding could assist them in putting a name to the slain woman.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Hundreds Protest Teacher Layoffs in Sherman Oaks

(LOS ANGELES) -- Millikan High School in Sherman Oaks was the scene of protest Thursday, as parents, teachers and students voiced their opinion about possible budgets and layoffs at the school.

Approximately 200 demonstrators showed up to protest at the school located in the 5000 block of Sunnyslope Avenue. However, school officials say classes weren’t disrupted. Demonstrators reportedly began gathering from around 5 a.m., with teachers and students abandoning protests around 8 a.m. when classes began.

Officials say 18 teachers face potential layoffs due to cuts in the Los Angeles Unified School District's budget.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Two Dead after US Navy Fighter Jet Crashes

(LEMOORE, Calif.) -- Two crew members aboard a U.S. Navy fighter jet were killed Wednesday when the aircraft crashed near Lemoore Naval Air Station in California, according to officials.

The F/A-18F Super Hornet went down at 12:08 p.m. in a private field close to the Naval Air Station.  The pilot and weapons systems operator on board were on a routine training flight.  Their names are being withheld until their loved ones are notified.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

FBI Releases Files in Notorious B.I.G. Murder

(LOS ANGELES) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released hundreds of pages of records from their investigation into the 1997 murder of Christopher Wallace, better known as the superstar rapper Notorious B.I.G., at a music awards show in Los Angeles.

Among the new information was that Wallace, who was also known as Biggie Smalls, was killed by a "very rare" Gecko 9 mm armor piercing ammunition, which is seldom found in the U.S.

He was, according to the newly released documents, carrying with him a plastic baggie of marijuana, an asthma inhaler and three Magnum condoms at the time of his death. He had been wearing size 48 Karl Kani jeans, size 13 Timberlands and a size 54 Bernini sweater.

Wallace's killing came six months after the fatal shooting of rap's other star, Tupac Shakur. A search warrant, served after Wallace's murder, revealed "a shrine of Tupac Shakur and numerous 9mm guns and ammunition, LAPD radios, scanners and other tactical items" in his garage, according to the FBI documents.

Shakur's murder, like Wallace's, has never been solved, and various theories have attempted to establish a connection between the two.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio