American Morning
Petraeus issues new directive for troops in Afghanistan
A U.S. soldier shows pictures on his camera to Afghan boys in a village in Kandahar province's Dand district in Afghanistan on July 28, 2010. (Getty Images)
(CNN) – The top general in Afghanistan is offering up new rules of engagement for 150,000 U.S. and coalition troops. The directive from David Petraeus is to limit civilian casualties. The subject has become a major source of tension in Afghanistan. As our Barbara Starr reports, the Taliban is also rolling out a code of conduct for its fighters. Watch 
35,000 full-body scans stored at courthouse
(CNN) – The U.S. Marshals Service has admitted storing full-body scans of people entering a federal courthouse in Orlando, Florida. The federal agency has more than 35,000 images saved and that's raising new questions about the government scanners being used at airport security checkpoints. Our homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve has the report.
Legal battle on same-sex marriage far from over
A Prop 8 opponent holds a sign referencing attorney David Boise during a rally to celebrate the ruling to overturn Prop 8 August 4, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)
(CNN) – Supporters of same-sex marriage are overjoyed by the overturning of Proposition 8. In a 136-page decision handed down yesterday, a federal judge declared California's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. While same-sex marriage supporters won this battle, legal experts point out that the war over this divisive issue in California, and across the nation, is far from over. Watch
Some Louisiana residents skeptical of Gulf optimism
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/08/05/acosta.la.skeptics.cnn.art.jpg caption="CNN's Jim Acosta speaks with Craig Taffaro, president of St. Bernard Parish."]
(CNN) – BP is preparing today for the final step in the "static kill." After 108 days, the oil giant's blown-out well could soon be shut for good.
The government is giving BP the green light to cement over the well after the heavy drilling mud they pumped in Tuesday forced the oil back into the earth. The government is also telling BP to move forward with the relief wells they're drilling. That process should be complete within the next two weeks.
Despite the positive news, administration officials insist they're not standing down, telling CNN they're just beginning phase one of their long-term restoration plan.
For parish presidents along the Gulf Coast, it's becoming a question of who to trust – the government officials who say the oil is vanishing out in the Gulf, or the people in their own communities who say the oil is still coming ashore. Our Jim Acosta reports on their skepticism. Watch
Related: BP to pour cement into well in next phase of 'static kill'
LIVE Blog: Chat with us during the show
Editor's Note: Welcome to American Morning's LIVE Blog where you can discuss the "most news in the morning" with us each week day. Join the live chat during the show by adding your comments below. It's your chance to share your thoughts on the day's headlines. You have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules: 1) Keep it brief 2) No writing in ALL CAPS 3) Use your real name (first name only is fine) 4) No links 5) Watch your language (that includes $#&*).
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/08/05/ca.prop8.ruling.gi.art.jpg caption= "Defendants and plaintiffs have until Friday to submit responses to a temporary stay. The decision is a major victory for proponents of same-sex marriage."]
Deadline looms to respond to stay in same-sex marriage ban ruling
(CNN) – Defendants and plaintiffs have until Friday to submit responses to a temporary stay that a California judge granted after striking down the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco ruled on Wednesday that California's Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution.
He however granted a temporary stay, which stops his decision from taking immediate effect.
Supporters of Proposition 8 argued, prior to Walker's ruling, that same-sex marriages would be performed soon after his decision and could be complicated by rulings and appeals farther down the legal road.
The judge's decision striking down the ban handed supporters of gay rights a major victory in a case that both sides say is sure to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The 136-page opinion is an initial step in what will likely be a lengthy fight over the proposition, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
At stake in the trial was whether California's ban on same-sex marriage violates gay couples' rights to equal protection and due process, as protected by the U.S. Constitution. Read more
Related: Read the 136-page ruling
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE Blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
Video: Anti-Defamation League opposes mosque
(CNN) – An Islamic center and mosque just a few steps from Ground Zero is now one step closer to reality. New York City's landmarks preservation commission denied landmark status for the property in question, handing a victory to supporters of a plan that opponents call a slap in the face to America. In a surprising move, the Anti-Defamation League, an organization that promotes religious tolerance, has come out against the Islamic center. Abraham Foxman, the group's national director, joined us on Thursday's American Morning to explain their position.
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