Maine

Dozens of couples sign up as domestic partners

Dozens of same-sex couples filled out domestic partnership forms and paid $35 to be entered in a new state registry that went into effect Friday.

“The state is acknowledging we have some kind of relationship, so by God, we’re going to do it,” said Harold Booth, who registered with his partner, Daniel Kelley.

Declaration of Domestic Partnership forms do not create a marriage between partners, who must live together for at least 12 months and pay $35.

But the law does allow a domestic partner to inherit property in case one of the couple dies without a will, trust or other estate planning. It also considers a domestic partner the next of kin when determining the right to make funeral or burial arrangements, and considers that person a guardian when the other partner is incapacitated.

Dalas

Flooding toll rises to 3

The death toll reached three Friday from fierce storms that dumped more than a foot of water in the Dallas area. Two of the victims were found in a flooded creek that washed out a bridge during heavy rain.

A 65-year-old motorist was found Friday about 10 miles downstream from where surging floodwaters collapsed the concrete support columns of a bridge in Ovilla, a town about 20 miles southwest of Dallas. The body of a 52-year-old man was found in the creek a day earlier.

The body of a security guard was found Thursday evening in an Arlington creek, about 100 yards downstream from his sport utility vehicle, said Arlington Police Sgt. David McGinty.

A fourth death that had been blamed on the storm — a man whose pickup truck knocked over a utility pole in Dallas — was found to have been caused by a heart attack.

Los Angeles

Gene therapy pioneer accused of molestation

Gene therapy pioneer Dr. William French Anderson was arrested Friday on charges he sexually molested a girl he had coached in karate, officials said.

Anderson, 67, an internationally prominent University of Southern California scientist, was arrested at his San Marino home one day after prosecutors filed a criminal complaint, said a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office.

Anderson abused the girl, now 17, at his home from 1997 to 2001, authorities said.

Bail was set at $6 million, and arraignment was set for Tuesday.