State lawmakers have approved making California the first state to write into law much of the national mortgage settlement negotiated this year with the nation's top five banks.

A traditional-values advocacy group says it will intervene to file legal papers this week in support of an Illinois marriage law, after officials in the Democrat-dominated state government refused to defend the law in court.

On one side of the fence are women in habits who have taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. On the other, if a developer gets his way, will be women in G-strings in the business of nudity, cash and prurience.