The Supremes: In two major decisions, the court this morning struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act 5-4, clearing the way for legally married same sex couples to receive federal benefits. The court also validated a California court decision to overturn that State’s Proposition 8 ban on same sex marriage. Barring other developments, this means same-sex marriage will be legal in California.

National: Announcing his plans to control greenhouse gases yesterday, President Obama made bigger news with a remark about whether he will approve the giant Keystone Pipeline from Canada to the Gulf. “Our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution,” Obama said, appearing to swing the needle toward rejection. Obama outlined plans to reduce carbon emissions from power plants and said it’s long past the time to debate whether climate change is real. “We don’t have time for a meeting of the Flat Earth Society,” he said.

• Mass. Congressman Edward Markey won the special election to replace John Kerry in the Senate. He’s been in Congress since 1976. He defeated Republican Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy Seal in his first political run.

Arrest: New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested at home this morning. No charges were announced. Police are investigating the killing of a semi-pro football player a week ago.

Nyet: Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would not allow NSA leaker Edward Snowden to be extradited to the US. He confirmed that Snowden remains in the international transit area of the Moscow airport. Putin said that Snowden’s arrival was a surprise and “the sooner he chooses his final destination, the better it will be both for us and for him.”

Cash or Debit: The generation that’s giving up on the wristwatch is also charging less on credit cards, according to FICO, the company that calculates credit scores. Credit card debt for Americans 18-29 is down by a third since 2007, according to FICO.

The Obit Page: Science fiction writer Richard Matheson has died at age 87. He wrote the books “I Am Legend” and “The Shrinking Man” which were turned into movies.  He wrote for television, including the famous “Twilight Zone” episode “Nightmare At 20,000 Feet” in which William Shatner sees a gremlin riding on the wing of a passenger plane.

C’est Dommage: The Eiffel Tower is closed at the peak of the tourism season in Paris. The tower’s 300 employees went on strike in a dispute over pay and delayed maintenance of the tower.  Ride the Ferris wheel.

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