Prop 8, and gay marriage in general, is just the latest major social issue the U.S. Supreme Court has taken on. They’ll be deciding on the case just four years after California voted to restrict same-sex marriage.

When a federal judge overturned California's ban on gay marriage, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints issued a statement saying it regretted the judge's decision.

The owners of the Dodgers seem to be on a bit of a buying spree. Over the weekend, the team signed pitcher Zack Greinke to a six-year deal that will pay him $147 million.They also reportedly spent $36 million on South Korean pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, pushing the Dodgers' payroll ahead of the New York Yankees.

The singer known as La diva de la banda is dead. Jenni Rivera, a powerhouse in the Latin music scene, was killed in a plane crash in a remote area of Northern Mexico yesterday.She was originally from Long Beach but she rose to dominate the Mexican banda scene, a popular style of traditional ballads known for their heavy use of brass and sad, soulful lyrics.

This week Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" opens in theatres, marking Hollywood's big return to Middle Earth.Along with the usual special effects and 3-D, "The Hobbit" features something new: It was shot at 48 frames per second.

The new book "The Cat Behind the Hat," reveals many of Dr. Seuss's darker, and intensely personal paintings for the first time.

A federal report out today shows homeless rates held steady over the last year, despite the recession. But the report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development also raises doubts that the federal government can reach its goal of ending chronic and veteran homelessness by 2015.

When the new state legislature convenes next month, members will debate how California will implement the next stage of federal healthcare reform.

With CDC officials predicting the worst flu season in years, parents are encouraged to vaccinate children from 6 months old.

Like flu shots, antiseptics and disinfectants are supposed to kill germs, but now there's evidence of cases where these products actually caused infections.Researchers at the Food and Drug Administration found contaminated single-use swabs and surgical antiseptics were responsible for a number of infection outbreaks across the country.

There's been a boom in Mezcal production of Mexican spirits, a topic we've explored on this show before. The demand for Mezcal is bringing people home to one rural Mexican community.

Eric Asimov, chief wine writer for the New York Times, shares his musings on the wine life in a new book, "How to Love Wine: A Memoir and a Manifesto."