Utah Gay Marriage

It has been a busy few days in Utah. After a federal judge ruled Utah's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional last Friday, couples from around the area spent the weekend unsuccessfully chasing rumors about open city clerk's offices. By Monday morning, the county office in Ogden was scheduled to open at 8AM and the state attorney generals office was presenting they case for a stay on gay marriages at 9AM. I shot a fair amount of photos and video throughout the day, but here are a few of the highlights.

Gage Church, left, and Tim Sharp kiss at the Hampton Inn in Ogden after becoming the first gay couple to be legal married in Weber County on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. Over 60 couples were married in hallways and side rooms of the hotel as they tried to beat a possible stay on the ruling to allow gay same-sex marriage in Utah. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Cody Carter, right, and his husband, Darren Hayes, center, get married in the hallway of the Hampton Inn in Ogden while another couple is married at the top of the stairs on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. Over 60 couples were married in hallways and side rooms of the hotel in a two hour window as they tried to beat a possible stay on the ruling to allow same-sex marriage in Utah. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Hundreds of people line up outside of the county clerk's office in the Weber Center on Monday morning, Dec. 23, 2013, the first day that Weber County began accepting applications for same-sex marriage licenses. Couples began lining up outside the building at 10pm on Sunday night due to concern that the state might only issue licenses for one hour before a possible stay could be placed on the ruling that allowed same-sex marriage. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Homeless Outreach Video

I just finished a video on the coordinator of a new homeless outreach program in Weber County as he looked for winter camps and met with local homeless residents. Take a look.

You can read more about the program and see photos from the day here.

Bison Auction

Over the weekend I went to a bison auction for ranchers from around the Western U.S. and Canada put on by the Western Bison Association. I've posted a few photos below and you can see more here. Enjoy.

Vaughn Scott hopes on a gate to get out of the way of a 926 pound bison at the Wild West Buffalo Stampede Show and Sale at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. Scott is the president of the Western Bison Association, who puts on the annual auction for ranchers from around the Western United States and Canada. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Ranchers and spectators watch as an 1,800 pound bison is auctioned off at the Wild West Buffalo Stampede Show and Sale at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. Fifty-five bison from around the Western United States were sold at the annual event.(BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Rex Snyder, left, and Nolan Miller chat during the auction at the Wild West Buffalo Stampede Show and Sale at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. Snyder was down from Wyoming to sell some of his animals while Miller was visiting from Manitoba to act as a show judge. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Dishman Hills Natural Area

I took a brief hike in the Dishman Hills Natural Area during a recent trip to Spokane. We reached the location of the 2008 forest fire just as it was getting dark and the weather was taking a turn for the worse. Enjoy the photo.

©Benjamin Zack, 2013