Rhode Island could be the 10th state to allow same-sex couples to marry. The gay marriage legislation easily passed in the Rhode Island House in January. The bill passed 26-12 Wednesday after a Senate vote. It will now return to the House for a procedural vote some time next week before going to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who supports the legislation. Five other New England states currently allow gay marriage. Read the full story here.

The explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant was estimated Wednesday to cost more than $100 million, including the damage done to surrounding homes and businesses. Crews are currently sifting through a 90-foot-wide crater in search of answers. The explosion killed at least 14 people and injured 200 and damaged dozens of buildings. The cause of the blast is still unknown. Read the full story here.

The only survivor of an avalanche that killed five men in Colorado was buried in snow except for his left arm. He was able to clear snow from his face so he could breathe. The final report on the slide released Wednesday said the man was buried for about four hours before rescuers arrived to free him near Loveland Pass. This is said to be the deadliest avalanche in the state since 1962. One of the victims was buried 10 to 12 feet deep.

President Barack Obama has a plan to discourage his daughters from ever getting tattoos. He said his strategy would be to get a tattoo of his own. He said he and his wife, Michelle, have told 14-year-old Malia and 11-year-old Sasha that if they ever get a tattoo, he and Michelle will get the exact same tattoo in the same place on their bodies and show it off on YouTube as a “family tattoo.” Obama’s comments were in a previously taped interview that aired Wednesday on NBC’s “Today.”

All information is from The Associated Press.

Contact Maura Zurick at [email protected].