Weekly Issues Alert

N.C. State Capitol Building

March 31 - April 6

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions. --James Madison

North Carolina General Assembly

Democratic Whip: House Should Discuss Speaker Black's Status
House Democrats should discuss asking Speaker Jim Black to step down temporarily until his legal troubles are resolved, a party whip said Tuesday. Read
New Coalition Seeks N.C. Minimum Wage Increase this Year
A coalition of advocacy groups, emboldened by House approval last year and victories in other states, urged the General Assembly on Wednesday to approve a minimum wage increase. Read

North Carolina Courts

Prosecutors: MacDonald Does Not Have Evidence For Appeal
Federal prosecutors say that former Army doctor Jeffrey MacDonald is raising appeal points too late and has not provided enough evidence to overturn his 1979 murder convictions. Read

North Carolina Politics

Candidate Calls for Conduct Code
Allegations of dirty tricks are par for the course in any political race. But one candidate miffed at attempts to smear his character is calling on the local Democratic Party to establish a code of conduct that anyone running for office would be asked to sign. State House candidate Larry Hall also has filed a complaint with the Durham County Board of Elections and written to Police Chief Steve Chalmers. Hall said most of his campaign signs were uprooted Sunday night and that the criminal record of another Larry Hall has been distributed along with claims the convictions are his. He blasted the "whisper campaign" as timed to influence endorsements that various committees will announce over the next few weeks. Read

Other North Carolina News

It was a Moment Brought to You by the First Amendment
Minutes after finishing a face-to-face verbal assault on President Bush, Harry Taylor was talking about the experience with reporters who covered the president's visit Thursday to Charlotte. Read
82nd to Deploy in 2007
The 82nd Airborne Division's headquarters will leave for Afghanistan next year, Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell confirmed Tuesday during his final interview as the unit's commanding general. Read
N.C. Lottery Sales Falls $1M Short Of Goal For First Five Days
North Carolina's new lottery generated more than $24 million in ticket sales during its first five days, about $1 million less than its goal, lottery officials said Tuesday. Read
N.C. Lottery Addiction Hot Line Gets Different Callers Than Planned
Many callers to the toll-free problem gambling hot line set up for North Carolina's new lottery have sought help of another kind.
"We've gotten a lot of calls from people who either don't understand how to play the game or why they didn't win," said Smith Worth, who oversees the help line for the state Department of Health and Human Services. Read
Cops Find Graphic E-Mail Sent After Alleged Duke Lacrosse Rape
Hours after an exotic dancer was allegedly raped by members of the Duke University lacrosse team, a player apparently sent an e-mail saying he wanted to invite more strippers to his dorm room, kill them and skin them. It was not clear whether the message was serious or a joke. Read
Duke Professor Wants Lacrosse Team To Be Disbanded
People in the community have shown their displeasure with how Duke has handled rape accusations against the lacrosse team. Read
Lacrosse Program Reeling
Duke lacrosse Coach Mike Pressler resigned Wednesday after more than 15 seasons atop the program, and Duke President Richard Brodhead said the team won't play or practice again this season. Read
N.C. Authorities In El Salvador To Learn More About Gang Violence
Some police officers from Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte are traveling south to learn how to deal with gang violence. Read
N.C. Committee Speakers Debate Government Action On Emissions
North Carolina must decide whether to forge ahead with methods to curb carbon-based emissions and possibly discover new technological advances, or wait for the federal government to develop a plan, a scientist told a legislative committee Tuesday. Read
Bush In Charlotte To Discuss Iraq, Foreign Policy
President George W. Bush will be in Charlotte Thursday to talk about the war in Iraq and foreign policy. Read
Wildfire Danger Continues Across State
The National Weather Service said Thursday there will be low humidity from the mountains to the Piedmont of North Carolina. The conditions are prompting state fire officials to watch for potential wildfires. Read
State Board Shuts Pharmacy
State officials closed a Fayetteville pharmacy Wednesday after an investigation found it was filling hundreds of thousands of bogus prescriptions over the Internet. Read
Report Cards May go Online
Within a year or two, North Carolina parents could be checking their children's grades online in addition to getting paper report cards. Read

Congress

Debate Awakens 'Sleeping Latino Giant'
Marches planned in 60 cities as Congress works out differences on immigration reform Read
N.Y. Sen. Clinton Says Immigration Bill Would Make Her a Criminal
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton charged Wednesday that a House GOP immigration bill would make her and her Senate aides criminals, and warned of a "ticking time bomb" lurking in the U.S. economy. Read
Pro-Family Agenda Languishes in Congress
Conservatives wonder why little has occurred on bills favored by values voters. Read
Amnesty — Waving the Mexican Flag in Your Face
Don Swarthout, President, of Christians Reviving America's Values said, "If we do not have the resources to round up these Illegal Aliens, deport them or to put them in jail, how are we going to enforce making them register? What resources are we going to use to make sure that will happen? It really seems like this bill is really all about amnesty." "When the protestors were marching in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and in other cities, they carried Mexican Flags. By waving their Mexican flags in our faces the protestors seemed to say, 'We are Mexicans and we are here to take over your country. We will tell you what to do.' That is just wrong and it will not be tolerated by the majority of Americans voters. We must close our borders, without any excuses." Swarthout said. Read
Reid Flips on Illegals
'Change of heart' after his tough bill in '93 emphasized failure of amnesty Read
An Immigration Debate Framed by Family Ties
Lawmakers' family histories have shaped the outlook and legislative positions of some of the most passionate Republican voices. Read
Sex-Ed Programs Under Scrutiny
Congress wants an investigation into some condom-based programs. Read
Iraq, Hurricane Spending Bill Could Push Past $100B
The price tag for must-pass legislation to pay for the war in Iraq and additional hurricane relief is expected to pass $100 billion after action by a Senate panel Tuesday. Read
DeLay Announces Resignation From House
"I have no fear whatsoever about any investigation into me or my personal or professional activities," DeLay said in a statement to constituents. At the same time, he said, "I refuse to allow liberal Democrats an opportunity to steal this seat with a negative, personal campaign." Read
Evangelical Leaders Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, April 4 /Christian Newswire/ — Evangelical leaders will speak out on the need for comprehensive immigration reform as the U.S. Senate takes up consideration of legislation that will change the nation's immigration laws. Read
Stop Kelo-style Approach to Telecom Reform
FreedomWorks has learned that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is moving forward with telecom reform legislation. The latest draft bill does take some encouraging steps in the right direction by streamlining the burdensome labyrinth of local franchise laws that is currently keeping out companies that want to offer video services that can compete with cable TV. However, there is also something in the bill called "net neutrality" that should alarm free-market conservatives. Read
Black Minister Calls for Prosecution of Cynthia McKinney
On March 29, Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) struck a police officer who attempted to stop her when she entered a House office building without proper identification. According to witnesses, McKinney three times ignored Capitol Police orders to stop at a security checkpoint. Rep. McKinney later held a press conference with her attorney and supporters where she accused the Capitol Police of "racism" and of "racially profiling" her. Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, Founder and President of BOND (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny) issued the following statement regarding this matter: "This situation is an example of a black liberal Democrat using allegations of racism in order to get away with breaking the law. It's disgraceful that Cynthia McKinney would charge the Capitol Police with racism for trying to do their jobs. Charges of 'racism' and 'racial profiling' by McKinney and her attorney are code words often used to intimidate white Americans and get black racists off the hook. Read
CWA Supports Frist's Resolution to Oppose U.N. Human Rights Council
Concerned Women for America (CWA) supports a resolution introduced by Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) which opposes U.S. participation in the U.N.'s Human Rights Council. This new Council, recently created to replace the discredited U.N. Commission on Human Rights, does not remedy the systemic flaws of the old Commission, and is arguably worse. Read
Social Security and Medicare in an Impasse Over Trustees
A dispute between the Senate and White House over whether the programs' trustees can serve multiple terms has delayed annual reports on their financial condition. Read
Violent, Cop-Killer Video Games Subject Of Congressional Hearing
On March 29, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) held a hearing on violent videogames and the impact that these games have on children. Read
Bush Pushes Health Savings Accounts Despite Political Hurdles
President Bush, mixing politics with his health care agenda, urged lawmakers on Wednesday to expand health savings accounts even though congressional Republicans say that is unlikely in an election year. Read
Pork Barrel Spending Hit Record High in 2005, Watchdog Says
For all the hand-wringing on Capitol Hill about larding bills with homestate projects, the latest report from a taxpayer group says lawmakers hit a record last year. Read

Courts

Massachusetts: Nonresident Gays Can't 'Marry' Unless Home State Approves
Same-sex couples from states where homosexual "marriage" is banned cannot legally marry in Massachusetts, the state's highest court ruled today. The Supreme Judicial Court, which three years ago made Massachusetts the first state to legalize homosexual "marriage," upheld a 1913 state law that forbids nonresidents from marrying in Massachusetts if their marriage would not be recognized in their home state. Read
Supreme Court Rejects War Powers Challenge
A divided Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Jose Padilla, held as an enemy combatant without traditional legal rights for more than three years, sidestepping a challenge to Bush administration wartime detention powers. Read
Liberia Ex-Leader Faces War-Crimes Court
Charles G. Taylor pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of war crimes, after refusing to recognize the court's jurisdiction. Read
Jurors Permit Death Penalty for Moussaoui
The jury found that Zacarias Moussaoui was responsible for some of the deaths on Sept. 11, 2001. Read
Same-Sex 'Marriage' Lands Before U.S. Appeals Court
A lawyer for a gay couple suing for the right to wed argued before a federal appeals panel that it is unconstitutional to outlaw same-sex ''marriage.'' Read

Christianity/Pro-Family/Religion/Ethics

Jesus May Have Walked on Ice, Not Water — Study
The New Testament says that Jesus walked on water, but a Florida university professor believes there could be a less miraculous explanation — he walked on a floating piece of ice. Read
Atheists Sue Over Roadside Memorials To Slain Troopers
The Utah Attorney General's Office has asked a judge to toss out a lawsuit filed against the state over roadside crosses honoring troopers killed in the line of duty. Read
Ex-Muslim Seminary Dean on Afghan Convert, Islam
In the midst of the whirlwind of protests by Afghan clerics and their followers demanding the death of a Christian convert and the opposing Western calls for religious freedom, a former Muslim turned seminary dean spoke up on the case that has caused a storm of criticism around the world. Read
Dodger JD Drew Can't Hide His Faith
JD Drew was warming up in the outfield with some of his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates prior to a recent spring training game with the St. Louis Cardinals. A native of Hahira, GA, Drew can't hide his Southern accent or his upbringing, so he has come to accept the good-natured jabs by his colleagues in the game. A devout Christian, Drew also can't hide his faith, and he hopes those around him can see it shining through in his life. "God's blessed me with a lot of talent to play the game of baseball, and I want to honor Him by playing it to the best of my ability and working as hard as I can," Drew said. Read
New Barna Report Reveals 'Unusual' Increases in Spiritual Activities
The Barna Group observed ''significant'' and ''unusual'' increases in many measures of spiritual activity in the last year. Rather than a growth in one or two religious activities, a new survey found growth in a majority of the core religious behaviors studied by the Barna group. Read
Christian Refugees Banned from America
Rie Htoo recently graduated from a Christian Freedom International Bible School near Mae Hong Song, Thailand. "I saw a lot of people doing Christian work so I wanted to be a part of that. So I signed up to go to the CFI Bible School," said Rie Htoo. "Before coming to the Bible School I didn't know a lot about the Bible, but now I know so much about Paul, David and so many things in scripture. I want to work for the Lord for my life. I am going back to the church in my refugee camp. And I am going to work for the Lord in the church." Read
Islam Must Learn The Value Of Religious Freedom
The arrest of Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan on the charge that he converted to Christianity presents Western leaders with an ideal opportunity to urge Muslim political leaders to study the concept of religious freedom. Worldwide pressure upon the Afghanistan government has resulted in the dropping of charges against Rahman, but radical clerics in that nation are still calling for him to have his head cut off because of his conversion to Christianity. He may be free of the charges — which could have brought death — but he is still in danger of being murdered by Muslim clerics or their fanatical followers. Read
Media Report Prayer Doesn't Work
But authors of a new study say that's not at all what their research proves. Read
TVC Chairman Holds Marriage Summit At Prominent African-American Church
March 30, 2006 — Rev. Louis P. Sheldon held a Marriage Summit at Kingdom Builders Christian Center in Norcross, Georgia, last weekend to urge African-American pastors and lay leaders to defend their schools and legislature against the homosexual agenda. Read
Is God in the Workplace?
How can people of faith bridge their church life with their work life? "Serving God in the Workplace: People Making a Difference," a consultation to be held April 21-23 at Fuller Seminary, will offer tangible answers to that question. This annual consultation, held in previous years at Yale Divinity School and Harvard Divinity School, is offered by the Coalition for Ministry in Daily Life and cosponsored by Fuller, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the National Center for the Laity, and many others. Keynote speakers will include Fuller President Richard Mouw and film industry leaders Ralph Winter and Scott Derrickson. Read
Dictionary Counters 'Da Vinci' on Its Own Terms
Dr. James Garlow, one of the leading experts on the theology debate about "The Da Vinci Code," has compiled "The Da Vinci Codebreaker," (Bethany House) the first and only glossary of terms designed for those interested in learning the facts about the people, places, documents and events referenced in Dan Brown's runaway best-selling novel and the upcoming film by the same name...Garlow, co-author of the New York Times best-seller "Cracking Da Vinci's Code," states that it isn't that Christians don't have enough faith to sustain their beliefs; it is that they are not armed with the facts about Christian history. Read

Abortion/Pro-Life

8th Medical Organization Acknowledges Abortion-Cancer Link
Cristina Santos, MD, president of the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc. (PFBCI), acknowledged the abortion-breast cancer link in a letter addressed to the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer. Read
Democrats, Abortion Advocates Won't Focus Only on Abortion in 2006 Elections
Knowing that polls show Americans taking a pro-life stance on the issue of abortion, Democrats and pro-abortion groups are planning to switch tactics in the 2006 elections and focus on contraception instead. Read
British Study Finds Premature Babies Experience Pain, Abortion Implication Email this Article
A new British study finds that premature babies experience pain and don't merely exhibit reflexive actions in response to painful events. The study's results could have a ramification on the abortion debate as late-term abortions are done during the same time period when viable babies are born. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience by a team from University College London, analyzed brain scans taken on premature babies when blood was being drawn from them. The results found that babies as young as 24 weeks after pregnancy can feel pain and the researchers hope the study will prompt new pain treatment methods. Read

Alcohol/Drugs/Health

Some Risk Factors Same for Both Genders
There are differences in how the risk of parental alcoholism is transmitted from parent to daughter, than from parent to son, and women are affected to a greater degree by parental alcoholism history, according to Research Society on Alcoholism scientists. Read
Long Mobile Phone Use Raises Brain Tumor Risk
The use of mobile phones over a long period of time can raise the risk of brain tumors, according to a Swedish study released on Friday, contradicting the conclusions of other researchers. Read
Canada Scraps Plan to Legalize Marijuana
Canada's new conservative prime minister said Monday that Ottawa does not intend to reintroduce legislation to legalize small amounts of marijuana. Read
Organs Grown from Cells Signal New Transplant Era
The world's first organs grown in a laboratory have been successfully implanted in humans, heralding a new era in transplant surgery. Seven patients given new bladders grown from their own cells have functioning organs that have performed as well as those conventionally repaired but with none of the ill effects, scientists have revealed. Experts hailed the "stunning" development, which marks a new frontier in the search for replacement body parts. Scientists behind the breakthrough are now trying to grow up to 20 other organs and tissues. Read

Education/Sex Ed/Teens/Children

High-School Coach Fired for Aiding Illegals' Cause
A junior-varsity baseball coach at Cesar Chavez High School in Houston has been ejected from his sports duties after using his position to advocate the cause of illegal aliens. Rudy Rios admits he used a district copier to make fliers encouraging Hispanic students to attend a rally protesting restrictions on illegal immigration. According to the Houston Chronicle, the fliers read: "We gots 2 stay together and protest against the new law that wants 2 be passed against all immigrants. We gots 2 show the U.S. that they aint (four-letter expletive) with out us (sic)." Rios is an English-as-a-second-language teacher, and is keeping that position despite his ouster from the baseball program. Read
Teen Girls Sue Christian School Over Expulsion For Improper Behavior
The right of religious schools to set moral standards is under attack by two girls who were expelled from a Lutheran school in 2005 over alleged homosexual attractions. Read
Outrageous Bill to Force Pro-Homosexual Message in Public Schools Passes Committee
SB 1437 (Kuel, D-Los Angeles), one of the most outrageous bills in the California legislature this year, passed from the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 1437 would require textbooks to highlight the positive contributions of homosexual and transgender individuals to society and would prevent textbooks, teaching materials, instruction, and "school- sponsored activities" from reflecting adversely upon persons based on their sexual orientation or actual or perceived gender. If it passes through the entire legislature, SB 1437 could potentially require gender-neutral bathrooms in our schools and all references to "husband" and "wife" or "mom and dad" removed from school textbooks as the norm. Read
FREE 13th Annual Collegians Summit
All college students, including graduating high school seniors, are invited to the 13th Annual Eagle Forum Collegians Summit. Read
Professor: Many Humans Have to Die for Earth to Live
He said he believes the Earth would be better off if the human population were smaller because fewer natural resources would be consumed and humans wouldn't continue to destroy animal habitats. But he said that doesn't mean he wants most humans to die.
But Mims, chairman of the academy's environmental science section, told The Associated Press there was no mistaking Pianka's disdain for humans and desire for their elimination. "He wishes for it. He hopes for it. He laughs about it. He jokes about it," Mims said. "It's got to happen because we are the scourge of humanity." Read

God and Country/National Security/Politics/Economy

A Day Without Illegal Aliens
The reaction to my idea for "A Day Without Americans" has been overwhelmingly positive and strong. Read
Video Claims to Show U.S. Pilot Dragged
A video posted Wednesday on the Internet in the name of an extremist group claimed to show Iraqi insurgents dragging the burning body of a U.S. pilot on the ground after the crash of an Apache helicopter. Read
The Realpolitik of Immigration
One has only to reference the showing by some 500,000-plus legal and illegal Mexican aliens in Los Angeles last weekend to realize that the discussion regarding Immigration and its legality and security concerns is now "The" topic of discussion across America.
But perhaps "showing" is too kind a word to describe what took place this past week, as hundreds of thousands protested — it seems to the casual observer even — the "right" to be in the United States illegally. It was, instead, an onslaught of ungrateful, mostly Mexican nationals that held up banners that read slogans like "This is stolen land" and "Chicano Power." Of course, what protest is complete without the pre-requisite burning of the American flag, and the reference of President Bush as a "Nazi." Read
Report: Bush OK'd Leaking Of Intelligence Data
Documents Say Authorization Led To Miller Conversation Read
Iran Plans Global Terrorism
"As tensions increase between the United States and Iran, U.S. intelligence and terrorism experts say they believe Iran would respond to U.S. military strikes on its nuclear sites by deploying its intelligence operatives and Hezbollah teams to carry out terrorist attacks worldwide. Iran would mount attacks against U.S. targets inside Iraq, where Iranian intelligence agents are already plentiful, predicted these experts. There is also a growing consensus that Iran's agents would target civilians in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, they said," according to Free Internet Press. Read
Navy: Pirates Seize South Korean Ship Off Somalia
Pirates captured a South Korean-flagged fishing vessel off the coast of Somalia on Tuesday and efforts by a U.S. Navy ship and a Dutch vessel to intervene were abandoned when members of the South Korean crew were threatened with guns and the ship slipped into Somali territorial waters, the Navy said. Read
Americans in Iraq Face Their Deadliest Day in Months
At least nine members of the military were killed in the insurgent stronghold of Anbar Province. Read
Vets' Mental Health Needs Intensify
Blaming what they say is a shortsighted, under-funded system that does not learn from past mistakes, some advocacy groups say they are concerned that the federal government is unprepared to help the wave of troops returning from Iraq seeking mental health care. Read
'Room But for One Flag'
In 1907, during one of the great immigration waves, President Teddy Roosevelt said that the immigrant who comes here "in good faith ... shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin." However, he added, "We have room but for one flag, the American flag." Read
Delphi Seeks to Void Labor Contracts, Cut Jobs
Auto parts maker Delphi Corp. moved on Friday to void its U.S. labor contracts, cut up to 8,500 salaried workers and close or sell a third of its plants globally as it attempts to slash costs and restructure in order to exit bankruptcy. Read
Bush Vows He Will Insist on Guest Worker Program
U.S. President George W. Bush warned at the end of a North American summit on Friday that an immigration plan being debated by the U.S. Congress must include a guest worker program for illegal immigrants. Read
Pentagon Calls Iran Missile Claim an Exaggeration
Iran tested an older Scud missile variant last week and often exaggerates its military developments, the Pentagon said yesterday in response to Tehran's reported testing of new advanced weaponry. Read
Chavez, Seeking Foreign Allies, Spends Billions
Venezuela's president is spending his country's oil windfall on pet projects abroad, with the aim of greater influence in the Americas. Read
Oil Prices Jump Above $67 Per Barrel
Oil Prices Rise Above $67 Per Barrel Following Jump in Gasoline Futures Read
'Drag-racing' Illegal Kills American Man
16-year-old alien now faces charge of involuntary manslaughter Read

Pornography/Homosexuality/Obscenity/Immorality/Sexual Abuse

Homeland Security Aide Suspended after Sex Sting
The deputy press secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was put on leave and his security clearance suspended on Wednesday after being arrested on charges of using the Internet to try to seduce a 14-year-old girl, an official said. Read
'Brokeback Mountain' Banned in Anti-Gay Move
The Bahamas has banned the gay cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain," triggering a new controversy over the island chain's reputation for homophobia. Read
Catholic Leaders Report 783 New Claims of Abuse in 2005
The nation's Roman Catholic leaders received 783 new claims of sex abuse by clergy in 2005, with most of the allegations involving cases that are decades old. Read
San Francisco Declares War On Christianity
The city of San Francisco leadership and radical leftwing organizations have declared open war against Christianity in recent weeks.
The Board of Supervisors voted on March 22 to approve a non-binding resolution that condemns the Catholic Church for its opposition to homosexual adoption. Read
Will Rent for Sex: Online Ads Offer Rooms in Exhange for Favors
In Atlanta, an online ad offers a room in exchange for "sex and light office duty." In Los Angeles, a one-bedroom pool house is free "to a girl that is skilled and willing." And in New York City, a $700-a-month room is available at a discount to a fit female willing to provide sex. Read
HIV/AIDS Ministry — Tough But Needed
An HIV/AIDS ministry is a tough one to lead, according to a pastor who helped found the support group at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church. Read
Bible Society Won't Print 'Jesus Loves Porn Stars' Scriptures
Two Corona pastors who minister to the adult film industry have hit a roadblock in their crusade. Their publishing company is refusing to print bibles with the brand ''Jesus Loves Porn Stars'' emblazoned on the cover. Read

Other News

France's New Job Law 'Constitutional'
France's Constitutional Council on Thursday upheld a new law that makes it easier to fire young workers, a measure that sparked nationwide strikes by labor unions and violent protests by students. Read
'Iran at Least 5 Years Away from Bomb'
Former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix on Monday said Iran is a least five years away from developing a nuclear bomb, leaving time to peacefully negotiate a settlement. Read
Iran's Spies Watching Us, says Israel
Iran has set up a sophisticated intelligence gathering operation in southern Lebanon to identify targets in northern Israel in the event of a military confrontation over its controversial nuclear programme. Read

Disclaimer: The Christian Action League of North Carolina does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site.

Index of Weekly Issues Alerts

2007

2006