Weekly Issues Alert

June 30 - July 6

"Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America." ---James Madison

North Carolina General Assembly

State Budget Receives Final Approval; House Passes Lobbying Reforms

An $18.9 billion state spending plan is headed to Gov. Mike Easley after the General Assembly gave final approval to the budget. Read
Eye Exam Legislation Before State Lawmakers — Again

The wrangling over a controversial eye exam requirement won't go away. Lawmakers repealed the law, but now a new version includes changes that could sway the opinion of opponents. The controversy came into focus when House Speaker Jim Black, an optometrist, quietly stuck a provision in last year's budget requiring every child entering kindergarten undergo comprehensive eye exams at parents' expense. The complaints came flooding in from school, medical, and child advocacy groups. Led by the Senate, the measure was repealed this session. Read
N.C. House Committee Approves Legislative Public Financing Pilots

On a party-line vote, a House judiciary panel Thursday narrowly approved a measure that would create a voluntary public campaign program for four legislative races in 2008. Modeled after a similar program for appellate court candidates that started in 2004, candidates in the races who agree to small contributions from donors would qualify to receive $50,000 to run for a House seat and $75,000 for a Senate seat. Read
Seat Belts May Soon Be Required For All Vehicle Occupants

Government data shows states with primary seat belt enforcement laws have lower crash fatality rates. But North Carolina legislators may take it a step further. Read
Advocates Urge NC Lawmakers To Crack Down On Illegal Immigration

Democratic leaders should consider Republican proposals that supporters say would address the issue of illegal immigration in North Carolina, the head of a immigration reform group said at a rally Wednesday...North Carolina has become "known internationally as the place to come to get a real fake ID," said Fern Shubert, a former Republican state senator and gubernatorial candidate. "Our driver's licenses are an international joke and disgrace," she said at the rally. Read
Fee Considered For Traffic Court Compliance Dismissals

When some cases are dismissed in traffic court, it doesn't cost the alleged offender anything. But a proposal would hit them with a fee before they leave the courthouse...A bill backed by district attorneys would charge drivers $50 for a dismissal. Read
Pledge Bill Might Not Pass Committee

A bill requiring North Carolina public schools to recite the Pledge of Allegiance is in jeopardy, only days after the House passed it amid great fanfare before Independence Day. The Senate unanimously passed a similar proposal last year, but because the bill is now in a different form, it has been sent to a Senate committee. Read
N.C. Senate Gives Unanimous Approval To Cable TV Changes

The Senate gave initial, unanimous approval Thursday to new rules for cable television service that proponents argue would lead to a deregulated video programming market, and hopefully lower prices. Read
Democrats Choose Miller's Successor

A lawyer and community volunteer was selected by Durham Democratic Party officials as their nominee to succeed Representative Paul Miller, who's resigning from office under a cloud. Read
New Alcohol Rules

The Senate has unanimously approved a host of changes to overhaul North Carolina's alcohol laws. The bill increases the likelihood of conviction for anyone caught with a blood-alcohol content over the legal limit for drivers of point-zero-eight percent. It also prods judges to impose stiff penalties on offenders. Legislators also approved new laws that would increase penalties for drunken drivers who cause serious injury to others. Another change would Require people who buy kegs to obtain a permit. The measure will now go back to the House, which approved the proposal last year, for its agreement on the Senate changes. Both chambers must agree on the measure and the governor must approve it before it becomes law. Read
Teachers, State Workers to Get Raises

Members of the General Assembly are expected to finalize a new State budget later Wednesday night or Thursday.

Teachers and State workers are in for nice pay raises. Read
Inspection, Testing For New Wells Get Initial N.C. House OK

All 100 counties would have to develop inspection and testing requirements for new private drinking water wells in a bill tentatively approved Thursday by the House. Read

Other North Carolina News

Roadside Bomb Takes Brunswick County Marine's Life

Just a few weeks from now, a Brunswick County family would have welcomed their son home. Twenty-three-year-old Christopher White was a Marine fighting the war in Iraq when a roadside bomb took his life. His family never had the chance to say goodbye.

William White is Christopher's father. He said, "He was a popular kid in school, everybody knew him. He was raised on a farm, loved to hunt, loved to fish, loved his brother ... he was just a good kid." Read
The Central American Free Trade Agreement isn't Working Out as Planned

"It's caused a lot of apparel importers a lot of pain," said Jason Copland, president of Copland Industries, a Burlington, N.C., manufacturer. Copland exports material to Central America, where companies sew it into clothes that are bound for U.S. stores.

CAFTA was supposed to boost U.S. trade with six Latin American nations. Instead, the one-at-a-time addition of countries has complicated and disrupted commerce, with an especially sharp effect on the textile and apparel industries. Read
Ex-Blackwater Worker Accused of Extortion

A former Blackwater USA employee was charged with trying to extort $1 million from the security company by threatening to leak information about four contractors killed in Iraq.... Blackwater provides security for State Department officials in Iraq, trains military units from around the world, and does work for corporate clients. Read
Former 'Survivor' Winner Shoots Puppy

...He is a former North Carolina State football player, used-car salesman and part-time actor. Heidik's TV acting credits include appearances on "Baywatch Nights," "Doogie Howser, M.D." and the soap opera "Days of Our Lives." Read
Low Scores Force UNC to Eye Nursing Programs

The state university system is trying to figure out how to reverse a trend of low test scores for students at three of its public schools of nursing. Graduates of the schools are struggling to pass a national licensing test that's required before they can become nurses. Read
Kentucky (and North Carolina) Offers Guard Troops for Border Duty

Kentucky and North Carolina are offering to pick up some border patrol duties. Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher has agreed to send up to 650 National Guard troops to the frontier with Mexico. Fletcher says the deal with several other states would mean rotating Guard units at the border for deployments of several weeks. And North Carolina Governor Mike Easley says he's sent 300 Gaurd members to the border. Read
Sewage Spill Grows in Cape Fear

(AP) — The amount of sewage spilled into the Cape Fear River continues to grow as crews struggle to fix a pipe that broke in Wilmington on Monday. Read
Wachovia Fined for Biased Analyst Research

(AP) -Wachovia Corporation has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations that its stock analysts issued biased research to help win investment-banking business. The state securities regulators says Wachovia failed to supervise its employees for potential conflicts. Read
Changes To Curb Medicaid Fraud Delayed

(AP) — A program intended to prevent illegal immigrants from fraudulently applying for Medicaid has been delayed in North Carolina, possibly until late September. That's two months after it was scheduled to start. Read
Study: Teens Often Hired for Illegal Construction Work

(AP) — The summer job is a tradition for many teens in North Carolina, and a potentially dangerous one for the small group that gets work in the construction industry. A new study by the University of North Carolina finds that many teens working in construction end up doing work that's illegal. Read
Quirk in N.C. Law Means Film Incentives Aren't What was Planned

A quirk in state tax law means that tax incentives for the film industry haven't pulled in new projects as expected, industry officials and lawmakers say. In 2005, legislators approved an incentive that promised to give back to producers, in a combination of tax credits and cash rebates, 15 percent of what they spend in North Carolina. Read
Pot Bust

Police in Hendersonville bring in a big haul of Marijuana. Read
NC-Bound Prison Plane Makes Emergency Landing

The plane was headed to Butner, NC with convicted bank robber Milton Ermon Huff on board. Read
Duke University Selling Houses Near Campus

The university bought about a dozen houses in the Trinity Park neighborhood, made repairs to them and is selling them to single-families. Over the past few years, residents in the neighborhood have complained about trash problems and late-night parties thrown by Duke students, who rented houses in the area. Read
New Power Plants To Run On Chicken Droppings

It won't be chicken feed that fuels new power plants in North Carolina. Fibrowatt, a British company, plans to build three new power plants that will burn chicken droppings to generate electricity. Read
N.C. One Of Three States Considered For New Immigration Court

North Carolina is on a short list to get an immigration court. The competition: Nebraska and Missouri. The goal is to process deportation claims more quickly. The three states in the running all have a long trip to their respective immigration court. Defendents from North Carolina must go about 435 miles to Atlanta. Many never show up. Read

Congress

Border Bills Far Apart: 2,700 Miles

In a testy San Diego hearing, the House fashions the debate around security. In Philadelphia, senators focus on the economy.

In two different hearing rooms on two distant coasts, the two chambers of Congress on Wednesday staged competing summer shows to promote their dueling visions of illegal immigration in the United States and the best way to overhaul immigration laws. Read
Friends in Senate will Help Lieberman Campaign

Embattled Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman is getting a little help from his Senate friends as he tries to fend off an anti-Iraq war challenger... Read
Two Democrats Willing to Stick Their Necks Out

For days, Rep. John Spratt Jr., D-S.C., received about three calls daily from Emanuel, urging him to run a political advertisement criticizing the Bush administration's decision to let an Arab company manage U.S. port operations, an issue sparking nationwide outrage at the time. With Vice President Dick Cheney heading south to campaign for Spratt's GOP opponent, Emanuel thought the best response was to run an attack ad in the local newspaper. Read
Senate Caves to TNC Boss

Late Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Henry M. "Hank" Paulson, Jr., as America's next Treasury Secretary. Talk about your 'fast track!' This was done by voice vote; no names were entered into the Congressional record as having voted for or against Paulson. What this say about elected officials? That it's an election year... It says that the entire U.S. Senate, in order to get another 'fast track' to China and outsourcing of jobs and independence, will do almost anything to advance globalism. Read
Members of Congress Call for End to World-Cup Prostitution

Representative says, "We need to protect women." Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are calling on Germany to end the government-endorsed prostitution that has accompanied the World Cup. More than 400,000 prostitutes have registered with the government since the practice was legalized in 2002. Read
43 Leaders Oppose 'Amnesty' Candidates

A group of 43 influential opinion leaders — including Alan Keyes, Phyllis Schlafly, David Horowitz and Swiftboat activist John O'Neill — have signed a declaration pledging to withhold support for any candidate, Democrat or Republican, who votes for legislation providing "amnesty" or a guest-worker program for illegal aliens. The members of a group called the Secure Borders Coalition say the immigration bill passed by the Senate and a plan proposed in the House by Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., — which they call "amnesty lite" — are unacceptable. Read
Bush Backs Flexibility on Canada Border Plan

President Bush said yesterday that he was open to extending a Jan. 1, 2008, deadline requiring those crossing the Canadian border to have identification documents such as passports, but noted that a congressional law has tied his hands and that the federal government is proceeding under the current plan. Read

Courts

Girls Suspected of Being Lesbians Can Sue School

The California Supreme Court today allowed two Riverside County girls to sue a Christian high school that expelled them because the principal believed they were lesbians. The court unanimously denied review of an appeal by the California Lutheran High School Association, which argued that a religious school has the right to exclude gays and lesbians, regardless of California's anti-discrimination law. Today's action did not resolve that issue but allowed the suit to proceed toward a possible trial. Read
Christianity Is Being Criminalized in the United States: U.S. Navy Says Chaplain Rightly Punished for Quoting Bible in Chapel

"Just days before our nation celebrates its freedom, the top judge in the United States Navy has ruled that a chaplain can be punished for the content of his sermon in an optional chapel service and for his prayers while aboard ship!" says Janet Folger, President of Faith2Action, and author of the telling book, The Criminalization of Christianity. Read
N.Y. Top Court Rules Against Gay Marriage

New York's highest court ruled Thursday that gay marriage is not allowed under state law, rejecting arguments by same-sex couples who said the law violates their constitutional rights.... Read
Obscenity Case Sent Back for Trial

A federal case against two Californians charged with distributing obscene material across state lines will head to trial in federal court after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review it, The Associated Press reported. Read
Florida Supreme Court Rejects Smoker Verdict

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a $145 billion punitive damage award against tobacco companies for injuring smokers, saying it was excessive. Read

Christianity/Pro-Family/Religion/Ethics

Skate Time 209 Changes 'Christian Skate Time' To Spiritual Skate!

The owners of a skating rink in Accord, New York are not going to be prosecuted by the Department of Human Rights because they changed "Christian Skate Time" to "Spiritual" skate. Owners Len and Terry Bernardo had received the legal services of the American Center for Law and Justice. An ACLJ lawyer contacted the Department of Human Rights and informed them that the "Christian" skate night referred to the music being played and was not designed to exclude anyone who wished to skate during that time on Sundays. Read
Three Killed As Vietnam Police "Tortures" Montagnard Christians

At least three Montagnard Degar Christians died and many more were injured in recent weeks because of torture carried out by Vietnamese police, friends and fellow prisoners confirmed Monday, July 3. Read
Laos Detains Listener To Evangelical Radio Station For Preaching Gospel

A Laotian listener to an evangelical radio station was believed to be in prison Tuesday, July 4, for spreading Christianity among fellow villagers after becoming a 'born-again' Christian in May this year, investigators said. Read
Soles4Souls and Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) Announce Key Partnership

Soles4Souls, the charity that collects and distributes new and used footwear for people in poverty, and Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) announced today that they were entering into a key alliance. Through this partnership, K.I.D.S. will be able to place specific orders of new and sample footwear for needy children in the United States by need and geographic region. Read
Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Religious Discrimination by City of Hollywood, Florida

"All religious associations must be treated equally and fairly under the law," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "I am pleased that we could reach an agreement with the City of Hollywood that protects and respects the rights of the Chabad to practice its religious beliefs on its property. Read
Lutherans Present Global Mission Event in Amherst, Mass., July 27-30

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will present a Global Mission Event (GME) July 27-30 at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Co-sponsored by the Episcopal Church and endorsed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the event will draw more than 1,000 participants from the United States and around the world. The theme for this year's event is "Sent! by God's grace for the sake of the world." Read

Abortion/Pro-Life

Operation Rescue Demands Emergency Inspections of All Kansas Abortion Mills

OR invites Gov. Sebelius to tour the Central Women's Services building to view filthy, unsafe conditions for herself. Read
South Dakota Tribal President Who Proposed Abortion Clinic Ousted

After proposing that tribal sovereignty entitled the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota to act outside of the state's ban on abortion and build an abortion clinic, tribal president Cecelia Fire Thunder has been removed from office, The Washington Post reported. Read
Missouri to Decide Whether Human Cloning is Constitutionally Protected

Vote "No" on the unethical embryonic stem-cell research initiative. Read
Scientist Admits Falsifying Stem Cell Data — ABC News

A discredited South Korean cloning scientist admitted in court Tuesday to ordering subordinates to falsify stem cell data for a paper in a scientific journal, but he denied violating a bioethics law. Read
10 Million Females Illegally Aborted in India

Parents desperate to bear son changing nation's demographics Read

Alcohol/Drugs/Health

Study Finds High Doses of Popular Painkiller Produce Abnormal Liver Tests

Researchers say healthy adults taking maximum doses of Tylenol for two weeks had abnormal liver test results. The results, from a small study, are raising concerns that even recommended amounts of the popular painkiller might lead to liver damage. Read
5 Puerto Ricans With Alzheimer's Implanted With Microchips to Track Disease — Fox News

Five Puerto Ricans with Alzheimer's disease had microchips implanted in their forearms Thursday to provide data about their medical condition and ways to contact their caretakers. Read

Education/Sex Ed/Teens/Children

Homeschool Entrepreneurism Catches Fire

Mother of 7 starts home-business revolution in Internet age Read
Tufts Gets Creative on Admissions

Application process will go beyond SAT scores and seek original thinking Read
Alabama Lawmaker: Teachers Should Divest From NEA's Liberal Agenda

An Alabama lawmaker is encouraging members of the National Education Association in his state to consider leaving the union because of its liberal political activism. Meanwhile, delegates at the NEA's 2006 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, are preparing to vote on a resolution endorsing same-sex "marriage." Read
Teacher-Student Sex Fostered by Television

Over twenty years ago Christian writer and thinker, Francis Schaeffer wrote prophetically of the moral decay that we now are experiencing. He warned of the destruction of the home, the family and ultimately the destruction of the culture.

Not too long ago Schaeffer's warnings seemed unfathomable, but now the idea of teachers having sex with students is found acceptable by some. We are in a spiritual warfare of monumental proportions. Read
University of Colorado Professor Appeals Dismissal

The University of Colorado professor who likened some Sept. 11 victims to a Nazi official has appealed to keep his job as school officials move to fire him for what they say is research misconduct. Read
Teen Pregnancy Rates Continue Fall

But report shows no decline in single-parent families. Fewer teenagers are having babies according to the Kids Count Report, but the study also found no decline in the number of children living with a single parent. Read
Lawsuit turns against Princeton

Princeton University has lost the latest skirmish in a four-year-old lawsuit pitting the Ivy League school against the heirs of a grocery fortune over the thorny issue of how endowments should be spent...The lawsuit has attracted attention because of debates over who should have control over financial gifts to universities and colleges and whether endowers can take back the money if universities do not use it for its intended purpose. Read

Gambling

Casinos Go Dark in Atlantic City

The dice stopped rolling, dealers quit shuffling and slot machines fell silent Wednesday as New Jersey's casinos closed for the first time, the latest victims of a five-day state government shutdown that showed no signs of ending soon. The shutdown could cost the 12 casinos more than $16 million that they would normally collect from gamblers each day, not to mention the $1.3 million in taxes taken in by the state. Read

God and Country/National Security/Politics/Economy

Social Security Uncovers Illegal Workers

Privacy concerns prevent the Social Security Administration from notifying an employer that a hired foreign national is not authorized to work in this country, including someone who may be a potential national security risk, says a government audit. The audit, by the SSA's Office of the Inspector General, also found the agency fears employers will improperly terminate the illegal workers who have been issued Social Security numbers, leading to "adverse publicity." Read
Feds Allegedly Foil Plot To Attack NYC Transit System

FBI Agents Monitor Internet Chat Rooms Read
N. Korea Threatens to Test More Missiles

A defiant North Korea on Thursday threatened to test-fire more missiles and warned of even stronger action if opponents of the tests put pressure on the country, amid signs of further activity at the reclusive regime's launch sites. Read
UN Weighs Action against N. Korea — Missile Tests Called Threat to Peace

The UN Security Council held an emergency session yesterday to consider action against North Korea after the Stalinist state test-fired at least seven missiles, including one long-range rocket that US officials feared was capable of reaching US territory. Read
White House: Missile Firing a 'Provocation' — ABC News

The White House is calculating its response to North Korea's defiant Fourth of July missile tests which raised the stakes in a nuclear standoff and pressured the United States and its partners to penalize Pyongyang. Read

Related
Bush Calls World Leaders About N. Korea

President Bush, seeking a united stand against North Korea, called the leaders of China and Russia on Thursday as he stepped up pressure on communist regime in Pyongyang to stop its missile tests and nuclear weapons programs. Read

Related
Army Charges Lieutenant Who Wouldn't Go to Iraq

A fort Lewis Army officer who refused to serve in Iraq could face seven years in prison under charges filed Wednesday. Watada said he was morally obligated to obey the Constitution, not what he claimed were unlawful orders to join in an illegal war. He also released a DVD statement criticizing what he said was the "wholesale slaughter and mistreatment of the Iraqi people." Read
Navy Will Shift Military Might to Shallower Waters

Updated versions of Vietnam War-era Swift boats are heading to the Euphrates in Iraq in an effort to stop insurgents where big ships can't go. Read
Car Blast Kills 6; U.S., Iraqi Forces Raid Hospital for Insurgents — Fox News

A car bomb killed six people and wounded 14 Wednesday in northwestern Baghdad, police said, and U.S. and Iraqi forces raided a hospital in Ramadi they suspect is a base for insurgents. Read
US$100 Million Transferred to Abbas

The Arab League and Saudi Arabia have transferred some US$ 100 million (euro 78 million) to the Palestinians, the first funding since international aid was cut off after Hamas militant won legislative elections, a top Palestinian official and the Arab League said Tuesday. Read
Oil Prices Climb to Record Above $75 — ABC News

Oil prices jumped to a record above $75 a barrel on Wednesday, propelled by a rally in gasoline that analysts said could send average U.S. pump prices past $3 a gallon by the weekend. Read
Computer Consultant Hacked into FBI's Classified System

A government consultant, using computer programs easily found on the Internet, managed to crack the FBI's classified computer system... Read
Lay's Death May Doom Move to Compensate Enron Victims

Kenneth Lay, who catapulted Enron into the ranks of the nation's largest companies only to be convicted of fraud after its collapse, died early Wednesday after suffering what a family spokeswoman said was a heart attack at a rental property in Old Snowmass, Colo. Read
Space Shuttle Discovery Goes Into Orbit — ABC News

In a majestic Independence Day liftoff, Discovery and its crew of seven blasted into orbit Tuesday on the first space shuttle launch in a year, flying over objections from those within NASA who argued for more fuel-tank repairs. Read
Marine Reservist Accused of Shooting Teens

Graffiti referencing Chicago-area gangs is increasingly being found in Iraq, according to recent reports in the Chicago Sun-Times. The spray-painted gang art has shown up on everything from armored vehicles to concrete barriers and bathroom stalls, and some fear it may indicate an increase in gang activity in the military. Read
Retailers Report Muted Gains in June

Retail sales growth stalled in June, leaving merchants wondering whether shoppers who were resilient for much of the year are now curbing their spending because of higher gas prices. As the nation's retailers reported their monthly sales Thursday, disappointments included Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Federated Department Stores Inc. and Limited Brands Inc. There were also the usual laggards — Gap Inc. and Pier 1 Imports Inc., which again suffered sales drops. Winners included Target Corp., J.C. Penney Co. Inc. and AnnTaylor Corp. Read
Is the Country Ready for Senator Sheehan?

As we all took the time to celebrate America's birthday, Cindy Sheehan, the world's premiere anti-war mother, continues to cry what some suggest are politically motivated tears over the death of her hero son, Casey Sheehan. I am of the opinion that Sheehan has used her son's death as an excuse to continually be in the spotlight in order to promote her radical-left ideology. Sheehan has been all over the map, spewing her anti-American words, even traveling to the social "paradise" of Venezuela to commiserate with fellow traveler Hugo Chavez, and then to Cuba, to visit the northern hemispheres' longest surviving communist, Fidel Castro. Mrs. Sheehan does so as our troops put their lives on the line everyday in Afghanistan and Iraq. Read
FAA Considers New Restricted Air Rule

The Federal Aviation Administration was considering a rule requiring pilots to pass an Internet training course before flying near restricted airspace. The proposed regulation comes in response to multiple violations of restricted airspace near Washington by private pilots, The Washington Post reported Thursday. Read
Minnesota National Guard to Head South to Help Patrol U.S.-Mexico Border

Members of the Minnesota National Guard will head to New Mexico beginning this month as part of a federal effort to beef up security along the U.S. border with Mexico. Read
USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier Scheduled for Renovation

The USS Intrepid is steeped in history: the aircraft carrier took part in major battles and withstood repeated kamikaze attacks during the Pacific War, and later saw duty in Korea and as a recovery ship for NASA. Read
U.S. to Give $2B to Equip Afghan Army — ABC News

The United States said Monday it was giving $2 billion worth of military weapons and vehicles to modernize Afghanistan's national army as the fledgling force contends with a resurgent Taliban resistance. Read
Mortgage Rates Inch Higher Again

Mortgage interest rates have inched up during the past week. Read

Pornography/Homosexuality/Obscenity/Immorality/Sexual Abuse

Leaders Oppose Bid to Ban Gay Marriage

Taking on Governor Mitt Romney and the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, 165 prominent business and civic leaders are publicly calling for the Legislature to reject a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Read
Castration a Solution for Sex Offenders? — MSNBC

Studies have shown, he said, that castration sharply reduces the risk of repeat offenses. One Danish study suggested the rate of repeat offenses dropped from 80 percent to 2.3 percent after surgical castration. Read
"Homosexuality 101: A Primer"

"Homosexuality 101: A Primer" provides a brief history of the homosexual movement in the U.S. and its roots in Marxist ideology. This paper describes how homosexuals terrorized the psychiatric community and have created a marketing strategy to vilify their opponents. Read
Anti-Gay Conservatives Sue Over Same-Sex Benefits Schools Offer Health Insurance To Partners

A conservative group is suing to stop Michigan State University from offering health insurance to the partners of gay workers. Read

Other News

Iran Finances N. Korean Missile Program — MENL

Western intelligence sources said Teheran has been financing Pyongyang's intermediate- and ICBM programs for nearly a decade. The sources said the funding was part of a deal in which North Korea would share missile technology and equipment with Iran. Read
Mexican Leftist Vows to Challenge Results

Conservative candidate Felipe Calderon was winning an official vote count by a razor-thin margin Thursday, but his leftist rival said he won't accept the results and will take his demands to court. "We are going to the Federal Electoral Tribunal with the same demand — that the votes be counted — because we cannot accept these results," Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said. Read
Israeli Tanks Take Up Position in North Gaza

The military seizes three former settlements after getting the OK to broaden the offensive. Officials deny plan to reoccupy the territory. Read
Putin Seeks to Start Anti-Terror Offensive — Washington Times

Russian President Vladimir Putin asked parliament yesterday for the right to send soldiers and special forces anywhere in the world to fight terrorists, acting just days after having pledged to "destroy" the terrorists who killed five Russian diplomats in Iraq. Read
Blair Says Muslims Must Purge Extremism — Washington Times

Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday questioned the effectiveness of official public diplomacy in battling Islamic extremism, saying the government alone cannot heal the rifts with Britain's Muslim community. Read
Russia Puts Number of N Korean Missile Launches at 10 — MosNews

North Korea launched a total of 10 missiles, the head of Russia's General Staff was quoted as saying on Wednesday, but he could not confirm how many of them were intercontinental weapons. Read
Iran Calls off Nuclear Talks with EU — Jerusalem Post

Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that talks with the European Union on the country's nuclear program had been called off. Read
PM: Attack on Ashkelon Will Have Far-Reaching Consequences — Ha'aretz

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday called an urgent security cabinet meeting to discuss the Qassam which landed in the center of the southern coastal city of Ashkelon on Tuesday. Read
Israel Closes Bethlehem to Jerusalem Residents

The Israeli army has issued orders to close the 'Bethlehem Terminal' to Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. This has been in practice for many months, and has now become army policy following recent orders by Major General Yair Naveh, Head of IDF Central Command. Read
Many Israeli Emigrants Coming Home

Absorption Ministry woos Israelis living abroad, number of citizens returning to country steadily rising. 'These people definitely contribute upon their return; they come back with professional experience in high-tech, science and other fields,' ministry official says

Natasha Mozgovia...Most of the "new Israeli immigrants" return from the United States, which is home to the largest community of former Israelis (roughly 400,000). Read
Iraq Considers Arming Insurgents

Local militants ask for weapons to oust al-Qaeda foreigners 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