Weekly Issues Alert

Raleigh Skyline

September 15 - 21

"Each State, in ratifying the Constitution, is considered as a sovereign body, independent of all others, and only to be bound by its own voluntary act. In this relation, then, the new Constitution will, if established, be a FEDERAL, and not a national constitution." ---James Madison

North Carolina General Assembly (adjourned until January, 2007)

House Speaker, Staffers Called to Testify

House Speaker Jim Black and three of his legislative staffers have received subpoenas to testify at a federal trial scheduled to begin next week involving mail and wire fraud charges against one of his appointees to the state lottery commission, according to Black's office. Read
Geddings: Black Knew Of Ties To Lottery Vendor

House Speaker Jim Black knew former North Carolina lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings had an ongoing relationship with a lottery vendor when Black appointed him to the commission last year, Geddings said Friday. Geddings is scheduled to go on trial next week for nine federal counts of wire and mail fraud. Investigators allege he lied about his ties to Scientific Games, which was bidding to operate North Carolina's new lottery, when he was appointed to the lottery commission. Read
Easley's Shakeup In N.C. Progress Board Surprises Many

Lawmakers created the North Carolina Progress Board 11 years ago to evaluate the state's quality of life and set long-term goals to improve it. It's a panel that has struggled with years of anemic funding and a job of delivering "bad news" by pointing out where the state is failing its residents. Read

North Carolina Courts

Court: Disgruntled Publisher Didn't Libel Insurance Agent

A disgruntled magazine publisher did not commit libel against an insurance adjuster when he wrote a column criticizing the agent's handling of his claim, North Carolina's Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. Read
Court Upholds Peterson Conviction

In a 2 to 1 decision, the state Court of Appeals held that Michael Peterson received a fair trial. He was convicted with the December 2001 death of his wife. Read
Former Lottery Commissioner Heads To Court On Fraud Charges

Former lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings is accused of lying about his financial ties to a company that wanted to run the North Carolina lottery. However, Geddings claims House Speaker Jim Black knew about his past involvement with the lottery vendor. Read

North Carolina Politics

Easley Asks N.C. Delegation To Reject Guard Federalization Change

Gov. Mike Easley has asked North Carolina's congressional delegation to reject efforts to put the state's National Guard under federal control during disasters. Read
Controversial Candidate Under Fire For Overdue Report

A controversial candidate for U.S. Congress is under fire by his opponent for violating election rules. Read

Other North Carolina News

Universities, Officials Celebrate 219 Years of the U.S. Constitution

The permanent will of the people. The supreme law of the land. The U.S. Constitution, signed by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention 219 years ago Monday, was the backdrop for former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr's discussion of judicial independence at the N.C. Central University Law School's Constitution Day observance, one of many observances around the area Monday. Read
O'Connor Urges Elon Students to be 'Bridge Builders'

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on Tuesday encouraged students at Elon University to be "bridge builders" and work in public service. Read
N.C. Center To Gather Info On Homeland Security, Gangs

After the Sept. 11 attacks, there was a lot of criticism that intelligence agencies failed to share information. The Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAAC) is North Carolina's answer to that criticism...If you see suspicious activity that may warrant more than a 911 call, you can contact ISAAC at 1-888-NCISAAC. Read
Farmers' Group Supports Windmill Farms in Ashe

A local farmers' advocacy group told Ashe County commissioners yesterday that the county should allow windmills to generate electricity that could be sold as an alternative income for farmers. Read
Troxler: N.C. Agricultural Damage Now $76 Million From Ernesto

Farm damages caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto increased to $76 million in 19 counties, state agriculture officials said Wednesday. Read
UNC-Chapel Hill Receives $21.3 Million Gates Grant

UNC-Chapel Hill has received $21.3 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create drugs to treat African sleeping sickness and a parasitic disease. Read
Firm's Drug Might Treat Alzheimer's

Advocates for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease cheered a Triad company's announcement Monday of a deal that could produce a new drug to treat the disease rather than its symptoms. Read
Easley Calls For High School Audits

Gov. Mike Easley on Tuesday called for financial audits of all North Carolina high schools to determine how to best use resources to improve student performance. Read
'Murphy,' N.C. Zoo's Weather-Predicting Groundhog, Dies Suddenly

"Murphy," a groundhog who served as the North Carolina Zoo's ambassador and weather prognosticator after he was brought to the wildlife park as a foundling, died suddenly this weekend. Read
Wake Forest to Hire 5 Diabetes Researchers for New Center

Wake Forest University School of Medicine will hire five medical researchers on diabetes, part of the school's increasing focus on research into the disease. Read
Umbilical Cord Blood Can be Donated

New mothers will be able to donate umbilical cord blood as part of a new program at the Women's Hospital of Greensboro, the first of its kind in the Triad. Read
Halifax College Picks New President

A West Virginia educator has been chosen as the next president of Halifax Community College. Read
Ex-Teacher Charged With 20 Child Sex Crimes

A former Chapel Hill teacher already facing sex charges was charged Monday with another 20 offenses, authorities said. David Campbell Jones, 46, of 113 Hampton Court in Chapel Hill, was charged with 20 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He is being held in the Orange County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Read
Shark Bites Teen At Onslow Beach

A teenage surfer was bitten in the leg by a shark as he tried to catch a few waves this weekend at Onslow Beach, authorities said. Read
N.C. Public Works Earn Mediocre Grade

The state needs to invest tens of billions of dollars to rejuvenate its aging roads, schools and water systems and to support economic growth, a professional engineers' group said in a report. Read
Factories to Open in Alamance, Person; 99 Jobs at Stake

Two companies will locate factories in Alamance and Person counties, bringing a total of 99 jobs and investing $8 million over the next three years, officials said Tuesday. Read
Man Shoots Would-Be Intruder As He Flees Scene

Is it self-defense to shoot a potential intruder who's running away? That's a question investigators are trying to answer in Johnston County, where a man shot a 19-year-old who allegedly tried to rob his home. Read
Stolen 300-Year-Old Law Book Returned To N.C.

A 1708 law book probably stolen from the state Capitol by federal soldiers shortly after the Civil war has been returned to North Carolina. Read

Congress

Senate Judiciary Committee Adds Fifth 'Controversial' Nominee — Citizenlink.com

Up-or-down votes soon are crucial. Pro-family observers are anxiously awaiting Thursday's scheduled executive-committee meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in hopes it will send the president's longsuffering appeals-court nominees to the floor for up-or-down votes. Read
2005-2006 Scorecard-to-Date for U.S. House — National Right to Life Read
2005-2006 scorecard-to-date for U.S. Senate — National Right to Life Read
Compromise May Be Coming on CIA Program — ABC News

The Bush administration and holdout GOP senators expressed confidence on Sunday they could reach a compromise on rules for CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists. Read
America's New War Is With Faceless Enemy Who Attacks Unarmed And Innocent

The Traditional Values Coalition asked members of Congress to support President Bush's reform of prisoner treatment policies because "this is a war unlike any other we have fought — the enemy is faceless and deliberately attacks the innocent." Read
White House Drops a Condition on Interrogation Bill

The White House has dropped its insistence on redefining the obligations of the United States under the Geneva Conventions, members of Congress said. Read
House Panels Approve Stronger Interrogation, Surveillance Measures — Balitmore Sun

House Republicans handed President Bush narrow victories Wednesday on two broad anti-terrorism measures, sending them to likely votes next week, but the gains came amid signs that party infighting is still threatening to derail the president's election-year push for tough security bills. Read
Congress Moves on Illegal-Immigration Bills About Voter ID, Fences

The House and the Senate moved Wednesday toward a piecemeal crackdown on illegal immigration, pushing forward separate bills to require photo identification to vote, build fences on the U.S.-Mexico border and speed the deportation of undocumented workers. The measures would take the place of President Bush's far broader rewrite of the nation's immigration laws. Read
Pro Life Democrats Endorse Lincoln Davis Abortion Reduction Bill at Press Conference Today — Christian Newswire

Democrats For Life of America joined Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-TN) at a Capitol Hill press conference to official endorse his abortion reduction bill that he will introduce in Congress this week. Read
Only 25% in Poll Approve of the Congress — NYT

The disregard for Congress is the most intense it has been since 1994, when the Democrats lost control of both houses, the latest Times/CBS News poll found. Read
Congress Calls For Pet Prep Plans — CBS

Lawmakers Pass Bill Saying Emergency Preparedness Plans Should Include Pets Read
Senate Democrats Plan Probes into Iraq War — Reuters

Accusing Republicans of failing to adequately monitor the conduct of the war in Iraq, Senate Democrats on Wednesday announced their own series of hearings into what they called a failed policy. Read

Courts

Court Says Libraries Can Bar Worship — AP

Government libraries can block religious groups from worshipping in public meeting rooms, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. Read
Nude Bar's Owner Ordered to Pay After Judge Dismisses Frivolous Suit

The owner of a nude bar in Oregon has been ordered to pay nearly $20,000 in attorneys' fees to the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy over a meritless lawsuit he brought against citizens who objected to the presence of the sexually-oriented business in their community Read
8 Precincts Uncounted in Boston Senate Race — Judge Orders New Tally Today

The Boston Election Department said yesterday that poll workers inadvertently failed to count the write-in votes in eight city precincts in Tuesday's primary, the latest embarrassment for an agency under federal oversight to make sure voters with limited English skills are not improperly coerced and have enough election information. Read
Illinois Supreme Court Moves to Revive Parental Notification Law for Abortions on Minors

The Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act has taken a giant leap forward. Read
3 Changes Ordered in Oversight of Nevada Judges

The state's chief justice announces immediate actions to curb conflicts of interest and other improprieties raised in reports by The Times. Read
Judge Restores National-Forest Protections, Halting Bush Logging Plan

A federal judge has restored broad protection to about one-third of national forest land in the lower 48 states, rejecting efforts by the Bush administration to relax a ban on logging in the most pristine forests. Read
Judge Hands Libby Defense Initial Win — Las Vegas Sun

A federal judge handed a victory to the defense Thursday in the Valerie Plame case, siding with Vice President Dick Cheney's indicted former chief of staff in a fight over release of classified information. Read

Christianity/Pro-Family/Religion/Ethics

Iran Leader's U.N. Finale Reveals Apocalyptic View — Worldnetdaily.com

While most of the reporting and analysis of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the U.N. focused on what he had to say about the West and specifically the U.S., his chilling closing remarks were lost on most listeners — and apparently all reporters. Read
IRS Investigates Calif. Church — AP

With the campaign season in full swing, a liberal church is locked in an escalating dispute with the IRS over an anti-war sermon — delivered two days before the 2004 presidential election — that could cost the congregation its tax-exempt status. Read
Tell NBC To Stop Madonna's Mockery Of Christ! — Grassfire.org

NBC TV announced that it will air footage from Madonna's "Confessions" tour in which Madonna wears a crown of thorns and is mounted on a mirror-laden cross as it is raised from the stage. It will air as part of a November Sweeps TV special. An NBC official said, "We viewed it and didn't see it as being inappropriate," (Madonna is being paid a reported $15 million for the special.)

It's time to tell NBC to "Stop Madonna's Mockery Of Christ"! Action
Group Seeks to Silence Pastors and Churches — Citizenlink.com

Religious-liberty attorneys say congregations have a civic duty to take part in political process. Read
Jihad Watch Spokesman Outraged U.N. Welcomes Ahmadinejad — Agape Press

An Islamic terrorist expert says he thinks it's ridiculous that the U.S. State Department has allowed Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to come to the United States to address the United Nations. Read
NBC Puts Sliced 'Veggies' on Saturday Morning Kids' TV Menu

The popular Christian-themed VeggieTales cartoons, which feature loveable talking vegetables Larry the Cucumber, Bob the Tomato, and other "veggies," are now being broadcast on Saturday mornings on NBC. Fans will notice some changes, however, as the network has insisted any biblical or evangelical messages in the animated shows be edited out. Read
Boise, Idaho to Become the First City in the Nation to Vote on the Public Display of the Ten Commandments — Christian Newswire

On November 7, 2006 the citizens of Boise will vote on replacing a Ten Commandments display that was removed from a public park by the Boise City Council in March of 2004. The text of the Boise Ten Commandments Initiative is available at: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zrdnqybab.0.d6xnqybab.tuqepibab.856&ts=S0204&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.earnedmedia.org%2Fbtci.htm

Read
IRD: NCC Chief's Request to Visit Guantanamo Bay Prisoners is a Political Ploy That Overlooks Real Persecution Overseas

The National Council of Churches General Secretary should seek to visit imprisoned Christians and other innocent prisoners of conscience around the world instead of just U.S.-held Islamic radicals if he truly cares about the plight of the abused, said Institute on Religion and Democracy Religious Liberties Director Faith J.H. McDonnell on Wednesday. Read
The Three R's of ABC: Rosie, Radicals & Rantings

With just a few words, Rosie O'Donnell — once the diva of daytime television — unleashed yet another wrath of fury on an American public that is growing weary of such antics. So how should conservatives respond? Read
Arab Op-Ed: Pope's Remarks May Lead to War — Ynet News

The recent remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI on Islam are threatening to ignite the entire Muslim world. Read
Pope Protesters Firebomb 4 West Bank Churches, Open Fire at Fifth — Fox News

Palestinians wielding guns and firebombs attacked five churches in the West Bank and Gaza on Saturday, following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI that angered many Muslims. Read
Terror Group Threatens Gaza Christians — The Jerusalem Post

A previously unknown group calling itself the Huda [Guidance] Army Organization threatened on Tuesday to target all Christians living in the Gaza Strip unless Pope Benedict XVI apologized for his remarks against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Read
Somalia Militants Kill Christian Convert

Muslim militants in Somalia shot and killed a young Christian man who converted from Islam eleven months ago, Christian sources said Friday, September 15. Read
Annual "Religious Freedom" Report Cites China, Iran, Others As Violators

On Friday the U.S. State Department released its Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. The global survey on religious freedom reports on conditions "as well as what the U.S. government is doing in each foreign country to promote religious freedom," according to Tad Stahnke, who is policy director of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Read
SBC President, In Chapel Sermon, Calls For Denominational Unity

Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page called for unity within the convention during a chapel sermon at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Sept 14. "Certainly, we know [Satan] has taken away our unity," Page said. "He has removed from our convention, I am afraid, a unity that is at the very heart of what we need to be. There are factions across our convention now ... that are so distinct, so despairing, that there is literally no fellowship within some of the groups. That burdens my heart deeply." Read
A Tighter Grip — Proposed Legislation To Restrict Missionary Activity

When thousands of public school children entered their classrooms on September 1, they had a new mandatory class to attend — "Orthodox order and culture." As the Russian Orthodox Church continues its favored status with the Russian government, as it backed a proposed bill that would restrict missionary activity. This bill also received support from several pro-nationalistic political parties, who consider the bill necessary to the country's war on terrorism. Read
The Prayer Breakfast To Transform Hollywood

The words "prayer" and "Hollywood" aren't often seen in the same sentence, but prayer for Hollywood's leaders will be very much on the minds of attendees of the 2nd Annual National Media Prayer Breakfast in Los Angeles, California this fall. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend, joining celebrities, top producers, directors and decision-makers to pray for the 700 most powerful and influential media professionals in the world. Read

Abortion/Pro-Life

HLI Launches Web Resource that Exposes Real Source of Violence in Abortion Debate

Human Life International — the world's largest pro-life, pro-family civil rights organization with over 90 affiliates in 75 countries around the world — today announced the launch of its newest web-based informational resource: ProchoiceViolence.com. "This website exposes the pro-choice movement as the most violent political movement in United States history. In fact, we have documented over 7,000 acts of violence and illegal activities by those who support or practice abortion," stated Brian Clowes, Ph. D., senior analyst for HLI. "We have launched this site to expose this troubling truth and to draw attention to the fact that this violence is escalating at a very disturbing rate. Since 2000, there have been an astonishing 269 homicides and other killings committed by the pro-abortion movement." Read
John Kerry Attempts to Moderate Pro-Abortion Views in New Speech

Malibu, CA (LifeNews.com) — Failed 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry attempted to moderate his position in favor of unlimited abortions during a speech at Pepperdine University on Monday night. Kerry, who is a possible 2008 presidential contender, lost to President Bush in 2004 in part because of his pro-abortion views. Read
Nebraska Group Upset Secreetary of State Dumped Initiative on Disabled

Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) — A Nebraska group that lost its effort to get state voters to approve an initiative to protect the elderly and disabled is upset that Secretary of State John Gale did not approve the measure. The organization says Gale relied on outdated information in saying that it did not gather enough signatures to get on the November ballot. Read
South Dakota Abortion Activists Launch First TV Ad Against Abortion Ban(LifeNews.com)

The ad wars in South Dakota over the state's abortion ban have begun. Abortion advocates have launched a new television commercial blasting the ban, which prohibits virtually all abortions in the state, and pro-life advocates say the content of it is misleading. Read

Alcohol/Drugs/Health

Report: Skilling Arrested for Public Intoxication — MSNBC

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was ticketed for public intoxication earlier this month in Dallas, according to a newspaper report. Read
CDC Backs HIV Test for All Between 13-64 — ABC

CDC Recommends Routine HIV Testing for All Americans 13-64 in Bid to Prevent Spread Read
Adult Stem Cells Help Weakened Hearts

Using stem cells harvested from patients' own bone marrow, researchers improved cardiac function in heart attack patients months, years — and even decades — after the attacks, they reported Wednesday. Read
Tainted Spinach Located; Focus on California Farms

Spinach found in the refrigerator of a person sickened by E. coli was contaminated with the bacteria, the "smoking gun" that investigators have sought for the origin of the deadly outbreak, health officials say. Read
M.D.: Public Can Trust U.S. Blood Supply, Despite Red Cross's Mistakes

A Colorado pathologist says people who give or receive blood with the American Red Cross should not be concerned by recent fines levied against the organization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read
White House Uploads Anti-Drug Videos to YouTube

The White House is distributing government-produced, anti-drug videos on YouTube, the trendy Internet service that already features clips of wacky, drug-induced behavior and step-by-step instructions for growing marijuana plants. The decision to distribute public service announcements and other videos over YouTube represents the first concerted effort by the U.S. government to influence customers of the popular service, which shows more than 100 million videos per day. Read
Human Stem Cells Help Blinded Rats — Reuters

...Their use and production is controversial, however, with opponents saying it is unethical to use human embryos in this way. They say there are plenty of good experiments to be done using so-called adult stem cells, and scientists are racing to find potential therapies using both kinds of cells. Read

Education/Sex Ed/Teens/Children

3rd Grade ABC's Shows Stick People in Sex Acts — Alphabet Too Kinky for Kids

An alphabet sheet has made some parents angry. News 12 Long Island's Dianna Russini reports Video: Alphabet too kinky for kids
Parents Pull Kids Out of Public Schools

Despite recent setbacks that had detractors toasting its demise, a grass-roots movements is growing that has the potential to impact American society in an enormously positive way. The catalyst is a diverse group of organizations working to encourage people to pull their children out of a public school system they see as increasingly hostile to their faith and values, incapable of maintaining a disciplined learning environment, and (perhaps most blatantly) incapable of doing the very thing for which it exists: educating students. Read
High School's Dances Grind to a Halt — Concord Monitor(NH)

A furor over what Concord High School administrators call an "overtly sexual" style of dancing at school dances has split the school community: There are those who defend the students'right to dance however they want and those who believe the moves are just plain inappropriate. Read
Will the SAT Soon Be History? MSNBC

Why hundreds of colleges no longer factor test into admissions Read
Ky. Flag-Burning Teacher Avoids Charges — AP

A middle school teacher who burned two American flags as part of a civics lesson won't be charged, but may still face discipline from the school board, officials said Wednesday. Read
Obstacles Placed Before FCA Clubs in Two Rural Locales

A Kansas school district is being sued in federal court for denying official recognition to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club. The district's superintendent claims recognizing the FCA would be an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. At the same time, a school district near the Texas Gulf Coast is making life similarly difficult for its local FCA chapter. Read
Maryland County's Sex-Ed Material Not Yet Out of the Woods

CAUTION...This story contains terms that some may find offensive

A group that sued Maryland's largest school system over its controversial sex-education curriculum is applauding some proposed changes to the new curriculum and raising concerns about others. Read
More Small Women's Colleges Opening Doors to Men — NYT

Small liberal arts colleges for women are increasingly struggling against financial pressures to win applicants in an era of unbounded choice. Read
Student Says He Did the 'Right Thing' — AP

A 17-year-old student said he was only doing the right thing when he told authorities his friends were planning a Columbine-like attack on East High School last week. Read
Product Recalls — AP

About 358,000 LEGO Explore Super Trucks, manufactured by LEGO Systems Inc., because the wheels on the truck can detach, exposing a metal axle that can be hazardous to children. The company received reports after two children were punctured by the metal axle. Another child fell when a wheel came off. Read

God and Country/National Security/Politics/Economy

2 U.S. Troops Killed, 25 Wounded in Iraq

A suicide car bomber killed two U.S. soldiers and wounded 25 in Baghdad on Thursday, the U.S. command said. The attack brought to five the number of Americans who have died in Iraq since Wednesday. Read
U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq Hit 2,690 — AP

As of Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006, at least 2,690 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,140 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers. Read
Paratrooper Killed When Helicopter Fired On In Iraq

A paratrooper from the 82nd Airborne Division's aviation brigade has died from wounds he received when his OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopter was fired on during combat near Mosul, the military said Thursday. Read
Conference Seeks to Aid Wounded Vets — AP

John Melia, executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project, said business recruiters often dismiss veterans who list job titles such as "tanker" or "gravel agitator" on their resumes because they don't see how those skills are applicable to the business setting. What recruiters need to realize, Melia said, is that because of their military training, veterans are well-suited for jobs that require discipline, leadership and computer skills. Read
Saying Thank You to Those Who Answered the Call of Duty

Since May 2003 the Maine Troop Greeters have welcomed every military transport flight that has arrived in Bangor, Me. Read
Deployment Math Tests the Military — LA Times

As prospects fade for U.S. force reductions in Iraq, Army and Marine commanders have been stepping up their warnings that the pace of troop deployments is increasingly straining the military and threatening to cause long-term damage. Read
Man Accused of Working for Iraq Indicted

A man accused of collecting intelligence for Saddam Hussein's regime during the 1990s was indicted on charges of failing to register as an agent of a foreign government, authorities said Wednesday. Read
Border Fence Must Skirt Objections From Arizona Tribe

If the Senate votes to build a double-layered 700-mile-long fence on the Mexican border, it may have a 75-mile gap because of opposition from the Tohono O'odham Indian tribe. Read
New Driver License Rules Could Cost $11B — AP

New federal security rules for issuing driver's licenses could cost $11 billion to implement, raising concerns among states about paying for the changes, according to a national survey of states released Thursday. Read
Suits Say U.S. Impeded Audits for Oil Leases

Auditors say the Interior Department suppressed efforts to recover millions from oil companies they said were cheating the government. Read
Man Crashes Through Capitol Barricade

An armed man ran through the U.S. Capitol after crashing his vehicle on the Capitol grounds Monday in the worst breach of security since a gunman killed two police officers in 1998. Read
Bush to Muslim World: Turn Your Back on Extremists — Fox News

President Bush sought to blunt anti-Americanism across the Middle East Tuesday, asserting that extremists are trying to justify their violence by falsely claiming the U.S. is waging war on Islam. He singled out Iran and Syria as sponsors of terrorism. Read
Iran's President Says Bush Pushing for War — MSNBC

President Bush's policies in the Middle East are "moving the world toward war," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday, maintaining that Iran was a peaceful nation that merely wanted to be left alone to "stand on its [own] feet." Read
FBI Says Violent Crime Rose in 2005

WASHINGTON — Violent crime rose 2.3 percent last year, the first increase since 2001, the FBI reported Monday. The agency found there were 1.39 million violent crimes — which include rape, murder, robbery and aggravated assault — reported in the United States in 2005, up from 1.36 million the previous year. Read
Poll Finds Rebound in Bush Approval — USA Today

Amid falling gas prices and a two-week drive to highlight his administration's efforts to fight terrorism, President Bush's approval rating has risen to 44% in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. That's his highest rating in a year. Read
Housing Construction Down 6 Pct. in Aug.

WASHINGTON — Housing construction plunged in August, falling to the lowest level in more than three years as the once-booming industry showed further signs of a dramatic slowdown. Read
Forbes Magazine Related
Chavez Calls Bush 'Devil' in U.N. Speech

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took his verbal battle with the United States to the floor of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling President Bush "the devil." Read
Fed Holds Rates Steady

Central bank keeps key interest rate at 5.25% for 2nd straight meeting, cites slowing economy. Read
Nuclear Site Nears End of Its Conversion to a Park

In about two weeks, the final trainload of radioactive waste is to leave the Fernald nuclear site in Ohio, marking the end of a 13-year, $4.4-billion cleanup. Read
Air Controllers Chafe at Plan to Reduce Staffing Levels

The drive by the F.A.A. to cut the number of air traffic controllers nationally is one of several workplace changes to which the controllers object. Read
Deportation to Syria Backed

The attorney general defends a U.S. decision that a Canadian says led to his torture. Ottawa appears ready to lodge a formal protest. Read
HP Spied on More Than Phone Calls — LA Times

What Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Mark Hurd knew — and when — was called into question Wednesday as details emerged that the company's spying included far more than prying into confidential phone records. Read
Miss. Mayor Accused of Overzealousness — AP

Mayor Frank Melton came into office like a Wild West marshal sworn to clean up the town. But somewhere along the line, prosecutors say, the crimefighting mayor crossed over from lawman to vigilante. Read
Tea-Bag Mail Protest Worries Post Office -AP

Illinois' lieutenant governor is urging people to mail tea bags to two electric utilities to protest rate increases — an idea that leaves the post office cold. The Postal Service on Wednesday encouraged people to make their point instead with empty tea bags, saying lumpy bags could harm its equipment and create security scares by leaking brown residue. Read
Coast Guard Plans Live-Fire Exercises

Margo Marks operates a ferry service on Lake Michigan and has nothing but respect for the Coast Guard. But she shudders at the thought of machine gun bullets whizzing over the water. Read

Pornography/Homosexuality/Obscenity/Immorality/Sexual Abuse

Press Aide Pleads No Contest in Sex Case

A former Department of Homeland Security press aide pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges that he had sexually explicit online conversations with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Read
Combating Porn Through Payments

Pedophiles spend millions of dollars a month using credit cards to access child porn websites. Child advocates want to eradicate the problem by 2008. Read
America's Pro-Homosexual Giants: 2006

WorldNetDaily has compiled a list of companies scoring a perfect 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign's 2006 Corporate Equality Index, with policies beneficial toward homosexuals. Read
Laws Tighten Rules for Sex Offenders

The governor signs bills that extend prison time and bar loitering near parks and schools. A ballot initiative offers additional provisions. Read
It's Not 'Straight' or 'Gay,' It's What You've Done — ABC

Nearly 10 percent of men who told public health pollsters they were straight also told them they'd had sex with a man in the previous 12 months, according to a study conducted in New York City. Read
Playboy Wants Victoria's Secret Workers — WRAL

Playboy's Web site is looking for its own Victoria's Secret models. Playboy.com wants to find employees of the chain willing to pose — presumably without the company's lingerie — for an upcoming "Women of Victoria's Secret" online feature. Read

Other News

Arab Groups Demand New Apology — Jerusalem Post

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood retracted their acceptance of Pope Benedict XVI's apology, issued earlier Sunday just hours before the group ackowledged the apology as "sufficient." Read
West Bank: NIS 10 million seized — Ynet News

IDF forces, Shin Bet, and police forces raided central Palestinian cities early Wednesday, in an operation directed against banks and money changers. Read
Jerusalem's Jewish Population Declining Due to 'Exodus' — Ha'aretz

Some 313,000 Jews have left Jerusalem over the last 25 years, 105,000 more than those who moved to the capital during the same period. Read
With Premier at U.N., Thai Military Stages Coup

Leaders of Thailand's armed forces seized control of Bangkok, suspended the constitution and declared martial law on Tuesday. Read
Japanese Fret That Quality Is in Decline

A recent surge in product recalls has set off fears in Japan that the country may be losing its edge to South Korea and China. 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