Weekly Issues Alert

Thomas Jefferson

March 9 - 15

"If we move in mass, be it ever so circuitously, we shall attain our object; but if we break into squads, everyone pursuing the path he thinks most direct, we become an easy conquest to those who can now barely hold us in check." --Thomas Jefferson

NC General Assembly

Bill could restore execution schedule — News and Observer

State Republican lawmakers on Tuesday called on the Democratic leadership at the legislature to take steps to end the de facto death penalty moratorium in North Carolina by taking up a bill to prohibit the N.C. Medical Board from disciplining doctors for their involvement in executions. Read
Dems Sound Familiar Themes in 2007 Legislative Agenda — WRAL

Nearly two months into the 2007 legislative session, Democratic lawmakers finally laid out their priorities for the session Thursday. Democrats spent the last several weeks working out committee assignments and getting organized after electing Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, as the new House speaker. At a news conference Thursday, Democratic lawmakers stood shoulder to shoulder to tout familiar themes — improving public education, helping low-income families, increasing access to health care, preserving open space and promoting energy efficiency. But they stopped short of detailing specific legislation. Read
Lawmakers, Administrators Back Spanking Ban for N.C. Schools — WRAL

...As the youngsters gazed at whale bones or downed lunches on the sunny mall between the buildings, lawmakers in the Legislative Building across the street were preparing to file a bill to ban corporal punishment in all of North Carolina's public schools. Read
Wright's problems pile up — News and Observer

Last July, a state trooper in Bladen County clocked state Rep. Thomas Wright doing 72 mph in a 55-mph zone and issued the legislator a ticket. Read
North Carolina House Committee Agrees to Extend Hog Moratorium Through 2010 — WRAL

A 10-year state moratorium on new hog farms and their waste lagoons would be expanded for three more years in a bill approved Wednesday by the House Agriculture Committee. Read
Hold the phone books, lawmaker asks — News and Observer

With the directory business booming, many North Carolinians are annoyed at phone books littering lawns and driveways. A state lawmaker has the solution: a do-not-deliver registry, just like the one for junk mail. Read
Misconduct investigations secret for lawmakers, state employees — HeraldSun.com

North Carolina's new government ethics reforms include a key feature no state legislator wants credit for: secret trials. When legislators or state employees are suspected of misconduct in office, most, if not all, of the investigation will be kept out of public view — even after a preliminary inquiry substantiates the allegation. Official charges, the accused's response and ethics hearings are to be confidential. Read
Tax Reform: The State and Local Fiscal Modernization Study Commission heard recommendations from five subcommittees. The suggestions included broadening the sales and income tax base while lowering the overall rates and creating a "tax menu" for local governments upon which they had the authority to raise new revenues for roads, school construction or paying for Medicaid. Read
Horticulture is worth $8.6 billion a year — News and Observer

North Carolina's booming horticulture sector is driven largely by landscaping and lawn care. The General Assembly provides $150,000 for a study to help understand the industry's diversity and importance to the state economy. Read
Dirt bike safety in N.C. spotlight — News and Observer

Death of 5-year-old prompts N.C. officials to consider new laws Read
Lawmakers Consider Presidential Primary or Caucuses — ABC11TV

With a native son on the presidential ballot again, North Carolina lawmakers are considering whether to move the presidential primary to earlier in the year or scrap it for party caucuses. Read
'UNC Rocky Mount' Bill Is Waiting in the Wings — WRAL

The plan to turn North Carolina Wesleyan College into UNC-Rocky Mount is moving forward. There is a bill in the Legislature to start the process if that's what the university system's Board of Governors wants to do. Read
Mental Health — AP/Hendersonville News

- H92, ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to study whether to increase the medically needy income limits for Medicaid eligibility. Passed: 115-0. Next: To the Senate.
Report: Domestic Violence Homicides Increased in 2006 — WRAL

...Advocates said they hope the Legislature will pass a bill making a second violation of a protective order a felony. And on Tuesday, a bill unanimously approved by the House would add stalking to the list of offenses a judge must consider before granting pretrial release. It would also amend domestic violence laws to increase reporting on homicides where the victim and perpetrator have a personal relationship. Read

Related
Other Bills Introduced:

House

- H639, to require jail time, in addition to any other punishment, for anyone convicted of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 or more. Sponsor: Rep. Brian Holloway, R-Stokes.

- H577, to appropriate $11.68 million over the coming two fiscal years for contracts to provide intensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment for prison inmates. Sponsors: Reps. Alma Adams, D-Guilford; Larry Bell, D-Sampson.

- H580, to appropriate $65 million over the coming two fiscal years to develop a joint school of nanoscience and nanoengineering as a collaboration between N.C. A&T University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Sponsor: Rep. Maggie Jeffus, D-Guilford.

- H630, to allow leftover tuition assistance program funds to be used to help pay outstanding student loans for members of the North Carolina National Guard. Sponsor: Rep. Marvin Lucas, D-Cumberland.

_ H584, to require background checks for employees and prospective employees of the state Office of Information Technology Services and exempt criminal histories of certain agency security liaisons and personnel from the public records law. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Tolson, D-Edgecombe.

_ H586, to adopt the international building code as the state building code. Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Goforth, D-Buncombe.

_ H590, to limit the liability of animal exhibitions at agricultural fairs. Sponsor: Rep. Dewey Hill, D-Columbus.

_ H604, to raise pay of rank-and-file legislators from $13,951 per year to $20,648 per year, and raise salaries of legislative leaders. Sponsor: Rep. Larry Womble, D-Forsyth.

_ H598, to place a 5 percent excise tax on money transfers by wire by illegal immigrants. Sponsor: Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow.

_ H599, to regulate legal assistance funds of anyone holding elected office in the state, by requiring funds to be registered with the State Board of Elections and make periodic disclosures. Sponsor: Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford.

- H633, ordering the Department of Public Instruction to develop a curriculum teaching the history of the 1898 Wilmington race riot. Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Wright, D-New Hanover.

- H637, to set a two-year limit, ending on July 1, 2009, for civil actions relating to death, injury or property damage from the 1898 Wilmington race riot. Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Wright, D-New Hanover.

Senate

_ S670, to require that city and county ordinances, deed restrictions and other covenants cannot block the installation of energy devices that are based on the use of renewable resources. Sponsor: Sen. Janet Cowell, D-Wake.

_ S671, to appropriate $6 million over the next two fiscal years to help counties participate in the "Eat Smart ... Move More" health initiative. Sponsor: Sen. Janet Cowell, D-Wake.

_ S685, to require a patient's signature or the signature or the patient's parent, guardian or representative on "do not resuscitate" order forms. Sponsor: Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange.

_ S678, to elect District Court judges at the time of the primary election and hold a runoff at the time of the second primary as a method to reduce the general election ballot length. Sponsor: Sen. Doug Berger, D-Franklin.

_ S677, to allow a court to expunge a youthful offender's criminal record for nonviolent felonies. Sponsor: Sen. Doug Berger, D-Franklin.

_ S675, to increase the maximum punishment for someone convicted of taking indecent liberties with children or a student when the offender is a teacher or school employee and is at least four years older than the victim. Sponsor: Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake.

- S706, to appropriate $7.1 million over the coming two fiscal years to the Office of Rural Health to help recruit obstetricians and other physicians to practice in underserved parts of the state. Sponsor: Sen. Bill Purcell, D-Scotland.

- S709, to encourage public schools, community colleges and the University of North Carolina system to offer American Sign Language as a for-credit modern foreign language class. Sponsor: Sen. Bill Purcell, D-Scotland.

- S712, requiring insurers to cover extra prescription refills during states of emergency or disasters. Sponsor: Sen. Bill Purcell, D-Scotland.
Sheriff's' Scrutiny

A Senate judiciary panel agreed to legislation giving county sheriffs permission to inspect pharmacy records while investigating the illegal use or sale of prescription drugs. The N.C. Sheriffs Association has backed the bill, which would give sheriffs the same right to review documents of pharmacists as do some federal and state law officers. Some opponents worried that the extra inspections could make it harder for pharmacists to do fill prescriptions. The bill now goes to the full Senate. Read
Clean-Up-Your-Act Act

A stricter screening process for applicants and permit fees for solid waste facilities are among proposals being drafted into a bill that lawmakers hope will make the state's landfills cleaner and safer. The ideas, presented to a legislative panel by the director of the Division of Waste Management, also include tougher standards for new or expanded landfills, and a statewide surcharge on solid waste disposal to help finance cleanup of abandoned landfills and hazardous waste sites. Read

NC Courts

Asserting Rights Under North Carolina Sunshine Law Can be Costly Prospect- WRAL

..."We're at the level of baking cookies and stuff," said Gretchen Lothrop, one of the plaintiffs. "Why should the citizens who pay taxes have to spend their own money to require our government to obey the law?" Read
Former Educator Claims Not Guilty of Sex Offenses By Kate Bolduan — ABC11TV

Larry Jewell, the former assistant principal at Southeast Raleigh High School who is charged with molesting a teenager, was in a Harnett County courtroom Tuesday and his lawyers say he is not guilty. Read

NC Politics

Edwards moves to left, has edgier stance on politics — The China Post

When he first ran for president, former North Carolina senator John Edwards was the fresh face in the Democratic Party, a perpetually buoyant campaigner who built his candidacy around his own biography and whose success in the primaries earned him a place on the 2004 Democratic ticket. Fast-forward to today, and there is a new John Edwards on the campaign trail. His demeanor is more serious and his elbows far sharper than four years ago. Two years after leaving the Senate, he rarely mentions his time in Washington. Nor does he talk about his experience as Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's vice presidential running mate. His political positions also have more edge. Emphasis on biography has given way to focus on issues, where there has been a demonstrable shift to the left — Read
In Washington, it's time for the money pilgrimage — News and Observer

So a banker, an environmentalist, a veterinarian and a lobbyist walk into a congressman's office.

That's not a joke — it's a half-hour for U.S. Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh. Read
North Carolina Sen. Dole Has Her Own Seat to Defend in 2008 — NYT

...But as Dole prepares for a re-election campaign in 2008, she faces a dramatically altered political landscape, colored by strong public disapproval of Bush and the war in Iraq that he launched early in Dole's Senate term. And Dole's own political savvy has been under question, even from some Republicans, since what appeared to be a plum job — overseeing the 2006 GOP Senate campaign as chairwoman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) — left her at the scene of a party debacle in which Democrats scored a net gain of six seats and took control of the chamber. Read
Easley Staffers Helped Ally of Gov. — ABC11TV

Two top staffers for Governor Easley helped a former chairwoman of the state utilities commission with a private-sector job. Read
New book planned by controversial pundit — HeraldSun.com

While conservative pundit Ann Coulter has been dropped by several newspapers for using an anti-gay epithet regarding Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, she remains in good standing with her book publisher. Read

Other North Carolina News

3 N.C. Military Hospitals Reviewed in Wake of Walter Reed Scandal — WRAL

Fact-finding teams from the Pentagon recently contacted or visited North Carolina military hospitals after shoddy care was uncovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Read
North Carolina Soldier Facing Rape Charges in North Carolina Charged With Rape in Georgia — WRAL

A Fort Bragg soldier already charged in North Carolina with breaking into apartments and raping at least two women has been charged with rape at Fort Benning, Georgia, the military said Tuesday. Read
Religion policy questioned — News and Observer

Nineteen professors from Triangle universities have signed a letter asking the Wake County Board of Education to meet with them to discuss an incident at Enloe High School in which a teacher brought in a guest speaker who denounced Islam. Read
WXII-TV Anchor Charged with DWI — ABC11TV

Police charged WXII's Tolly Carr and say more charges may be pending against the 32-year-old, who has worked at WXII since 2000. Killed around 3:30 Sunday morning was Casey Ryan Bokhoven, a 26-year-old from Winston-Salem. Read
For USO, caring is the key — News and Observer

Rogers: Since 1941, USO volunteers and staff members in Jacksonville have been taking care of Camp Lejeune Marines, sailors and their families. It is the oldest continuously operating USO in the world. Read
New Drug Therapy Holds Hope for Brain-Cancer Patients — WRAL

No one knows exactly why brain tumors form or who will get them, but no other cancer can change the quality of life so quickly. Now, Duke researchers believe they've found something that works for many patients. Read
College of The Albemarle to begin smoking ban this week — HeraldSun.com

The College of The Albemarle will become the first North Carolina community college to prohibit tobacco from its campuses when a ban takes effect this week. Read
Workers describe problems at EQ — News and Observer

...In the interviews, one worker said that some of his co-workers couldn't read the labels on containers of waste and that he had no safety training. Others said many hazardous waste mishaps went unreported before the warehouse exploded in October. Read
SUNY chancellor leaving to take North Carolina post — The Business Review

The chancellor of the State University of New York system, John Ryan, told colleagues Wednesday he will resign as of May 31. Ryan, chancellor since 2005, will take over the Center for Creative Leadership in Greenboro, N.C. The international group works with private and public employers to build leadership abilities. Ryan has been on the group's board since 2002. Read
North Carolina furniture company branching out — WCNC.com

At a plant in Taylorsville, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture creations come to life. They employ more than 750 workers and see sales of $100 million a year. The company has seen growth, when some other companies in the furniture industry have struggled. Read
Rule leaves some without Medicaid — News and Observer

More than 1,100 low-income North Carolinians have been denied or cut off from Medicaid under a recent federal law that requires proof of U.S. citizenship Read
N.C.-based Cree to Buy Chinese LED Manufacturer — ABC11TV

Cree Inc. said Monday its acquisition of Hong Kong-based Cotco Luminant Device Ltd. for $200 million in cash and stock will help expand its business in China. Read
Smiths Aerospace to expand, create 200 jobs in Asheville — HeraldSun.com

Smiths Aerospace plans to invest $16 million over the next three years to build a manufacturing plant in Asheville and create 200 jobs, the governor's office announced Monday. Read
Durham in tussle to lure Nitronex — News and Observer

The Raleigh company has long had its eyes on a spot near RTP, but now the West Coast is in the picture Read
N.C.'s 'Green Industries' Bring $8.6 Billion Impact — WSOC TV

Landscapers, greenhouses, sod producers and other "green industries" in North Carolina have an $8 billion impact on the state. That's according to a study announced Tuesday by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. He says it's the first time anyone has put a dollar figure on the impact those types of businesses have on the state. Read

Congress

Senate Democrats' budget leaves war funding intact — USA Today

Senate Democrats will unveil a 2008 budget today that would boost spending for uninsured children, students and veterans without cutting funds for defense or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The budget also would not roll back any of President Bush's tax cuts after 2010, when they are set to expire. It says the tax cuts can be extended if they are paid for. Read
Rep. Stark Applauded for Atheist Outlook — US News and World Report

The American Humanist Association applauded Rep. Pete Stark for publicly acknowledging he does not believe in a supreme being. The declaration, it said, makes him the highest-ranking elected official — and first congressman — to proclaim to be an atheist. Read
Senate OKs bill with labor rights for screeners — LA Times

With the 60-38 vote, the chamber moves closer to a showdown with Bush, who has threatened to veto it. Read
Calderon Tells Bush Mexico Needs More — US News and World Report

President Bush, working to rebuild strained U.S.-Mexico relations, promised Tuesday he would do his best to get a deeply divided U.S. Congress to change American immigration policies that are hated south of the border. Read
Calderon condemns border fence — The Washington Times

Mexican President Felipe Calderon yesterday criticized the 850 miles of border fence that President Bush and Congress approved last year, saying there are better ways to stop illegal immigration. Read
House GOP try to halt Muslim seminar — World Magazine

House Republicans said Monday that Democrats should retract an offer to let the nation's largest Islamic civil liberties organization use a Capitol conference room for a seminar. The House Republican Conference referred to the Council on American-Islamic Relations as "terrorist apologists" and called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to cancel the forum scheduled for Tuesday. Read
Top U.S. General Calls Homosexuality 'Immoral'

As Democrats Try to Overturn Ban on Gays in the Military, Pace's Comments Sure to Provoke Debate Read
Senate 9/11 Bill Misses the Mark, Ignores Needed Security Measures — Human Events.com

As our country continues to face the threat of terrorism, Congress' efforts must be focused on protecting our nation from future attacks. For the past two weeks, the Senate has been debating a bill, the Improving America's Security Act, which professes to strengthen our national security and help protect our country from terrorist threats. In fact, the bill fails to address some of the most important security challenges facing our nation. Read
Senate nixes grant accountablity measure — World Magazine

An effort to make the Homeland Security Department more accountable for the billions of dollars it hands out in grants faltered Tuesday in the Senate as lawmakers wound up work on a broad antiterrorism bill Read
Surprise! Pork-Barrel Spending Drops — ABC

Tax money spent on small projects that only benefit one congressional district or region are often slipped into legislation at the 11th hour — a time-worn and much criticized part of Congress known as pork-barrel spending. Read
Activists See Momentum Building for Immigration Reform — CNS News

"This is the year we're going to make history" by pushing comprehensive immigration reform through Congress, groups from across the political spectrum said during a telephone news conference on Friday. Read
Senators hold fire on Navy field site — News and Observer

North Carolina's top two elected leaders in Washington say that despite years of study, they are not ready to take a stand on the Navy's plans to put a landing strip alongside a migratory bird refuge in Eastern North Carolina. Read
Fringe-Left Democrats Wield New Influence — Human Events

The congresswomen from the 9th and 6th Districts of California put it best. "Progressives have forged new and powerful ways to join and influence the debate here in Washington," said Rep. Barbara Lee (D.). Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D.) observed, "We are in the midst of a progressive awakening in this country, and I have never been more confident and optimistic about the future of progressive politics." Representatives Lee and Woolsey are the co-chairmen of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Lee represents the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, while Woolsey represents Marin and Sonoma counties. Read
Gonzales Said To Stonewall a GOP Query — New York Sun

The top Republican on the House's main investigative committee, Rep. Thomas Davis of Virginia, is charging the Justice Department with stonewalling his inquiries about the FBI's assertion that it closed several leak investigations ... Read
Tell Congress: Hands Off the Internet! — We the People

Take Action Urging Congress to Oppose Any and All Internet Regulation. Read
Help Sponsor Grassfire's "Stop The Invasion" Billboard And Media Campaign! — GrassFire.org

President Bush and the Pelosi Congress are moving rapidly toward an amnesty bill that is even more disastrous that the 2006 version. Only a massive grassroots uprising can stop the Bush-Pelosi-Kennedy-McCain amnesty bill. That's why Grassfire is expanding our "Stop The Invasion" billboard and media campaign, and we need your help. This campaign has already reached over 30 million people from coast-to coast through giant billboards and a massive grassroots petition that has rallied over a half-million people. Read
Bill # H.R.876 — Child Pornography — We The People

'To modernize and expand the reporting requirements relating to child pornography, to expand cooperation in combating child pornography, and for other purposes. ' Read
Bill # H.R.837 — Youth Exploitation by Adults — We the People

'To amend title 18, United States Code, to protect youth from exploitation by adults using the Internet, and for other purposes. '

2/6/2007 — Introduced. Read
Urge Congress to Reduce High Gas Prices! — We The People

America needs more domestic oil supplies to meet demand. Make no mistake; politicians in Washington are to blame for high prices at the gas pump! Yet as public anger increases, our politicians in Washington, in typical fashion, are looking to place blame elsewhere. Read

Christianity/Pro-Family/Religion/Ethics

Ten Commandments at Center of New Dispute With ACLU — CNS News

A new church-state showdown over the Ten Commandments is looming, with a religious freedom law firm preparing to challenge the American Civil Liberties Union over a monument in Florida. Read
Messianic Jew attacked, wrongly arrested — Baptist Press

The arrest of a Messianic Jewish evangelist in Israel reflects the strife that often confronts Messianic Jews despite Israel's guarantees of religious liberty and without any repercussion from law enforcement officials, the leader of a Messianic congregation told Baptist Press. Read
How the family factor figures in 2008 presidential election — Christian Science Monitor

Divorces, age, and marital infidelity may affect voters when they go to the polls next year. Read
Standing in the God gap — World Magazine

The Barna Group released a survey last week exploring the so-called "God gap" between the two major political parties, analyzing 32 different measures of religious commitment. Not at all surprising was the discovery that Republicans still attract a higher percentage of those people who Barna says qualify as being "born again" — Read
What Americans Don't Know About Religion Could Fill a Book — US News and World Report

With roughly 9 in 10 of its citizens claiming to believe in God or a Supreme Being, America is widely acknowledged to be the most religious of modern industrial nations. Yet when it comes to knowledge about religion, it ranks among the most ill-informed. While close to two thirds of all Americans regard the Bible as a source of answers to life's questions, only half can name even one of the New Testament Gospels. Read
Muslims Kidnap, Convert Christian Children — Worthy News

Beginning in November of last year, 13-year-old Victor Udo Usen, a member of the Christ Apostolic Church in this northern Nigeria city, went missing. Read

Courts

Court: Dying can be charged for using marijuana — CNN

A California woman whose doctor says marijuana is the only medicine keeping her alive is not immune from federal prosecution on drug charges, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. Read
Court Targets Home School Families — Citizenlink.com

A New Jersey Superior Court Judge said last week that home schooling allows child abuse to go undiscovered, World Net Daily reported. "In today's threatening world, where we seek to protect children from abuse, not just physical, but also educational abuse, how can we monitor the educational welfare of our children" if state law allows home schooling, wrote Judge Thomas Zampino in a child-abuse case. Read
Court Overturns DC Gun Ban — CNS News

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Friday overturned the city's extensive gun ban, giving gun rights advocates a major victory in their long battle over the restrictions. Read
Pa. City Defends Illegal Immigrant Law — MyWay News

Nearly a year after the city of Hazleton began a high-profile campaign to rid itself of illegal immigrants, opponents of the crackdown are getting their day in court. A trial opening Monday pits Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, who says illegal immigrants are destroying the quality of life in his small northeastern Pennsylvania city, against the ACLU and Hispanic groups who contend that the new rules are unconstitutional. Read
Trial Focuses on Laws Aimed at Illegal Immigrants — CNS News

Can local governments act on their own to curb illegal immigration? A trial getting underway on Monday is expected to answer that question. Read
Mosque Leaders Sentenced in Terror Sting — AllAroundPhilly.com

Two leaders of an Albany mosque who were snared in an FBI sting involving a fictional terror strike were sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison. Read
Teacher's $2 million lawsuit denied in 'Witch Trial' — CNN

A teacher who alleged that she was fired from her job because administrators thought she was a witch lost her $2 million lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. Read
French High Court Rejects Gay Marriage — Guardian Unlimited

France's highest court Tuesday rejected as unlawful the first marriage by a gay couple in France, annulling the union of the two men. Read
Judge Rules Against Sudan in Bombing — Breitbart.com

A federal judge said Wednesday that Sudan is responsible for the bombing of the USS Cole but he needs more time to determine damages for the families of the 17 sailors killed when terrorists bombed the ship in 2000. Read

Abortion/Pro-Life

...'American Idol' Criticized For 'Giving Back' Through Deadly Groups — Christian Newswire

Americans will be invited to call a toll-free number or go online to make a donation to CPEF, which will turn the money over to UNICEF, Save the Children, and several other groups. "For years UNICEF spokesmen denied promoting contraception or abortion," wrote Winifride Prestwich in "UNICEF: Guilty As Charged." She said records prove that "step by step over a 30-year period UNICEF has tied itself to the population controllers and to the anti-life, anti-family attitudes of such organizations as the International Planned Parenthood Federation." Read
Stricter Adoption Rules Sought in China — AP

Stricter guidelines for adopting Chinese orphans will provide greater protection for children without affecting their opportunities for adoption, a government official said Tuesday. Read
Woman Sues Doctors After Failed Abortion — ABC

A Boston woman who gave birth after a failed abortion has filed a lawsuit against two doctors and Planned Parenthood seeking the costs of raising her child. Read
Ohio Group Launches 'ChargeTiller.com' Website — Christian Newswire

Operation Rescue encourages the public to visit an exciting new website, ChargeTiller.com and sign the on-line petition asking for the thirty criminal charges to be reinstated against abortionist George R. Tiller for the commission of illegal late-term abortions and reporting violations that were dismissed in December on dubious jurisdictional grounds. Read
Group Launches Post-Abortion E-Cards — Breitbart.com

A nonprofit organization has unveiled a series of electronic greeting cards that concerned friends and relatives can send to a woman after she chooses to have an abortion. Read

Alcohol/Drugs/Health

Report: Binge Drinking Rises at Colleges — WRAL

Substance abuse on college campuses is nothing new, but it is taking a more extreme and dangerous form, with higher rates of frequent binge drinking and prescription drug abuse, and more negative consequences for students such as arrests and risky sexual behavior. Read
E. coli Find Sparks New Criticism of Organic Foods — CNS News

A California farm in transition to organic status has been identified as a source of the E. coli outbreak in spinach last year, a discovery likely to add to existing concerns about possible safety issues surrounding organic foods. Read
Driving while sleeping can be fueled by pills, FDA says — CNN

All sleeping pills, including the blockbusters Ambien and Lunesta, may sometimes cause a bizarre but dangerous side effect — sleep-driving, the Food and Drug Administration warned today. It's like sleepwalking but behind-the-wheel: driving while not fully awake after using a sleeping aid — with no memory of doing so. Read

Education/Sex Ed/Teens/Children

Outrage over San Diego school's involvement in 'gay pride' parade — OneNewsNow.com

A San Diego, California, school district has rebuffed efforts by 12 Christian men and women to prevent minor children from being exposed to the city's 33rd annual homosexual pride parade. This group, dubbed the "San Diego Twelve," is calling on the district school board to bar a K-8 charter school from once again marching its students under the school's banner in this summer's "San Diego LGBT Pride" parade. Read

Hear Report
Psych tests ordered for homeschooling parents — WorldNetDaily

(Germany) Ruling in appeal escalates case of 15-year-old taken from family Read
Schools Offer More Chinese Programs — US News and World Report

In Alaska, students are calling their teacher "lao shi." In Illinois, they're learning that one plus one equals "er." And in western Massachusetts, kindergarten students who can sing their ABCs will soon start honing Mandarin accents. As China's economic power grows, Chinese is becoming the new language of the future. Read
A Conservative Alternative to No Child Left Behind — Human Events

As a presidential candidate in 2000, George W. Bush proposed an education plan that focused on local control of schools. But a year later, after going through the congressional sausage machine, Bush's proposal had morphed into something entirely different. Read
States stress benefits of pre-kindergarten programs — CNN

Yasmine Carrizo has trouble pinpointing exactly what she likes best about pre-kindergarten at Carlin Springs Elementary. Read
School district sued over graduation held in church — CNN

The state American Civil Liberties Union chapter is suing the Newark public school district on behalf of a Muslim teen over a school's decision to hold its graduation ceremonies in a Baptist church. Read
House Dem Top Pick for Mass. Chancellor — AP

A Democratic congressman was named the No. 1 choice Tuesday to become the next chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, a school spokesman said. Read
Union: Teacher Can't Divert Dues to Fight Sex Trafficking — CNS News

A teacher in Vancouver, Wash., claiming a religious exemption to paying union dues, wants to divert her money to a charity that seeks "to prevent and eradicate sex trafficking and slavery." However, the union has rejected her request because the organization is "not acceptable." Read
'Monologues' author to visit school after suspensions -CNN

The author of a well-known feminist play has agreed to speak at a school district where three girls were suspended after they used the word "vagina" while reciting the play. Eve Ensler, who wrote "The Vagina Monologues," has accepted an invitation to speak Tuesday at a school theater, just before a meeting of the board of education, and will appear with the girls, said school board member Peter Breslin on Friday's "Today" show. Read
DePauw Cuts Ties With Troubled Sorority — AOL News

DePauw University's president on Monday ordered a sorority off campus by fall after Delta Zeta kicked out nearly two dozen members and drew accusations that only attractive, popular students were asked to remain. School President Robert G. Bottoms said the values of the sorority did not fit with the 2,200-student private college in western Indiana. Read

Gambling

Gambling Madness? You Bet — ABC News

The bracket is set — the NCAA's March Madness has arrived. Oddsmakers are licking their chops as more than $2 billion in gambling money is to change hands during the annual basketball tournament. Read

God and Country/National Security/Politics

Baghdad security crackdown seriously curbs killings of US soldiers — Kuwait News Agency

The rate of killings of US troops in Iraq has been on the decline, down by 60 percent, since the launch of the new security measures in Baghdad, according to statistics revealed by the Multi-National Force -Iraq Combined Press Information Centre. Read
9/11 Mastermind Confesses in Guantanamo — AP

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, confessed to that attack and a chilling string of other terror plots during a military hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to a transcript released Wednesday by the Pentagon. Read
Historic Pro-Troop Caravan Crosses Nation — Christian Newswire

On the eve of the 4th Anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a national patriotic caravan of military families will come to cities across America on its way from California to Washington, D.C. The "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" caravan of vehicles including motorhomes, cars, trucks and motorcycles is being organized by the nation's largest grassroots pro-troop organization, Move America Forward. Read

Related
Report: American Indian Trackers to Hunt Terrorists at Afghan Border — FOX News

An elite group of American Indian trackers reportedly is joining the hunt for terrorists crossing Afghanistan's borders, where Usama bin Laden has been known to hide. The Shadow Wolves unit, recruited from tribes including the Navajo, Sioux, Lakota and Apache, is being sent to areas along the border with Afghanistan to teach local units the traditional method called "cutting sign" of finding and following clues on the barren landscape, Britain's Sunday Times reported. Read
Stocks — Wall Street Journal

Stocks tumbled Tuesday as investors fretted about the resiliency of the consumer, amid further concerns about the subprime lending sector and disappointing retail-sales data. The Dow dropped 213 points to 12105. Read
Home-loan trouble spurs fears of US 'credit crunch' — Christian Science Monitor

Such worry is one reason that stock prices took a dive Tuesday. Could the problems affect the broader economy? Read
Romney Worth $500 Million Plus, Times Says — NewsMax.com

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the richest man in the presidential race Read
Walter Reed Fallout: Army's Top Doc Resigns — ABC News

A senior defense official told ABC News that Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley has submitted resignation, a move supported by the Pentagon. Kiley will be the second high-ranking official to step down amid the scandal. Read
Deep Trouble for Deepwater — US News and World Report

The Coast Guard's massive rebuilding project is just one of its many problems... now that November gathering is starting to look like a party on the deck of the Titanic. Audits have revealed that the cutter's cost has grown by millions of dollars since it was commissioned and that it has potentially fatal design flaws. Read
Illegal Aliens More Likely to Commit Crimes, Group Claims — CNS News

People who violate immigration laws are more likely to violate other laws, according to an immigration reform group, which said the findings differ from previous studies showing that immigrants to the United States commit fewer crimes. Read
Secret Hearings For 9/11 Suspects Start — CBS

Military Launches Guantanamo Proceedings To Determine "Enemy Combatant" Status Of 3 Men Read
Halliburton to Move Headquarters to Middle East Hub of Dubai — FOX News

U.S. oil services firm Halliburton Co. (HAL) is moving its headquarters and chief executive to Dubai in a move that immediately sparked criticism from some U.S. politicians. Texas-based Halliburton, which was led by Vice President Dick Cheney from 1995-2000, did not specify what, if any, tax implications the move might entail. It plans to list on a Middle East bourse once it moves to Dubai — a booming commercial center in the Gulf. Read
Navy loses contact temporarily with sub off Florida — CNN

The U.S. Navy temporarily lost communication with a submarine off Florida's coast and sent ships and aircraft to search for the USS San Juan before the vessel was contacted early Wednesday, military officials said. Read
Ron Paul announces White House bid — WorldNetDaily

Texas Republican says nation has strayed from Constitution Read
Huckabee faces fiscal conservatives — Boston.com

During his 10 years as Arkansas governor, Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee supported numerous tax increases. Now that he's running for president, the Southern Baptist minister is struggling to convince fiscal conservatives that he can be trusted not to sin again. Read
U.S. Ties With France Likely to Shift — US News and World Report

French-American relations are set to shift as France chooses a successor to President Jacques Chirac, who has defined himself on the world stage as an opponent of American dominance. Read
'Green fuel' from seaweed could help solve energy crisis — Ha'aretz

The dramatic increase in the price of fuel in recent years has succeeded where many environmental groups have failed: It convinced many firms around the world to seek alternative sources of energy. One of the cheapest alternatives, already commercially available, is the production of fuel from a variety of agricultural produce, mostly corn. However, the increase in the demand for corn has also caused a significant price hike and developing nations' populations are experiencing difficulties obtaining corn for consumption. Read

Pornography/Homosexuality/Immorality/Obscenity/Violence

Furor Over Baptist's 'Gay Baby' Article — AOL

The right blasted the Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr. for saying homosexuality may be rooted in biology. He also called it sinful and a treatable condition, angering the left. Read

Poll
Hard-Core Porn Interrupts News Show — WRAL

A cable news program was temporarily replaced with hard-core pornography, shocking viewers who had been watching a health show featuring former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw. The incident Monday night on KPPX-TV was "an act of human sabotage" at the Phoenix-area station, said ION Television, which operates the station. Read
Gay male parents get dedicated fertility program — CNN

A Los Angeles fertility clinic has launched what it says is the first dedicated program for gay men wanting to become parents. Read
Gay Advocates Demand Apology From Pace — NewsMax.com

A gay advocacy group Tuesday demanded an apology from the Pentagon's top general for calling homosexuality immoral. Read
Gay Activists Take Aim at Tony Dungy — Citizenlink.com

Indianapolis Colts coach's Christian pro-family beliefs challenged. Homosexual activists are upset that Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy will appear next week at a banquet sponsored by an organization that supports the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Read
Ford dropping public support for the homosexual agenda? — AFA

It appears that Ford Motor Company, in response to AFA's boycott, is silently dropping public support for the homosexual agenda. Read
TV anchor: I was sexually abused by Catholic priest — CNN

CNN Headline News anchor Thomas Roberts says he became a victim of sexual abuse at the age of 14 and the abuse lasted three years. "It took me nearly 20 years to gather the strength to help put my abuser behind bars," Roberts said. "Now, a year after 'justice' was done, I am ready to tell my story publicly in ways I never have before." Read
Sexual Favors in Lieu of Rent? Yes, It Happens a Lot — ABC

Sexual harassment at home can go beyond lewd comments from the landlord. Women report being threatened with eviction, and sometimes rape, if they don't give into leaseholders' sexual demands. Read
J.C. Penney and Victoria's Secret — American Decency

Human nature often falls prey to the notion of "keeping up with the Jones." The same inclination applies to corporate America as well. That has been one of our concerns as rogue companies such as Victoria's Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch continue to use explicit sexual imagery to market their products. With little opposition or public outrage, other companies in time are bound to follow suit — to "keep up with the Jones." And as they do indecency saturates our culture, becoming the norm and desensitizing young and old alike. This is exactly what is taking place before our eyes. All-American companies such as J.C. Penney are following the example of Victoria's Secret... Read
Hardcore pornography. A winnable war? — American Decency

"... Anybody who knows anything about child predators knows that adult porn desensitizes and sets kids up for sexual abuse and exploitation. It's easier to target kids for abuse when one of the favorite ports of entry to kids, hard-core adult pornography, is readily available to predators. ..." Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel for Concerned Women for America Read

Other News

Israel not 'enthusiastic' about strike on Iran: Olmert

Israel is not "enthusiastic" about using military means to stop Iran's controversial nuclear programme, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday. "The central issue bothering Israel nowadays is Iran," Olmert's office quoted him as telling representatives of the American Jewish Council. "I have said before, and I still believe, that we prefer a diplomatic solution to the issue, and we are not enthusiastic about a military solution," he said during the meeting in Jerusalem. Read
Chirac Says Adieu, The French Say Bonjour to a New Era — Spiegel Online

With his farewell speech, French President Jacques Chirac wanted to show the French one last time that his heart and values are in the right place. Read
Syria Operates Al Qaida in Lebanon — MENL

For the first time, Lebanon has accused Syria of controlling an Al Qaida network. Read
British Deputy Parliament Leader Resigns — Washington Post

A member of Prime Minister Tony Blair's government resigned Monday in protest over a controversial multibillion-dollar plan to renew Britain's nuclear missile defense system. Read
Jordan quietly gaining Temple Mount control — WorldNetDaily

Officials say Arab kingdom using shell firms to buy key properties with access to holy site Read
2nd-Temple Jewish Town Uncovered in Jerusalem — Israel National News

In the course of preparing tracks for the new light-rail system in Jerusalem, remains of an ancient Jewish community just north of the Holy Temple have been uncovered. Read
Blair wins key vote on missile defense plan — Int'l Herald Tribune

Struggling with a restive Labour Party in his final months in power, Prime Minister Tony Blair faced down a significant mutiny in Parliament on Wednesday, winning a vote to renew Britain's nuclear deterrent only with the support of opposition lawmakers. 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