Weekly Issues Alert

April 6 - 12

"In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the sceptre from reason." --Alexander Hamilton & James Madison

2007 National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 3rd

(Guides for National Day of Prayer)

NC General Assembly

Lobbyist confronts barriers — WRAL

Legislative Building impedes people with disabilities Read
Bill Would Take Licenses >From Those Who Give Alcohol To Teens — WITN

North Carolinians who provide alcohol to people too young to drink legally could see their drivers' licenses suspended under legislation heard by a House committee yesterday. Read
Lawmakers Close To Repealing Law Linked To Black — FM Talk 101.1

The Legislature is one step closer to repealing a 2005 law linked to former House Speaker Jim Black's

plea bargains on state and federal corruption charges. Read
Eminent Domain — News and Observer Email Alert

Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would bar land condemnation solely for economic development say they hope their bill can be considered this year. Ninety-six of the 120 House members are co-sponsors of the proposed amendment, which would make it harder for future lawmakers to pass exceptions to the state's eminent domain laws. Democratic leaders thwarted a similar bill last year when there were 88 sponsors, deciding instead to approve a regular law that removed current exceptions for local government. Speaker Joe Hackney said he sees no need for a constitutional amendment now. Related
Free tuition facing scrutiny — News and Observer

For the third time, opponents are lining up against a law that grants free tuition at UNC campuses for graduates of the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics. Sen. Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, is the driving force behind the tuition grant. Read
Dems make Senate choice — News and Observer

Durham County Democrats selected their party chairman, lawyer Floyd McKissick, to fill a vacant state Senate seat Monday night. He defeated MaryAnn Black, 44 votes to 38, on the fourth ballot in a special election to fill the term of the late Sen. Jeanne Lucas. Read
Group Plans To Challenge Google Incentives — FM Talk 101.1

A group headed by a former state Supreme Court justice is planning a legal challenge to the millions of dollars in tax breaks used to lure Google to Caldwell County. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Orr who heads the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law says he expects a lawsuit to be filed by month's end challenging the constitutionality of the exemption that allows Google to avoid paying sales taxes on electricity and equipment. The provision, approved last year by the General Assembly, could save Google up to $90 million over three decades. Read
$50 fee for day off irks teachers — News and Observer

...A bill was also introduced in the House to repeal the $50 deduction from a teacher's pay. The measure hasn't been scheduled for a committee hearing or vote yet. Read
House Committee Approves Corporal Punishment Ban — FM Talk 101.1

A House committee has approved a bill that would ban corporal punishment in public schools across North Carolina. The move comes despite objections from those who say the measure takes away a useful disciplinary tool, and hampers local school districts in controlling their own activities. The measure heads to another committee before it reaches the full House. Sponsors say other, more effective ways exist to discipline children in class. A representative from the state School Boards Association says its members who still allow corporal punishment in schools feel it works well in keeping order Read
Other Bills Introduced: (News and Observer)

Introduced in the House:

- H1387, an act expressing support for the military in North Carolina, and appropriating $1 million for morale, recreation and welfare programs and $1 million for conservation easements adjacent to military bases and flyways. Sponsor: Rep. Ronnie Sutton, R-Robeson.

- H1392, to authorize a study of consolidating the Smart Start and More at Four early childhood development programs. Sponsors: Reps. Ray Rapp, D-Madison; Marian McLawhorn, D-Pitt; Paul Glazier, D-Cumberland.
In the Senate:

- S6, to allow the General Assembly to hold a one-day organizational session in early January after each election. Passed 44-0. Next: to the House

- S884, to allow spouses of members of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, trustees of constituent institutions or members of the State Board of Community Colleges to be employees or officers of the state. Passed 44-0. Next: to the House.

NC Courts

Former realty leader guilty — News and Observer

The former president and chief financial officer of Kane Realty, the Raleigh company known for its massive redevelopment of North Hills Mall, pleaded guilty Monday in what investigators say was a $1.5 million embezzlement scheme. Read
Prosecutor drops charges in Duke case — Yahoo News

Prosecutors dropped all charges Wednesday against the three Duke lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting a stripper at a party, saying the athletes were innocent victims of a "tragic rush to accuse" by an overreaching district attorney. Read
Resisting Arrest Charges Dropped In Nearly Half Of N.C. Cases — Eyewitness News 9

Tens of thousands of people are charged each year with resisting arrest in North Carolina, though the misdemeanor is dismissed in almost half of the cases, according to state records. Read
From 'Rock Star' to Pariah: Conservative Teacher Sues University — CNS News

An academic who received awards for excellence and produced several peer-reviewed publications said he fell from grace when he began espousing "religious beliefs and [a] conservative political viewpoint" and is now suing his university for denying him promotion. Criminologist Mike Adams has filed suit against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, saying the school refused to promote him because his superiors disagreed with his religious and political beliefs. Read

NC Gambling

N.C. lottery tickets sold in vending machines — News and Observer

The state has started selling scratch-off lottery tickets in vending machines, offering 24 games costing $1 to $10 each.

About 500 machines are being installed statewide at supermarkets including Food Lion and Lowes Foods....To help prevent underage ticket sales, the state "strongly recommends" that stores place the machines where clerks can monitor them, Garland said. Read

NC Politics

Presidential candidates coming to NC — News 14 Carolina

Will the Tar Heel state play a significant role in the election of our next president? Several presidential contenders will make appearances in North Carolina over the next six weeks. On Friday, Democrat Barack Obama makes a pit stop in Charlotte, and next month Hillary Clinton will do the same. Read
This is one vote Edwards never had — News and Observer

Elizabeth gripes; neighbor is famous..."I'd just like to know why she has such hard feelings to me," he said. "They say they're for poor people."...What got his goat, he says, was Edwards' calling his 42-acre property "slummy."..."I think she owes me an apology," he said. "And I won't feel right until I get it. If this is how they treat people in the White House, America is in for a helluva time." Read
Miller looking at Senate race — News and Observer

U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat, is weighing a possible challenge to Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole next year. He is being courted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Miller said he is listening. Read

Other North Carolina News

2 N.C. soldiers killed in Iraq by roadside bombs — NBC 17

Two soldiers from North Carolina were killed by roadside bombs in Iraq during the past week, family members said. Read
Ft. Bragg Soldiers Die In Iraq — WITN

Four soldiers assigned to Fort Bragg were killed in Iraq over the weekend. Read
Congressman Encourages Mothers To Talk To Daughters About Underage Drinking — WFMY TV

Congressman Howard Coble speaks at a Girl Talk seminar about communication. Read
Nowhere to go but up? North Carolina has been there, too — Detriot Free Press

Mary Sue Coleman knows that Michigan is in a fight for its economic life. She also knows the future of her university hinges largely on the outcome. Read
Ave Maria founder faces protest in North Carolina — Naples Daily News

Students at Elon University in North Carolina showed Ave Maria University founder Thomas Monaghan not all private Christian universities are alike. About 150 students, joined by a few faculty and staff members, protested the conservative Catholic's presence at the university Wednesday, calling his opposition to homosexuality, women's reproductive rights and birth control infringements on civil liberties. The gathering was not arranged by any campus organization, but did occur during the school's "Gay Pride Week," said Dan Anderson, spokesman for Elon. Several students wore T-shirts to the protest with the slogan, "Gay? Fine by Me." Read
Burr opposes site for Navy field — News and Observer

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr came out Monday against the Navy's plan to build a jet runway near a national wildlife refuge in Eastern North Carolina, calling the plan "an untenable proposition." He joined growing bipartisan opposition to the Navy's plan for a practice airstrip in Washington and Beaufort counties. Read
Conference Introduces Scientists to North Carolina Research Campus — WRAL

When researchers from around the world meet next week at a conference related to creating healthier food, they'll also be introduced to the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. Read
Gander Mountain to Open More Stores in Florida, Texas and North Carolina — PR Newswire-First Call

Gander Mountain Company (Nasdaq: GMTN) today announced three more stores opening this spring. The outdoor lifestyle retailer plans to open stores in St. Augustine, Florida; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and College Station, Texas, before

the end of June. Read
Study Shows Impact Of Repeat Offenders On Mecklenburg County — WSOC TV

Repeat offenders are not only causing headaches for police, but they are also clogging up the court system and jails, the Mecklenburg County sheriff says. Read
Alabama teen's hacking hits N.C. school records — News and Observer

A 16-year-old student was expelled and faces possible felony charges after allegedly hacking into a computer system that linked school districts in North Carolina and six other Southeastern states, authorities said. Read
Duke Student Charged After Pot Delivered to Dorm Room — WRAL

A Duke University student has been charged with drug trafficking in connection with the delivery of 17 pounds of marijuana to an on-campus residence. Ryan Packer, 20, is charged with trafficking marijuana and possession of marijuana. He was released on a $5,000 bond after an initial court appearance Wednesday morning. Read
NC Medical Board Disciplining More Doctors — WPTF

More and more doctors are being disciplined by the state medical board, and the executive director of N-C Medical says it shows the board is doing its job. The number of doctors disciplined by the state medical board rose 30 percent last year compared to 2005, and has tripled since 2002. Read
Elizabeth Dole Seeks Answers on Landing Field Questions — WRAL

A day after hundreds attended a hearing on a proposed Navy landing field in eastern North Carolina, the state's senior senator told the Navy she was "deeply concerned" about the project. Comments by Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-North Carolina, on Thursday followed the last of a series of public hearings on the issue held in eastern North Carolina. Another hearing is scheduled April 17 in Charlotte. Read
Weekend Freeze Destroys Apple Crops in Western North Carolina — WRAL

The weekend's freezing weather appears to have destroyed this year's apple harvest in Henderson County, one of the largest apple-growing counties in the Southeast. Read
State slashes aid for mentally ill — News and Observer

Medicaid office's reduction by one-third of payments to companies and nonprofits will hurt clients, advocates say Read
State Investigates Hillsborough Detective — ABC11 News

Authorities are looking into a Hillsborough police detective who's had more than a dozen cases dismissed. Read
Wayne County Man Charged in Human Trafficking Case — WRAL

A Wayne County man has been arrested in connection with a human trafficking case, authorities said Tuesday. Read
N.C. Falls Short On 1 Million Acre Initiative — ABC11 News

North Carolina is well off track of its goal to preserve 1 million acres of land by 2009, and environmentalists say the state should pair more conservation with development. Read
NCSU assistant coach charged — WRAL

A Raleigh police officer used pepper spray on Larry Harris, an assistant men's basketball coach at N.C. State University, after he refused to cooperate last night when the officer stopped him for speeding, a police spokesman said. Read
Plane from Orlando crashes in North Carolina, 2 killed — Bradenton Herald

An airplane that took off from Orlando, Fla. crashed in North Carolina on Monday, killing two people, aviation officials said. Preliminary reports indicate a single-engine plane carrying three people hit power lines just after midnight while approaching Andrews-Murphy Airport in Cherokee County, said Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Read
Church job, ankle bracelet await Phipps after prison — News and Observer

Former N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps is expected to be released from federal prison April 23 and plans to quickly start a new job as director of Christian education at her Alamance County church, relatives said Tuesday. Read
Program keeping kids in school — WRAL

Local schools' success with using positive reinforcement instead of suspensions might inspire statewide change. Read
Rivers, Streams at Heart of Tourism Promotion in Northeast North Carolina — WRAL

Groups promoting nature tourism are developing a network of paddling trails and camping sites in northeastern North Carolina to promote the area as a regional attraction for outdoor enthusiasts. The project will extend from northern Pasquotank and Camden counties near the Virginia border down through Winfall, Hertford, Belvidere and Edenton. Supporters hope to draw bicyclists, hikers, campers, canoers, kayakers and bird watchers who will bolster the local tourism economy. Read
Lawyer: N.C. firm e-mails help homeowners' Katrina insurance case — News and Observer

E-mails sent by officials of a North Carolina engineering firm that assessed Hurricane Katrina claims suggest that State Farm Insurance Co. wanted engineers to blame damage on flooding so that it could make minimum settlements with policyholders.

The e-mails, obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, indicate that State Farm was threatening to dismiss Raleigh, N.C.-based Forensic Analysis & Engineering Corp. less than two months after Katrina hit on Aug. 29, 2005. Read
Wilmington gets state's 1st urban scenic byway — WWAY

Wilmington has the state's newest state-designated scenic byway, but it's a little different from the other 49 routes. Read
Man Wakes Up During Surgery, Commits Suicide Two Weeks Later — WFMY News

It's almost too awful to imagine: being awake but paralyzed during surgery. And although it's rare, studies say it could happen as many as 40,000 times a year...The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Raleigh Anesthesia Associates. No comment from the company. Read

Congress

Democrats Demand Answers From Oil Companies — CNS News

Gasoline prices are going up again — particularly in California — and this time, Democrats may be feeling the heat. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a liberal Democrat from Ohio, has sent letters to seven major oil refiners, asking them to explain how they plan to "remedy the disparity" in gasoline prices, which are running about 50 cents a gallon above the national average in California. "Congress can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch as escalating prices continue to take a heavy economic toll on consumers and risk further harming our economy," Kucinich said in a news release. His April 10 letter asks the CEOs of BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Valero Energy Corp., Tesoro Corp. and Shell Oil to "provide the Subcommittee with detailed answers" to 13 specific questions. Read
Senate Shows Utter Contempt and Disdain for People of Faith with the Public Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research — Christian Newswire

The enactment of Senate Bill 5 would force Christians to pay for the destruction of innocent life as part of embryonic stem cell research in direct violation to their faith tradition. Read
Senate panel opens hearings on airline passengers' rights — LA Times

Legislators call for mandatory guidelines, while an industry trade group says market forces are adequate to ensure service. Read
Kerry Tells Senate Embryonic Cells 'Cured' Mouse, but ... — CNS News

During Wednesday's Senate debate on stem cell therapy, Sen. John Kerry cited research in Massachusetts which he said had used embryonic stem cells to "cure" a mouse — but the mouse wasn't cured, and the research he referred to fell far short of the scores of treatments already being carried out using non-controversial "adult" stem cells. Read
Democrats divided over appointment of scandal-plagued congressman — One News Now

A political analyst says the controversial appointment of Congressman William Jefferson (D-Louisiana) to the Committee on Homeland Security in the U.S. House is currently in limbo because Democratic leaders are divided on whether the veteran lawmaker should be given the role. Read
Republican Physician Hails Another Success Involving Adult Stem Cells — CNS News

As the Senate focuses on research involving embryonic stem cells, there's another success to report in the field of adult stem cell therapy, which does not depend on embryo destruction. The Journal of the American Medical Association released a study on Tuesday showing that 14 out of 15 juvenile diabetes patients showed significant improvement following therapy involving adult stem cells — their own bone marrow cells, in fact. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-Fla.), said the study is significant because it marks the first attempt at using stem cells of any kind to reverse the effects of Type I (juvenile) diabetes in humans. Read
Casey at the Bat on Stem Cells — Family Research Council

As the Senate debates the passage of S.5, the bill that would increase taxpayer funding of research that destroys human embryos, scientists have announced yet another medical breakthrough for adult stem cell research. While Congress fritters away its time considering questionable and unethical science, true progress with pro-life alternatives is literally being made while they speak. Read
Pelosi, Lantos may be interested in diplomatic trip to Iran — San Francisco Chronicle

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, just back from a trip to Syria that sparked sharp criticism from Republicans and the Bush administration, suggested Tuesday that they may be interested in taking another diplomatic trip — to open a dialogue with Iran. Read
Gingrich, Kerry Agree on Global Warming but Not on Fix — CNS News

In a move likely to shock some of his conservative supporters, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Tuesday criticized global warming skeptics and called on elected officials to find creative ways to address climate change. Read
DOMA Doomed? — Family Research Council

In yet another congressional assault on marriage, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) has introduced legislation that would likely compel more employers to provide a form of domestic partner benefits. Read
Addressing CAIR 'Empowers Islamists,' Say Moderate Muslims — CNS News

Critics slammed a Democratic lawmaker for addressing a Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) function over the weekend, but the Muslim group praised him for doing so "despite being demonized and vilified by the right-wing media and pro-Israel extremists." "I believe that establishing a dialogue with people is the only way to win the war of ideas. That is why I agreed to speak to CAIR," Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Penn.) said in a statement after the event in Philadelphia Saturday night. "But, first and foremost, I attended tonight's banquet because 250 of my Muslim constituents attended the event. "The American-Muslim community is a wonderful community, and they have my strong support," he said. Read
Top Democrat Meets With Radical Islamists — CNS News

Shortly after House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi took flak for her controversial visit to Damascus, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer met in Egypt with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist network that spawned Hamas. Read
Bush touts guest worker program proposal — Washington Times

President Bush visited the U.S.-Mexico border today to tout a guest worker program for immigrants, pursuing a key domestic policy goal despite chilly relations with Congress... With up to 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., lawmakers haven't agreed on how to uphold the law without disrupting lives, eroding the work force and risking political upheaval. Read
Senators press Gonzales for more documents — LA Times

They think there is more to learn about the firings of eight federal prosecutors last year. Read
House Probes Tillman, Lynch Information — AP

A U.S. House committee has scheduled hearings on the military's misleading statements that followed the friendly fire death of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan and the rescue of Pvt. Jessica Lynch in Iraq, congressional officials said Tuesday. Read
Senate, Bush head for showdown on stem cells By Thomas Ferraro — Yahoo News

The White House threatened on Tuesday to veto a new bid to lift U.S. President George W. Bush's restrictions on federal funding of stem cell research as the Senate began considering the bipartisan bill. Read
Bush Invites Dems to Disuss War Funding — AP

President Bush on Tuesday invited Democrats to discuss their standoff over a war-spending bill, but he made clear he would not change his position opposing troop withdrawals. Read
Bill ties climate to national security — Boston Globe

The CIA and Pentagon would for the first time be required to assess the national security implications of climate change under proposed legislation intended to elevate global warming to a national defense issue. Read

Christianity/Pro-Family/Religion/Ethics

Judicial Watch says Muslim charities secretly supporting terrorists — One News Now

Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, has released a special report detailing the activities of Muslim nonprofit organizations operating in the United States. The report is titled Muslim Front Organizations: Moderate Non-Profits or Elaborate Deceptions? Read
Thousands are baptised in Beijing, while in Zhejiang two priests are imprisoned — Asia News

Thousands of people were baptised into the faith in Catholic churches across China on Easter night. Yet in some areas the underground Church is still subjected to persecution and imprisonment. Read
Five Christians Charged with Blasphemy in Pakistan — Worthy News

Five Christians, including a 16-year-old boy, have been falsely accused of and charged with "blasphemy" against Muhammad on April 1 in Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, according to an April 6 report from Compass Direct. Read
VA pro-family bill amendments approved by lawmakers — One News Now

The Family Foundation, a Virginia pro-family group, says it can now call its recent legislative campaign successful, with last week's annual General Assembly "veto session" producing no vetoes by Democratic Governor Tim Kaine on amendments to pro-family legislation. With Kaine's signature, the targeted bills that received changes from the governor at his desk will become law on July 1, 2007. Read
Sold as slaves, children are cheaper than animals — Asia News

Poverty and lack of education are some of the causes behind child trafficking in India. Children who are sold end up toiling on farms, as waiters or sex workers. Read
Christian Tourists Detained for Praising Christ — Worthy News

Global council of Indian Christians(GCIC) takes serious exceptions in the illegal detention of tourists by the Hyderabad police on the dictates of radical Hindus. The radicals have ganged up against the tourists as they came to know that the tourists are devout Christians. Read
Clerics: Pakistan Official's Hug a 'Sin' — AP

Islamic clerics at a radical mosque in Pakistan's capital have demanded the tourism minister be fired for hugging a foreign man, saying she committed a "great sin." Minister of Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar rejected the Taliban-style edict Monday and said her family and friends were concerned for her safety. Read
Too many children: expelled from party and risks redundancy — Asia News

An official from the Communist Party has 5 children, with his wife and mistress, but only officially recognises two of them. He stops alimony payments to his mistress who reports him to the authorities. Now he is under investigation and risks losing his job. Read
India: As Elections Near, Persecution Intensifies in Madhya Pradesh — Worthy News

Although elections in Madhya Pradesh are more than 18 months away, two Christian leaders there link the state's ruling Hindu nationalist party to rising persecution ahead of the upcoming vote. Read

Courts

Court to Hear Arguments on Whether an Abortion Ends Human Life — CNS News

A federal appeals court will hear arguments Wednesday in a potentially groundbreaking case that — for the first time, according to attorneys — addresses the question of whether an abortion terminates a human being's life. Read
Government Employee Wins Free-Speech Case — Citizenlink

Employer had rejected a flier as "religious." Once a government employer gives its employees a venue to express opinions, it must accept whatever beliefs show up, even if they're religious. That's according to a federal judge, who ruled last month that a Department of Defense worker has the right to use a bulletin board to express his views concerning homosexuality and abortion. Read
Appeals Court Rebuffs ACLU; Boy Scout — Citizenlink

The 2010 National Scout Jamboree is moving "full-speed ahead." A three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that plaintiff taxpayers from Chicago — represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) — had no standing in a case that accuses the military of violating the U.S. Constitution by allowing the Boy Scouts of America to use its facilities. The ACLU sued the Department of Defense in 1999 over its support of the National Scout Jamboree, because Scouting has a "duty to God" requirement. Read
Calif. diocese threatened with contempt — Yahoo News

A federal bankruptcy judge is threatening the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego with contempt for allegedly attempting to hide assets to avoid payment to clergy sexual abuse victims. Read
Judge Orders Baby Kept on Life-Support — AP

A judge Tuesday granted a family's request to keep their critically ill baby alive, ruling that the boy should not be removed from life-support equipment as the hospital had planned. Probate Judge Guy Herman set a hearing for April 19 for both sides to present evidence in the case of 17-month-old Emilio Gonzales. Read
Woman loses final frozen embryo appeal — Telegraph.co.uk

European Court rules Natallie Evans cannot use embryos created with former partner. Read
Judge Sends 3 to Prison for Church Fires — AP

...Matthew Cloyd, 21, and Benjamin Moseley, 20, were sentenced Monday to eight years in federal prison each for the blazes, which terrorized the church-centered communities for weeks last year. Russell Lee DeBusk Jr., 20, wasn't involved in all the fires and was sentenced to seven years. U.S. District Judge David Proctor also ordered $3.1 million in restitution payments by Cloyd and Moseley and $1.9 million by DeBusk. Following their release, each must perform 300 hours of community service work at the burned-out churches. Read

Abortion/Pro-Life

National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day Set for April 24 — Citizenlink

On April 24 students can take a stand for the preborn by participating in the National Pro-Life T-shirt Day. American Life League, the event's sponsor, said the goal is to call attention to the thousands of babies who are aborted every day in America. Read
S.C. Senators Drop Mandatory Ultrasound — WPTF

A legislative panel on Thursday dropped a measure from an abortion bill that would have made South Carolina the only state to require women to review an ultrasound images of the fetus before terminating a pregnancy. Read
Israel has highest fertility rate in Europe — Ynet News

An Israeli woman has 3 children on average, making Israel more fertile than all European countries. Read
Abortion foes work to expand informed-consent laws — LA Times

Activists on the other side say the sort of information mandated for women amounts to a misleading scare tactic. Read
Panel Rules Homicide in Fetus Slaying — WPTF

...Tiffany Hall, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder and faces a possible death sentence in the death of Tunstall and with intentional homicide of an unborn child _ Tunstall's 7-month-old fetus. Read
Socialists in Mexico now seeking to legalize euthanasia — Catholic News Agency

According to the Mexican daily "Milenio," this week the Socialist party in Mexico is planning to send another proposal to the Mexican Senate that would legalize euthanasia. Read
Dr. Alveda King to Release Pro-Life Music Video on Abortion — LifeSiteNews

Pro-life advocate Dr. Alveda King will release a new music video on Friday April 13, examining the damage wrought by abortion in the African American community. Read
Another scandal hits research into cloning — AsiaNews.it

A new, big scandal has hit South Korean scientific community and its research into cloning. After the scandal of the false discoveries of the "pioneer of cloning" Hwang Woo-suk, Seoul National University said the school's Committee on Research Integrity has begun investigating the research team led by professors Lee Byung-cheon and Shin Nam-sik, who on March 26 claimed they had cloned two wolves. Read
Wrenching politics surround stillborns — San Francisco Chronicle

Bereft moms want birth papers, but abortion complicates issue Read
Potential organ donor was wrongly declared brain-dead — LA Times

The error raises concerns about the medical care of those who have promised their organs for transplants. Read

Alcohol/Drugs/Health

FDA: 'Cocaine' Drink Marketed Unlawfully — San Franciso Chronicle

This Cocaine is an energy drink produced by a Las Vegas company. It contains no actual cocaine, but is being marketed as "The Legal Alternative" to the illegal drug, according to its Web site. Its logo appears to be spelled out in a white powder that resembles the drug. The Food and Drug Administration said Redux Beverages LLC is illegally marketing the drink as both a street drug alternative and a dietary supplement, according to a warning letter dated April 4 but publicly released Wednesday. The FDA cites as evidence the drink's own labeling and Web site, which include the statements "Speed in a Can,""Liquid Cocaine" and "Cocaine — Instant Rush," according to the letter. Read
Famous Director was murdered by illegal alien! — Americans for Legal Immigration

Federal authorities have placed an immigration hold on a 24-year-old Mexican national arrested on suspicion of driving drunk and causing the crash that killed "A Christmas Story" director Bob Clark and his son, officials said Thursday.Velazquez-Nava had a blood-alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the 0.08 legal limit for driving, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Thursday evening. A police spokesman said he could not immediately confirm the report. Authorities have said Velazquez-Nava was driving without a license. Read
Seattle's Sanctuary Laws Lead To Death of young Rebecca Griego! — Americans for Legal Immigration

Authorities said Rebecca Griego was shot Monday in her office by her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Rowan, who was in the United States illegally... The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that Rowan had been arrested on drunken driving charges in June, but officers didn't know he was an undocumented immigrant. City law forbids police from routinely asking people about their immigration status. Read

Education/Sex Ed/Teens/Children

Fifth-Graders Accused of Sex in Classroom — AOL

Five fifth-grade students face criminal charges after authorities said four of them had sex in front of other students in an unsupervised classroom and kept a classmate posted as a lookout for teachers. Read
Catholic School Libraries Stock Gay Promoting Books and Videos Warns Pro-Marriage Group — LifeSiteNews

Catholic schools in Ontario have books and videos in their libraries which promote homosexuality despite Church teaching that homosexuality is disordered. Read
Kluge gives $400M to Columbia University — Yahoo News

Billionaire media entrepreneur John Werner Kluge is giving $400 million to Columbia University for financial aid, one of the largest gifts ever to an American university, the university announced Wednesday. Read
Colorado Senate Votes to Bar Abstinence-Only Sex Ed — Citizenlink

The Colorado Senate approved a measure that would require all but one school district to teach kids comprehensive sex education, leaving behind abstinence-only curricula, The Denver Post reported. Read
Student Lender Had Early Plans to Woo Officials — NYT

The founders of Student Loan Xpress explicitly marketed to the financial aid offices of schools to corral a bigger

share of the lucrative student loan business. Read
Student lending probe spreads — Yahoo News

A student loan company now under investigation paid consulting fees to a student loan officer at Johns Hopkins University, paid for some of her graduate school tuition, and also paid consulting fees to officials at two other colleges, investigators said Monday. Read
Connecticut High School Agrees to Allow Day of Truth — Citizenlink

The principal of Danbury High School in Connecticut agreed Wednesday to allow a student to promote and participate in the Day of Truth — but only after receiving a letter from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). The school initially had prohibited the student from taking part. The school has endorsed the pro-gay Day of Silence on April 18, but officials told Rosemary Shakro she could not invite a speaker to a club meeting or post signs concerning the counter-event scheduled for the following day. The principal called the Day of Truth too "controversial" and also prohibited "anti-homosexual" speech. Read

God and Country/National Security/Politics

16 U.S. Soldiers Wounded in Baghdad — AP

U.S. and Iraqi soldiers fought a daylong battle with insurgents in a violent area of central Baghdad on Tuesday, leaving four Iraqi soldiers dead and 16 U.S. soldiers wounded, the military said. Read
Panel on Walter Reed Woes Issues Strong Rebuke — NYT

An independent panel issued a sweeping indictment of leadership failures, inadequate training and staffing

shortages at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Read
Military spending to retain troops skyrockets — MSNBC

The struggle to entice Army soldiers and Marines to stay in the military, after four years of war in Iraq, has ballooned into a $1 billion campaign, with bonuses soaring nearly sixfold since 2003. Read
Pentagon lengthens Army tours — LA Times

All active-duty troops in Iraq and Afghanistan must stay 90 more days. Move aids buildup but adds to strain on forces. Read
U.S. Plans to Open War with Cruise Missiles — MENL

The United States was said to be planning to launch a war with Iran with a salvo of cruise missiles against military and other strategic facilities. Read
National Guard May Be Sent Back to Iraq — AOL News

Several National Guard brigades are expected to be notified soon that they could be sent to Iraq around the first of next year, according to a senior Defense Department official. Read
U.S. military buildup urged to counter China — Washington Times

The United States should build up military forces in Asia to counter China's military expansion, according to a report on U.S.-China relations by a blue-ribbon panel. Read
Civilian Claims on U.S. Suggest the Toll of War — NYT

The military has paid more than $32 million to civilians for noncombat-related killings, injuries and damage. Read
Wall Street Dips after Rate Hike Rumors — CBN News

Wall Street stumbled on Wednesday, pulling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 100 points, after minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent meeting indicated that the central bank is not ruling out an interest rate hike to curb inflation. Read
Maryland sidesteps electoral college — MSNBC

Maryland officially became the first state on Tuesday to approve a plan to give its electoral votes for president to the winner of the national popular vote instead of the candidate chosen by state voters. Read
U.S. may urge Israel to okay arms sales to Saudis — Ha'aretz

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will visit Israel next week for a series of meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz on the strategic situation in the Middle East. During his visit, Gates may attempt to persuade Israel to ease its objections to the sale of advanced weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Read
Iran may be helping Iraqis build bombs — Yahoo News

Iranian intelligence operatives have been training Iraqi fighters inside Iran on how to use and assemble deadly roadside bombs known as EFPs, the U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday. Read
Easter Raid Nets Senior Al-Qaeda Leader In Baghdad — All Headline News

An Easter Sunday morning raid in Baghdad has captured a senior al-Qaeda leader, who the Pentagon says was "the gatekeeper to the al-Qaeda emir of Baghdad."...The troops involved were part of President Bush's "surge" for Iraq, and were elements of a Baghdad security plan. Read
White House considers war overseer — Yahoo News

The White House is considering naming a high-powered official to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and report directly to President Bush and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. The goal would be to improve the coordination of military and civilian efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan by different parts of the government. Read
Huge Protest in Iraq Demands U.S. Withdraw — NYT

Tens of thousands of protesters loyal to Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr demanded an end to the American military

presence in Iraq. Read
A 'Comprehensive' Solution to Illegal Immigration — Human Events

Conservatives demand that any 'comprehensive solution' from the White House or Congress begin with closing our borders Read
Citigroup to Cut 17,000 Jobs — Washington Post

Financial services giant is ailing after overseas scandals and lagging profit growth. Read
Employer Enforcement Key to Addressing Illegal Immigration — Human Events

In recent weeks, the Bush Administration has authorized numerous workplace raids targeting illegal immigrants and the employers who have hired them. After more than 10 years of inaction, the federal government is long overdue to make employer and interior enforcement a priority. Read
Khomeini Supporter Offers Prayer in Texas State Senate — Human Events

Everyone loves moderate Muslims, but no one is quite sure how to identify them. Unfortunately, some of those who claim to be moderates have turned out not to be: as one police official in Southern California said a few years back, "We'll come back from a Kumbayah meeting with a local mosque and realize that these guys who just agreed to help us are in our terror files!" Read
U.S. Negotiator Optimistic on N.Korea — AP

A U.S. nuclear negotiator expressed hope Tuesday that North Korea could still meet a weekend deadline for taking initial steps toward dismantling its nuclear program as a Bush administration official warned that time was running out. Read
Gen. Pelosi's gift to our enemies — Townhall

...What's wrong with that, you ask? What's wrong is that she didn't just lobby the president to begin diplomatic talks. She conspired with the Syrian regime to alter the president's policy toward that regime. Is it beginning to sink in out there? If you believe the Pelosi delegation was merely "fact-finding," which characterization is laughable, listen to its own post-trip assessment. Delegation member Tom Lantos boasted that the meeting "reinforced sharply" the potential benefits of talking to Syria. "This is only the beginning of our constructive dialogue with Syria, and we hope to build on this visit." Read
Environmentalists Cheer Pipeline Vote — AP

An energy company was dealt a serious blow to its efforts to build a floating liquefied natural gas terminal off the Southern California coast when a state panel refused to grant a lease for pipelines essential to the project. Read
High Stakes: Chavez Plays the Oil Card — NYT

A showdown between President Hugo Chavez and U.S. and European companies over key oil projects could wind up with

all sides losing. Read
Disk With Data on 2.9M Georgians Lost — AP

A computer disk containing the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of 2.9 million Medicaid and children's health care recipients is missing, Georgia health officials said Tuesday. Read

Pornography/Homosexuality/Immorality/Obscenity/Violence

Canadians Apologize To World For Pushing Legalization of Homosexual "Marriage" — LifeSiteNews

Warn "the people of the world... to learn from our mistakes and avoid repeating them in your own countries"...Canadians who recognize the destruction to the traditional family which Canada has abetted throughout the world have issued an apology on behalf of all Canadians to world leaders and peoples. The apology to be delivered to world leaders and to be brought to the World Congress of the Family taking place in Warsaw, Poland, apologizes for the negative effects that Canada's same-sex "marriage" legalization has been having on other nations. Read
Head of Italy's Bishops under Police Protection after Threats from Homosexual Activists — LifeSiteNews

Genoa's Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops' conference, has been placed under police protection after homosexual activists spray-painted death threats against the senior church official across the city, the BBC reported April 10. Read
Florida housing sex offenders under bridge — CNN

The sparkling blue waters off Miami's Julia Tuttle Causeway look as if they were taken from a postcard. But the causeway's only inhabitants see little paradise in their surroundings. Read
N.D. city tracks registered sex convicts — Yahoo News

Pedophiles, rapists and other registered sex offenders who live here can expect the law to come knocking on a fairly regular basis. Read
Media monitor group is 'fed up with FX' — One News Now

An Internet-based, pro-family media watchdog group is asking for all commercial sponsors to pull their support for FX, a broadcasting and cable network that's being described as having "the most gratuitous sex, violence and profanity" on any network today. Read
Are Governments Misreporting To Advance Gay Rights? — Christian Newswire

According to Drs. Paul and Kirk Cameron of Family Research Institute, a Colorado think tank, governments in three countries have exaggerated the percentage of homosexuals in the general population. Read
Porn could be the key to next-generation DVD war By Michael Kahn — AOL

In the battle over next generation DVDs, pornography could prove to be the XXX factor that helps determine a winner. Read
Disney Opens Weddings to Gay Couples — WRAL

Same-sex couples who want to exchange vows in front of Cinderella's Castle now have the chance. The Walt Disney Co. had limited its Fairy Tale Wedding program to couples with valid marriage licenses, but it is now making ceremonies at its parks available to gay couples as well. Read
Reward offered for information about missing sex offender . Houston Chronicle

A reward is being offered for a woman who served a prison term for forcing a minor into prostitution but disappeared when she was released instead of registering herself as a sex offender at an address she gave authorities. 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