Weekly Issues Alert

May 18 - 24

The Christian Action League of North Carolina would like to Thank every member of our military for their devoted service to our country and would especially like to let the families of those who gave the ultimate price of life know that our prayers are with them! God Bless You!

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Read History

"The natural cure for an ill-administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men." --Alexander Hamilton

NC General Assembly

Hackney says he'll kill marriage amendment — News and Observer

House Speaker Joe Hackney said today that he will use the power of his office to kill a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Read

Related "I said at the beginning of the session that we will control the agenda, and that's what we will do," Hackney said. "The reference of bills to committee is always one of the ways the agenda is controlled."
North Carolina Senate Approves Changes to Open Discovery Law — WRAL

The North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys have been trying to rework the three-year-old law to Read
SunNewsOnline News Brief:

CROSSOVER DEADLINE : House and Senate members worked into the evening to debate several dozens bills that sponsors want passed before a key legislative deadline Thursday. Proposals that don't call for new spending or taxes must be approved by at least one chamber by Thursday evening; otherwise, the proposals have a slim chance of being heard until 2009. Some bills on controversial topics had to be considered Wednesday for fear that an opponent could block a second and final vote for the bill if considered Thursday, killing the measure.
CAPITAL IDEAS: A new coalition of business and local government leaders called on legislators to find funding sources to repair aging roads, build schools and protect land and water as the state's population grows. The Partnership for North Carolina's Future urged state lawmakers to "take bold actions" this year and consider approving new taxes and fees to pay for infrastructure needs. Sen. Dan Clodfelter, D-Mecklenburg, said legislators are sorting through dozens of proposals to find a combination of funds that will spread out the capital costs in a fair and affordable way.
EDUCATION BILLS: The House tentatively agreed to require local administrators to adopt policies against bullying and student harassment. The chamber rejected by one vote an amendment that would have removed an entire list of characteristics of potential victims, including sexual orientation. But the House voted 50-66 against a measure that would have eliminated the right of school districts to adopt policies permitting physical punishment of a student.
EMINENT DOMAIN: The House tentatively agreed to a proposed constitutional amendment that would outlaw government from condemning private land for economic development. The measure, which calls for a statewide referendum as early as this fall, had been bottled up in committee for months although the bill had more than 90 co-sponsors. The bill passed 112-4, but a final vote will be needed Thursday.
RACE AND DEATH: The House voted 62-54 to give initial approval to a bill that would allow clear grounds for appeal for death penalty defendants who think racial bias led to their trial and death sentence. The Racial Justice Act would allow opportunities before and after trial to give evidence that racial bias led to the decision to seek the death penalty. Lawmakers said existing law already outlaws discrimination and allows appeals. But the sponsor said it's a question of fairness and accuracy. "I don't want this Legislature, I don't want this state to say after it's all over with, 'Oops — we made a mistake,'" said Rep. Larry Womble, D-Forsyth. A final vote is due Thursday.
PRESIDENTAL ELECTORS: In a close vote, the Senate gave initial approval of a bill that would replace the winner-take-all system of choosing presidential electors with a more proportional method. A presidential ticket would earn one elector for winning the vote in one of the state's congressional districts, while two additional at-large electors would be chosen based on the statewide vote total. Sen. Doug Berger, D-Franklin, the bill sponsor, said the changes would make the electoral process more fair and attract presidential candidates to come to North Carolina. But Republicans opposed to the idea said it would make the state irrelevant. A final House vote could come Thursday.
SEAWALL PILOT: The Senate agreed with a bill that would permit the Coastal Resources Commission to allow one seawall to be installed to protect an inlet from the encroaching surf. The pilot program would run counter to a longtime state ban on such sea groins. The wall would be removed if the commission finds it's ineffective in stabilizing the inlet or has too many adverse effects. Sen. R.C. Soles, D-Columbus, said Figure Eight Island and Ocean Isle Beach are interested in participating. Environmentalists such as Jim Stephenson of the N.C. Coastal Federation argued that research and history shows these experimental structures only cause erosion elsewhere. The bill, approved by a vote of 41-8, now goes to the House.
RETIREMENT POWER: A bill that would have transfer the responsibility of the state retirement system from the state treasurer to the system's trustee board took a hit when the bill sponsor pulled it from the House pensions committee. The State Employees Association of North Carolina had sought the change after some media reports about Treasurer Richard Moore's sole authority over North Carolina's $70 billion-plus public pension funds. The chairman, Rep. Larry Bell, D-Sampson, said the bill was removed after lawmakers and outside groups questioned the wide-ranging impact such a change would have. Due to the crossover deadline, the decision means the idea stands little chance of passage before the new session in 2009.
NO. 48 HONORED: The General Assembly honored 2006 Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR in a special joint session days before the annual Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord. "You are a class act and a real champion," Rep. Karen Ray, R-Iredell, said during debate on a resolution highlighting his career to date. "You bring such a high profile to the industry." Johnson gave a racing helmet to the state of North Carolina as a memento of the event. "This is a huge honor for myself," Johnson said. The legislation also honored his car owner, Rick Hendrick, and remembered a 2004 plane crash in Virginia that killed 10 of Hendrick's relatives, employees and friends.
SunOnline News Brief:

In the House:

- H485, to require high school students receive annual health instruction including information about how a parent may lawfully abandon a newborn baby. Approved 113-4. Next: To the Senate.

- H1400, to prohibit the taking or recovery of human tissue at a funeral establishment by any person. Approved 117-0. Next: To the Senate.

- H341, to require the state Supreme Court to review felony murder cases in which a killer receives a life sentence when it considers whether a death sentence in a "factually similar" case was fairly handed down. Amended to narrow the type of cases reviewed, 116-0 vote; approved 64-52. Next: Final House vote, Thursday.
In the Senate:

- S8, to increase from 300 feet to 1,000 feet the area around schools and child-care centers within which a person is guilty of a higher-grade felony for illegal drug sales, and to expand the law to include all public parks. Approved 47-0. Next: To the House.

- S948, to allow anyone to purchase a share or an interest in up to 10 cow, goat, or other lactating animals, in an effort to allow the owners to purchase raw animal milk. Tentatively approved 34-16. Next: Final Senate vote.

- S1260, to expand year-round state reporting of federal "527" political organizations, not just during campaign period in even election years. Approved 45-5. Next: To the House.

- S1131, to allow all District Court judges to officiate at marriages. Approved: 49-0. Next: To the House.
Easley, Perdue: Wright Should Resign From North Carolina House — WRAL

Gov. Mike Easley and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue added their voices Tuesday to those calling for embattled state Rep. Thomas Wright to resign. Read
Sex ed bill won't end focus on abstinence — Daily Advance

...Nevertheless, a 2005 N.C. Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that 50.8 percent of high school students have reported having sexual intercourse. Partly as a result of that study, several lawmakers are now pushing for a greater emphasis on disease prevention. A bill that passed a state House committee earlier this month continues to emphasize abstinence, but also requires that educators receive proper training and present information on sexually transmitted diseases. Read
Legislative Leaders Support Speeding Crackdown — Wilson Times

Leaders of the General Assembly say legal loopholes that allow speeders to avoid punishment should be changed immediately, including the practice of judges who allow high-speed offenders to keep their driver's licenses and avoid higher insurance premiums. Read
Doctors, Lawyers Support North Carolina Medical Malpractice Bill — Wilson Times

In a turnaround from previous years, both doctors and lawyers are supporting a bill that would cap monetary damages at $1 million in some medical malpractice cases. Read
State House Agrees to Tackle Auto Insurance 'Rate Evasion' — WRAL

Out-of-state residents who obtain automobile insurance in North Carolina fraudulently to get cheaper premiums would be guilty of a felony in a bill that the House approved unanimously Monday night. Read
Mentally ill could get more help — News and Observer

The State House OKs a bill that would require insurance companies to make coverage of mental and physical illness similar. Read

NC Courts

Judge Rules Any Religious Text Can be Used to Swear in a Witness — WRAL

A Wake County judge ruled Thursday that any religious text can be used to swear in a witness or juror in the state's courtrooms, not just the Bible. Read
North Carolina Appeals Court Hears Arguments Over Whether Lottery's a Tax — WRAL

The profit from the sale of lottery tickets in North Carolina is really a tax on the state's residents, which means the law that created the games was passed unconstitutionally, attorneys for a group of taxpayers argued Tuesday before the state Court of Appeals. Read
Guilford Judge Gives Most Speeding Breaks of Any North Carolina Judge — WRAL

Hunter gave twice as many passes to motorists charged with high speed driving between January 2002 and June 2006 as any other judge in North Carolina... Read
Confusing North Carolina Execution Debate Back in Another Courtroom — WRAL

Yet another judge in yet another court heard arguments Monday in the seemingly impassible legal morass that has effectively halted executions in North Carolina, as defense attorneys again mounted an assault on the state's use of lethal injection. Read

NC Gambling

Lottery officials predict flat sales — News and Observer

The N.C. State Lottery Commission is projecting a flat year for lottery sales and today adopted a budget that differs sharply with the projection Gov. Mike Easley has included in his proposed budget. Read
PokerTek Receives License from Nevada Gaming Commission — Carolina Newswire

PokerTek, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTEK), the innovator of automated poker and PokerPro®, has received a manufacturer and distributor license from the Nevada Gaming Commission. Read

NC Politics

Swett Won't Take Seat on UNC Board — WRAL

The former Robeson County school superintendent who was chosen for the University of North Carolina Board of Governors despite a criminal background said he will not take his seat on the board. Read
Edwards slams war on terrorism as "bumper sticker" — Reuters

The U.S.-led war on terrorism is "a bumper sticker, not a plan" that has weakened Washington's global standing, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said on Wednesday as he unveiled his defense policy plans. In an address to the Council on Foreign Relations, Edwards urged the U.S. Congress to use its funding power to force an immediate pullout of up to 50,000 U.S. combat troops from Iraq, then a full withdrawal within a year.Read
Edwards: Best Way to Honor Vets This Weekend Is to End Iraq War — WRAL

Presidential hopeful John Edwards said Monday that Americans should speak out against the war in Iraq this Memorial Day weekend, renewing an anti-war call that has been criticized by the leader of the American Legion. Read
Edwards '06 Speaking Engagements Bring Questions — Reuters

...Carla Marinucci laid out the numbers on her San Francisco Chronicle blog, The Spin Cycle. Marinucci main beef with Edwards speaking engagement fees seems to be directed particularly at this engagement: Edwards "charged a whopping $55,000 to speak at to a crowd of 1,787 the taxpayer-funded University of California at Davis on Jan. 9, 2006 last year."

The candidate — who was then the head of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina — chose to speak on "Poverty, the great moral issue facing America," as his $55,000 topic at UC Davis. That could cause both parents and students to note some irony here: UC Davis — like the rest of the public University of California system — will get hit this year by a 7 percent tuition increase that likely hits many of the kids his speeches are aimed at helping. We wondered if this is Edwards' going speaking rate, and how come he didn't offer to do it gratis for a college, particularly a public institution. Read

Other North Carolina News

Fort Bragg Soldier Killed While Fighting in Iraq — ABC11

A North Carolina-based soldier had died from injuries he suffered while fighting in Iraq, the military announced Monday. Read
Memorial Service at Bragg Honors Fallen Paratroopers — WTVD

A public memorial service today at Fort Bragg will honor paratroopers killed in battle. Read
Navy Reassessing Training Off N.C. Coast — ABC11

...Two environmental impact statements the Navy must complete deal with potential impacts its training can have on the area and environment. Read
Schools forbid selling religion — News and Observer

From now on, guest speakers in the Wake County School System must sign a document agreeing not to denigrate any culture, race, gender, national origin or religion. That new rule was made in response to an incident earlier this year in which a guest speaker at Enloe High School denigrated Islam and urged students to shun Muslims. Read
Acting Army Secretary Visits Ft. Bragg By Gilbert Baez — WTVD

Acting Secretary of the Army Pete Green says he's focused on fixing health care related problems for soldiers and their families. Read
Families, friends say goodbye — News and Observer

About 150 soldiers with the U.S. Army Reserve's 535th Military Police Battalion left their Garner headquarters Sunday for Iraq. Read
County donates land for UNC Coastal Studies Institute campus — Outer Banks Sentinel

The UNC Coastal Studies Institute (UNC-CSI) is one step closer to beginning construction of the 90,000-square-foot research and education campus. On May 14, Dare County awarded a gift of 34.4 acres of land from the county to the UNC Coastal Studies Institute. Read
North Carolina Closes Deal to Buy Chimney Rock Park for $24 Million — WRAL

The $24 million deal to add Chimney Rock Park to the state's park system closed Monday, Gov. Mike Easley announced. Read
North Carolina Central meeting about chancellor search questioned — WIS10

But North Carolina Central officials say it was an emergency meeting, and they say the meeting's time and location were announced as soon as they were given Read
MySpace Agrees to Provide the Names of Sex Offenders — ABC11

Faced with legal demands from state attorneys general, MySpace.com said Monday it will release data on registered sex offenders it has identified and removed from the popular social networking Web site. Read
Physician: Lethal Injection Not Considered Medical Procedure — WRAL

A doctor testified before a judge at a hearing Monday that the use of lethal injection in executions is not a medical procedure.

The hearing concerns whether attorneys for death row inmates were unfairly denied access to state leaders when they approved a lethal injection protocol. Read
Forecasters Say Carolina Coast Faces Highest Risk From Hurricanes — WTKR3

A new report says counties along the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts face substantially higher-than-normal risks for hurricanes in 2007. Read
Students enter deals in underage drinking case — News and Observer

About 20 high school students nabbed for underage drinking last month at Chapel Hill house parties entered into deals this morning that ask parents to attend some alcohol counseling sessions with their children, said Orange-Chatham District Attorney Jim Woodall. Read
N.C. unemployment rate jumps in April — News 14

North Carolina's unemployment rate rose for the first time in seven months in April, jumping to 4.8 percent, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Security Commission. Read
New Partnership of N.C. Leaders Pushes for Meeting Growth Needs Head-on — WRAL

A bipartisan coalition of community and government leaders says the state simply cannot afford not to accommodate huge population growth that is coming. Read
Eden Textile Plant To Close In July — WPTF

Officials at a Rockingham County textile plant say the facility in Eden will close at the end of July, putting 155 employees out of work Read
83 Pounds Of Drugs Seized In Durham — The Raleigh Chronicle

In separate incidents, Durham Police announced that they seized over 83 pounds of illegal drugs including five pounds of black tar heroin, 58 pounds of marijuana, and another 20 pounds of cocaine in traffic stops in the past two weeks in the city. Read
Immigration Officials Turn to Probation Officers for Help — ABC11

Federal immigration officials have started working closely with local probation officers to detect and deport illegal immigrants. Read

Congress

Dole won't support 'amnesty' — News and Observer

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole looks at the immigration debate consuming the Senate this week and faces a quandary. Read
House OKs Penalties for Gas-Price Gouging — AOL

The House of Representatives, eager to do something about record high U.S. gasoline prices in advance of a holiday weekend, voted narrowly Wednesday to approve stiff penalties for those found guilty of price gouging . Read
Bush Supports $120B Iraq War Compromise — WRAL

President Bush said he supports a $120 billion Iraq war spending bill on track to to pass Congress Thursday, ending weeks of wrangling with congressional Democrats on how long U.S. troops should stay. Read
Opposition to national ID continues to grow — One News Now

A grassroots activist organization is calling on American citizens to contact their members of Congress to try to repeal the "REAL ID Act," a piece of legislation the group says is nothing more than a federal takeover of state departments of motor vehicles. Opposition to the legislation is brewing in several states. Read
Senator: Scrap Temporary Worker Program — Breitbart

..."It is just a fiction that these are jobs Americans aren't willing to do," Dorgan said. "The fact is that the overwhelming majority of these jobs are currently done by Americans. The main reason that big corporations want a guest worker program is that it will drive down U.S. wages." Read
Senate votes to reduce guest workers allowed in U.S. — CNN

The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to cut in half the number of guest workers that would be allowed into the United States under a controversial immigration overhaul backed by the White House. Read
Bill "bows to reality" — Reuters

Conservative Republicans working to block a compromise immigration bill risk endorsing a "silent amnesty," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. Read
House to Vote on Reprimanding Murtha — Breitbart

House Republicans angled Tuesday to put Democrats in a no-win position: reprimand a senior colleagues or be seen as blindly excusing legislative bullying for partisan reasons. House leaders tentatively scheduled a late Tuesday vote on a Republican move to reprimand Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat and close ally of House Speaker Hancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The GOP accuses Murtha of making a blatant threat against a Republican who challenged a pet project that Murtha wanted. Read
Fred Thompson predicts immigration reform bill will fail — Jackson Sun

The immigration reform bill worked out late last week by Senate Republicans and Democrats likely will fail, former senator and possible presidential candidate Fred Thompson said here Sunday. Read
In House testimony Goodling denies key role in U.S. attorney firings -LA Times

She points to former Deputy Atty. Gen. Paul McNulty for possible wrongdoing. Read
Iran's secret plan for summer offensive to force US out of Iraq — UK Guardian

Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown with coalition forces intended to tip a wavering US Congress into voting for full military withdrawal, US officials say. Read
House approves bill criminalizing laser-pointing — ABC 13

Shining a laser pointer at an airplane could land you in prison for up to five years. The House has approved a bill criminalizing that use of the cheap, hand-held laser pens. Read
Democrats to Offer Bush Bill to Fund Iraq War Without Troop Timeline, With Minimum Wage Hike — Fox News

In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday. Read
Second Plan to Make Churches "Lobbyists" Defeated — Grassroots Advocacy Under Fire in Congress — WorldNetDaily

A Christian organization is announcing the success — for now — of its urgent petition drive to convince Congress to drop plans to re-classify ministers and ministries as "lobbyists," which would create reams of red tape and subject leaders to fines of up to $50,000 if they didn't follow the fine print. Read
McCain Goes Nuts Near Senate Floor — NewsMax

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, launched into a shouting match during a Thursday Capitol Hill meeting, where reportedly the presidential candidate dropped the "F" word and more. Read
Activist says Senate amnesty bill would further damage nation's economy, identity — One News Now

An opponent of illegal immigration says the so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" bill in the Senate would have a devastating effect on the country. Ron DeJong of Grassfire.org says the bill developed by the White House and a bipartisan group of senators, including Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and John McCain (R-Arizona), is "bogus and offensive to American citizens." Read
Victory at the Judiciary Committee — ACLJ

I am happy to report that yesterday the Judiciary Committee defeated the amendment to the lobbying reform legislation offered by Marty Meehan. Read
Mitt Romney Blasts Immigration Deal — NewsMax

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Thursday blasted the Senate immigration bill agreement as "the wrong approach" for solving the problems of illegal immigration. Read
Senator says Gonzales might quit — News and Observer

GOP's Arlen Specter says attorney general would not want to face a no-confidence vote Read
Duncan Hunter Opposes Immigration Deal — NewsMax

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., a GOP candidate for president in 2008, vowed to oppose immigration legislation approved by the Senate on Thursday. Hunter said the new immigration deal rewards lawbreakers and does little to stem the flow of illegals across U.S. borders. Read
Sen. Jim DeMint: Don't Force 'Amnesty' on Us — NewsMax

Reaction to the "Bush-Kennedy" immigration reform bill is drawing strong condemnation from many conservatives, and part of the anger stems from the fact that it was crafted in secret — and will now be rushed straight to the Senate floor. Read
Tancredo: Bill Gives 'Instant Amnesty' to Illegals — NewsMax

A compromise reached on immigration reform between the Senate and White House has drawn praise from Colorado Senator Ken Salazar and jeers from Congressman Tom Tancredo. Read
Senate Postpones Immigration Deal — CBN News

A proposed deal on immigration reform that granting millions of illegal immigrants legal status will have to wait until June for a vote. Read
Should The Government Increase The Funding For The G.I. Bill? — WTKR

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., carried through on a campaign promise Wednesday, lobbying a Senate committee to pay college tuition and a monthly stipend to veterans who have served on active duty since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Read
White House rejects war bill concession — News 14

Democratic congressional leaders on Friday offered their first major concessions in a fight with President Bush over a spending bill for Iraq, but the White House turned them down. Read
Hillary Pushes $10 Billion for Pre-K Kids — NewsMax

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is proposing a $10 billion federal program aimed at providing voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-old children in America. Read

Christianity/Pro-Family/Religion/Ethics

Thousands of Faithful Attend Rev. Falwell's Funeral at Church He Built in Virginia — Yahoo

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral Tuesday of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, the folksy evangelist who built the Moral Majority into a conservative Christian empire that influenced national politics. Read
American Christianity — Laodicean church in the making, says Barna — One News Now

More than 20 years of research, says The Barna Group, has revealed a disturbing trend among Americans' spiritual beliefs and "slipping." The director of a recent Barna study says the findings reflect a "spiritual profile" among Americans similar to that of the early church at Laodicea — a church which Jesus admonished for being "neither hot nor cold" and called to repentance. Read
Texas Town Worried by Polygamist — Daily Advance

Samuel Fischer would appear to be just what this withering Texas Panhandle town needs. A successful cabinet maker with a thriving business in Utah, he hopes to move the operation here, bringing with it as many as 100 jobs and perhaps eventually an influx of residents. Many here, however, say Fischer is no godsend, and the economic boost he could provide their town of about 2,000 is not worth the cost. Read
Church Attack Leads to Arrest — AOL

An arrest has been made in the case of the woman attacked in church. Video

Article
'New Taliban' blamed in girl's horrific death — Chicago Tribune

Video of Iraqi teenager's slaying at the hands of a mob highlights religious intolerance that pervades the country. Read
Rev. Jerry Falwell's Funeral Service, Liberty University Graduation to be Televised via Sky Angel on Falwell's Liberty Channel — Christian Newswire

Liberty Channel, a 24-hour Christian and family entertainment television network founded by Rev. Jerry Falwell and carried nationally on the Sky Angel multi-channel, Christian and family television service, will be airing the following special programming on Sky Angel Channel 9716: Read
ECLJ Wins Approval for Consultive Status before U.N. — ACLJ

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations of the United Nations (U.N.) granted special consultative status to our European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) based in Strasbourg, France. As the U.N. Committee noted, the European Centre for Law and Justice promotes freedom of religion and speech through international human rights law. We have had two hearings before the United Nations. Read
Jewish, Christian women gather in Jerusalem — Ynet News

Hundreds of Jewish and Christian women met in Jerusalem this week to "promote the status of women based on biblical values." Read
Pastor, Wife Stand Strong After Muslim Attack — CBN News

In the region of Aceh last year, an angry mob set fire to a church that had stood strong for 28 years. The pastor and his wife had to flee through the jungle for safety. Read
1864 Lincoln-Johnson Campaign Button Becomes Money for Missions — Christian Newswire

An 1864 campaign button has a ferrotype (tintype) photo of President Abraham Lincoln on one side. A photo of Andrew Johnson is on the other. President Lincoln was running for re-election in 1864. Andrew Johnson, from Tennessee, was running as vice president. Read
Clerics Fume Over 'No Smoking' Signs at Churches — CNS News

Church of England clerics say government requirements for "No Smoking" signs to be posted in the front of all churches, synagogues and other places of worship are an example of the "aggressive nanny state" in action. Read
Christian men called back to fill 'Gap' — The Washington Times

"Stand in the Gap 2007" will be less ambitious. Organizers have secured the grounds of the Washington Monument and the Ellipse for the Oct. 6 event with room for about 250,000 men. Read
Abducted and Tortured Missionary Stands Firm Against Judicial Tyranny — Christian Newswire

George Raudenbush is no ordinary missionary who turns the other cheek, he fights corruption with truth. On January 18, 2006 Monroe County Tennessee's General Sessions Court rendered a judgment against Leonard James Ahearn exposing Mr. Ahearn publicly for fraud and breech of contract against Appalachian Youth Missions National Missions Coordinator George Raudenbush. Read
TURKMENISTAN: Baptist prisoner of conscience jailed for three years — Forum 18 (Norway)

...Before and during this month's trial, Turkmen authorities asked many questions about Kalataevsky's Baptist congregation, such as how many people attend, who they are and how many of them are children. Read
Russian Churches Kiss and Make Up — Christainity Today

Bitter Orthodox division formally healed. Read

Courts

Supreme Court at Stake in 2008 Election — NewsMax

The next U.S. president could reshape the Supreme Court, where the two oldest members are liberals and volatile decisions like abortion now hinge on a single swing vote. Read
Making a federal case out of an obscure leaf — MSNBC

Courts to decide if khat is an illicit drug or more like a double espresso Read
Legal Victory for Families of Disabled Students — NYT

A Supreme Court decision has given parents of children with disabilities the right to go to court without a lawyer to challenge their public school district. Read
Christian college claims discrimination in state grants — WorldNetDaily

A court ruling that a generic state college grant isn't available if you go to a particular Christian college will be appealed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the school said. Read
Immigrant Rental Rule in Texas Blocked — Breitbart

A federal judge Monday blocked enforcement of a voter-endorsed ordinance preventing apartment rentals to most illegal immigrants in this Dallas suburb, opponents of the ban said. The ordinance was to take effect Tuesday, more than a week after voters approved it. Opponents had filed three requests in federal court for an injunction to stop its enforcement. Read
Ex-Coke Secretary Gets 8 Years In Jail — CBS

Was Convicted In Scheme To Sell Trade Secrets To Pepsi Read
Tiny sex images on Google get okay from court — Reuters

A U.S. appeals court lifted a preliminary injunction on Wednesday against Google Inc. from showing thumbnail-size photos from sexually explicit Internet sites, but said the company might be liable for allowing links to sites displaying pirated photos. Read
Sandra Day O'Connor: Court Should Follow Precedent — NewsMax

Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor says the Supreme Court should generally follow its prior rulings so the public has confidence that laws do not change just because justices come and go. O'Connor, a swing vote in favor of abortion rights and affirmative action, said she was seeing an unprecedented level of public criticism in recent months of state and federal court decisions. Read
Judge jails sex-change couple — Daily Telegraph

A PAKISTANI judge jailed a married couple overnight after ruling that the husband was also a woman despite earlier sex-change surgery. Read
Doctor Convicted of Supporting al-Qaida — WPTF

A Florida doctor on trial for pledging to help al-Qaida had hoped to convince a jury that he did not know he had offered his medical expertise to the terror group. But jurors Monday apparently did not believe him. They convicted Dr. Rafiq Abdus Sabir of providing material support to terrorists by agreeing to treat injured al-Qaida fighters so they could return to Iraq to battle Americans. Read

Abortion/Pro-Life

Save the Planet: Stop Having Babies — CNS News

Reducing the number of children couples have is the best way to fight climate change, according to a British environmental group. Read
Voters oppose most abortions, poll says — Baptist Press

American voters oppose legalized abortion in the overwhelming majority of circumstances allowed under current law, according to a new poll. Read
Birth control pill that eliminates periods expected to win FDA approval Tuesday — ABC 13

The pill called Lybrel would become the latest approved oral contraceptive to depart from the traditional 21-days-on, seven-days-off regimen that has been standard since first birth control pills were sold in the 1960s. But the pill is the first designed to be taken continuously. Read

Alcohol/Drugs/Health

Diabetes Drug Tied to Heart Risks — CBN

A new analysis links the widely prescribed diabetes drug Avandia to greater risk of heart attack and possibly death. Read
New machine keeps 'heart in a box' beating — MSNBC

Macabre, yes, but this advance could bring longer life to donated organs Read
Bubonic Plague Kills Monkey at Denver Zoo — Reuters

A Denver Zoo monkey has died of bubonic plague , apparently after eating a squirrel stricken with the disease, Colorado health and zoo officials said on Monday. Read
U.S. checking all toothpaste imports from China — CNN

U.S. health officials are beginning to check all shipments of toothpaste coming from China, following reports of tainted products in other countries, a government spokesman said Wednesday. Read

Education/Sex Ed/Teens/Children

Evolution Opponent Is in Line for Schools Post — NYT

A member of the Kansas school board who supported its efforts against teaching evolution is running unopposed for the National Association of State Boards of Education. Read
Chesapeake Teacher Charged With Assault After Spanking Student — WTKR

Chesapeake police say a teacher from Greenbrier Middle School has been charged with assaulting a 12-year-old male student. Read
Yankees donate $1M to Virginia Tech — Reuters

The New York Yankees donated $1 million on Wednesday to a fund to aid the healing process at Virginia Tech following the mass killings last month. Read
At Marymount Graduation, a Centennial, and a Farewell — NYT

Marymount College, about 25 miles north of Manhattan, is shutting down after recognizing its final graduates, as enrollment declines nationwide at small women's colleges. Read
'Have sex, do drugs,' speaker tells students — WorldNetDaily

'Men with men, women and women, whatever combination you would like' Read
Africa's Storied Colleges, Jammed and Crumbling — NYT

Far from being a repository of the continent's hopes for the future, Africa's decrepit universities have become hotbeds of discontent. Read
Yearbook photos show students doing drugs — 9News

Parents outraged at images of smoking pot, using paraphernalia Read
Scores for Yonkers Students Drop on State English Test — NYT

In some individual Yonkers schools, the decline was in the double digits. Read
Colleges Offering Campuses as Final Resting Places — NYT

About a half-dozen universities are giving alumni and faculty the opportunity to have their ashes maintained on campus. Read
Students Gain Only Marginally on Test of U.S. History — NYT

More than half of high school seniors still showed poor command of basic facts like the effect of the cotton gin on the slave economy or the causes of the Korean War. Read

Gambling

State Refuses to Pay Couple Lottery Prize — AOL

Claims $500,000 Scratch-Off Ticket Has Misprint Read

God and Country/National Security/Politics

U.S. Military IDs Missing Soldier's Body — AOL

Thousands Search for Two Missing Comrades. The military confirmed that the body found Wednesday in the Euphrates River south of Baghdad was that of Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr., of Torrance, Calif., who had been missing since militants ambushed his unit nearly two weeks ago. Read
U.S. Navy Sends Carriers Near Iran — ABC

Navy Sends Aircraft Carriers, Landing Ships Carrying 17,000 Marines and Sailors to Gulf Read
Veterans memorials will get protection strategy — One News Now

Legal defense organizations from across the United States are joining together to fight potential legal attacks on America's veterans memorials from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union as well as private citizens. Read
Debate Raging, Mexico Adds to Consulates in U.S. — NYT

Just the workaday humdrum of official government business — the government of Mexico, that is, in yet another new consulate, the country's 47th in the United States. Read
Oldest U.S. Carrier Making Last Voyage — ABC

USS Kitty Hawk, the Oldest U.S. Aircraft Carrier, Leaves Japanese Port on Its Last Voyage Read
Amnesty just part of White House 'dastardly scheme,' says conservative commentator — One News Now

A conservative political commentator and former presidential candidate says President Bush's aggressive promotion of amnesty for millions of illegal aliens currently in America is part of a much larger scheme that threatens the country's sovereignty. Read
Report: Fort Dix Terror Suspect Applied to Be Police Officer in Philadelphia — FOX

Terror suspect Sedar Tatar, charged with attempting to kill military personnel at Fort Dix in New Jersey, applied to become a police officer in Philadelphia just weeks before he was arrested, reports FOX affiliate WTXF. Read
Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran — ABC

The CIA has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert "black" operation to destabilize the Iranian government, current and former officials in the intelligence community tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com. Read
Florida tries to wipe out cat-sized African rats — Reuters

Deep in the heart of the Florida Keys, wildlife officials are laying bait laced with poison to try to wipe out a colony of enormous African rats that could threaten crops and other animals. Read
Amnesty by another name — The Patriot Post

I wish I could believe the president and those senators who claim their agreement on immigration legislation will "fix" the problems of open borders and illegal aliens. I can't, because the public has had no input into the measure; the last time Congress "fixed" the problem, it got worse; and it appears Democrats and Republicans care more about harvesting votes for their respective parties than doing what's best for their fellow citizens. Read
Border security first, Americans tell polls — The Washington Times

Americans favor stronger border security and enforcement of existing immigration laws before any new immigration rules take effect, according to polls. Read
Electric power plant will run on turkey litter — USA Today

The gray, sandy mix of turkey droppings and other bits and pieces flowing through Greg Langmo's fingers back onto the floor of his barn isn't just dirt, it's fuel. With 16,000 hens gobbling around him, Langmo is standing on a 15-inch layer of turkey litter — some 750 tons of the stuff — that represents a new source of energy. It will help fuel a $200 million power plant due to begin full-scale production next month. Read
Richardson Declares Bid for '08 Nomination — CBN

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson vowed to repair the "ravages" of the Bush administration Monday as he formally announced his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in prepared remarks. Read
Voter Fraud and Felonies Brought by Lawless Illegal Immigrants — Christian Newswire

Biblical Family Advocates recently posted a press release, regarding the illegal immigration movement that feels entitled to come to America illegally without regard for the laws of America, creating a culture of lawlessness which teaches their children to disobey God's commandments. Read
Senator Fred Thompson: A Refreshing Non-Campaign — Reuters

The following blog post is from an independent writer and is not connected with Reuters News. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by Reuters.com. The only truly interesting aspect of the current presidential precampaign has been the growing interest shown in someone who is not — officially, at least — actually running. While a dozen or so each of Democrats and Republicans jet anxiously around the country, raising money and pretending to debate one another, former Senator Fred Thompson sits back and watches his portfolio appreciate daily. What is it about him that draws this kind of interest? Read
Border patrol helicopter crashes in Texas yard killing pilot — ABC 13

...A witness says he heard a snapping, popping sound before it disappeared, and then a boom when it crashed. Read
Lawsuit: Murdoch killed negative Clinton stories — WorldNetDaily

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch ordered his U.S. editors to kill any negative stories about President Clinton and his wife Hillary, according to claims in a lawsuit. Murdoch, whose News Corp. of America owns the Fox News Channel and the New York Post, is being sued by former Post gossip writer Jared Paul Stern, who contends he was fired illegally, reports the UK's Press Gazette. Read
Baghdad bracing for U.S. pullout — Washington Times

Iraq's military is drawing up plans on how to cope if U.S.-led forces leave the country quickly, the defense minister said yesterday. Read
Bush to Explain a Bin Laden Terror Plot — ABC

ABC News' Karen Travers Reports In his remarks at the Coast Guard Academy graduation on Wednesday, President Bush will discuss recent intelligence that asserts that Osama bin Laden commissioned a terror cell to be set up in Iraq to plan and launch attacks against the United States. Read
Rush: Immigration Bill Will Kill GOP — Newsmax

Supporters call it a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, but top radio talker Rush Limbaugh has another name for it. He calls it the "Comprehensive Destroy the Republican Party Bill." During Friday's syndicated broadcast of the Rush Limbaugh program, Rush criticized the Senate's immigration proposal as liberalism gone wild. Read
Wall Street drifting upwards — Daily Telegraph

MAJOR US stock indexes showed slight gains as investors remained upbeat and as senior representatives from the US and Chinese Governments met for economic talks in Washington. Read
Would You Support A Law Making It Illegal To Rent To Illegal Immigrants? — WTKR

Voters in this Dallas suburb became the first in the nation Saturday to prohibit landlords from renting to most illegal immigrants. Read
Attack in Baghdad's Green Zone Wounds 6 — WPTF

At least nine apparent mortar rounds slammed into the U.S.-controlled Green Zone on Wednesday, wounding at least six people, the second such attack in as many days, an official said. Read
White House to Quickly Replace Wolfowitz -AOL

Trying to put a controversy behind it, the Bush administration was wasting no time finding a successor to World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, who will resign over his handling of a pay package for his girlfriend. Read
Poll Reflects Special Relationship Between US and Israel — CNS News

While U.S. opinion polls indicate many Americans don't care for President Bush, a majority of Israelis consider him to be a great friend of the Jewish state, a poll released here on Friday shows. The comprehensive poll on U.S.-Israel relations is the first of its kind in more than 20 years, said the Anti-Defamation League and BESA Center for Strategic Studies who jointly commissioned the survey.

According to the poll, 73 percent of Israelis surveyed consider President Bush to be friendly to Israel; 91 percent believe that close relations between he U.S. and Israel are "vital for the security of Israel"; and 80 percent of those surveyed believe the U.S. would come to Israel's assistance if its existence was threatened. Read
Gas Costs $1,000 More a Year Than in 2001 — AOL News

U.S. families paid $1,000 more on average for gasoline last year than in 2001, as higher prices at the pump ate up a hefty portion of the increase in their paychecks, two consumer groups said Wednesday. Read
Alltel Agrees to $24.8 Billion Buyout CBN

A pair of investment firms have agreed to acquire Alltel Corp., the fifth-biggest U.S. wireless company and owner of the nation's largest geographic network, in a deal worth $24.8 billion. Read
Laws Ban Using Names of U.S. Dead for Profit — AOL

More states are making it illegal to use the names or pictures of America's military dead for commercial gain, without the permission of their families. Read
S&P breaks record; first time since 2000 — News and Observer

The Standard & Poor's 500 index has passed 1,527.46, its record high close, for the first time since March 2000. Read
U.S. welcomes China yuan move, wants faster change By David Lawder — Yahoo News

China's decision to widen its currency's trading band is a "useful step" but Beijing must still move more quickly to having the market set the currency's value, a U.S. Treasury Department official said on Friday. Read
$500M Treasure Ship Found In Atlantic — CBS

Explorers Believe Colonial-Era Treasure Is Richest In History; Location Of Ship Kept Secret Read
The Greyhound Bus of the Skies — ABC

I am always looking for a good travel deal, and when I heard about Skybus Airlines, which offers at least 10 seats on each of its flights for $10, I went online and booked a ticket. Read

Pornography/Homosexuality/Immorality/Obscenity/Violence

Witness: Discounted Apartments, Prostitutes Used to Secure U.N. Contracts — FOX

Discounted apartments and cash were given to a former United Nations procurement official and two other U.N. workers got nights with prostitutes to help secure $100 million in U.N. contracts, a businessman testified Tuesday at a bribery trial. Read
Book Argues Gay Men Can Be Straight Girls' Best Friend — WTKR

...But for many women nowadays, that shoulder to cry on, that ear to bend at all hours, that voice of relationship wisdom, is a gay guy. Read
Porn crackdown nets 49 million books — Daily Telegraph

CHINA'S latest crackdown on "pornographic and illegal" books, magazines and DVDs netted 49 million items, state media reported. Read
NYC Fake Firefighter Case Set for Jury — ABC

Judge to Instruct Jury in Case of Man Accused of Impersonating NYC Firefighter in Attack Read
Having gay friends spurs tolerance: study — Reuters

People with gay friends or family members are far more likely to accept their sexual orientation than those who don't, according to a U.S. survey released on Wednesday by the Pew Research Center. The survey also found that liberal Democrats are far more likely to say they have a gay friend than conservative Republicans — highlighting the political aspect of one of America's most divisive cultural issues. Read

Other News

Israel seizes leaders — Reuters

Israeli forces seized a Palestinian cabinet minister and more than 30 other officials in a new phase of a crackdown on Hamas. Read
Sarkozy Sworn in As France President — WPTF

Nicolas Sarkozy took office as France's president on Wednesday, waving farewell to outgoing leader Jacques Chirac and promising to move quickly and boldly to equip the nation for a new era. Read
Report: Iran to buy Russian air defense system via Syria — Ha'aretz

Syria has agreed to supply Iran with at least 10 out of 50 air defense systems that Damascus is in the process of buying from Russia, Jane's Defense Weekly reported in this week's edition. Read
Hamas leaders go into hiding, urged to take precautions — Jerusalem Post

Many Hamas leaders and activists in the Gaza Strip have gone underground for fear of being targeted by Israel, sources close to Hamas said Monday. Read
UK Files Charge in Death of Soviet Spy — WRAL

British prosecutors on Tuesday requested the extradition of former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi to face a charge of murder in the poisoning death of former operative Alexander Litvinenko, officials said Tuesday. Read
IDF suggests 'security zone' in north Gaza — Ynet News

The security establishment is prepared to expand it offensive against terror cells in the Gaza Strip in case the political echelons should decide to give the order to boost operations. Read
Russians Rally Against TV Stations — MyWay

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Russian capital's main broadcast facility on Sunday to protest what they called lies and censorship on TV stations that are either controlled by the state or under its influence. Read
Israeli Aircraft Fires on Gaza — WPTF

An Israeli helicopter fired at least three missiles into the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on Wednesday, killing at least four people, Palestinian officials said. Read
Lebanese army pounds Palestinian camp — USA Today

Lebanese troops blasted a Palestinian refugee camp with artillery and tank fire again, seeking to destroy a militant group with al-Qaeda ties. The barrage smashed buildings and sent plumes of black smoke towering over the crowded camp on the Mediterranean. Read
Musharraf: Islamic Militancy Rising — CBN News

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf acknowledged that Islamic militancy was increasing across Pakistan and said tough measures were needed to counter it, as religious students from a pro-Taliban mosque abducted four police officers. Read
Egypt releases more than 100 Islamic extremists — Jerusalem Post

About 135 Muslim extremists who spent more than a decade in Egyptian prisons have been released after signing statements renouncing violence, police officials said Monday. 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.

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