|
North Carolina Family Minute
The "North Carolina Family Minute" is a one-minute audio news feature of the North Carolina Family Policy Council with host Bob Ditmer. New shows are posted daily, Monday–Friday. "Click" to listen, or "Right-Click" to download a show. If you would like to sponsor or hear the daily minute on your local radio station, please contact us.
Key Contributions of Fathers
A recent survey finds that the majority of Americans believe that providing “morals and values” to their children is more important than providing a paycheck when it comes to the role of fathers. (June 19) Listen (.mp3)
FCC Extends Comment Period
There is still time to contact the Federal Communications Commission to protest its plan to soften its current policy against indecent radio and television content, as the FCC has extended the comment period until June 19. (June 18) Listen (.mp3)
SBC Approves Boy Scouts Resolution
The Southern Baptist Convention has approved a resolution expressing its “opposition to and disappointment in” the Boy Scouts of America’s new policy that will grant membership to openly homosexual boys. (June 17) Listen (.mp3)
Obama Administration Caves
The Obama administration has changed its long-standing position against allowing over-the-counter access to emergency contraception for young adolescent girls, and will allow women of any age to obtain a popular form of the controversial drug without a prescription. (June 14) Listen (.mp3)
Opportunity Scholarships
A measure that would provide scholarship grants to help lower income families send their children to private schools in North Carolina is included in the latest version of the budget being proposed in the House. (June 13) Listen (.mp3)
Fees Unconstitutional
The North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled that Fayetteville’s high tax on video sweepstakes businesses is unconstitutional. (June 12) Listen (.mp3)
Primetime TV Nudity Increasing
Full nudity that is blurred or pixilated is increasing on broadcast television shows that air during the primetime hours, and that are rated as acceptable for children, according to a new study from the Parents Television Council. (June 11) Listen (.mp3)
Common Core Concerns
North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest is using his role on the State Board of Education to raise concerns about the implementation of the national Common Core education standards in the state’s schools. (June 10) Listen (.mp3)
University Policy Change
Thirty universities in 15 states, including two in North Carolina, have agreed to make changes to unconstitutional policies that restrict student speech or association, thanks to an ongoing legal initiative by the Alliance Defending Freedom. (June 7) Listen (.mp3)
State Tax Reform
North Carolina legislators appear poised to tackle the State’s tax code for the first time in more than 70 years as three different proposals have begun making their way through the legislative process. (June 6) Listen (.mp3)
No Change in Illinois
Efforts to make Illinois the 13th state to redefine marriage are stymied for now as the General Assembly adjourned without taking a vote on a marriage redefinition bill that was thought to be inevitable. (June 5) Listen (.mp3)
Back to Basics
Public schools in North Carolina would once again be required to teach cursive handwriting and ensure students memorize multiplication tables under a measure approved by both chambers of the General Assembly. (June 4) Listen (.mp3)
American Heritage Girls
The American Heritage Girls, a Christian youth organization created as an alternative to the Girl Scouts, has ended its formal relationship with the Boy Scouts of America. (June 3) Listen (.mp3)
Opportunity Scholarship Act
A bill that would provide scholarship grants to help lower income families send their children to nonpublic schools in North Carolina continues to make its way through the State House. (May 31) Listen (.mp3)
Teen Birth Rates Decline
Teen birth rates across the country, including North Carolina, are continuing their overall decline. (May 30) Listen (.mp3)
Boy Scouts Controversy
As we reported yesterday, the Boy Scouts of America have decided to grant membership to boys who identify as homosexual. (May 29) Listen (.mp3)
Boy Scouts Shift
In a move that could lead to the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Scouts, the Boy Scouts of America will grant membership to boys who identify as homosexual, under a controversial resolution adopted by a majority of the BSA National Council. (May 28) Listen (.mp3)
Public Invocation
The American tradition of prayer before government meetings will once again be considered by the US Supreme Court, which has agreed to review a case involving the constitutionality of a New York town’s public invocation policy. (May 27) Listen (.mp3)
Education Scholarships
This week the North Carolina House Education committee began consideration of a bill that would offer scholarships for lower income families to send their children to nonpublic schools. (May 24) Listen (.mp3)
Senate Budget Unveiled
The legislative process of North Carolina’s biennial budget-writing process is officially underway after the State Senate released its budget proposal. (May 23) Listen (.mp3)
Tuition Scholarship
Children from households “with limited financial resources” in North Carolina would have the opportunity to attend private schools of their choice under a measure being considered by a House committee this week. (May 22) Listen (.mp3)
Conscience Protection Bill
The North Carolina House has approved a bill that expands conscience protections for healthcare workers that object to abortion on moral, ethical, or religious grounds and restricts taxpayer-funded abortions. (May 21) Listen (.mp3)
Legislative Approvals
Legislation aimed at reducing human trafficking, strengthening the rights of religious student groups at colleges and universities, and granting scholarships for disabled students were among the flurry of bills approved by the North Carolina House last week. (May 20) Listen (.mp3)
Abortion And Trafficking Bills
The North Carolina Senate passed two important bills last week aimed at providing education about the link between abortion and prematurity and at protecting victims of human trafficking. (May 17) Listen (.mp3)
Three States Grant Licenses
Homosexual activists are celebrating three more victories this month, as lawmakers in Delaware, Rhode Island and Minnesota approved measures to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (May 16) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Freedoms
The North Carolina Senate approved a number of education related measures this week, including bills that would strengthen the religious freedoms of students. (May 15) Listen (.mp3)
Parental Rights Enhancement
A North Carolina House committee has given initial approval to legislation that would enhance the protection of parental rights in the medical decisions of minors. (May 14) Listen (.mp3)
Union County Prayer
The Board of Commissioners in Union County, North Carolina continues to face pressure from a Wisconsin-based atheist organization to end its long-standing practice of opening meetings in prayer. (May 12) Listen (.mp3)
Gender Abortion Bill
The North Carolina House is considering a bill that would outlaw abortions that are motivated by the gender of the unborn child. (May 11) Listen (.mp3)
"Game Night" Casino Gambling
Last week, the North Carolina Family Policy Council testified against a bill that would legalize casino-style gambling for nonprofits during a House committee’s consideration of the proposal. (May 10) Listen (.mp3)
Plan B One-Step
Women as young as 15 will now have access to emergency contraceptives without a prescription under a new federal rule announced last week. (May 9) Listen (.mp3)
Education Bills
The North Carolina State Senate has sent two education bills to the State House for consideration. (May 6) Listen (.mp3)
NC Week Of Prayer
Governor Pat McCrory has declared this week the “North Carolina Week of Prayer” in conjunction with the 62nd annual “National Day of Prayer.” (May 3) Listen (.mp3)
Casino Gambling
A bill introduced in the North Carolina House earlier this month could, in its current form, inadvertently open the door for a massive increase in casino gambling across the state by Indian Tribes other than the Cherokee. (May 2) Listen (.mp3)
School Choice
Last week, thousands of North Carolinians gathered in support of legislation that would provide more school choice options to students and families in the State. (May 1) Listen (.mp3)
Lawmakers Lobbied
Supporters of homosexual rights were at the General Assembly last week to lobby lawmakers. (April 30) Listen (.mp3)
Student Scholarship Grants
Several Republican lawmakers in the State House intend to introduce a bill “to create equal opportunity scholarship grants” for students in North Carolina. (April 29) Listen (.mp3)
Boy Scouts Resolution
The Boys Scouts of America would grant membership to youth, but not adults, who identify as homosexual under a resolution that will be considered by the BSA National Council next month. (April 26) Listen (.mp3)
France Moves to Redefine Marriage
Despite months of massive protests by thousands of French citizens, France will soon become the 14th nation to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. (April 25) Listen (.mp3)
FCC Indecency Policy
On April 1, the Federal Communication Commission began soliciting comments on whether to soften the current policy against indecent radio and television content. (April 24) Listen (.mp3)
Human Trafficking Bill
Last week, the North Carolina House joined the Senate in giving unanimous approval to a bill that would require individuals convicted of human trafficking to register as sex offenders in North Carolina. (April 23) Listen (.mp3)
Another Casino Planned
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has confirmed plans to build a second casino near Murphy. (April 22) Listen (.mp3)
Assisted Suicide Ban
Several state senators have filed a bill that would make assisted suicide unlawful in North Carolina. (April 19) Listen (.mp3)
Unmarried Cohabitation Increase
As unmarried cohabitation continues to increase in the United States, marriage is less likely to be the first living together experience for women, according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics. (April 18) Listen (.mp3)
Tax Freedom Day
Last Wednesday, North Carolinians celebrated freedom from their tax bill. The April 10th date is earlier than the national average. (April 17) Listen (.mp3)
Contraceptive Availability
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make controversial emergency contraceptives available without a prescription to all women and girls, regardless of age. (April 16) Listen (.mp3)
John Rustin Returns
The North Carolina Family Policy Council has announced its selection of John Rustin as the organization’s next President. (April 15) Listen (.mp3)
Honest Lottery Act
A House bill that would make several key changes in how the state-run lottery is advertised is up for consideration in the House Appropriations Committee. (April 12) Listen (.mp3)
Human Trafficking Bill
Three North Carolina senators have introduced legislation in the State Senate that is aimed at addressing the scourge of child sex trafficking in North Carolina. (April 11) Listen (.mp3)
School Choice Bills
As reported earlier, a majority of North Carolinians support policies that would provide parents with more education options for their children. (April 10) Listen (.mp3)
School Choice
Most North Carolinians support policies that would provide parents with more education options for their children, according to a new survey. (April 9) Listen (.mp3)
Healthy Marriage Act
Three North Carolina State Senators have filed a bill that will help keep marriages together by requiring counseling and a longer waiting period prior to filing for divorce. (April 8) Listen (.mp3)
School Safety Act
Both the State executive and legislative branches are offering options for enhancing school safety across North Carolina. (April 5) Listen (.mp3)
Delaying Marriage
The majority of young adults are delaying marriage until their late twenties, causing a dramatic shift in family structure for many Americans. (April 4) Listen (.mp3)
Prayer Lawsuit
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will fight a lawsuit aimed at forcing the county to halt its long-standing practice of opening meetings with Christian prayer. (April 3) Listen (.mp3)
March For Marriage
Last week, thousands of traditional marriage supporters converged on Washington, D.C. as the U.S. Supreme Court began hearing arguments in the first of two landmark cases concerning the definition of marriage. (April 2) Listen (.mp3)
Pro-Scout Group Launched
A national coalition of Boy Scouts leaders, concerned parents, and Scouting donors has launched a campaign to encourage the Boy Scouts of America to maintain its current policy that prohibits membership to “open or avowed homosexuals.” (April 1) Listen (.mp3)
Buncombe Changes Policy
Buncombe County is now the fourth county in North Carolina to offer domestic partner benefits to the unmarried opposite sex and same-sex partners of county employees. (March 28) Listen (.mp3)
Education In The Spotlight
Education bills accounted for much of the work at the North Carolina General Assembly last week. (March 27) Listen (.mp3)
Lottery Advertising
The North Carolina House of Representatives has taken the first step toward making several changes in how the state-run lottery is advertised. (March 26) Listen (.mp3)
March For Marriage
The first-ever national “March for Marriage” in Washington, DC, is tomorrow and pro-family leaders are hoping a large turnout will send a message to the U.S. Supreme Court that the majority of Americans support traditional marriage. (March 25) Listen (.mp3)
School Vouchers
A new report compares several varieties of school choice options under consideration in North Carolina with a particular focus on the pros and cons of voucher programs. (March 22) Listen (.mp3)
Prayer Attacks Continue
The effort by secular groups to force local and state governments and officials to end the long standing practice of offering Christian prayers before public meetings continues across North Carolina. (March 21) Listen (.mp3)
Growing Support for School Choice
A February poll of North Carolina voters finds widespread support for school choice and additional funding mechanisms to support parental choice in education. (March 20) Listen (.mp3)
NC Legislature Earns Top Marks
North Carolina earned top marks in legislative transparency last week. (March 19) Listen (.mp3)
Lily's Law
North Carolina is one step closer to codifying the common law that it is murder if a child is born alive and then dies as a result of injuries inflicted prior to birth. (March 18) Listen (.mp3)
Caylee's Law
Parents or legal guardians who do not report that a child is missing within 24 hours of the child’s disappearance would be charged with a criminal offence in North Carolina under a measure that passed the State House last week. (March 15) Listen (.mp3)
NCFPC Supports Obamacare Challenge
The North Carolina Family Policy Council has joined several national and state-level groups in filing a friend-of-the-court brief challenging the Obama Administration’s controversial requirement that nearly all employers include abortifacient drugs, contraceptives, and sterilizations as part of their health plans without co-pays. (March 14) Listen (.mp3)
Prayer Under Attack
A national atheist group is targeting the Board of Commissioners in Union County, North Carolina, in an ongoing effort to silence public prayers before local government meetings. (March 13) Listen (.mp3)
Human Trafficking Classification
A measure that would require individuals convicted of human trafficking to register as sex offenders in North Carolina received unanimous approval by the State Senate last week. (March 12) Listen (.mp3)
Lottery Changes
Governor Pat McCrory and members of the North Carolina General Assembly are looking to make changes to the North Carolina Education Lottery. (March 11) Listen (.mp3)
March for Marriage
On March 26, pro-family citizens will have the opportunity to take a united and public stand for marriage as only the union of a man and a woman, in our nation’s capitol, during the first ever national march for traditional marriage. (March 8) Listen (.mp3)
Boy Scouts Seeks Feedback
The Boys Scouts of America continues to seek input from former and current scout leaders, members, parents, and supporting organizations about proposed changes to its long-standing policy to “not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals.” (March 7) Listen (.mp3)
Educating Students about Abortion
Public school students in North Carolina would be taught that abortion can lead to a higher risk of premature births in subsequent pregnancies as part of the mandated health education curriculum under a bill introduced in the General Assembly. (March 6) Listen (.mp3)
Wrestling for Religious Freedom
The Alliance Defending Freedom is asking the North Carolina High School Athletic Association to take steps to ensure that the constitutional rights of student athletes are respected, after a wrestler was penalized for praying before a match. (March 5) Listen (.mp3)
Education Week
The North Carolina House of Representatives is hosting “Education Week” this week. As part of the week’s activities, legislators will be meeting with school superintendents, principals, and teachers. (March 4) Listen (.mp3)
Sex Trafficking Bill Introduced
The first bill of the 2013 session aimed at combating sex trafficking in North Carolina was introduced in the General Assembly last week. (March 1) Listen (.mp3)
ECU Pushes Pro-Homosexual Campaign
The East Carolina University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Office is encouraging faculty, staff and students to participate in a pro-homosexual program called “Gay? Fine By Me.” (February 28) Listen (.mp3)
Indecent Exposure Law
Last week, the North Carolina House of Representatives Rules Committee rejected a bill that would have legalized marijuana for medical use and approved a bill to clarify the State’s indecent exposure law. (February 27) Listen (.mp3)
Medical Marijuana Rejected
Last week, the North Carolina House of Representatives Rules Committee rejected a bill that would have legalized marijuana for medical use and approved a bill to clarify the State’s indecent exposure law. (February 26) Listen (.mp3)
Human Trafficking Law
Last week, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of a measure to reauthorize a federal law aimed at combating human trafficking. (February 25) Listen (.mp3)
State of the State
This week, North Carolina’s first Republican governor in two decades, Pat McCrory, gave his first “State of the State” speech to members of the General Assembly. (February 22) Listen (.mp3)
CDC Releases New STD Data
There are nearly 20 million new infections of sexually transmitted diseases each year in the United States, over half occur in young people, according to new data released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (February 21) Listen (.mp3)
Students Promote Virtue and True Love
Last week, student groups at 25 universities across the nation, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, used the Valentine’s Day holiday to challenge the “hook up” culture on college campuses and promote virtue and true love. (February 20) Listen (.mp3)
Teens in Broken Homes
Over half of American teenagers are growing up in broken homes, according to a new report from the Marriage and Religion Research Institute at the Family Research Council. (February 19) Listen (.mp3)
40 Days for Life 2013
This week, thousands of pro-lifers in 261 locations across the United States and worldwide began a campaign of “peaceful activism,” prayer, and fasting during the first 40 Days for Life of 2013. (February 18) Listen (.mp3)
Pre-K Religious Instruction
North Carolina’s administrative Rules Review Commission continues to wrestle with how to apply regulations of child care facilities to religiously operated child care programs. (February 15) Listen (.mp3)
"Medical" Marijuana
The legislative push to put North Carolina into the medical marijuana business officially began last week with the introduction of a House bill that would legalize so-called medical marijuana. (February 14) Listen (.mp3)
National Marriage Week
A week long series of local, state and national events aimed at promoting and strengthening marriages in the United States is underway with “National Marriage Week, USA.” (February 13) Listen (.mp3)
Boy Scouts Delay Decision
Facing pressure from its supporters and members, the Boy Scouts executive board said it is delaying a decision on lifting its prohibition of gay Scout leaders and members until May. (February 12) Listen (.mp3)
Abortion Clinic Cited
An abortion clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been cited by the state Department of Health and Human Services for unsanitary conditions, untrained staff, and other violations. (February 11) Listen (.mp3)
Contraceptive Mandate
The Obama Administration has proposed changes to its controversial requirement that all employers, save very narrowly defined religious groups, include abortifacient drugs, contraceptives, and sterilizations as part of their health plans without co-pays. (February 8) Listen (.mp3)
Capitol Commission
The 2013 legislative session of the General Assembly is underway and praying for state lawmakers and other government officials has never been easier, thanks to a national prayer ministry based in Raleigh. (February 7) Listen (.mp3)
General Assembly Priorities
The 2013-2014 legislative session got underway last week with the budget leading the list of priorities followed by education, redistricting, tax reform and voter ID laws. (February 6) Listen (.mp3)
General Assembly Eyes Budget
Last week the North Carolina 2013-2014 General Assembly began work. The primary focus will be the budget. (February 5) Listen (.mp3)
Boy Scouts Under Pressure
Under mounting pressure from homosexual activists and their allies, the Boy Scouts of America is considering changing its long-standing policy that prohibits membership to “open or avowed homosexuals.” (February 4) Listen (.mp3)
State Tax Code Reform
A second conservative North Carolina think tank has offered lawmakers a proposal for reforming the State’s tax code. (February 1) Listen (.mp3)
Unborn Victim's Murderer Punished
For the first time, a criminal has been convicted under a North Carolina law that allows the perpetrators of violent crimes against a pregnant woman to be charged with a separate crime against her unborn child. (January 31) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Liberty Restrictions
A majority of American adults, especially Christians, are concerned about restrictions on religious liberty in the United States, according to a new Barna Group survey. (January 29) Listen (.mp3)
The Year Ahead
2013 begins with incredible promise for the families of North Carolina and the North Carolina Family Policy Council. (January 26) Listen (.mp3)
Pro-Life Legislation
As state lawmakers return to Raleigh next week, at least one legislative leader is indicating that he intends to continue to build on recent efforts to protect unborn children. (January 25) Listen (.mp3)
40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
This week marks the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion-on-demand nationwide. (January 24) Listen (.mp3)
Council Head To Step Down
Bill Brooks, president and executive director of the North Carolina Family Policy Council and North Carolina Family Action announced this week that he plans to step down from his job as head of the organization before the end of 2013. (January 23) Listen (.mp3)
AUL 2013 Life List
A total of 60 “life affirming” state laws were enacted in 2012, including 38 laws related to abortion, according to the Americans United for Life’s “2013 Life List.” (January 22) Listen (.mp3)
Transgender Student Policy
The nation’s oldest women’s college, Salem College, is in the process of a creating a policy to govern the acceptance and role of transgender students. (January 18) Listen (.mp3)
10th Most Free Country
The United States remained the 10th “most free country in the world,” according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal. (January 17) Listen (.mp3)
Pro-Life Events
This month marks 40 years since the infamous Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, legalized abortion on demand in the United States. (January 16) Listen (.mp3)
Virtual Charter Schools
Last week, the State Board of Education approved a new policy for establishing virtual charter schools in North Carolina. (January 15) Listen (.mp3)
Human Trafficking
This month, the government, churches, and abolitionist groups across the nation are working to raise awareness about the modern day form of slavery known as human trafficking. (January 14) Listen (.mp3)
Fatherless Children
An analysis of recent U.S. census data finds that 1 in 3 American children live in homes without a father. (January 11) Listen (.mp3)
Choose Life License Plate
North Carolina will appeal a ruling that the recently approved “Choose Life” license plate is unconstitutional. (January 10) Listen (.mp3)
Charter School Applications
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has received a total of 161 letters of intent from nonprofits, community organizations, and other groups interested in applying to open a new public charter school in August of 2014. (January 9) Listen (.mp3)
Sweepstakes Closings
A state Supreme Court ruling upholding North Carolina’s 2010 law banning video sweepstakes took effect last Thursday, but whether the ruling results in the closing of significant numbers of video sweepstakes establishments remains to be seen. (January 8) Listen (.mp3)
Pro-Life Laws
2012 saw state legislatures across the United States pass the second highest number of pro-life laws since the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision. (January 7) Listen (.mp3)
HIV Infections
Male to male sexual activity continues to account for the overwhelming majority of new HIV infections in the United States, according a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (January 4) Listen (.mp3)
Tax System Reform
A North Carolina think-tank is offering research and suggestions to the state’s lawmakers who have indicated a desire to reform North Carolina’s tax system during the 2013-2014 legislative session. (January 3) Listen (.mp3)
Abortion And Birth
A new report finds “a growing body of worldwide evidence” that a potential connection exists between previous abortions and the risk of subsequent preterm births. (January 2) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Freedom And Business
A company in the wedding industry based in Annapolis, Maryland will close its doors rather than face lawsuits for refusing to serve same-sex couples. (December 31) Listen (.mp3)
Teen Marijuana Use
A federal survey of adolescent drug use shows that more American high school students are using marijuana, while teen perception of it as a harmful drug continues to decline nationwide. (December 28) Listen (.mp3)
Sweepstakes Gambling Ban
As we reported earlier this week the Supreme Court of North Carolina has denied a request from video sweepstakes companies to temporarily delay enforcement of its recent ruling that the ban on electronic machines and devices for sweepstakes is constitutional. (December 27) Listen (.mp3)
Sweepstakes Gambling Enforcement Denied
The Supreme Court of North Carolina has denied a request from video sweepstakes companies to temporarily delay enforcement of its recent ruling that the ban on electronic machines and devices for sweepstakes is constitutional. (December 26) Listen (.mp3)
Internet Gambling On Hold
Congress will not consider legalizing Internet gambling in 2012, according to Senate leaders and gambling proponents. (December 24) Listen (.mp3)
Stemming Marriage Demise
A new report from the National Marriage Project and the Center for Marriage and Families says national leaders need to start focusing on ways to stem the demise of marriage among the “forgotten 60 percent” of Americans in Middle America. (December 21) Listen (.mp3)
NC 4th Best For Business
Forbes magazine’s has ranked North Carolina as having the fourth best business climate in the nation, behind Utah, Virginia, and North Dakota. (December 20) Listen (.mp3)
Sweepstakes Not Speech Says Court
In a long-awaited decision issued last Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court concluded that the statewide ban on electronic machines and devices for sweepstakes “regulates conduct and not protected speech” and is therefore constitutional. (December 19) Listen (.mp3)
Student Tests
North Carolina students met or exceeded national and international averages nearly across the board on standardized tests of fourth and eighth-grade math and science skills. (December 18) Listen (.mp3)
Abortion Drug
Pro-abortion health and women’s advocacy groups are pressuring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to remove the current age-restrictions on non-prescription access to the controversial “emergency contraceptive” drug, Plan B. (December 17) Listen (.mp3)
Same Sex "Marriage" Cases
The national legal battle over how marriage will be defined for future generations has finally reached the United States Supreme Court, which for the first time in its history will take up the issue of same-sex “marriage.” (December 14) Listen (.mp3)
Choose Life Plates
A federal judge has ruled that North Carolina’s “Choose Life” license plate represents unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. (December 13) Listen (.mp3)
School Literature Distribution
A controversy that began late last year in Buncombe County with a complaint about Gideon Bibles at an intermediate school culminated this week with the Buncombe County School District’s approval of a controversial regulation aimed at allowing local community groups, including religious groups, to distribute information and materials to high school students one day a year. (December 12) Listen (.mp3)
More On Reparative Rulings
Here’s more on those conflicting rulings dealing regarding California’s recently enacted law that bans reparative therapy for minors struggling with same-sex attraction that we told you about yesterday. (December 11) Listen (.mp3)
Reparative Rulings
Two federal judges have issued conflicting rulings in separate lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a recently enacted California law that bans reparative therapy for minors struggling with same-sex attraction. (December 10) Listen (.mp3)
Youth Abstinence
A new survey of Evangelical Millennials finds that a majority has never been sexually active, and a super-majority believes that sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong. (December 7) Listen (.mp3)
God Removed From Poem
An elementary school in Marion, North Carolina, is under fire for removing a sentence about “God” from a first grader’s poem about her grandfathers’ military service. (December 6) Listen (.mp3)
HIV Infections
One out of every four new HIV infections in the United States occur among young people between the ages of 13 and 24, with the majority of these new infections in gay and bisexual young men, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (December 5) Listen (.mp3)
Graduation Rates
For the first time, all of the nation’s public high schools are using a common measure for graduation rates that they report to the U.S. Department of Education. (December 4) Listen (.mp3)
Contraceptive Counseling
The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that pediatricians “routinely” counsel all young teens about controversial emergency contraceptive drugs, such as Plan B, regardless of current sexual activity, and prescribe the drugs in advance as needed. (December 3) Listen (.mp3)
Christmas Uncensored
After receiving a warning letter from the Alliance Defending Freedom, Officials at Western Piedmont Community College have reversed their previous decision to censor the word “Christmas” from ads promoting a Christmas tree fundraiser for a campus student group. (November 30) Listen (.mp3)
Obamacare Lawsuits
While the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that key portions of President Obama’s controversial healthcare law are constitutional, a plethora of other legal questions related to the law and its implementation continue to play out in courts across the nation. (November 29) Listen (.mp3)
Advertisers Ratings
The Parents Television Council has released its annual list of “Top Ten Best and Worst Advertisers” based on the content in the television shows they chose to underwrite with their advertising dollars. (November 28) Listen (.mp3)
Charter School Growth
A recent report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools found that public charter schools represent the “fastest-growing sector of America’s public education system.” (November 27) Listen (.mp3)
Charter School Approvals
The North Carolina State Board of Education recently approved several changes to the process for approving new charter schools that were recommended by the Public Charter School Advisory Council. (November 26) Listen (.mp3)
Clerk Responsibility
Clerks responsible for issuing marriage licenses in the three states where voters recently approved marriage redefinition laws do not have to leave their religious beliefs and values at home in order to keep their jobs, that’s according to the Alliance Defending Freedom. (November 23) Listen (.mp3)
UNC-CH Housing
Next year, the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill will offer gender-neutral housing that will allow opposite-sex students to live together on campus. (November 21) Listen (.mp3)
Abortion Rates Decline
The North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics is reporting a significant overall drop in abortions in 2011, as well as a continued historic decline in teen pregnancy rates. (November 20) Listen (.mp3)
Marriage Supported
Despite the disappointing outcomes in four states that voted on the issue of marriage on November 6, a national poll conducted on Election Day found that a large majority of voters define marriage as between one man and one woman. (November 19) Listen (.mp3)
Parent Trigger Laws
A new report argues that more states should implement Parent Trigger laws as a mechanism for bottom-up education reform. (November 16) Listen (.mp3)
King Under Fire
The City of King, North Carolina, is once again under fire from Americans United for Separation of Church and State for flying the Christian flag at a local Veteran’s Memorial and for erecting a statue of a soldier kneeling before a cross at the same location. (November 15) Listen (.mp3)
Ballot Initiatives
Last week, the citizens of a number of states had the opportunity to vote on ballot initiatives involving marriage redefinition, abortion restrictions and euthanasia, the legalization of marijuana, and expanded gambling. (November 14) Listen (.mp3)
Election Results
More than 4.5 million North Carolinians, representing 68 percent of registered voters, participated in last week’s elections. (November 13) Listen (.mp3)
Same-Sex "Marriage"
Same-sex “marriage” will soon be legal in three more states, after narrow margins of voters in Maryland, Maine and Washington voted in favor of legalizing same-sex “marriage” last week. (November 12) Listen (.mp3)
Navy Chaplains Lawsuit
Evangelical Navy chaplains who were denied promotions have won a round in court. A D.C. appeals court reversed the dismissal of their lawsuit alleging religious bias in promotions and sent it back to the lower court to be reconsidered. (November 9) Listen (.mp3)
Academic Success
Involved parents have more influence over their children’s academic success than schools, according to the findings of a recent study conducted by professors at three universities, including North Carolina State University. (November 8) Listen (.mp3)
Public Education Reality
Recent documentation of North Carolina’s public education performance, class and personnel size, and financial statistics reveal a different picture of public education than is often painted by some of the mainstream media, advocacy groups, and public school officials. (November 7) Listen (.mp3)
NC Teacher's Union
North Carolina’s teacher union is ranked the 40th weakest in the nation, according to a new report from the Thomas Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now. (November 6) Listen (.mp3)
4 Every Girl
The Parents Television Council has launched a new national campaign aimed at combating the sexualization of young girls by building a “media culture that honors the intrinsic value of every girl." (November 5) Listen (.mp3)
Vote Your Values
A group of North Carolina pastors in Burke County have joined the Reverend Billy Graham in encouraging Christians to vote for Biblical values in the November 6 General Election. (November 2) Listen (.mp3)
Voter Guides Distributed
The North Carolina Family Policy Council is pleased to announce that all 500,000 print copies of its non-partisan 2012 General Election Voter Guide have been distributed to individuals, churches, and civic organizations across the state. (November 1) Listen (.mp3)
NC Taxes
A new report from the Tax Foundation comparing state and local tax burdens on residents of all 50 states finds North Carolinians paying the 17th highest 2010 state-local taxes in the nation. (October 31) Listen (.mp3)
Defense of Marriage
For the second time this year, a federal appeals court has struck down a section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as only the union of a man and a woman as unconstitutional. (October 30) Listen (.mp3)
Gambling Lawsuit
The N.C. Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in two lawsuits that seek to invalidate the state’s prohibition on video gambling, specifically through the use of electronic sweepstakes. (October 29) Listen (.mp3)
Tax Reform Principles
The Civitas Institute has outlined a set of five guiding principles state lawmakers should keep in mind if and when they tackle the issue of tax reform. (October 26) Listen (.mp3)
Marriage Definition
On November 6, voters in four states will determine how marriage will be defined in those states for future generations. (October 25) Listen (.mp3)
Sweepstakes Regulation
This week, the Wilmington City Council set up a process for electronic gambling operations, also known as Internet sweepstakes parlors. (October 24) Listen (.mp3)
Early Voting
North Carolinians who want to vote early in the 2012 General Election can now cast their votes at select one-stop voting locations across the state. One-stop absentee voting in North Carolina runs through November 3. (October 23) Listen (.mp3)
Chick-Fil-A
The Student Government Association at North Carolina’s Elon University recently voted to ban Chick-Fil-A from the school’s student center food court because the national food chain’s president opposes the redefinition of marriage. (October 22) Listen (.mp3)
Students Remember Aborted
This week, students across North Carolina and across the world brought attention to the more than 50 million children who have been silenced by abortion in the last 40 years. (October 19) Listen (.mp3)
Gallaudet Suspension
In yet another example of how the legalization of same-sex “marriage” threatens First Amendment rights, a high ranking official at Gallaudet University has been temporarily suspended for signing a petition to give the people of Maryland the right to vote on the fate of the state’s recently enacted same-sex “marriage” law. (October 18) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Freedom Caucuses
A national initiative to form religious freedom caucuses in all 50 states kicked off this week with the launch of an effort led by key lawmakers in nine states. (October 17) Listen (.mp3)
Education Vision
The North Carolina State Board of Education has released a vision statement that touts the fundamental importance of a quality public education system and recognizes the added importance of innovative education models, such as charter schools. (October 16) Listen (.mp3)
Parents Prefer Abstinence
A new national survey finds overwhelming support for abstinence education among parents in the United States, regardless of race or political affiliation. (October 15) Listen (.mp3)
Education Savings Accounts
A new report from a national school choice advocacy organization calls Education Savings Accounts “the way of the future." (October 12) Listen (.mp3)
Lawsuits Filed
We told you yesterday that two lawsuits have been filed against California’s controversial new law in that prohibits mental health professionals from engaging in “sexual orientation change” therapy for minors. (October 11) Listen (.mp3)
Parental Rights Limited
Two lawsuits have been filed against a controversial new law in California that prohibits mental health professionals from engaging in “sexual orientation change” therapy for minors, regardless of the wishes of parents or the minors themselves. (October 10) Listen (.mp3)
Mandate Controversy
Controversy continues to grow over the impact of the so-called contraception mandate on religious employers. (October 9) Listen (.mp3)
Voter ID
An overwhelming majority of registered voters in a recent statewide poll say North Carolina law should require voters to show identification before they’re allowed to vote. (October 8) Listen (.mp3)
Banned Therapy
California is the first state in the nation to ban mental health professionals from engaging in “sexual orientation change” therapy for minors, regardless of the wishes of their parents or the minors themselves. (October 5) Listen (.mp3)
Life Chain
This weekend, pro-life citizens across the United States and Canada will participate in the 25th annual National Life Chain to pray for their country and for an end to abortion. (October 4) Listen (.mp3)
Pulpit Freedom Sunday
Over 1,000 pastors have publicly committed to “preach sermons that present biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates” this Sunday during the fifth annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday. (October 3) Listen (.mp3)
Voter Guides Available
In an effort to better equip Tar Heel voters for the November 6 general elections, the North Carolina Family Policy Council has begun distributing its 2012 General Election Voter Guide. (October 2) Listen (.mp3)
NC SAT Scores
More North Carolina high school seniors took the SAT in 2012 than in the state’s history, but students scored lower in critical reading and math than in over a decade, according to the latest national SAT report from The College Board. (October 1) Listen (.mp3)
40 Days For Life
For the next 40 days, pro-life citizens in six countries and 49 states, including North Carolina, will take part in “the largest and longest internationally coordinated pro-life mobilization in history”—40 Days for Life. (September 28) Listen (.mp3)
Parent Power Index
The Center for Education Reform has released an interactive website of its Parent Power Index, which scores states based on the ability of parents to exercise choice in education. (September 27) Listen (.mp3)
Voter Registration Kit
As the deadline approaches for North Carolina citizens to register to vote or make changes to their voter registration, the North Carolina Family Policy Council is offering a 2012 Voter Registration Kit. (September 26) Listen (.mp3)
Voter Registration
Three weeks remain for North Carolina citizens to register to vote or make changes to their voter registration to be eligible to vote in the November 6 general election. (September 25) Listen (.mp3)
School Choice Preferred
The majority of registered voters in a recent survey say North Carolina’s education system is on the wrong track, and if they had the choice, most would choose to send their children to non-public schools. (September 24) Listen (.mp3)
Voter Guides OK For Churches
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is warning churches to “avoid partisan electioneering” or face the risk of losing their tax-exempt status. (September 21) Listen (.mp3)
Standards For Abortion Clinics
In what’s being called a victory for women’s safety, all abortion clinics in Virginia will be required to be licensed by the state and to meet the same building standards that apply to new hospitals. (September 20) Listen (.mp3)
Internet Rules
New media companies, such as Facebook, Google and Apple, should “err on the side of free speech” in developing rules for what can and cannot be posted on their Internet communications platforms, according to a proposal released last week by the National Religious Broadcasters. (September 19) Listen (.mp3)
Federal Mandate Challenged
Hobby Lobby is the latest business to file a federal lawsuit challenging a mandate in the nation's health care overhaul law that requires employers to provide coverage for the morning-after pill. (September 18) Listen (.mp3)
Marriage and the Economy
New research from the Marriage and Religious Research Institute examines the connection between marriage and jobs, concluding that men’s general shift away from marriage has decreased their participation in the workforce, thereby putting the United States “at risk of a depression.” (September 17) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Leaders Praise Platform
More than two-dozen religious leaders have signed a letter to Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, praising the pro-marriage, pro-life and pro-religious freedom principles in the recently adopted Republican Party platform. (September 14) Listen (.mp3)
Young Americans and Economy
A new poll finds that young Americans are making daily lifestyle changes and delaying major life decisions because of the weak economy. (September 13) Listen (.mp3)
New Charter Schools Approved
The State Board of Education has given preliminary approval to 25 new charter schools scheduled to open across North Carolina in the fall of 2013. (September 12) Listen (.mp3)
Voter Guide Orders
The North Carolina Family Policy Council is now accepting pre-orders for its 2012 General Election Voter Guide. (September 11) Listen (.mp3)
Decency Laws
A television watch-dog group reports that instances of full nudity have increased more than five times on primetime television since last year, and is demanding that Congress instruct the Federal Communications Commission to “vigorously enforce broadcast decency laws. (September 10) Listen (.mp3)
Dead Voters
Last week, a group committed to ensuring fair and free elections submitted a list to the State Board of Elections of nearly 30,000 names of deceased voters in North Carolina who still appear on the state’s voter rolls. (September 7) Listen (.mp3)
Investigation Over
A sociologist under fire from homosexual activists for his national study that found “numerous, consistent differences” between the young adult children of same-sex parents and those raised in intact families is no longer being investigated by the University of Texas at Austin. (September 6) Listen (.mp3)
Bullying Evaluation
Just in time for the start of a new school year, a Christian civil liberties group has released an important tool to help schools evaluate their existing or proposed anti-bullying policies to determine whether they “protect all students” or help to advance the homosexual agenda. (September 5) Listen (.mp3)
GOP Platform
The 2012 Republican Party Platform includes strong statements promoting the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death, traditional marriage between one man and one woman, and educational choice for parents. (September 4) Listen (.mp3)
Human Trafficking Laws
A new report shows that the majority of states have enacted laws to fight human trafficking. North Carolina and 27 other states passed human trafficking laws in the last year. (August 31) Listen (.mp3)
Objectional Services
We told you yesterday of the continuing controversy surrounding the Obama Administration’s attempts to force religious employers to pay for free access to objectionable services, such as abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception. (August 30) Listen (.mp3)
Employer Mandates
The controversy surrounding the Obama Administration’s continued attempts to force religious employers to pay for free access to objectionable services, such as abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception, continues to grow with the beginning of implementation this month. (August 29) Listen (.mp3)
Kindergarten
This week, a unanimous three-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld a 2011 order by Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning that the State . . . “shall not deny any eligible at-risk four year old admission” to its prekindergarten program. (August 28) Listen (.mp3)
Charter Schools
A charter school association in North Carolina is taking issue with a report released earlier this summer by the North Carolina School Boards Association that the charter group says is “riddled with errors, half-truths and false claims” about the state’s charter schools. (August 27) Listen (.mp3)
Taxmageddon
A recent report from the Tax Foundation estimates that a Congressional proposal to stave off the effects of the so-called “Taxmageddon” – the time when several tax cuts are set to expire in January -- would save each North Carolina taxpayer more than eleven-hundred dollars. (August 24) Listen (.mp3)
Cherokee Las Vegas
This week Governor Beverly Perdue joined Principal Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in officially welcoming Las Vegas-style live casino gambling to North Carolina. (August 23) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Discrimination
The New Mexico Supreme Court has agreed to consider an important case involving the conflict between pro-homosexual anti-discrimination laws and religious freedom. (August 22) Listen (.mp3)
Cohabiting Adults
A new study has found that the number of cohabiting adults older than 50 has doubled since the turn of the century, with cohabitation tending to be an alternative to marriage for older Americans. (August 21) Listen (.mp3)
Democrat Platform
The national Democrat Party platform now includes support for the redefinition of marriage and opposition to marriage protection amendments and laws. (August 20) Listen (.mp3)
Marriage Definition
Last week a federal court upheld Hawaii’s definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. (August 17) Listen (.mp3)
Marriage Views
A majority of 18 to 29 year-olds have traditional views about marriage, sex, and family. (August 16) Listen (.mp3)
School Accountability
Earlier this month, the Department of Public Instruction released growth and accountability scores for North Carolina public schools. (August 15) Listen (.mp3)
College Food and Marriage
A student events board at a private college in North Carolina has decided to stop serving Chick-fil-A to its students while it debates whether to permanently ban food from the pro-family fast food chain because of the company’s public support for traditional marriage. (August 14) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Liberty
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging Congress to pass legislation this year to address religious liberty concerns with the federal government’s contraceptive mandate in the healthcare reform law. (August 13) Listen (.mp3)
Cherokee Gambling
The federal government has granted final approval to a new gambling Compact that will allow the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate Las Vegas-style casinos in Western North Carolina, that’s according to several media reports. (August 10) Listen (.mp3)
Legal Pressure
A Christian civil liberties organization is warning public universities not to give into pressure by homosexual activists who want to retaliate against Chick-fil-A for its pro-family stance by evicting the restaurant from campus. (August 9) Listen (.mp3)
FNC Magazine Online
The summer issue of Family North Carolina is now available online. (August 8) Listen (.mp3)
Abortion Ban
Provisions in a new Arizona law that ban most abortions after 20 weeks gestation did not go into effect last week as scheduled. (August 7) Listen (.mp3)
NCFPC Lobbying
For the sixth time, the principal lobbyist for the North Carolina Family Policy Council has been ranked as one of North Carolina’s 50 most influential lobbyists. (August 6) Listen (.mp3)
Contraceptive Mandate
A private company will not be forced to comply with the controversial contraceptive mandate included in the new healthcare law until courts settle a lawsuit on the matter. (August 3) Listen (.mp3)
Graham Supports Cathy
The ongoing attacks against Chick-fil-A have encouraged renowned evangelist and native North Carolinian Billy Graham to publicly express his support for the pro-family fast food chain and its president, Dan Cathy. (August 2) Listen (.mp3)
Defending Professor Regnerus
One of the nation’s leading sociologists, who formerly taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is defending Professor Mark Regnerus, who is under fire for his new study that found negative outcomes for children whose parents were involved in same-sex relationships. (August 1) Listen (.mp3)
State Government Accountability
A new report finds that no state government has earned an A in government transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption, with North Carolina earning a C- grade. (July 31) Listen (.mp3)
Abortion Laws
A new report examining pro-life laws filed and approved so far in 2012 has found that “at least 15 states have enacted around 40” laws intended to make abortion safer and more rare. (July 30) Listen (.mp3)
Chick-fil-A Day
You have one more opportunity to express your support for the pro-marriage stance of one of the nation’s most popular fast food chains by attending a “National Eat at Chick-fil-A Day.” (July 27) Listen (.mp3)
Federal Mandate
A federal judge has thrown out the first lawsuit filed by a religious group challenging the new federal mandate that nearly all health insurance plans include coverage for “all FDA-approved contraceptives” with few religious exceptions. (July 26) Listen (.mp3)
Boy Scouts
The Boy Scouts of America has reaffirmed its long-standing policy of prohibiting membership “to open or avowed homosexuals,” as in the “best interest of Scouting.” (July 25) Listen (.mp3)
Charter Schools
On the heels of a new survey showing a large majority of North Carolinians supporting school choice, particularly through the establishment of charter schools, comes word that the North Carolina public charter school advisory board has approved several new charter school applications from across the state. (July 24) Listen (.mp3)
School Choice Favored
A large majority of North Carolinians support school choice, particularly through the establishment of charter schools, that’s according to a new survey by the Center for Education Reform. (July 23) Listen (.mp3)
Primary Runoff Results
Voters across North Carolina finalized the field of candidates that will appear on November general election ballots in this week’s primary runoff races. (July 20) Listen (.mp3)
Child Well-Being Report
The majority of American children live with two married parents, over half of high school students have never had sex, and the adolescent birth rate has dropped to record levels, according to the latest report from the federal government on child wellbeing. (July 19) Listen (.mp3)
Teen Birth Data
A report released this summer by the State Center for Health Statistics focuses on teen birth data and the characteristics of teen births in North Carolina. (July 18) Listen (.mp3)
Births to Teen Mothers
Two new reports released this summer by the State Center for Health Statistics provide a statistical portrait of births to teen mothers in North Carolina, as well as some important advice for teenagers. (July 17) Listen (.mp3)
Planned Parent Lawsuit
Last month, a federal lawsuit alleging that Planned Parenthood’s Iowa affiliate submitted “repeated false, fraudulent, and/or ineligible claims for reimbursements” to Medicaid while failing to meet accepted medical practice standards was made public. (July 16) Listen (.mp3)
Family Types Matter
Eighteen social scientists from a variety of universities have issued a letter defending a major new national study that found “numerous, consistent differences” between the young adult children of same-sex parents and those raised in intact families. (July 13) Listen (.mp3)
PCUSA Proposals
At its annual meeting this month in Pittsburgh, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) narrowly defeated a proposal that would have changed how the church defines marriage in its constitution. (July 12) Listen (.mp3)
NAEA Abstinence Report
More on the recently released report from the National Abstinence Education Association. (July 11) Listen (.mp3)
Quality Abstinence Education
The second and final part a national report comparing comprehensive sex education to abstinence-centered approaches calls for a greater emphasis on quality abstinence education in policies and schools across the nation. (July 10) Listen (.mp3)
Legislative Session Ends
The second half of an historic legislative session that followed an historic election in 2010 came to a close last week. (July 9) Listen (.mp3)
The Tide Is Turning
We told you yesterday about a new poll from Students for Life of America finds that young adults are more pro-life than they are often portrayed. (July 6) Listen (.mp3)
Young Adults More Pro-Life
A new poll from Students for Life of America finds that young adults are more pro-life than they are often portrayed. (July 5) Listen (.mp3)
Defense of Marriage Request
We told you yesterday that the Supreme Court has been asked to determine the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. (July 4) Listen (.mp3)
DOMA Ruling Requested
The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to determine the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which is facing numerous legal challenges nationwide. (July 3) Listen (.mp3)
Utah School's Parental Consent
The Alliance Defense Fund is supporting a Utah school district’s decision to require parental consent before children can check out library books that deal with human sexuality. (June 29) Listen (.mp3)
Sex-Selective Abortions in NC
An undercover investigation by the pro-life organization Live Action reveals that two North Carolina abortion clinics are open to helping women procure sex-selective abortions. (June 28) Listen (.mp3)
Video Poker Bill Under Consideration
This week the North Carolina House is scheduled to resume consideration of legislation that would essentially legalize video poker in the state by taxing video sweepstakes gambling. (June 27) Listen (.mp3)
State Budget Awaits Governor's Decision
The State Legislature has sent its 2012 budget to Governor Beverly Perdue after both the House and Senate gave final approval to a compromise budget bill late last week. (June 26) Listen (.mp3)
Pregnancy and Abortion Rates Decline
Pregnancy and abortion rates among women in their 20s declined significantly in the United States between 1990 and 2008, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics. (June 25) Listen (.mp3)
Weakness of Comprehensive Sex Education
A report from the National Abstinence Education Association, the nation’s leading abstinence organization, exposes the weaknesses of comprehensive sex education, which has increasingly replaced authentic abstinence education in public schools nationwide. (June 22) Listen (.mp3)
Religious Freedom Concerns
The Obama administration’s efforts to address religious freedom concerns about a federal mandate requiring health plans to cover “all FDA-approved contraceptives” has created a “two-class concept of religious organizations,” according to a letter signed last week by nearly 150 leaders of various faith-based groups. (June 21) Listen (.mp3)
Budget Conference Underway
The Senate gave final approval last week to its 20.1 billion dollar budget by a 30–19 party-line vote. Leaders in both the House and Senate will now work on a compromise budget. (June 20) Listen (.mp3)
New Family Structures Study
A major new national study finds “numerous, consistent differences” between the young adult children of homosexual parents and young adults who were raised by their own married mothers and fathers. (June 19) Listen (.mp3)
Homosexuals Challenge Adoption Law
North Carolina’s adoption law is the target of a new federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation on behalf of six homosexual couples who are challenging the state’s long-standing prohibition on adoption by unmarried couples. (June 18) Listen (.mp3)
Racial Justice Act
The State House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would scale back the 2009 Racial Justice Act. (June 15) Listen (.mp3)
Washington State Will Vote On Marriage
Marriage supporters in Washington State have successfully blocked a marriage redefinition law from going into effect until voters are given the opportunity to reject or accept the bill on their November ballots. (June 14) Listen (.mp3)
Groups Oppose Internet Gambling
Pro-family groups from 13 states, including the North Carolina Family Policy Council, sent a letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders last week, urging Congress to strengthen federal law to stop the expansion of online gambling at the state-level. (June 13) Listen (.mp3)
New Cherokee Compact Brings Las Vegas Style Gambling
Legislation that will allow the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate Las-Vegas style casinos in Western North Carolina was signed into law last week by Governor Beverly Perdue. (June 12) Listen (.mp3)
Governor Wants to Legalize Sweepstakes Gambling
One day after signing a bill to legalize Las Vegas-style casinos in North Carolina, Governor Beverly Perdue called on the General Assembly to also legalize the even more addictive video sweepstakes gambling machines. (June 11) Listen (.mp3)
Cherokee Bill Moves Ahead
A bill that would bring Las Vegas style casinos to Western North Carolina by changing state law to allow the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to expand their gambling operations received final approval in the State House this week. (June 8) Listen (.mp3)
Speech And Bullying Guidelines Released
A diverse group of religious, education and civil liberties organizations has released a set of guidelines aimed at helping public schools address school bullying and harassment, while also protecting the First Amendment right of students to freely express their religious and political beliefs about controversial issues such as abortion and homosexuality. (June 6) Listen (.mp3)
Sweepstakes Gambling and Casino Nights Gambling Bills Introduced
Two bills were introduced last week that would expand gambling in North Carolina. (June 5) Listen (.mp3)
Cherokee Gambling Expansion Brings Problems
The proposal to allow the Cherokee Tribe in western North Carolina to add Las Vegas style gambling to their video poker casino will result in more gambling addiction and more problems for the addicted gamblers and their families. (May 25) Listen (.mp3)
|
