Story Archives 2010

Most Teens Would Wait On Sex
The teen birth rate dropped to a historic low in 2009, reaching the lowest level ever recorded in the 70 years that teen births have been tracked, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Dec 30) more

Councilman Would Fix Prayer Policy
High Point City Councilman Mike Pugh has indicated he will again pursue a change to the Council’s policy on prayer at meetings that would allow sectarian prayers referencing specific deities, including the name of Jesus, according to the High Point Enterprise. (Dec 29) more

Sexualization Of Teen Girls
Teenage girls have become the “prime target of female sexualization” on primetime television, according to a new report by the Parents Television Council released this month. (Dec 28) more

Adjourning In The "Nick" Of Time
The 111^th Congress adjourned yesterday, and for many, the "lame duck" session ended not a moment too soon. (Dec 23) more

Boards Oppose Privatizing ABC System
The North Carolina Association of Alcoholic Beverage Control Boards wrote to lawmakers last week to encourage opposition to any efforts during the upcoming legislative session to privatize the state’s system for selling liquor. (Dec 22) more

Court Rules Same-Sex Adoption Void
On December 20, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that a woman’s adoption of her lesbian partner’s biological child is not allowed under state law and therefore void. (Dec 21) more

Senate Oks Homosexuals In Military
On December 18, both of North Carolina’s U.S. Senators joined the majority in voting to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prevents the open practice of homosexuality in the United States’ armed forces. (Dec 20) more

Lottery Reflects Poor Economy
Weak ticket sales this year have put the lottery on track to finish the current year $40 million below projections after 2010’s record-setting year. (Dec 17) more

Intact Families Disappear For Teens
More than half of American teenagers are growing up in broken families in a nation where the intact married family is fast becoming the “exception, rather than the rule,” according to a new report released yesterday by the Marriage and Religion Research Institute at the Family Research Council. (Dec 16) more

New Jersey Can Choose Life Plates
In a major victory for proponents of “Choose Life” specialty licenses plates, New Jersey motorists now have the option of purchasing the pro-adoption license plates, after the State decided to end its six-year effort to block them. (Dec 15) more

NC Senators Push Lumbee Recognition
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D–NC) has listed passage of the Lumbee Recognition Act as one of her top two priorities in the waning weeks of the 111th Congressional session. (Dec 14) more

DADT/Abortion Scuttle Defense Bill
Homosexual activists and their allies in Congress have pledged to continue their efforts to repeal the military’s 17 year-old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, despite their failure in the U.S. Senate last week to garner enough votes necessary to move forward on the measure that was attached to a military spending bill. (Dec 13) more

Mooresville Improves SOB Ordinance
At their December 6th meeting, the Mooresville town commissioners unanimously approved amendments to clarify and make more restrictive the town’s existing sexually oriented business ordinance. (Dec 10) more

Educated Favor Marriage More
The latest State of Our Unions report warns that a marriage gap is forming between the middle and upper classes in America, with marriage weakening among the moderately educated, and gaining strength among the higher educated. (Dec 9) more

King Gets New Flag Flying Policy
In a unanimous vote on Monday night, the city council in King, North Carolina voted in favor of a new policy that will allow local citizens to choose a religious flag to display at the local Veteran’s Memorial on a rotating basis. (Dec 8) more

Wake Reinstates Abortion Ban
The Wake County Board of Commissioners, with a new Republican majority after the midterm elections last month, has reinstated a ban on elective abortion coverage in county employee insurance plans. (Dec 7) more

AG Issues Sweepstakes Ban Advisory
The office of the North Carolina Attorney General issued an advisory letter on December 2 to law enforcement officials clarifying the current status and enforceability of the sweepstakes gambling ban that went into effect last week. (Dec 6) more

State Adopts New History Requirement
The State Board of Education has approved final revisions to North Carolina’s social studies curriculum that includes requiring students to pass two U.S. history courses in high school to graduate. (Dec 3) more

Charter Regulations Score Poorly
North Carolina is one of 11 states to earn a grade of “D” for how it regulates public charter schools in the Center for Education Reform’s 12th annual analysis of the nation’s 41 charter school laws. (Dec 2) more

Pentagon Report Misses Mark
Yesterday, the Pentagon released the results of its 10-month review of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy, which prohibits homosexuals from openly serving in the United States Armed Services. (Dec 1) more

Gambling Ban Moves Ahead
Guilford County Superior Court Judge John Craig III emailed attorneys November 22 essentially upholding the video sweepstakes ban that is scheduled to go into effect December 1, according to the Greensboro News & Record. (Nov 30) more

Report Shows Adoption Works Well
Adoption has a vast array of benefits for children, their adoptive families and their birth mothers, benefits that far outweigh any negative outcomes, according to a new report co-released today by the Marriage and Religion Research Institute at the Family Research Council and the North Carolina Family Policy Council. (Nov 29) more

Some STDs Increase
Some sexually transmitted diseases continue to increase among men who have sex with men, who account for over two-thirds of all cases of primary and secondary syphilis in the United States, according to the latest STD report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Nov 26) more

Thanksgiving Remembered
As families and friends gather in homes across the country to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, many are facing another year of difficulty—some financial in nature, many others of conscience and faith. (Nov 25) more

King Flag Compromise Proposed
The removal of a Christian flag from the local Veteran’s Memorial by city officials in King, North Carolina, continues to raise controversy in the tight-knit community. (Nov 24) more

Attitudes On Sex And Marriage
Despite increased rates of illegitimacy, divorced and single parents, and the perception that marriage is “becoming obsolete,” huge majorities of Americans continue to believe that family structures other than married parents increase the challenges children face while growing up, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center and TIME magazine. (Nov 23) more

Republicans Choose New Leaders
The historic nature of the 2010 midterm elections continued to make itself evident last week as Republican members of the North Carolina General Assembly met to choose their nominees for chamber leadership. (Nov 22) more

ABC Commission Acts On CABs
Responding to safety warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the dangers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages—also known as CABs—the State ABC Commission acted to help stores expedite the removal of CAB products from their shelves. (Nov 19) more

Social Costs Of Pornography Examined
The Witherspoon Institute has released a collection of scholarly papers aimed at documenting, analyzing, and explaining the social costs of pornography since the advent of the Internet. (Nov 18) more

School Choice Works
Alberta, Canada’s affinity for offering a plethora of educational choices to parents of school-age children has resulted in high international test scores, and should provide encouragement to American school systems to expand educational choice, according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation. (Nov 17) more

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Stay
The United States Supreme Court has denied a request by the Log Cabin Republicans to lift a stay of a district court injunction that would halt enforcement of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prevents the open practice of homosexuality in the armed forces. (Nov 16) more

Hyper-Networking Hurts Teens
Excessive texting and time spent on social networking sites by teens is associated with an increased likelihood of participation in risk behaviors including smoking, drinking, fighting, and sexual activity, according to a new study. (Nov 15) more

Assault On Marriage Intensifies
Homosexual activists and their allies have once again turned to the courts in the hopes of overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)—filing two separate lawsuits challenging the law in two different states on the exact same day. (Nov 12) more

Report Grades NC Public Schools "D"
Overall, North Carolina’s public school system managed to earn only a “D” on the Heartland Institute’s 2010 “State School Report Card,” which ranks states on their public school performance based on learning, efficiency, standards, and overall performance. (Nov 10) more

Census Report Examines Cohabitation
New data released this month by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 28 percent of the out-of-wedlock births that took place between June 2007 and June 2008 were to women in cohabiting relationships. (Nov 9) more

Federal Regs Threaten Colleges
New regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education for the oversight of colleges and universities have Christian colleges worried about their ability to operate according to their missions. (Nov 8) more

Evangelical Election Turnout High
According to a post-election survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the Faith and Freedom Coalition, the largest single constituency in the electorate in the 2010 midterm elections was self-identified evangelicals, who comprised 29 percent of the vote and cast an astonishing 78 percent of their ballots for Republican candidates. (Nov 5) more

Court Stays DADT Injunction
The Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy that prevents homosexuals from serving openly in the military will remain intact for now. (Nov 4) more

General Assembly To Change Hands
With 43 percent of registered North Carolina voters participating in Tuesday’s midterm elections, Republicans gained control of both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time in more than a century. (Nov 3) more

King Council Wants New Flag Policy
The City Council in King, North Carolina, voted unanimously Monday night to work with attorneys from a Christian civil liberties group to draft a new policy that is expected to eventually allow the Christian flag to be restored to the Veteran’s Memorial at the city’s Central Park. (Nov 3) more

Vote Today
Today, North Carolinians will head to the polls to elect 14 members of their Congressional delegation, the 120 members of the General Assembly, a state Supreme Court Justice, five state Appellate Court judges, and numerous other local judges, mayors, school board members, county commissioners, sheriffs, and more. (Nov 2) more

Committee Addresses Lottery Issues
A committee charged with overseeing and evaluating the North Carolina Lottery in order to offer recommendations to the Legislature expressed concerns at their October 28 meeting over the continually declining percentage of lottery revenues that go to education programs, and the possibility that lottery monies have been used to supplant other sources of education funding from the state. (Nov 1) more

Early Voting Ends Tomorrow
North Carolina citizens have until noon Saturday, October 30 to take advantage of one-stop early voting as part of the November 2 midterm election. (Oct 29) more

Sexuality Proposal Passes Bar Committee
The Ethics Committee of the State Bar met Thursday, October 28 and passed a controversial provision that could threaten the First Amendment rights of attorneys throughout North Carolina. (Oct 28) more

Group Touts Presidential Appointments
More openly homosexual, bisexual and transgender individuals have been appointed by President Barack Obama to official positions in his administration than any other presidential administration in American history, according to recent press reports. (Oct 28) more

Christian Flag Focus Of Rally
The battle to defend a city’s right to officially fly a Christian flag along with the American flag, the State flag, and several military flags at a local Veteran’s Memorial continues in King, North Carolina. (Oct 27) more

Sweepstakes Lawsuits Dropped
Two Internet sweepstakes companies have dropped their lawsuit challenging fees assessed on their operations by the cities of Fayetteville, Lumberton, Pembroke, Morganton, and Wilmington. (Oct 26) more

Government Dependence Grows
A new report from The Heritage Foundation Center for Data Analysis warns that a rapid increase “in the growth of dependence-creating federal programs” has resulted in a dwindling number of Americans paying taxes, while the country fast approaches a tipping point when half of the population will not pay for the government benefits they receive. (Oct 25) more

Study Shows College Marriage Gap
In a change from the historical norm, college-educated young adults are now more likely than their peers without a college degree to be married by age 30, although marriage in both groups has dropped significantly since 1990. (Oct 22) more

Homosexuals In Military Decision Stayed
Yesterday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily granted the Obama administration’s request to immediately postpone a California federal judge’s injunction preventing enforcement of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. (Oct 21) more

County Approves Prayer Resolution
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a resolution urging North Carolina House Speaker Joe Hackney to allow guest chaplains to offer sectarian prayers in their prayers opening the session. (Oct 20) more

NC Teen Pregnancy Rates Hit New Low
North Carolina’s teen pregnancy rate fell to a record low in 2009, according to data released yesterday by the State Department of Health and Human Services. (Oct 19) more

Injunction On Internet Gambling Fees
A Cumberland County judge issued an injunction on October 15 to prevent Fayetteville from collecting fees from Internet sweepstakes businesses until after a separate lawsuit concludes to determine whether the city’s imposition of “privilege fees” for operation of the games are legal. (Oct 18) more

ADF Petitions U.S. Supreme Court
The legal battle in the District of Columbia over whether residents should be allowed to vote on the definition of marriage is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. (Oct 15) more

Early Voting Begins Today
Citizens who do not want to wait until November 2 to vote in the General Election can cast their votes early at select locations throughout North Carolina beginning today. (Oct 14) more

DPI Revises Proposed History Standards
The second draft of the proposed Social Studies Essential Standards for kindergarten through 12th grade public schools in North Carolina have been released for review and public comment by the State Department of Public Instruction. (Oct 13) more

Film Probes Educational Choice
Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina is hosting free admission screenings this month of the groundbreaking documentary film, Waiting for “Superman,” at select theater locations throughout the state. (Oct 12) more

Louisiana Same-Sex Adoption Case
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has granted a rehearing en banc in the recently decided Louisiana case regarding the constitutionality of a state law prohibiting same-sex adoptions. (Oct 11) more

King Christian Flag At Issue
City council members in King, North Carolina, will hold a public hearing next week to hear from residents over the city’s decision to remove a Christian flag from the Veteran’s Memorial at a local park. (Oct 8) more

U.S. Supreme Court Begins New Term
The United States Supreme Court is begsinning a new term this month with a number of cases related to rights protected by the First Amendment, including the very troubling anti-homosexuality protests at military funerals, a California ban on the sale of violent video games to children, and Arizona’s income tax credit scholarship program. (Oct 7) more

Social Studies Facts At Risk
Many high school social studies teachers are more concerned about teaching “notions of tolerance and rights” instead of historical facts and constitutional concepts, and the overwhelming majority think that social studies should be part of their state’s standards and testing, according to a new report from the American Enterprise Institute’s Program on American Citizenship. (Oct 6) more

N.C. Bar's Sexually Oriented Proposal
Many Christian attorneys across North Carolina continue to oppose a proposal being considered by the State Bar that would add a non-discrimination statement to the preamble of their rules that would include protection based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” (Oct 5) more

America's Greatest Child Poverty Weapon
The “principal cause” of child poverty in America today is the decline of marriage and specifically absentee dads, according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation released this month. (Oct 4) more

NC To Receive Abstinence Funds
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officially announced yesterday that it has awarded over $33 million in Title V grants for abstinence education to 30 states, including North Carolina. (Oct 1) more

Lottery Funding Shifts From Education
The percentage of total revenue that the North Carolina Education Lottery actually sends to public schools has dropped from 35 percent of the annual lottery budget to 29 percent, according to a new report by N.C. Policy Watch. (Sep 30) more

Confusion Over Religion In Schools
Many Americans are confused about religious freedom in public schools and incorrectly believe restrictions to be more severe than they actually are, according to a new survey released this week by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion in Public Life. (Sep 29) more

NCFPC 2010 Voter Guide Now Available
The North Carolina Family Policy Council has released its 2010 General Election Voter Guide and activated its 2010 Voter Guide website in preparation for the November 2 general election. (Sep 28) more

NC Requests Abstinence Funds
North Carolina is one of 30 states that submitted preliminary applications to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last month for Title V abstinence education funding, according to a report from the National Abstinence Education Association. (Sep 27) more

NCFPC Joins Prop 8 Brief
The North Carolina Family Policy Council is one of over 30 family policy councils to join an amicus brief filed September 23 by the Liberty Institute in defense of California’s marriage amendment, Proposition 8, which is currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. (Sep 24) more

Social Issues Stop Defense Spending Bill
This week the U.S. Senate leadership failed to gather the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filabuster of a military spending bill that included radical changes in military policy on several social issues. (Sep 23) more

NCFPC Joins Parental Rights Brief
The North Carolina Family Policy Council is one of several family policy councils to participate in a friend-of-the-court brief filed by the Independence Law Center in a parental rights case that is currently before the United States Supreme Court. (Sep 22) more

Life Chain + 40 Days For Life
In October, two special events will take place to bring attention to the scourge of abortion on America—the Life Chain and 40 Days for Life. Both are peaceful and prayer public witnesses of pro-life individuals praying and working for an end to abortion. (Sep 21) more

Time To See You At The Pole
On Wednesday, September 22, thousands of Christian students at public and private schools across the United States, including North Carolina, will gather together to pray for their peers, their teachers, their families and their nation during the 20th annual “See You at the Pole." (Sep 20) more

Citizenship Sunday
This Sunday, September 19, and next Sunday, September 26, churches across the United States will hold voter registration drives in observance of “Citizenship Sunday,” a project sponsored by the American Family Association and in North Carolina by the Christian Action League. (Sep 17) more

Report Right And Wrong On Sex Ed
On September 3, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement on the influence of media on the sexual habits of adolescents that included recommendations for pediatricians to use in countering the increasingly sexually explicit culture in which adolescents live. (Sep 16) more

Wife Wins Alienation Of Affections Case
A Pitt County judge has awarded the second largest judgment ever in an alienation of affections case—$5.8 million to the former wife of an adulterous man. (Sep 15) more

Pray And Act Movement
A coalition of spiritual leaders, educators, and social activists are inviting Christians across the nation to join them “in the fight to defend life, protect and revitalize marriage, and preserve religious liberty and the rights of conscience” by signing the Manhattan Declaration, and participating in the Pray and A.C.T. initiative. (Sep 14) more

Judge Rules Military Policy Unconstitutional
On September 8, a federal judge in California ruled as unconstitutional the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy prohibiting persons who actively engage in homosexual acts from serving in the military. (Sep 13) more

Appeals Court Continues Embryonic Funding
Yesterday, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted the Obama administration’s request to temporarily lift a preliminary injunction that halted the use of taxpayer funds for research involving the destruction of human embryos. (Sep 10) more

Supreme Court Hears Same-Sex Adoption Case
The North Carolina State Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a landmark adoption case involving a biological mother who is challenging her former same-sex partner’s adoption of her son. (Sep 9) more

Religious Activity and Educational Success
Students who are involved in religious activities on a regular basis have higher grade point averages, spend more time on their homework, and are much less likely to drop out of high school, according to a new report co-released today by the Family Research Council and the North Carolina Family Policy Council. (Sep 8) more

Same-Sex Marriage Divides Millennials
As part of a study for an upcoming book on America’s Millennial generation, LifeWay Research found that a majority of Americans born between 1980 and 1991 have no objection to same-sex “marriage.” (Sep 7) more

Teen Arrested For "Sexting" Offenses
An 18-year-old male from Zebulon, NC was arrested September 1 after sending sexually explicit texts to a 14-year-old girl. (Sep 3) more

Late Term Abortion And PTSD
Women who undergo late-term abortions are more likely to exhibit specific symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, such as reliving the abortion procedure, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pregnancy. (Sep 2) more

Cap Harms School Reform Ranking
A new report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute gave Charlotte a B grade and ranked it sixth in an evaluation of 30 major U.S. cities’ environments “for school reform to flourish.” (Sep 1) more

Groups Fight For Religious Freedom
Faced with increasing attacks from left-wing groups and their allies, the leaders of over 100 Protestant, Jewish and Catholic religious charities and organizations have added their signatures to a letter to Congress in which they defend the constitutional rights of faith-based groups to make hiring decisions based on religious beliefs. (Aug 31) more

Ruling Upholds Stem Cell Funding Ban
The impact of a recent federal court ruling that federal funds cannot be used for research on human embryonic stem cells will deny funding to some existing projects in North Carolina, while having no affect on the extensive non-embryonic stem cell research in the state. (Aug 30) more

NC Places 9th In Funding Race
North Carolina was named one of 10 winners who will split $3.4 billion in federal Race to the Top education funds for innovation in education and according to Governor Perdue’s press release, the state will receive about $400 million. (Aug 27) more

The Couple That Prays Together
Couples from all racial and ethic backgrounds who attend church and pray together on a regular basis enjoy higher levels of relationship quality, according to a new study published this month in the Journal of Marriage and Family. (Aug 26) more

Parents Strongly Favor Abstinence
After hundreds of concerned citizens submitted Freedom of Information Requests for the public release of a national survey that shows that most parents and adolescents oppose premarital sexual activity, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responded on August 23 by officially posting the full report on its website. (Aug 25) more

Amendment Would Allow Military Abortions
When Congress returns from its summer recess in September, the Senate is expected to consider the National Defense Authorization Act, which currently includes an amendment that would repeal the existing federal prohibition on the provision of elective abortions by Department of Defense (DOD) personnel or at DOD facilities, including military bases. (Aug 24) more

UNC Attempts Pro-Life Appeasement
The UNC System Board of Governors is assuring students returning to college this month that those who enroll in the university-sponsored health insurance plan and opt-out of coverage for elective abortions will be grouped separately from students whose plans include the abortion coverage. (Aug 23) more

SC Governor Signs Pro-Life Bill
On August 18, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford held a ceremonial bill signing at the Carolina Pregnancy Center in Spartanburg to sign a bill that requires women seeking an abortion to be given 24 hours to review information about the procedure and the gestational age of their child before undergoing an abortion. (Aug 20) more

Taxes Go Up If Law Expires
An August report from the Tax Foundation found that the average middle-income family in the United States would see a federal tax bill over $1,500 higher than this year, should the Bush-era tax cuts be allowed to expire on December 31, 2010. (Aug 19) more

Registering To Vote
With 76 days until the 2010 mid-term elections, North Carolina voters have 51 days left to make sure they are registered to vote. (Aug 18) more

UNC Health Insurance Changes Fall Short
The UNC Board of Governors has decided to offer a version of their recently-instituted system-wide base health insurance plan for students that will not cover abortion, but has failed to address concerns regarding cost or paying into a pool that covers abortion for others. (Aug 17) more

9th Circuit Stays Prop 8 Ruling
Good news for pro-family citizens has finally come out of California, which will not become the sixth state in the nation (plus D.C) to legalize same-sex “marriage” this week. (Aug 16) more

NC Sex Education Requirements
With the beginning of the 2010-11 school year about a week away, public schools across North Carolina are tasked with implementing the requirements of the “Healthy Youth Act," the controversial sex education law passed by the General Assembly last year that amended the state’s 15 year-old Abstinence-Until-Marriage law to require more discussion of all FDA-approved forms of contraception. (Aug 16) more

Gambling Operators Sue Cities
Two software companies who develop Internet sweepstakes gambling games are suing five North Carolina municipalities for implementing licensing fees on Internet sweepstakes gambling business operations in alleged violation of the Internet Tax Freedom Act. (Aug 13) more

Judge Won't Stay Prop 8 Ruling
Unless an appeals court intervenes, marriage licenses will once again be issued to same-sex couples in California next week, after U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker denied a request by Proposition 8 supporters to stay his controversial ruling that struck down the state’s marriage amendment as unconstitutional until Proposition 8 supporters could appeal. (Aug 13) more

Homeschools Continue Growth
Home-schooling in North Carolina continues to grow in popularity, with a new State report showing that just over 81,0000 students were home-schooled during the 2009-10 school year. (Aug 12) more

NC Public School Districts Fail Test
For the 2009-2010 school year, only six North Carolina public school districts met Adequate Yearly Progress as established by the federal No Child Left Behind’s targets in reading, math, and language arts for various student subgroups. (Aug 11) more

Plan Covers Abortion And Partners
As college students prepare to head to campus this fall, students attending one of the state’s 16 University of North Carolina (UNC) system campuses will be required to provide proof of creditable health insurance or else could be forced to pay a mandatory school fee and automatically enrolled in a student health insurance plan that includes coverage for elective abortions and domestic partners. (Aug 10) more

Rally Encourages Marriage Amendments
About 75 people gathered at the Capitol building in Raleigh today to urge state and federal legislators to support amendments to the state and federal constitutions that would protect the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. (Aug 10) more

Second Abortion Bill Introduced
Senators Tom Coburn, MD (R-OK) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) have introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate that is aimed at excluding coverage for elective abortions from the newly enacted health care reform law. (Aug 9) more

Marriage Rally At State Capitol
Join us at noon Tuesday, August 10, at the State Capital in Raleigh as the National Organization for Marriage brings its “Summer for Marriage Tour 2010: One Man One Woman Rally” to North Carolina. (Aug 6) more

Judge Rules Prop 8 Unconstitutional
Homosexual activists across the nation are celebrating after a federal judge in California ruled yesterday that the state’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman is unconstitutional. (Aug 5) more

Embryonic Stem Cell Trials Approved
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first tests on humans of a therapy derived from embryonic stem cells, which are harvested from human embryos. (Aug 4) more

Abstinence Funds Available
States can now officially apply for federal Title V funding to use for programs that exclusively promote abstinence from sexual activity among young people. (Aug 3) more

Federal Abortion Bill Introduced
Six members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation have co-sponsored a bill that would prohibit any entity that receives federal funding, any federally owned healthcare providing institution, or any federal employee from performing abortions. (Aug 2) more

Poll Finds Jesus OK In Prayer
A new Civitas Institute poll has found that a wide margin of North Carolina voters from both sides of the political spectrum disagree with the State House’s current policy that asks guest chaplains to offer nonsectarian prayers. (Jul 30) more

Fetal Pain Study Debunked
The Family Research Council has released a new report on fetal pain in response to recent reports from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that argue that unborn children cannot feel pain before 24 weeks into a pregnancy. (Jul 29) more

Governor Keeps Gambling Option
Within days of signing bills to ban video sweepstakes gambling and to increase accountability and ethics restrictions within the North Carolina’s ABC system, Governor Beverly Perdue commented that she would be open to legalizing sweepstakes games and privatizing the liquor industry in North Carolina. (Jul 28) more

Most Children Live With Parents
The majority of American children (67 percent) live with their married parents, according to an annual federal report on child wellbeing released this month. (Jul 27) more

One Man, One Woman Rally
Citizens, civic organizations, and churches across North Carolina are invited to come to the State Capitol in Raleigh on August 10 at 12 noon to send a strong clear message that North Carolinians support a federal and state marriage protection amendment. (Jul 26) more

NC Lottery Posts Record Revenues
While North Carolina families and state and local governments have been tightening their belts in response to the struggling economy, the North Carolina Lottery posted a fourth consecutive year of record revenues. (Jul 23) more

ABC Reform Bill Signed
Governor Perdue signed into law a bill to implement reforms to the state’s beleaguered Alcoholic Beverage Control system. (Jul 23) more

Perdue Signs Gambling Ban Bill
On July 19, despite threats of a possible lawsuit from the video gambling industry, Governor Beverly Perdue signed the sweepstakes gambling ban into law with no public ceremony. (Jul 22) more

Groups Object To Internet Gambling
The North Carolina Family Policy Council has joined with several national and state-level pro-family organizations in expressing opposition to federal legislation that proposes “the most aggressive expansion of gambling in American history.” (Jul 22) more

Speaker Appoints Prayer Committee
North Carolina House Speaker Joe Hackney (D–Orange) has formed a special committee to evaluate the chamber’s guest chaplain policy after a pastor’s invitation to offer the opening legislative prayer was withdrawn because he insisted on closing his prayer “in Jesus’ name.” (Jul 21) more

DC Appeals Court Rejects Marriage
The ongoing legal battle in the District of Columbia over whether residents should be allowed to vote on the legal definition of marriage may be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Jul 20) more

Court Challenges Indecency Policy
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held on July 13 that the Federal Communications Commission’s indecency policy related to “fleeting expletives” violates the First Amendment “because it is unconstitutionally vague, creating a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here.” (Jul 19) more

Attorney General Joins Prayer Brief
North Carolina’s Attorney General has signed onto an amicus brief supporting the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer in the Department of Justice’s appeal of a lower court decision that said the federal statute establishing the annual day of prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. (Jul 16) more

Group Seeks More Contraception
The Oral Contraceptive Over-the-Counter Working Group is urging the federal Food and Drug Administration to approve an over-the-counter version of the birth control pill within the next five years. (Jul 15) more

N.C. Lawyers Consider Changes
The North Carolina State Bar is considering adopting a controversial provision that could threaten the First Amendment rights of attorneys throughout the state who object to the promotion of homosexuality. (Jul 14) more

2010 Session Wrap-Up
At 5:33 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned its eight-week “Short” Session sine die. (Jul 13) more

Pastor Challenges Prayer Policy
A Winston-Salem pastor has asked the leadership of the North Carolina House of Representatives for an apology, after his previous invitation to offer the opening legislative prayer for the House session during the week of May 31 was rescinded because he insisted on closing his prayer “in Jesus name.” (Jul 12) more

Judge Says Federal DOMA Flawed
In a controversial decision that highlights the impending conflict between federal marriage law and the handful of states that have legalized same-sex “marriage,” a federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that a section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. (Jul 9) more

Hawaii Civil Unions Vetoed
The governor of Hawaii has vetoed a controversial bill that would have extended the “rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities” of marriage to unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples without calling the relationships “marriage.” (Jul 9) more

House Passes Video Gambling Ban
After more than two hours of debate, and by a vote of 86–27, the North Carolina House gave final approval Wednesday night, July 7, to an enhanced ban on video gambling in the state. (Jul 8) more

NCFPC Joins Day of Prayer Brief
Today, the North Carolina Family Policy Council signed onto an amicus brief filed by Liberty Institute in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the National Day of Prayer in Freedom from Religion Foundation v. Obama. (Jul 7) more

Sweepstakes Gambling Ban Advances
Yesterday evening, the House Judiciary I committee overwhelming recommended approval of an enhanced ban on video gambling in North Carolina. (Jul 7) more

Brief Filed In Adams v. UNCW
A conservative professor involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the University of North Carolina Wilmington has won the support of three key organizations. (Jul 7) more

Brain Death Guidelines Updated
The American Academy of Neurology has issued an update to its 1995 guidelines on determining brain death in adults, which includes a step-by-step checklist of more than two dozen tests and criteria that must be met. (Jul 6) more

Women Without Children Increase
Since 1976, the number of women who end their childbearing years without children has nearly doubled, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center. (Jul 2) more

Budget Passes On-Time
For the first time in seven years, lawmakers approved North Carolina’s budget in time for the beginning of the new fiscal year. (Jul 1) more

Children Aren't Cheap
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that it will cost an average of $222,360 to raise a child born in the United States in 2009. (Jun 30) more

Casinos Ban Welfare Card Use
California welfare recipients will no longer be able to procure taxpayer-provided cash for gambling from automatic teller machines (ATMs) inside casinos, as a result of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent executive order. (Jun 29) more

Court Ruling Will Suppress Speech
In a decision that could threaten the First Amendment rights of Christian student groups at universities nationwide, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a California law school has the right to deny official recognition to a student chapter of the Christian Legal Society because the group’s membership policy prohibits it from accepting students who do not adhere to its religious beliefs, including students engaged in homosexuality. (Jun 28) more

Feds Propose New Visitation Rules
In response to a presidential directive issued earlier this year, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed new rules to expand patient visitation rights at most of the nation’s hospitals beyond immediate family members—including to gay, lesbian, and transgender partners. (Jun 25) more

House Approves ABC Reform
The North Carolina House overwhelmingly approved a bill to reform the State’s 75 year-old Alcoholic Beverage Control system on June 22, sending the bill to the Senate for its consideration. (Jun 24) more

Panel Recommends Contraceptive Drug
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has unanimously voted to recommend that the FDA approve the controversial drug, ulipristal acetate, for sale as an “emergency contraceptive” in the United States. (Jun 23) more

Senate Passes Video Gambling Ban
Last night, the North Carolina Senate overwhelmingly passed a more explicit ban on video gambling in North Carolina. (Jun 22) more

Primary Runoff Today
Today is an important day for a number of candidates for public office across North Carolina as voters head to the polls to vote in runoff primary elections. (Jun 22) more

Married Fathers Deter Poverty
A new report from The Heritage Foundation discusses the fundamental importance of fathers marrying the mothers of their children as a predictor of a household’s socioeconomic status. (Jun 21) more

Choose Life Not Chosen
Despite repeated claims that the North Carolina Legislature will not consider the “Choose Life” specialty license plate because there is a halt on all new license plates, the House Transportation Committee gave initial approval to six new specialty license plates this week. (Jun 18) more

Senators To Ban Video Gambling
The North Carolina Senate is moving toward passage of legislation to clarify that the state’s ban on video poker applies to a new and spreading breed of gambling known as “sweepstakes.” (Jun 17) more

Feds Issue Pro Homosexual Rules
The federal government continues to use “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month” to issue directives that promote the homosexual agenda. (Jun 16) more

Donor Conceived Adults Studied
Adults who were artificially conceived with the assistance of a sperm donor suffer more from problems of mental health and substance abuse, struggle more with questions of identity, and have higher rates of delinquency than their peers raised by adoptive or biological parents, according to a study by the Institute for American Values. (Jun 15) more

NCFPC Supports Prayer Policy
The North Carolina Family Policy Council recently joined four groups from four states in filing an amicus brief supporting the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners’ appeal to the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in a lawsuit challenging the Board’s policy to allow prayer before public meetings. (Jun 14) more

ABC Changes Move Ahead
Greater efficiency and ethicality are two central goals of the revised version of House Bill 1717–Modernization of the State ABC System, that the House ABC Committee passed this week. (Jun 11) more

Court To Hear School Choice Case
The U. S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in a case involving the constitutionality of Arizona’s education tax credit program. (Jun 10) more

Study Reveals Teen Sex Attitudes
The majority of teenagers—or about 6 out of 10—have not had sexual intercourse, but an alarming percentage of teen boys and girls believe that unmarried childbearing is acceptable, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Jun 9) more

Child Tax Credit Impact Varies
A new report from the Tax Foundation found that family savings from the federal child tax credit vary significantly from state to state. (Jun 8) more

Obama Orders Homosexual Benefits
Just a few days after officially proclaiming June “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month,” President Obama made good on his proclamation promise to “ensure that federal LGBT employees receive equal benefits.” (Jun 7) more

Evangelical Group Endorses Contraceptives
The National Association of Evangelicals has published a resolution on abortion that explains the group’s new efforts to work together with “some longtime opponents in the debate over the legality of abortion.” (Jun 4) more

June Is LGBT Pride Month
President Barack Obama has once again declared June “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.” (Jun 3) more

Condition Of Education Report Released
In the eight years between the 1999-2000 school year and the 2007-2008 school year, the number of high-poverty schools in the United States increased by 12 percent, or 16,122 schools, according to a special section of the U.S. Department of Education report. (Jun 2) more

Bills Would Regulate Video Gambling
Two bills were filed in the North Carolina General Assembly last week to legalize and regulate video gambling in the State. (Jun 1) more

Abstinence Funding Returns
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released some preliminary information on the partial restoration of Title V abstinence education funding, which was reauthorized for the next five years under a provision in the newly enacted health care reform law. (May 28) more

Choose Life Lawsuit Possible
Supporters of the “Choose Life” specialty license plates say the plates will ultimately get a vote one way or another in North Carolina—either in the General Assembly this year, or in a court of law. (May 27) more

Cap Enhancing Amendment Rejected
Today, the North Carolina House voted against a measure that would have allowed charter schools in North Carolina that have been designated as schools of excellence to open additional campuses without those campuses counting towards the arbitrary cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the state. (May 25) more

Charter Schools Shortchanged
A new Fordham Institute study shows that state governments, local school districts, and authorizing agencies may be denying charter schools the autonomy to innovate and provide an alternative school environment that they were promised when the charter school movement began. (May 25) more

Reform Low–Performing Schools
The North Carolina State House Education committee approved a bill May 20 that establishes four options to adjust continually low-performing public schools in the state. (May 24) more

House To Consider Senate Budget
The North Carolina State Senate voted 30–16 this week to approve its version of the $19 billion state budget, which proposes to spend $400 million more in the 2010 fiscal year than was spent in the 2009 fiscal year, despite cutting about $800 million from the budget as it was approved last year. (May 21) more

Choose Life License Plate Rally
Hundreds of pro-life North Carolinians are scheduled to gather in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 25, to urge the General Assembly to finally act on a bill that would give motorists in the state the opportunity to purchase a “Choose Life” specialty license plate. (May 20) more

Raleigh's Alcohol Amphitheatre
Next month, the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission is scheduled to vote on the City of Raleigh’s request for an exemption to a state law regulating liquor advertising, so that the city can name its downtown amphitheatre after a popular beer. (May 19) more

Lottery Eyes Video Poker
A report from the North Carolina Lottery purports that the state could expect annual revenues topping $550 million, if legislators decided to legalize and regulate video gambling throughout the state rather than banning it. (May 18) more

NC Marriage Amendment Filed Again
For the seventh consecutive year, Senator Jim Forrester (R–Gaston) and 11 co-sponsors filed SB 1156—Defense of Marriage, which would give North Carolinians the opportunity to vote on whether to include a Marriage Protection Amendment in the State Constitution. (May 17) more

Young Adults Consider STDs
The majority of young adults in the United States who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease do not believe they are at risk, and many continue to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, according to a new Child Trends report released this month. (May 14) more

Legislating Gender Confusion
Homosexual advocacy groups continue to pressure Congress to quickly pass a dangerous piece of legislation that would make it a crime for most employers to fire or decline to hire an individual on the basis of his or her sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and could potentially open the door for the redefinition of marriage. (May 13) more

General Assembly Now In Session
As the General Assembly begins its “Short Session” today, only certain types of bills will be eligible for consideration, and much of the legislature’s time will be consumed with efforts to balance the state’s budget in light of the recession, which has brought anemic revenue numbers for the third year in a row. (May 12) more

Parental Rights Amendment Gains
Congressional support continues to grow for a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would protect the fundamental right of parents to “direct the upbringing and education of their children.” (May 11) more

Cap Quashes Charters Again
More, or at least new, tests may be on the way for students in North Carolina’s public schools, but the number of charter schools allowed remains at 100. (May 10) more

ABC Proposal Released
The Joint Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control gave final approval on May 5 to its proposal for smaller and weaker changes to the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control system than had been originally discussed. (May 7) more

Pray For Our Nation Today
Today, thousands of Americans will join together in public and private gatherings to pray for our nation, our leaders, and for one another during the 59th annual National Day of Prayer. (May 6) more

2010 Primary Results
Every incumbent member of the North Carolina Congressional delegation and State Senate running in the May 4 primary election won their races to go on to the November 2 general election. (May 5) more

Video Gambling Under Discussion
Despite a recent Elon University poll finding more than 48 percent of North Carolinians oppose the availability of video poker in the state, some lawmakers would like the General Assembly to consider legalizing the games in order to tax them. (May 5) more

Mojave Cross Wins Test
For now, a Latin cross memorializing World War I veterans can remain where it was first placed by private citizens over 70 years ago—on Sunset Rock in the government-owned Mojave Desert Preserve—after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on April 28 that a lower court erred in its decision that would have forced the government to remove the cross. (May 4) more

Primary Voting Tuesday, May 4
North Carolinians will head to the polls tomorrow to exercise their civic responsibility by voting in the 2010 primary election. (May 3) more

Oklahoma Lawmakers Defend Life
After overriding gubernatorial vetoes of two pro-life bills this week, the Oklahoma Legislature has successfully passed six pieces of pro-life legislation in the last year. (Apr 30) more

Complaint Filed Over Charter Rules
On April 16th, administrators from predominantly African-American charter schools in North Carolina filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. (Apr 29) more

Appeal Planned For Day Of Prayer
The Obama administration plans to appeal a recent decision by a federal judge in Wisconsin that struck down the 1952 federal statute creating a National Day of Prayer. (Apr 28) more

NC Voters Want Marriage Amendment
Seventy percent of likely North Carolina voters support a marriage protection amendment to the State Constitution, according to a survey released this month. (Apr 27) more

Commission Drafts New ABC Bill
On April 22, a study committee looking at how to address concerns about efficiency and ethics in the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control system moved closer to a final version of draft legislation on which the committee intends to seek legislative action when the General Assembly reconvenes in May. (Apr 26) more

Same-Sex Prom Concessions
A North Carolina high school recently modified its rules to allow students to bring “guests,” as opposed to “dates,” to the upcoming senior prom, after a gay-identified student requested to bring his boyfriend to the event. (Apr 23) more

Brunswick Commissioners Vote To Pray
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 on April 19 to continue to open their meetings with a prayer, rather than changing the policy to open meetings with a moment of silence. (Apr 22) more

Obama Dictates Visitation Policy
Citing North Carolina policy as an example, President Obama has ordered the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand patient visitation rights at most of the nation’s hospitals beyond immediate family members—including to gay, lesbian, and trangendered partners. (Apr 21) more

Nebraska Abortion Law Is Model For NC
On April 13, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed two ground-breaking pro-life bills into law—one bans abortions after 20 weeks gestation, and the other allows women to sue abortion providers for psychological injuries resulting from unwanted, coerced, or unsafe abortions. (Apr 20) more

Judge Says No National Day Of Prayer
A federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled that the 1952 federal statute that created a nationally recognized day for Americans to assemble and pray for the nation violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. (Apr 19) more

Appeal Filed In Academic Freedom Case
Attorneys representing a conservative professor in his discrimination lawsuit against the University of North Carolina at Wilmington have filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in response to a federal judge’s decision issued last month. (Apr 16) more

Primary Voting Begins Today
Select polling locations around the state open today for one-stop early voting where North Carolina voters can begin to cast their ballots in the primary election for numerous state and local offices. (Apr 15) more

Countering Homosexual Promotions
The pro-homosexual “Day of Silence” will be observed by gay, bisexual and transgender students at hundreds of schools across North Carolina this Friday (April 16), and many parents are understandably concerned about the promotion of homosexuality and gender confusion in the classroom through similar events and programs. (Apr 14) more

Teen Birth Rate Moves Downward
After increasing for two years in a row, the teen birth rate declined by two percent in 2008, according to preliminary data from the National Center for Health Statistics. (Apr 13) more

Primary Election Voter Guide Now Available
In an effort to better equip Tar Heel voters for the upcoming elections, the North Carolina Family Policy Council has activated its 2010 Primary Election Voter Guide Web site. (Apr 12) more

ABC Committee Floats Proposal
On April 8, the Joint Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control met to hear further public comment on proposed revisions to the State’s ABC system, and to introduce draft legislation. (Apr 12) more

Working For The Government
North Carolinians are free of their tax burden slightly earlier than the average American, who will work more than three months in 2010 to earn enough to pay their share of federal, state, and local taxes. (Apr 9) more

Prayer Webcast Tonight
With the 2010 “National Day of Prayer” less than 30 days away, the NDP Task Force is hosting a live webcast tonight (Thursday, April 8) at 6:30 PM. (Apr 8) more

Duke University Issues Apology
Duke University has apologized to a pro-life student group for denying the group access to meeting space in the campus Women’s Center for a motherhood event as part of the March 15-19 “Week for Life.” (Apr 7) more

Educators Address Accountability
At the March 31 North Carolina State Board of Education meeting, members discussed a new model for holding accountable schools and school districts, called local education authorities. (Apr 6) more

Truth Overcomes Silence
Students in North Carolina are encouraged to join thousands of young people nationwide in countering the promotion of homosexuality in schools by participating in the sixth annual “Day of Truth” sponsored by Exodus International. (Apr 5) more

NC Hits Wall In Education Race
Although a finalist in phase one of the competition, North Carolina lost its bid for the much-coveted Race to the Top education grant funds. (Apr 1) more

Get Ready To Vote
As part of our ongoing effort to promote civic responsibility and involvement, the North Carolina Family Policy Council has launched its 2010 Voter Registration project. (Mar 31) more

Some Abstinence Funding Restored
Abstinence education proponents are celebrating the news that the newly enacted health care reform law restores some federal funding for states to use for abstinence-only education programs that had previously been eliminated by President Obama. (Mar 30) more

Video Gambling Opposition Grows
Officials at the North Carolina lottery are encouraging lottery ticket sellers to avoid the legal risks associated with video poker in light of a growing trend in video gambling often referred to as “video sweepstakes.” (Mar 29) more

Alcohol Becomes Popular Topic
More than two dozen representatives of local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and ordinary citizens spent more than three hours voicing their opinions on the sale of alcohol in North Carolina at the March 24 meeting of the Joint Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control. (Mar 26) more

NJ Activists Press Same-Sex Marriage
Homosexual activists in New Jersey are going back to the courts to try to force the redefinition of marriage on the people of that state, after failing to get a marriage redefinition law enacted by the New Jersey legislature earlier this year. (Mar 25) more

Voters Say NC Taxes Too High
Nearly two-thirds of North Carolina voters think their taxes are too high, and more than three-fourths prefer for the state to cut spending rather than raise taxes to address budget deficits, according to new survey. (Mar 24) more

An Expensive Affair
A North Carolina woman has been awarded $9 million in a suit filed against her husband’s mistress, whom she accused of breaking up their marriage by engaging in an affair with her husband. (Mar 23) more

House Passes Senate Healthcare Bill
Late Sunday evening, a majority of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate version of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) by a vote of 219 to 212. (Mar 22) more

Abortion Back For Wake County
Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 on March 15th to restore coverage for elective abortions to the county’s employee health plan. (Mar 19) more

K-12 Education Standards Proposed
The National Governor’s Association (NGA), with the input of various educators and stakeholders, released the first public draft of its Common Core State Standards for K-12 education. (Mar 18) more

Statement On Pornography Released
Pornography is increasingly widespread, addictive, and harmful to women and children, as well as to those who consume it, according to a groundbreaking new statement released yesterday by The Witherspoon Institute. (Mar 17) more

STD Rate Much Higher For Homosexual Men
A new analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the rate of new HIV and syphilis diagnoses among homosexual and bisexual men is over 44 times higher than the rate among other men, and more than 40 times higher than the rate among women. (Mar 16) more

No Gambling At Home
A new national study released March 11 found that a majority of Americans continue to see gambling in a negative light and oppose efforts to expand its legalization. (Mar 15) more

NC Lottery Recognizes Problem Gambling
In recognition of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, March 7-13, the North Carolina Education Lottery is calling attention to its problem gambling program. (Mar 12) more

Ninth Circuit Upholds Pledge
Reversing its 2002 rejection of the Pledge of Allegiance, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday, that the words “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance do not violate the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution. (Mar 12) more

Census To Count Same-Sex "Marriages"
Forms for the 2010 Census are scheduled to begin arriving in mailboxes next week, and the government is promoting it as “one of the shortest and simplest in U.S. History.” (Mar 11) more

ABC System Changes Considered
Lawmakers in the TarHeel State are considering an overhaul of the 75-year-old Alcohol Beverage Control System that could include opening the business of selling liquor to contractors or private retailers. (Mar 10) more

Race To Washington
The U.S. Department of Education announced on March 4th that North Carolina is among a group of 15 states and the District of Columbia that have cleared the first phase of the Race to the Top federal education grant competition. (Mar 9) more

UNC System Adopts "Hate Crimes" Policy
A new system-wide student code of conduct for the University of North Carolina could infringe on students’ First Amendment rights by broadly prohibiting threats, coercion, harassment, and intimidation with special mention of characteristics like “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” (Mar 8) more

Marriage Beats Cohabitation
The majority of first marriages in the United States last 10 years or longer, while most first cohabitating relationships end within three years, according to a new study from the National Center for Health Statistics. (Mar 5) more

D.C. Issues Homosexual Marriage Licenses
Washington D.C. began issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples yesterday, officially joining five states in redefining marriage. (Mar 4) more

Brief Filed In Same-Sex Adoption Case
The North Carolina Family Policy Council filed an Amicus Brief yesterday in the case of Boseman v. Jarrell, an appeal before the State Supreme Court that will likely determine whether same-sex couples can legally adopt children in North Carolina. (Mar 3) more

Abstinence Programs Prove Effective
The overwhelming majority of studies of abstinence-only education programs report statistically positive findings, according to a new report by Christine Kim and Robert Rector at The Heritage Foundation. (Mar 3) more

Silver Ring Thing
The Silver Ring Thing is scheduled to bring its concert-style youth event promoting abstinence until marriage to three venues in North Carolina this month. (Mar 2) more

Health Summit Yields Stalemate
After a seven-hour televised meeting between select groups of Republican and Democrat members from both chambers of Congress, and President Obama Thursday, both parties remained largely unmoved from their original positions regarding nationalized healthcare. (Mar 1) more

Video Gambling Opposed By Most
A majority—56 percent—of North Carolina voters would oppose efforts to legalize video poker in the state, according to a poll of likely voters conducted by the John W. Pope Civitas Institute in January. (Feb 26) more

Asheville Wants DP Benefits
The city of Asheville, North Carolina, could become the next city to provide domestic partner benefits for the same-sex partners of homosexual employees. (Feb 25) more

Court Rejects DC Marriage Referendum
The District of Columbia will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as early as March 3, following the end of a Congressional review period for a new law enacted in December 2009 by the D.C. City Council. (Feb 24) more

Forsyth Commissioners Vote To Appeal
In a victory for religious freedom in North Carolina, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 3 Monday night in favor of appealing a federal district judge’s ruling that declared the board’s public prayer policy unconstitutional. (Feb 23) more

Education Standards Have Little Effect
The CATO Institute's Neal McCluskey released an analysis on February 16 arguing that the push to create national education standards, rather than leaving these to the states, would produce no positive effect on student achievement. (Feb 23) more

Stifling Campus Speech
Nearly 60 percent of North Carolina’s colleges and universities have a speech policy, which seriously restricts students’ First Amendment rights to free speech and free expression, according to a new report. (Feb 22) more

Forsyth Appeal Decision Pending
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to decide this Monday, February 22 whether or not to appeal a federal district court ruling that declared the Board’s public prayer policy unconstitutional. (Feb 19) more

Anti-Pornography Website Launches
Pro-family advocates now have a new weapon in their fight against pornography with the launch of a new web site dedicated to educating the public about its detrimental effects on individuals, families, and society. (Feb 18) more

Locals Limit Taxpayer Funded Abortion
Wake County and the Town of Apex have removed coverage for elective abortions from their employee health insurance plans, after recognizing legal questions raised by a 1981 state Supreme Court ruling that a county “exceeded its statutorily conferred power in levying the tax involved in the funding of medically unnecessary abortions.” (Feb 18) more

40 Days For Life Begins Today
Thousands of pro-life citizens across the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland will join together for 40 days of prayer and fasting, constant vigil outside abortion clinics, and community outreach during the 2010 spring “40 Days for Life” campaign that begins today. (Feb 17) more

Federal Hate Crimes Law Challenged
The recently passed federal hate crimes bill, which provides elevated protection for individuals based on “actual or perceived” “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” is being challenged as a violation of the First, Fifth, and Tenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and the Commerce Clause. (Feb 16) more

Colleges Change Student Views
According to a new report from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, a college education does not increase a student’s knowledge of American history and values, but instead significantly alters the student’s views on five polarizing issues, such as prayer in schools, abortion and same-sex marriage. (Feb 15) more

New Abstinence Law Brief Produced
In response to the misinformation being published by some anti-abstinence education groups about the “Healthy Youth Act," the North Carolina Family Policy Council has created a new issue brief that outlines the correct interpretation of the new law, which was enacted by the General Assembly last year and goes into effect in the 2010-11 school year. (Feb 12) more

Some Parents Would Pay Higher Taxes
President Obama is proposing an increased tax benefit for families without a stay-at-home parent while ignoring expiring tax relief for all families that will result in American families paying $280 billion in higher taxes in 2011, when the Child Tax Credit expires at the end of 2010. (Feb 11) more

Study Says Abstinence Message Works
An abstinence-only sex education program was better at helping pre-teens delay sexual activity than a “safer” sex-only program, two comprehensive sex education programs, and a general health education program in a new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers. (Feb 10) more

National Marriage Week Underway
As couples prepare to celebrate Valentine’s Day, churches, communities, schools, and businesses across the country are taking part in National Marriage Week USA in an effort to “raise the issue of marriage to the national agenda.” (Feb 9) more

Election Filing Period Opens Feb 8
Filing opens today for North Carolina candidates who intend to run for public office in the 2010 elections. (Feb 8) more

Controversial Curriculum Changes
Curriculum changes to subjects as varied as sex education and social studies were a central theme of the North Carolina State Board of Education’s monthly meeting last week. (Feb 8) more

Charter Schools Get The Rap
If a new State Board of Education performance policy for charter schools were applied to all public schools in North Carolina, 155 traditional district schools, three alternative district schools, and six charter schools would be forced to close, according to a new report from the John Locke Foundation. (Feb 5) more

NC Teen Pregnancy Rates Hit 30–Year Low
After increasing slightly with the rest of the nation between 2005 and 2006, North Carolina’s teen pregnancy rate dropped to its lowest point in over 30 years in 2008. (Feb 4) more

Curriculum Sides With Abortion
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s proposed updated curriculum guidelines for Civics and Economics courses include an assertion that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion on demand in the United States, is comparable to court actions on segregation and ethnic discrimination in upholding individual liberties “against oppressive government.” (Feb 3) more

Lottery Revenues Rise With Unemployment
Despite North Carolina posting record high unemployment figures since November 2009, the lottery continues to report higher than expected and increasing levels of revenue. (Feb 2) more

Jesus' Name Takes Hit In Ruling
The future ability of local ministers in Forsyth County to offer prayers “in Jesus name” hinges on whether the county’s Board of Commissioners chooses to appeal a federal district court judge’s ruling, declaring the Board’s current prayer policy unconstitutional. (Feb 1) more

Young Americans Object To Abortion
As a record number of Americans prepared to travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 37th annual March for Life, a new survey found nearly six in 10 young Americans consider abortion to be “morally wrong.” (Jan 29) more

Abstinence Unfairly Blamed
In a new report issued earlier this week, the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute blames Abstinence-Until-Marriage education for the small increase in teen pregnancy rates nationwide, despite the fact that abstinence education has received a much smaller portion of total federal funding than contraceptive sex education. (Jan 28) more

Court Frees Corporate Contributions
The Supreme Court handed down a ruling January 21 that will allow more direct financial involvement by corporations in elections. (Jan 27) more

Greensboro Sex Club Closed
Many Greensboro families and business owners are relieved at the safer atmosphere of their community, following last week’s closure of “Nakita’s Play House,” a strip club located on Randelman Road in Greensboro. (Jan 26) more

More Business Regulations Discussed
A legislative study committee met January 20th to consider new regulations and incentives intended to promote work and family balance in North Carolina. (Jan 25) more

Groups Say Lift Charter School Cap
At a press conference in Raleigh earlier this week, charter school advocates warned that the state’s 15 year-old charter school cap, which limits the number of charter schools allowed to operate at one time to 100, could make North Carolina less competitive for the federal government’s “Race to the Top” funds. (Jan 22) more

Report Highlights Anti-Family Laws
A December report from the Heritage Foundation highlights a dozen “Anti-Family Gifts” included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama just in time for Christmas. (Jan 21) more

Freedom Of Religion Statement Issued
Religious freedom is “a fundamental, inalienable right for all people, religious and nonreligious” that is protected by the United States Constitution and other legal provisions, according to a joint statement issued last week by a diverse group of conservative and liberal experts from the nation’s religious and legal communities. (Jan 20) more

NC Leads In Tax Increases
North Carolina is the only state in the country to have responded to the sagging economy by simultaneously raising its individual income, sales, cigarette, and alcohol excise taxes in 2009, according to a report released in December by the Tax Foundation. (Jan 19) more

Fatherhood Misconceptions Revealed
A majority of mothers in a recent survey said that absent or uninvolved fathers can be adequately replaced by either the mother herself, or by another male role model. (Jan 15) more

Marriage Penalty In Healthcare Reform
Health insurance premiums would be higher for some married couples than for comparable unmarried cohabiting couples under health reforms currently being considered by Congress. (Jan 14) more

ABC System In Hot Water
Governor Beverly Perdue, many lawmakers, political activists, and citizens are calling for a review of the state’s 75 year-old Alcohol Beverage Control system amid surprisingly high salaries and allegations of ethical violations by some local staff and board members. (Jan 13) more

Upcoming Pro-Life Events
The 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton is fast approaching, and a number of important events are scheduled this month to mark the 1973 Supreme Court rulings that legalized abortion on demand, and have resulted in the loss of over 49 million unborn children nationwide. (Jan 12) more

More Child Physical Activity Needed
The majority of child care centers in North Carolina do not provide children with the amount of physical activity that is recommended by some health experts, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. (Jan 11) more

New Jersey Rejects Same–Sex Marriage
Yesterday, a bill that would have legalized same-sex “marriage” in the New Jersey was soundly defeated in the state senate. (Jan 8) more

Charter School Myths Debunked
Contrary to some of the myths advanced by the educational establishment, charter schools do not deprive traditional public schools of needed funding, but do precipitate higher academic achievement in students, and do positively impact the educational environment of surrounding public schools. (Jan 7) more

Domestic Partner Benefits Costly
Federal legislation that would extend government health and life insurance benefits to the same-sex partners of certain federal employees would cost the U.S. government nearly $900 million in direct and discretionary spending over the next nine years, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. (Jan 6) more

New Year Brings New Laws
More than 40 new laws will go into effect in North Carolina in 2010, including a ban on smoking in most restaurants and bars, a new sex education curriculum for public school students, a requirement for schools to expand anti-bullying policies to include pro-homosexual language, and changes to ethics, election, and insurance law. (Jan 5) more

More Teens Are Sexting
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that four percent of teens with a cell phone have sent sexually suggestive, nude or nearly nude pictures of themselves and 15 percent of teens have received such images via text messaging. (Jan 4) more

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