The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a case concerning a Texas school district policy that bans students from wearing clothes that declare a political position. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the school dress code. The high court rejected a Dallas high school student’s appeal. Paul Palmer sued the Waxahachie Independent School District for political censorship. The district wouldn’t allow Palmer to wear a T-shirt supporting then-presidential candidate John Edwards. Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for Liberty Legal Institute, said the rulings are a “punch in the gut to freedom.” “If you don’t have a right to free […]

Despite assurances by President Obama that the debate over health care reform would be a public one, Democrats are moving to close the meetings to the public. The House and Senate passed different versions of the health care reform bill, and those differences must now be resolved in committee. Rules in both the House and Senate say conference committee meetings must be open to the public, and multiple promises were made during Obama’s presidential campaign that negotiations on health care would be an open process and televised. But after a meeting with her leadership team, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said […]

New Hampshire has two proposed laws dealing with same-sex marriage. “One (bill) would repeal the same-sex marriage law enacted last year,” said Kevin Smith, executive director of Cornerstone Action. “The other would put the question of a constitutional amendment to give the people of New Hampshire a chance to finally have their say on the issue.” There’s also a grassroots movement of people petitioning their local town governments to put the question on the ballot, according to Smith. “Now it would be non-binding, but it would certainly be significant and symbolic for the townspeople to go and vote on it […]

What do you want to accomplish in the year ahead? January is a great time to start a resolution – Time magazine says nearly half of us will. So use this week to start the resolution you made last week. Perhaps you have listed goals you would like to accomplish. The following list discusses Internet sites that may help. Space ManagementA sign in my office proclaims, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what is the sign of an empty desk of?” For positive organizational steps, LifeOrganizers.com has tips by category, while Unclutterer.com and Organized Home […]

On Jan. 12, Gov. Bob Riley said he will not be hustled into believing video slot machines are the answer to state revenue problems. “I can’t imagine anyone who thinks the best way to help our economy is to have Alabamans lose billions of dollars gambling,” he said in his annual State of the State address. The Alabama Baptist Convention (ABC) held a News conference announcing a resolution against gambling legislation. The group spoke out against the continued push by out-of-state slot manufacturers trying to gain ground in local communities, and is asking the Legislature not to pass any laws […]

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched “Hidden in Plain Sight,” an initiative aimed at educating people about human trafficking. Linda Smith, former congresswoman and president of Shared Hope International, said most people don’t realize middle-school children are being sold every day in the U.S. “These kids are hidden in plain view,” she said. “They are in our foster care system. And they’re in the strip club or the adult venues where they sell sex or produce pornography.” Billboards will be put up in 14 cities across the nation, with a toll-free number for people reporting possible trafficking victims. Smith […]

Every time I write about marriage, I hear from readers who lament their sexless marriages. The comments are all from men, and they tell of years, sometimes decades, of living together without love, affection or sexual intimacy. The writers describe an arid life of “going separate ways” and “living separate lives.” Often a man will speak admiringly of his wife as the mother of their children and a fine person, but sadly relate that there is no longer any personal interaction between them as a couple. These are the ones who haven’t bothered to divorce, yet they lead lives of […]

Did you know that when you go to bed angry with someone, you wake up a little less in love with that person? God’s Word addresses this dangerous sleeping pattern: “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Eph. 4:26, 27. When I was in college, I was impressed by the relationship between my English literature teacher, Dr. Evangeline Banta, and her husband. She invited me to spend a weekend at her home, where I got a closer look at a love […]