Recent articles by the North Carolina Family Policy Council http://ncfamily.org Copyright 2013 North Carolina Family Policy Council http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification en-us Mon, 20 May 2013 13:30:00 EST admin@ncfamily.org (John Rustin) 60 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130520s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130520s1.html Mon, 20 May 2013 13:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130517s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130517s1.html Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 EST 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 on May 15. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130516s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130516s2.html Thu, 16 May 2013 14:20:00 EST A nationwide series of rallies to show support for the Boy Scouts of America’s long-standing policy of prohibiting membership to “open and avowed homosexuals” is scheduled for Friday, May 17. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130516s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130516s1.html Thu, 16 May 2013 14:20:00 EST A Charlotte abortion clinic is reopening less than one week after being shut down on May 10 by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services due to poor conditions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130515s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130515s1.html Wed, 15 May 2013 14:30:00 EST The North Carolina Senate passed two important bills on May 13 aimed at providing education about the link between abortion and prematurity and at protecting victims of human trafficking. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130514s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130514s1.html Tue, 14 May 2013 15:00:00 EST Homosexual activists are celebrating two more victories this month, as lawmakers in Delaware approved a measure last week to make the state the 11th in the nation to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130513s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130513s1.html Mon, 13 May 2013 14:20:00 EST The North Carolina Senate approved a number of education related measures this week, including bills that would strengthen the religious freedoms of students. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130510s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130510s1.html Fri, 10 May 2013 13:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130509s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130509s1.html Thu, 09 May 2013 14:10:00 EST Under a measure approved the State House on Tuesday, May 7, abortions that are motivated by the sex of an unborn child would be illegal in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130508s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130508s1.html Wed, 08 May 2013 14:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130507s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130507s1.html Tue, 07 May 2013 16:50:00 EST Tomorrow, the North Carolina House will consider a bill that would outlaw abortions that are motivated by the gender of the unborn child. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130506s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130506s1.html Mon, 06 May 2013 13:00:00 EST A coalition of organizations is sponsoring a national simulcast this Sunday aimed at building support for the Boy Scouts of America’s long-standing membership policy prohibiting open homosexuality. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130503s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130503s1.html Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 EST Yesterday, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130502s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130502s1.html Thu, 02 May 2013 15:10:00 EST Women as young as 15 will now have access to emergency contraceptives without a prescription under a new federal rule announced yesterday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130501s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130501s1.html Wed, 01 May 2013 14:30:00 EST The North Carolina State Senate has sent two education bills to the State House for consideration. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130430s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130430s1.html Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:30:00 EST Governor Pat McCrory (R–NC) has declared this week the “North Carolina Week of Prayer” in conjunction with the 62nd annual “National Day of Prayer” scheduled for this Thursday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130429s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130429s1.html Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130426s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130426s1.html Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST This week, thousands of North Carolinians gathered in support of legislation that would provide more school choice options to students and families in the State. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130425s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130425s1.html Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130424s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130424s1.html Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:50:00 EST On April 1, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began soliciting comments on whether to soften the current policy against indecent radio and TV content. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130423s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130423s1.html Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:50:00 EST The Boys Scouts of America (BSA) would grant membership to youth, but not adults, who identify as homosexual under a resolution that will be considered by the BSA National Council in a vote next month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130422s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130422s1.html Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST This coming Tuesday, April 23, pro-life citizens are encouraged to gather at the General Assembly in Raleigh to express support for the pro-life legislation introduced this year, and to lobby lawmakers to pass these proposed laws. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130419s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130419s2.html Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:50:00 EST Dramatic testimony continues to pile up in what may be the most gruesome, yet least exposed, mass murder trial in American history. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130419s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130419s1.html Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:20:00 EST Yesterday, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130418s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130418s1.html Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:50:00 EST Supporters of homosexual rights were at the General Assembly yesterday to lobby lawmakers for the passage of measures aimed at adding special protections for homosexual, bisexual and transgender State employees, as well as local board of education employees. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130417s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130417s1.html Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:10:00 EST The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has confirmed plans to build a second casino near Murphy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130416s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130416s1.html Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:40:00 EST Several Republican lawmakers in the State House intend to introduce a bill “to create equal opportunity scholarship grants” for students in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130415s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130415s1.html Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST Several state senators have filed a bill that would make assisted suicide unlawful in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130412s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130412s1.html Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130411s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130411s1.html Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:50:00 EST Today, North Carolinians will celebrate freedom from tax bills earlier than the national average. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130410s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130410s1.html Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:40:00 EST A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make controversial emergency contraceptivesavailable without a prescription to all women and girls, regardless of age. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130409s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130409s1.html Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:50:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council announced today its selection of John L. Rustin as the organization’s next President. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130408s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130408s2.html Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST 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 this Tuesday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130408s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130408s1.html Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST Three North Carolina senators have introduced legislation in the State Senate this week that is aimed at addressing the scourge of child sex trafficking in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130405s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130405s1.html Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST A majority of North Carolinians support policies that would provide parents with more education options for their children, according to a new survey. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130404s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130404s1.html Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:10:00 EST Both the State executive and legislative branches are offering options for enhancing school safety across North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130403s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130403s1.html Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130402s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130402s1.html Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST The majority of young adults are delaying marriage until their late twenties, causing a dramatic shift in family structure for many Americans, according to a new report. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130401s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130401s1.html Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130328s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130328s1.html Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:20:00 EST Yesterday, thousands of pro-marriage Americans 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130327s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130327s1.html Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:40:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/130326s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130326s1.html Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST The first Republican gubernatorial budget proposal in 20 years was presented last week, and differed notably from recent gubernatorial budgets in its lack of any tax increases. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130325s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130325s1.html Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130322s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130322s1.html Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:50:00 EST Education bills have accounted for much of the work at the North Carolina General Assembly this week. Senate leader Phil Berger (R–Rockingham) unveiled a bill with major public school reforms, while the House approved two bills related to non-traditional public school options for students. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130321s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130321s1.html Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:20:00 EST The first-ever national “March for Marriage” in Washington, DC, is next week, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130320s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130320s1.html Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:20:00 EST The North Carolina House of Representatives has taken the first step toward making several changes in how the state-run lottery is advertised. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130319s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130319s1.html Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130318s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130318s1.html Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:10:00 EST The effort by secular groups to force local and state government bodies and officials to end the long standing practice of offering Christian prayers before public meetings continues across North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130315s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130315s1.html Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130314s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130314s1.html Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST North Carolina earned top marks in legislative transparency this week. The Open Legislative Report Card was released March 11 by the Sunlight Foundation as part of Sunshine Week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130313s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130313s1.html Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:40:00 EST A February poll of North Carolina voters finds widespread support for school choice and additional funding mechanisms to support parental choice in education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130312s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130312s1.html Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST Parents or legal guardians who do not report that a child is missing within 24 hours of that child’s disappearance would be charged with a criminal offence in North Carolina under a measure that passed the State House last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130311s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130311s1.html Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130308s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130308s1.html Fri, 8 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130307s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130307s1.html Thu, 7 Mar 2013 14:50:00 EST 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 on Monday night. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130306s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130306s1.html Wed, 6 Mar 2013 13:40:00 EST Governor Pat McCrory and members of the North Carolina General Assembly are looking to make changes to the North Carolina Education Lottery. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130305s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130305s1.html Tue, 5 Mar 2013 13:50:00 EST The Boys Scouts of America (BSA) 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…” http://ncfamily.org/stories/130304s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130304s1.html Mon, 4 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130301s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130301s1.html Fri, 1 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST 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 Monday in the General Assembly. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130228s1.html Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130227s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130227s1.html Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST The North Carolina House of Representatives is hosting “Education Week” this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130226s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130226s1.html Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST The first bill of the 2013 session that is aimed at combatting sex trafficking in North Carolina was introduced in the General Assembly last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130225s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130225s1.html Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:45:00 EST The East Carolina University campus Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Office is encouraging ECU faculty, staff and students to participate in a pro-homosexual program called “Gay? Fine By Me.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/130222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130222s1.html Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:55:00 EST On Wednesday, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130221s1.html Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST Last week, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of a measure to reauthorize a federal law aimed at combatting human trafficking. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130220s1.html Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:10:00 EST Last night, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130219s1.html Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:10:00 EST There are nearly 20 million new infections of sexually transmitted diseases each year in the United States, over half of which occur in young people, according to new data released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130218s1.html Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:20:00 EST This week, student groups at 25 universities across the nation, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, are using the Valentine’s Day holiday to challenge the “hook up” culture on college campuses and promote virtue and true love. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130215s1.html Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:35:00 EST The government is dependent upon the intact married parent family “for the achievement of its stated goals,” yet over half of American teenagers are growing up in broken homes. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130214s1.html Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:40:00 EST Today, thousands of pro-lifers in 261 locations across the United States and worldwide will begin a campaign of “peaceful activism,” prayer, and fasting during the first 40 Days for Life of 2013. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130213s1.html Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130212s1.html Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:50:00 EST The legislative push to put North Carolina into the medical marijuana business officially began last Thursday with the introduction of a House bill that would legalize so-called medical marijuana. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130211s1.html Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:20:00 EST A week long series of local, state and national events aimed at promoting and strengthening marriages in the United States began yesterday with “National Marriage Week, USA.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/130208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130208s1.html Fri, 8 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST The Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) long-standing policy prohibiting membership to “open and avowed homosexuals” remains intact, at least for now. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130207s1.html Thu, 7 Feb 2013 13:20:00 EST A local judge has dismissed another lawsuit challenging the enforcement of a 2010 ban on electronic machines and devices for sweepstakes in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130206s1.html Wed, 6 Feb 2013 17:35:00 EST An abortion clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been cited by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for unsanitary conditions, untrained staff, and other violations. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130205s1.html Tue, 5 Feb 2013 13:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130204s1.html Mon, 4 Feb 2013 13:30:00 EST The 2013 legislative session of the General Assembly began in earnest this week, and praying for state lawmakers and other government officials has never been easier, thanks to a national prayer ministry based in Raleigh. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130201s1.html Fri, 1 Feb 2013 13:30:00 EST Under mounting pressure from homosexual activists and their allies, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is considering changing its long-standing policy that prohibits membership to “open or avowed homosexuals.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/130131s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130131s1.html Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST Today marks yet another historic day in North Carolina as the 2013-2014 General Assembly begins its work. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130130s1.html Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST A second conservative North Carolina think tank has offered lawmakers a proposal for reforming the State’s tax code. The John Locke Foundation (JLF) released its “A USA Consumption Tax for North Carolina” proposal on January 23. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130129s1.html Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130128s1.html Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:20:00 EST Marijuana legalization advocacy groups are gearing up for a renewal of their efforts to convince the General Assembly to legalize so-called “medical” marijuana in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130125s1.html Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:40:00 EST 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 released this month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130124s1.html Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST 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 in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130123s1.html Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST Today sadly marks the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion-on-demand nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130122s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130122s1.html Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:20:00 EST 2013 begins with incredible promise for the families of North Carolina and the North Carolina Family Policy Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130121s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130121s2.html Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:10:00 EST Bill Brooks, president and executive director of the North Carolina Family Policy Council and NC Family Action announced today that he plans to step down from his job as head of the organization before the end of 2013. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130121s1.html Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:50:00 EST 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 (AUL) “2013 Life List.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/130118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130118s1.html Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:40:00 EST Children of divorce end up less religious in their adult years than their counterparts from intact families, according to a new report from the Institute for American Values. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130117s1.html Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130116s1.html Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130115s1.html Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:40:00 EST This month marks 40 years since the infamous Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, legalized abortion on demand in the United States, and for a myriad of local, state and national events are planned to commemorate the ruling that has resulted in the deaths of over 54 million unborn children. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130114s1.html Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST Yesterday, the State Board of Education approved a new policy for establishing virtual charter schools in North Carolina. The State Board voted on the policy at its first monthly meeting for 2013 in Raleigh. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130111s1.html Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130110s1.html Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:10:00 EST An analysis of recent U.S. census data finds that 1 in 3 American children live in homes without a father. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130109s1.html Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:15:00 EST The State of North Carolina will appeal a December 2012 ruling that the recently approved “Choose Life” license plate is unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130108s1.html Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST 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 2014. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130107s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130107s1.html Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:10:00 EST A state Supreme Court ruling upholding North Carolina’s 2010 law banning video sweepstakes took effect this Thursday, but whether the ruling results in the closing of significant numbers of video sweepstakes establishments remains to be seen. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130104s1.html Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:35:00 EST The year 2012 saw state legislatures across the United States pass the second highest number of pro-life laws since the nationwide legalization of abortion by the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130103s1.html Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:50:00 EST 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 released last month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/130102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/130102s1.html Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:15:00 EST A North Carolina think-tank is offering research and suggestions to North Carolina legislators who have indicated a desire to reform North Carolina’s tax system during the 2013-2014 legislative session. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121231s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121231s1.html Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:15:00 EST A new report released December 19 looks at the growing body of scientific evidence that a potential connection exists between previous abortions and the risk of subsequent preterm births. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121228s1.html Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:15:00 EST A federal survey shows “continued high use” of marijuana among American high school students, even as teen perception of it as a harmful drug continues to decline nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121227s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121227s1.html Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121221s1.html Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:05:00 EST Congress will not consider legalizing Internet gambling in 2012, according to Senate leaders and gambling proponents. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121220s1.html Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:05:00 EST National leaders need to start focusing on ways to stem the demise of marriage among the “forgotten 60 percent” of Americans in Middle America, according to a national report released by a team of 60 family scholars. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121219s1.html Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:45:00 EST Forbes magazine’s has ranked North Carolina as having the fourth best business climate in the nation, behind Utah, Virginia, and North Dakota. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121218s1.html Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121217s1.html Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121214s1.html Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121213s1.html Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:15:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/121212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121212s1.html Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:55:00 EST A federal judge has ruled that North Carolina’s “Choose Life” license plate represents unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121211s1.html Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:55:00 EST A year-long controversy over a parent's complaint about Gideon Bibles at a Buncombe County school ended last week with the School District’s approval of a regulation to allow community groups to distribute materials to high school students once a year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121210s1.html Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:10:00 EST The Fall 2012 issue of the quarterly magazine of North Carolina Family Policy Council, Family North Carolina, is now available in print and online. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121207s1.html Fri, 07 Dec 2012 01:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121206s1.html Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:40:00 EST A new survey of Evangelical Millennials finds that a majority have never been sexually active, and a super-majority believe that sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121205s1.html Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121204s1.html Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121203s1.html Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:35:00 EST For the first time, all of the nation’s public high schools reported graduation rates to the U.S. Department of Education are using a common measure to allow for better comparison. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121130s1.html Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 EST The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121129s1.html Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:20:00 EST After receiving a warning letter from a Christian civil liberties group, a North Carolina community college has reversed its previous decision to censor the word “Christmas” from ads promoting a Christmas tree fundraiser for a campus student group. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121128s1.html Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121127s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121127s1.html Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:35:00 EST Pro-family consumers looking for retailers that support family-friendly media and/or celebrate Christmas in their stores have a number of resources at their disposal this holiday season. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121126s1.html Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:45:00 EST In American tradition, the Thanksgiving holiday is traced back to the fall of 1621 when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony celebrated that year’s bountiful harvest with a three-day feast. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121121s1.html Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121120s1.html Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST 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, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121119s1.html Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121116s1.html Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST There is more good news to report in North Carolina this week, where the state has reported a significant overall drop in abortions in 2011, as well as a continued historic decline in teen pregnancy rates. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121115s1.html Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121114s1.html Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST A new report argues that more states should implement Parent Trigger laws as a mechanism for bottom-up education reform. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121113s1.html Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST The City of King, North Carolina, is once again under fire from Americans United for Separation of Church and State for continuing to fly 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121112s1.html Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:05:00 EST On Tuesday, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121109s1.html Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:20:00 EST More than 4.5 million North Carolinians, representing 68 percent of registered voters, participated in Tuesday’s elections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121108s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121108s2.html Thu, 09 Nov 2012 21:40:00 EST 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” on Tuesday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121108s1.html Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:40:00 EST The election is over, and surprising to some, but not to those who had been closely following the polling was the win of the Romney/Ryan ticket in North Carolina, giving all 15 electoral votes to the former governor. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121107s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121107s1.html Wed, 07 Nov 2012 02:20:00 EST With over 41 percent of North Carolina’s registered voters having already cast ballots in the 2012 general election, the remainder of the State’s voters will join citizens across the country today in going to the polls to choose from a plethora of candidates in federal and state elections from president and Congress to State governor, legislators, judges, and more. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121106s1.html Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST Involved parents have more of an 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121105s1.html Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST The State Board of Elections is warning local election officials to be on the lookout for “illegal activity,” “aggressive electioneering” by some groups, and attempts to misinform voters at one-stop voting locations throughout North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121102s1.html Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 EST 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 and public school officials. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121101s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121101s1.html Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST 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 that compares the strength of teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121031s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121031s1.html Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:05:00 EST The Parents Television Council has launched a new national campaign aimed at combatting the sexualization of young girls by building a “media culture that honors the intrinsic value of every girl.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/121030s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121030s1.html Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121029s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121029s1.html Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121026s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121026s2.html Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:10:00 EST A new report from the Tax Foundation comparing state and local tax burdens on residents of all 50 states finds that the average tax burden on citizens has grown since 2000 with North Carolinians paying the 17th highest 2010 state-local taxes in the nation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121026s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121026s1.html Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121025s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121025s1.html Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121024s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121024s1.html Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121023s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121023s1.html Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST On November 6, voters in four states will not only go to the polls to select the next president and state and local officials, but also to determine how marriage will be defined in those states for future generations. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121022s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121022s1.html Mon, 22 Oct 2012 10:50:00 EST This week, the Wilmington City Council set up a process for electronic gambling operations, also known as Internet sweepstakes parlors, to request an extension of the time allowed to comply with city zoning rules. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121019s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121019s1.html Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST North Carolinians who want to vote early in the 2012 General Election can cast their votes at select one-stop voting locations across the state beginning today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121018s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121018s1.html Thu, 18 Oct 2012 21:20:00 EST The Student Government Association at North Carolina’s Elon University recently voted in favor of banning Chick-fil-A from the school’s student center food court because the national food chain’s president opposes the redefinition of marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121017s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121017s1.html Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST Today, students across North Carolina join thousands of students across the country and globe in giving up their voices for a day to bring attention to the more than 50 million children who have been silenced by abortion in the last 40 years. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121016s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121016s1.html Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121015s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121015s1.html Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:15:00 EST A national initiative to form religious freedom caucuses in all 50 states kicked off this week with the launch of caucuses led by key lawmakers in nine states. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121012s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121012s1.html Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST The North Carolina State Board of Education has released a vision statement that touts the fundamental importance of a quality public education system in the State and recognizes the added importance of innovative education models, such as charter schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121011s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121011s1.html Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:40:00 EST A new national survey finds overwhelming support for abstinence education among parents in the United States, regardless of race or political affiliation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121010s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121010s1.html Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:20:00 EST A new report from a national school choice advocacy organization calls Education Savings Accounts “the way of the future,” that could incentivize greater “innovation in schooling practices” aimed at improving outcomes, while also lowering costs. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121009s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121009s1.html Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121008s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121008s1.html Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST Controversy continues to grow over the impact of the so-called contraception mandate on religious employers in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121005s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121005s1.html Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:25:00 EST With the 2012 General Election only weeks away, the majority of registered voters in a recent statewide poll say that North Carolina law should require voters to show identification before they are allowed to vote. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121004s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121004s1.html Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:40:00 EST This weekend, pro-life citizens across the United States and Canada will gather on designated sidewalks to participate in the 25th annual National Life Chain to pray for their country and for an end to abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121003s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121003s1.html Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:55:00 EST California is now 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121002s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121002s1.html Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:05:00 EST Over 1,000 pastors, and counting, have publicly committed to “preach sermons that present biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates” on October 7 during the fifth annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom. http://ncfamily.org/stories/121001s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/121001s1.html Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST 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, and has activated the online version of the guide today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120928s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120928s1.html Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120927s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120927s1.html Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120926s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120926s1.html Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120925s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120925s1.html Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST Wednesday will mark the 22nd annual See You at the Pole, where students across the world, including in North Carolina, will meet at their campus flagpoles to pray. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120924s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120924s1.html Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120921s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120921s1.html Fri, 21 Sep 2012 10:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120920s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120920s1.html Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:15:00 EST As the 2012 election season gets underway, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120919s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120919s1.html Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:40:00 EST In 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120918s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120918s1.html Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120917s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120917s1.html Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:20:00 EST This week, Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., became the first private business operated by non-Catholics to challenge the controversial federal mandate that requires nearly all employers to provide health insurance that includes coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120914s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120914s1.html Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:05:00 EST New research from the Marriage and Religious Research Institute (MARRI) 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120913s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120913s1.html Thu, 13 Sep 2012 08:45:00 EST Over 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120912s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120912s1.html Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:05:00 EST 60 A new poll finds that young Americans are making daily lifestyle changes and delaying major life decisions because of the weak economy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120911s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120911s1.html Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120910s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120910s1.html Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:10:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council is now accepting pre-orders for its 2012 General Election Voter Guide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120907s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120907s1.html Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:05:00 EST 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 (FCC) to “vigorously enforce broadcast decency laws.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120906s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120906s1.html Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120905s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120905s1.html Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120904s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120904s1.html Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120831s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120831s1.html Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:05:00 EST 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 the policies “protect all students” or help to advance the homosexual agenda. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120830s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120830s1.html Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST A new report shows that the majority of states have enacted laws to fight human trafficking, including 28 states, such as North Carolina, that have passed human trafficking laws in the last year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120829s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120829s1.html Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:55:00 EST The controversy surrounding the Obama Administration’s continued attempts to force even 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120828s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120828s1.html Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST A new report documents over 600 recent incidents of growing religious hostility toward people of faith in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120827s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120827s1.html Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:35:00 EST This week, a unanimous three-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld a July 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120824s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120824s1.html Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120823s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120823s1.html Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:20:00 EST A recent report from the Tax Foundation estimates that a Congressional proposal to stave off the effects of the so-called “Taxmageddon” (when several tax cuts are set to expire) this January would save North Carolina taxpayers at least $1,130 in taxes. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120822s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120822s1.html Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:30:00 EST Today, Governor Beverly Perdue will join Principal Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in officially welcoming Las Vegas-style live casino gambling to North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120821s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120821s1.html Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:35:00 EST The New Mexico Supreme Court has agreed to consider an important case involving the conflict between pro-homosexual anti-discrimination laws and religious freedom. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120820s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120820s1.html Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120817s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120817s1.html Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:15:00 EST The national Democrat Party platform committee voted unanimously on August 11 to include in their platform both support for the redefinition of marriage and opposition to marriage protection amendments and laws. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120816s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120816s1.html Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:35:00 EST A majority of 18 to 29 year-olds in a national survey express traditional views about marriage, sex, and family. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120815s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120815s1.html Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:35:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council is pleased to offer tools that individuals, churches, and civic and community organizations, can use to register to vote and to become educated about the candidates in the upcoming 2012 General Election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120814s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120814s1.html Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120813s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120813s1.html Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EST On August 8, a federal court upheld Hawaii’s definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120810s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120810s1.html Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:35:00 EST Earlier this month, the Department of Public Instruction released growth and accountability scores for 2,482 public schools in North Carolina for the 2011-2012 school year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120809s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120809s1.html Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:45:00 EST The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) 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 that took effect last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120808s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120808s1.html Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:15:00 EST 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, according to several media reports. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120807s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120807s1.html Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:50:00 EST A Christian civil liberties organization is warning public universities not to give into pressure by homosexual activists to retaliate against Chick-fil-A for its pro-family stance by evicting the restaurant off campus. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120806s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120806s1.html Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:25:00 EST The summer issue of Family North Carolina is now available online. This issue of the North Carolina Family Policy Council’s 40-page quarterly magazine touches on artificial reproduction, conscience clauses, cohabitation, religious freedom, and casino gambling threats. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120803s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120803s1.html Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:20:00 EST Provisions in a new Arizona law that ban most abortions after 20 weeks gestation will not go into effect today as scheduled, as a result of a ruling issued yesterday by a federal appeals court that temporarily blocks the state from enforcing the law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120802s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120802s1.html Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120801s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120801s1.html Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120731s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120731s1.html Tue, 31 Jul 2012 08:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120730s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120730s1.html Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120727s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120727s1.html Fri, 27 Jul 2012 10:10:00 EST A new report finds that no state government has earned an A grade in government transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption, with North Carolina earning a C- grade. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120726s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120726s1.html Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST Beginning today, pro-family citizens have at least two opportunities to express their support for the pro-marriage stance of one of the nation’s most popular fast food chains by attending one of two “National Eat at Chick-fil-A Day” events. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120725s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120725s1.html Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120724s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120724s1.html Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120723s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120723s1.html Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:55:00 EST This week, the Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed its long-standing policy of prohibiting membership “to open or avowed homosexuals,” as in the “best interest of Scouting.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120720s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120720s1.html Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST A large majority of North Carolinians support school choice, particularly through the establishment of charter schools, according to a new survey by the Center for Education Reform. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120719s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120719s1.html Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:25:00 EST Voters across North Carolina finalized the field of candidates that will appear on November general election ballots in yesterday’s primary runoff races. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120718s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120718s1.html Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST North Carolina voters have a key opportunity to influence their parties’ nominations for several state and national offices during the primary runoff election today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120717s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120717s1.html Tue, 17 Jul 2012 05:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120716s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120716s1.html Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120713s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120713s1.html Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:20:00 EST On July 9, 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120712s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120712s1.html Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120711s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120711s2.html Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:50:00 EST A new Congressional report on sex education concludes that the sexual risk avoidance approach, formerly known as abstinence-only education, should become the “primary federal strategy” for reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120711s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120711s1.html Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120709s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120709s1.html Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:10:00 EST The second and final part a national report comparing sexual risk reduction or comprehensive approaches to sex education with sexual risk avoidance or abstinence-centered approaches calls for a greater emphasis on quality abstinence education in policies and schools across the nation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120706s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120706s2.html Fri, 06 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST The second half of an historic legislative session that followed an historic election in 2010, which saw Republicans gain control of both chambers for the first time since Reconstruction, came to a close this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120706s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120706s1.html Fri, 06 Jul 2012 01:00:00 EST Today marks the 236th birthday of “the shining city on a hill”—President Ronald Reagan’s affectionate term for the United States of America. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120704s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120704s1.html Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:40:00 EST A new poll from Students for Life of America finds that young adults are more pro-life than they are often portrayed. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120703s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120703s1.html Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120702s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120702s1.html Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:15:00 EST The United States Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the majority of the controversial healthcare overhaul law passed in 2010 is constitutional. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the 59-page majority opinion of the 5-4 ruling of the Court yesterday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120629s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120629s1.html Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST Proposed legislation that would legalize video poker by taxing sweepstakes gambling in North Carolina appears to have stalled in the General Assembly, at least for now. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120628s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120628s1.html Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120627s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120627s1.html Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120626s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120626s1.html Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120625s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120625s1.html Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:40:00 EST The State Legislature has sent its 2012 budget to Governor Beverly Perdue (D), after both the House and Senate gave final approval to a compromise budget bill early Thursday afternoon. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120622s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120622s1.html Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST Pregnancy and abortion rates among women in their 20s declined significantly in the United States between 1990 and 2008, according to a new report released this week by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120621s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120621s1.html Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:15:00 EST A recent report from the nation’s leading abstinence organization exposes the weaknesses of comprehensive sex education, which has increasingly replaced authentic abstinence education in public schools nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120620s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120620s1.html Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120619s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120619s1.html Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:25:00 EST The Senate gave final approval June 14 to its $20.1 billion budget by a 30–19 party-line vote. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120618s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120618s1.html Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:40:00 EST North Carolina’s adoption law is the target of a new federal lawsuit filed this week 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120615s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120615s2.html Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST A major new national study finds “numerous, consistent differences” between the young adult children of homosexual parents, especially lesbian mothers, and young adults who were raised by their own married mothers and fathers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120615s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120615s1.html Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST A new Child Trends report looks at the characteristics of the nine percent young men who are fathers before age 20. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120614s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120614s1.html Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST The State House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would scale back the 2009 Racial Justice Act. On June 12, the House voted 72–47 to approve SB 416—Amend Death Penalty Procedures. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120613s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120613s1.html Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120612s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120612s1.html Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120611s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120611s1.html Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120608s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120608s1.html Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST Legislation that will allow the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate Las-Vegas style casinos in Western North Carolina was signed into law yesterday by Governor Beverly Perdue. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120607s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120607s2.html Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:30:00 EST The fate of California’s Marriage Protection Amendment, Proposition 8, will most certainly be decided by the United States Supreme Court, after a full panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied an appeal on Tuesday in the ongoing legal battle over the amendment’s constitutionality. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120607s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120607s1.html Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:30:00 EST 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 yesterday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120606s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120606s1.html Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:25:00 EST The State House will now begin the process of considering sweeping reforms to the public school system in North Carolina, after the State Senate passed SB795—Excellent Schools Act on Monday night. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120605s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120605s1.html Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:35:00 EST This week, the State Senate will begin work amending the $20.3 billion budget that was approved by State House members last Wednesday and does not include a tax increase sought by the governor. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120604s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120604s1.html Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST Just before 4:00 P.M. Thursday afternoon, North Carolina House members gave tentative approval to a dramatic expansion of gambling in the State. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120601s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120601s1.html Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120531s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120531s1.html Thu, 31 May 2012 16:45:00 EST Yesterday, the Senate Education and Higher Education Committee passed an amended version of a bill that includes major changes to the State’s public school system. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120530s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120530s1.html Wed, 30 May 2012 13:10:00 EST Corporations that make donations to certified education scholarship organizations that help low income students attend nonpublic schools would be eligible to receive a tax credit under legislation introduced last week in the North Carolina General Assembly. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120529s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120529s1.html Tue, 29 May 2012 10:25:00 EST The North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law has published an analysis of proposed changes to the State’s gambling laws that argues the changes are “constitutionally flawed and invite litigation.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120525s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120525s2.html Fri, 25 May 2012 13:40:00 EST As of May 23, 2012, the North Carolina State Constitution has been officially amended to include the Marriage Protection Amendment that was passed overwhelmingly by the voters in the May 8 primary election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120525s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120525s1.html Fri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 EST The Alliance Defense Fund has voluntarily dismissed its religious freedom lawsuit against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, following the university’s agreement to grant official recognition to a Christian student group, and to “clarify” its policies regarding religious student groups. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120524s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120524s1.html Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 EST An unprecedented number of Catholic dioceses and organizations filed lawsuits May 21, challenging the federal government’s recent mandate that nearly all insurance providers include coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120523s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120523s1.html Wed, 23 May 2012 13:55:00 EST A recent national survey finds overwhelming support for “universal access” to school vouchers among American adults, especially mothers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120522s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120522s1.html Tue, 22 May 2012 09:55:00 EST A federal district court has ruled that North Carolina’s matching funds statute “is unduly burdensome and not sufficiently justified to survive First Amendment scrutiny” in a lawsuit brought by North Carolina Right Life’s Political Action Committee. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120521s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120521s1.html Mon, 21 May 2012 14:25:00 EST A new report from the John Locke Foundation has found that North Carolina’s state spending for the 2012 fiscal year is the highest ever in the state’s history. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120518s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120518s1.html Fri, 18 May 2012 10:10:00 EST A bill that would legalize Las-Vegas style gambling on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Western North Carolina passed the Senate last night on a 33 to 14 vote. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120517s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120517s1.html Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EST A committee of the Colorado General Assembly has defeated a bill that would have legalized civil unions in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120516s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120516s1.html Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 EST North Carolina legislators return to Raleigh tomorrow to convene the 2012 “Short Session” of the General Assembly. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120515s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120515s1.html Tue, 15 May 2012 16:25:00 EST The work of the nation’s roughly 2,000 Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) is “multifaceted,” going beyond reducing abortions to improving the lives of women and their families, while saving communities millions of dollars in the process. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120514s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120514s1.html Mon, 14 May 2012 11:05:00 EST In the wake of a stinging defeat in North Carolina on Tuesday with the overwhelming passage of the Marriage Protection Amendment, homosexual activists received a political boost from President Obama, who, for the first time, openly acknowledged his support for redefining marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120511s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120511s1.html Fri, 11 May 2012 06:45:00 EST While for some, the focus of Tuesday’s primary election was on the outcome of the Marriage Protection Amendment, primary voters also decided which candidates will advance to the November 6 general election to determine North Carolina’s congressional delegation, Governor, Lt. Governor, Council of State, General Assembly, and countless judicial and local positions across the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120510s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120510s1.html Thu, 10 May 2012 11:15:00 EST Tonight, North Carolina officially became the 31st state in the nation to preserve the institution of marriage in its State Constitution with the overwhelming passage of the Marriage Protection Amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120508s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120508s2.html Tue, 08 May 2012 23:00:00 EST Today, North Carolina voters go to the polls to decide the fate of the Marriage Protection Amendment and to choose general election candidates for a plethora of state and local races. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120508s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120508s1.html Tue, 08 May 2012 10:45:00 EST In response to the growing hostility toward Christians on many university campuses, the Alliance Defense Fund has launched a new initiative to protect the constitutional rights of students at over 160 universities in the United States, including several schools in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120507s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120507s1.html Mon, 07 May 2012 09:25:00 EST Native North Carolinian Billy Graham is urging voters across the state to join him in voting for the Marriage Protection Amendment in next week’s primary election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120504s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120504s1.html Fri, 04 May 2012 11:30:00 EST The Tennessee Legislature has passed a bill aimed at protecting the First Amendment rights of student organizations on college campuses in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120503s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120503s1.html Thu, 03 May 2012 10:20:00 EST As the battle over the Marriage Protection Amendment heats up during the last week before the May 8 primary, homosexual advocacy groups are desperately resorting to scare tactics in their efforts to defeat the proposed Constitutional amendment that would protect the institution of marriage in North Carolina as between one man and one woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120502s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120502s1.html Wed, 02 May 2012 11:05:00 EST With only one week left before the May 8 primary, more than 168,000 North Carolinians have already taken advantage of early one-stop voting and cast their votes on the Marriage Protection Amendment that is on the ballot. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120501s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120501s1.html Tue, 01 May 2012 10:35:00 EST Vanderbilt University has denied official university recognition to over a dozen Christian student organizations for refusing to comply with the University’s controversial nondiscrimination policy that requires religious student groups to accept leaders who do not share their religious faith. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120430s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120430s1.html Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:35:00 EST Recent polling numbers find likely North Carolina voters continue to support the Marriage Protection Amendment by a substantial margin, despite some confusion over what the Amendment will do. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120427s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120427s1.html Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST “In God We Trust” is the theme for the 2012 National Day of Prayer that is scheduled for observance next Thursday, May 3, in communities across the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120426s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120426s1.html Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST State Senate leaders unveiled a bill on April 23 that would make significant changes in the State’s public school system. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120425s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120425s1.html Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:20:00 EST The percentage of children born outside of marriage continues to increase in the United States, with more of these children born to parents in cohabiting relationships, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics released this month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120424s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120424s1.html Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST The Wake County public school system has instructed a middle school science teacher to stop giving assignments that allow students to explore creationism as part of the study of evolutionary theory. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120423s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120423s1.html Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST North Carolinians can vote early in the primary election during one-stop voting that began yesterday, April 19, at select locations around the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120420s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120420s1.html Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST An analysis of federal sex education funding reveals an “unprecedented funding disparity” between abstinence education programs and contraceptive-based sex education programs in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120419s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120419s1.html Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST Americans must work longer, until April 17, to pay their share of federal, state, and local taxes in 2012, according to the Tax Foundation’s annual calculation of Tax Freedom Day. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120418s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120418s1.html Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST In an effort to better equip Tar Heel voters for the upcoming elections, the North Carolina Family Policy Council has activated its 2012 Primary Election Voter Guide website. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120417s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120417s1.html Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:45:00 EST A group of 11 Christian student ministries at Vanderbilt University is taking a stand against the university’s controversial nondiscrimination policy that requires religious student groups to accept leaders who do not share their faith. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120416s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120416s1.html Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:10:00 EST A new government report finds that teenagers gave birth to fewer children in 2010 than at any point in the last 60 years. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120413s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120413s1.html Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST Next Thursday, April 19, Christian students in public schools and universities nationwide will have the opportunity to participate in a voluntary, student-led event that is aimed at countering the promotion of the homosexual agenda in the classroom. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120412s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120412s1.html Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST North Carolinians who plan to vote in the May 8 primary but who are not yet registered to vote, or who plan to change their party affiliation for the primary election, have until this Friday to do it. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120411s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120411s1.html Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:10:00 EST A new report from the John Locke Foundation outlines the disadvantages of North Carolina’s income tax system compared to surrounding states, and advocates for specific tax reforms to make North Carolina more competitive. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120410s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120410s1.html Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:25:00 EST North Carolina earned a grade of C for its charter school law, which is described as the “14th weakest in the nation” in the latest review of the nation’s 42 charter school laws conducted by the Center for Education Reform. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120409s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120409s1.html Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST School choice programs can help reduce the criminal activity of at-risk adolescent boys, according to a study of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120405s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120405s1.html Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:50:00 EST A North Carolina judge has dismissed a lawsuit which challenges the state law related to marriage licenses as unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120404s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120404s1.html Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:10:00 EST An abstinence education program used in several Georgia public schools had a “significant impact” on the attitudes, beliefs, and sexual behaviors of ninth graders who participated in the program, according to a new study. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120403s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120403s1.html Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:40:00 EST North Carolina shifted from a “middle ground” state to a state that is now considered “hostile” to abortion in 2011, thanks to what the Guttmacher Institute describes as a “year for the record books” in terms of the number of pro-life laws enacted nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120402s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120402s1.html Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:45:00 EST A new analysis finds that North Carolina counties with high poverty rates are much more likely to have per capita lottery sales significantly higher than the state average of $212 per adult. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120330s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120330s1.html Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:45:00 EST One of the largest Catholic student groups at Vanderbilt University will not register as an official student organization in the fall 2012 school year due to religious freedom conflicts with the university’s nondiscrimination policy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120329s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120329s1.html Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:15:00 EST The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activist groups across the country to help promote “National LGBT Health Awareness Week.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120328s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120328s1.html Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST Tennessee has joined nine other states in expressly protecting public school teachers’ ability to fully and objectively discuss controversial scientific topics like evolution and global warming. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120327s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120327s1.html Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EST Growing up in an intact family, delaying marriage until at least age 20, having a college diploma, and not cohabiting with your spouse prior to marriage are factors associated with a higher probability of a first marriage lasting at least 20 years, according to a new government report. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120326s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120326s1.html Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:27:00 EST President Obama’s public opposition to the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment that will be on the May 8 primary ballot in North Carolina is a “grave disappointment,” according to a the Catholic Bishops of Raleigh and Charlotte. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120323s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120323s1.html Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST Earlier this week, Union and Lincoln County’s Boards of Commissioners joined a growing number of counties and cities in North Carolina that have publicly endorsed the passage of the Marriage Protection Amendment on the May 8 primary ballot. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120322s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120322s1.html Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:55:00 EST A recent Elon University poll that purports to show that a slight majority of North Carolinians oppose the Marriage Protection Amendment is “not representative of actual current voter attitudes,” according to an analysis of the survey by a national polling group. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120321s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120321s1.html Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST Last week, the Obama Administration continued with its plan to force insurance coverage for contraception, abortifacients and sterilization with two rule announcements from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services related to the implementation of the new federal healthcare law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120320s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120320s1.html Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:10:00 EST Last week, President Barack Obama helped to highlight the pivotal role that North Carolina plays in the national battle over the institution of marriage by inserting his opinion into a statewide debate over the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment that will be on the May 8, 2012 primary ballot for all North Carolina voters to decide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120319s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120319s1.html Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST A new national survey shows that a majority of Americans believe that employers with moral or religious objections to contraception should be able to opt out of a new federal mandate requiring all public and private employers, including religious hospitals, charities and universities, to cover the cost of “all FDA-approved” contraceptives in their health insurance plans. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120316s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120316s1.html Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST Faced with a lawsuit for denying university recognition to a pro-life student group, officials at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro have reportedly changed their minds and decided to grant the club’s request to be recognized as an official religious club. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120315s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120315s1.html Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:24:00 EST A federal lawsuit alleging that Planned Parenthood submitted “repeated false, fraudulent, and ineligible claims for Medicaid reimbursements” through Texas Women’s Health Program was made public last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120314s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120314s1.html Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:22:00 EST The Stanly County Board of Commissioners has officially joined two other counties in North Carolina in endorsing the Marriage Protection Amendment that will be on the May 8, 2012 primary ballot. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120313s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120313s1.html Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST Two new research reports published by Focus on the Family take aim at the popular claim by homosexual activists and their allies that the children of same-sex couples are “no different” than children raised by married moms and dads in terms of health and other outcomes. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120312s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120312s1.html Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST Nearly two-thirds of likely North Carolina voters in the latest Civitas poll support the Marriage Protection Amendment that will be on the primary ballot on May 8, and support for the amendment increases among those who are opposed at the mention of a recent lawsuit challenging the state’s marriage laws. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120309s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120309s1.html Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST A divided panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled on March 3 that a 2010 law aimed at banning sweepstakes video gambling in the state is “overly broad” and “must be invalidated.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120308s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120308s1.html Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution on Monday supporting the passage of the North Carolina Marriage Protection Amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120307s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120307s1.html Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST Despite a warning from the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners opened its most recent meeting with a Christian prayer to Jesus Christ. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120306s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120306s1.html Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is facing a lawsuit for denying a pro-life student group an exemption to its nondiscrimination policy that requires officially recognized student groups to accept voting members and leaders  “without regard to their ...religion” as a condition of university recognition. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120305s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120305s1.html Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST At its March 1 meeting, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved the applications of nine new charter schools, which will be located in different parts of the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120302s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120302s1.html Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST Boys between the ages of 11 and 12 should be routinely vaccinated against the sexually transmitted Human Papillomavirus, according to a revised recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics issued this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120301s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120301s1.html Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST A bill approved by a the Virginia State Senate yesterday to require women seeking an abortion to first have an ultrasound is receiving national attention after opponents claimed the sometimes necessary vaginal ultrasound is akin to “rape.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120229s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120229s1.html Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST This weekend, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius touted North Carolina as a “hugely important” battleground state for homosexual activists. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120228s1.html Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Last week, the attorneys general of seven states joined several Catholic organizations and two private individuals in filing a lawsuit against the federal government over a federal mandate that requires public and private health insurance plans, including those offered by religious hospitals, universities, and charities, to cover “all FDA-approved” contraceptives. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120227s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120227s1.html Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Maryland is set to become the eighth state in the nation to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples, after the state senate approved a marriage redefinition bill last night. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120224s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120224s1.html Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Thanks to a new law enacted by the General Assembly during the 2011 legislative session, parents of special needs children can now claim a tax credit of up to $3,000 per semester (up to $6,000 annually) for qualified educational expenses. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120223s1.html Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST The Wake County Board of Commissioners has approved a resolution supporting the Marriage Protection Amendment that will be considered by North Carolina voters on May 8, 2012. At their February 20th meeting, the Commissioners approved a resolution supporting the Amendment by a vote of 4-3. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120222s1.html Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Pro-marriage advocates are responding to a recent analysis of the potential effects of the Marriage Protection Amendment by its opponents. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120221s1.html Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST New Jersey will not be the eighth state in the nation to enact a marriage redefinition law unless homosexual activists in the state can get a two-thirds majority of lawmakers to override the governor’s veto of a bill redefining marriage that was narrowly enacted by lawmakers last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120220s1.html Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST A district court judge in New York has temporarily halted a New York City Board of Education regulation that prohibits churches “from conducting their religious worship services in the [city’s public] schools.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120217s1.html Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST Homosexual activists are celebrating this week after the governor of Washington state signed a marriage redefinition bill into law, even though a referendum campaign launched by pro-family advocates could halt the new law from ever taking effect. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120216s1.html Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST Religious and educational leaders across the country are rejecting the Obama Administration’s changes to a new Health and Human Services rules that will require that contraception, abortifacients, and sterilizations be available at no cost through health insurance plans and companies nationwide with very few exceptions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120215s1.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST Despite threats from the American Civil Liberties Union, the North Carolina General Assembly should continue its longstanding tradition of opening legislative sessions with uncensored prayer, according to a letter sent last week to Attorney General Roy Cooper from a Christian civil liberties group. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120214s1.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Today marks the first day that North Carolina candidates who intend to run for public office in the 2012 elections can officially file with the State Board of Elections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120213s1.html Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST A report submitted to Congress earlier this week by the Alliance Defense Fund identifies “extensive waste, abuse and potential fraud” involving millions of dollars of federal funding by some Planned Parenthood affiliates in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120210s1.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST North Carolina students are struggling to keep up with the academic achievements of their peers around the world, according to a newly released report by the John Locke Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120209s1.html Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST The legal battle over the constitutionality of Proposition 8, California’s marriage amendment, continues its journey to the U.S. Supreme Court, after a federal appeals court issued its long-awaited ruling in the case yesterday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120208s1.html Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST Today marks the beginning of the 10th National Marriage Week in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120207s1.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation is using the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision not to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling in the Forsyth County public prayer case to attack the General Assembly’s historical practice of opening legislative sessions with uncensored prayers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120206s1.html Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST In a surprising reversal, the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced today that they would no longer be ending grants to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120203s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120203s2.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST The Tax Foundation’s annual 2012 State Business Tax Climate Index found that North Carolina suffers from the seventh worst tax system in the country. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120203s1.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST In a decision heralded by pro-life advocates, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has announced that they are ceasing grants to the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120202s1.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST In an important ruling issued last week recognizing that “tolerance is a two-way street,” a federal appeals court defended the First Amendment rights of a counseling student at Eastern Michigan University who was expelled by the university because of her religious beliefs about homosexuality. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120201s1.html Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST A host of Christian leaders and universities are resisting the Obama Administration’s announcement that nearly all employers, including religious universities and hospitals, will be required to provide health plans to employees that include coverage for contraceptive and sterilization services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120131s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201131s1.html Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST A record number of America’s children are enrolled in private school choice programs for the 2011-2012 school year after “the largest expansion of education opportunity in American history,” according to the Alliance for School Choice. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201130s1.html Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST The Orange County Board of Commissioners has adopted a resolution formally opposing the Marriage Protection Amendment, which will be considered by North Carolina voters on May 8, 2012. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120127s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201127s1.html Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST About half of teen mothers in a government survey were using contraception when they became pregnant, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201126s1.html Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST A three-judge panel has unanimously declined to delay the filing period and primary election date for North Carolina’s 2012 elections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201125s1.html Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST North Carolina is ranked as the 25th most pro-life state in the nation, moving up four spots from a 2011 ranking as the 29th most pro-life state, according to a new report from Americans United for Life. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201124s1.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST Despite thousands of complaints and two lawsuits, a federal mandate requiring public and private group health plans to cover “all FDA-approved” contraceptives will not exempt religious hospitals and universities, according to an announcement made Friday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201123s1.html Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST As pro-homosexual activists gear up to oppose a Marriage Protection Amendment in North Carolina, an impressively broad array of religious leaders have signed an “open letter to all Americans,” affirming the definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman, and warning of the significant threat that marriage redefinition poses to both religious freedom and “the common good.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/120120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201120s1.html Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST Governor Beverly Perdue announced earlier this week that she intends to propose a budget for next year that will include a sales tax increase to help restore education funding cuts that were made to help balance the 2011-2012 budget. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201119s1.html Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to clarify a nationwide standard regarding prayer at public government meetings by declining to hear an appeal of a case involving the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners’ public invocation policy that allows prayers to specific deities. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201118s1.html Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST On Sunday, January 22, pro-life advocates around our state and nation will join together in recognition of “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday,” an annual day set aside to honor the intrinsic value of human life, from conception to natural death. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201117s1.html Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST Churches have the right under the First Amendment to hire or fire their own ministers without the interference of the government’s employment discrimination laws, according to a landmark decision handed down Wednesday by the United States Supreme Court. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201113s1.html Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST A coalition of contraceptive-based sex education advocates and health organizations has released a set of proposed national standards for sex education in K-12 schools that includes the promotion of sexual and gender confusion in the classroom beginning in Kindergarten. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/1201112s1.html Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST A Wake County judge has halted implementation of a recently-passed bill that would prevent the voluntary automatic deduction of association dues from the paychecks of North Carolina public school employees for the North Carolina Association of Educators, while continuing to allow voluntary payroll deduction for payments to other state employees’ associations. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120111s1.html Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST In the fading days of 2011, Congress and President Obama approved an omnibus appropriations bill that includes the restoration of $5 million in federal funding for abstinence-based sex education programs. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120110s1.html Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST The United States Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Tuesday in an important case that could determine the constitutionality of the Federal Communications Commission’s enforcement of a ban on the broadcast of indecent material on television during the hours when children are most likely watching. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120109s1.html Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST In the wee hours Thursday morning, the General Assembly overrode a gubernatorial veto of a bill to eliminate automatic dues deductions from the paychecks of state employees who are members of the state’s largest teachers’ union. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120106s1.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST On January 1, a number of new laws passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2011 session took effect, including stricter regulations on the sale of cold medicines aimed at stopping the production of methamphetamine, a restriction on running for more than one political office, and new requirements for teenage drivers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120105s1.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST Legislators have returned to Raleigh today for a special veto override session, following the Governor’s recent veto of legislation that would reform the state’s Racial Justice Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120104s1.html Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST A new report from the Brookings Institute examines the negative effects of the Great Recession on America’s children, including rising child poverty rates and dependence on government assistance programs. http://ncfamily.org/stories/120103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/120103s1.html Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST Four popular reality television shows reinforce negative gender stereotypes and, on average, portray women very poorly, according to a newly released study from the Parent Television Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111230s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111230s1.html Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST An Evangelical Christian college has joined a Catholic college in North Carolina in challenging a federal mandate in the healthcare reform law that forces religious institutions to pay for contraceptives, including drugs that cause abortions, in their group health insurance plans. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111229s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111229s1.html Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST On December 22, U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles denied the request of a group of pro-life medical professionals, post-abortive women, and pregnancy counseling centers to “intervene as Defendants in a constitutional challenge to [North Carolina’s] Woman’s Right to Know Act.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/111228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111228s1.html Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST While it may be politically correct to celebrate the holiday season using the phrases of “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings,” a new poll has found that two-thirds of Americans prefer to use the traditional greeting of “Merry Christmas.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/111223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111223s1.html Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST A landmark report from The Center for Education Reform this month analyzes charter school closures across the nation since 1992 and what those closings indicate about the quality of charter schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111222s1.html Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST Recent exposure to pornography is strongly associated with group sex among young girls, according to a new study led by a researcher at the Boston University School of Public Health. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111221s1.html Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST A new report from the Independent Women’s Forum argues that America’s current welfare system is doing more harm than help. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111220s1.html Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST Births to unmarried women have increased substantially in the United States since 1970, mainly due to changing family structures, such as the rise in cohabitation, according to a new report from Child Trends. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111219s1.html Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST Claiming it is unconstitutional for the State to require that marriages be solemnized by religious clergy and licensed by the State, a lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s marriage laws was filed in Guilford County last week, and appears to be an attempt to open the door for same-sex couples to legally “marry.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/111216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111216s1.html Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST More fathers are staying home as the primary caregivers for their children, according to findings from the United States Census Bureau. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111215s1.html Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST According to new data from the State Center for Health Statistics, both birth rates and abortion rates, as well as teen pregnancies, dropped in North Carolina last year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111214s1.html Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST The D.C. Office of Human Rights recently dismissed a complaint that was filed against the Catholic University of America because of its decision this past summer to eliminate co-ed housing for students on campus. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111213s1.html Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST Ten factors related to a married couple’s social life and relationships, including shared religious faith and household duties, help increase the chances that parenthood will strengthen, not weaken, the marital bond, according to the latest “State of Our Unions” report. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111212s1.html Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has stepped in to prevent the Food and Drug Administration from making the “morning-after” abortifacient drug, Plan B One-Step, available over the counter without a prescription and without an age requirement. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111209s1.html Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST President Obama reemphasized Tuesday that the promotion of the homosexual agenda is a key part of U.S. foreign policy under his administration by announcing a series of initiatives aimed at advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals worldwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111208s1.html Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST At its meeting on Tuesday, December 6, the City of Raleigh publicly denounced the Marriage Protection Amendment, becoming the first municipality to express such opposition since the September vote by the State Legislature to allow the citizens of North Carolina to vote on the proposal next year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111207s1.html Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST On Monday, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education of the City of New York, a case involving a 16-year legal battle over the New York City Board of Education’s policy of prohibiting churches and other religious groups from having equal access to public school buildings. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111206s1.html Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit will hear oral arguments later this week on two appeals in Perry v. Brown, the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8, California’s marriage amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111205s1.html Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST The economic recession has increased poverty in the United States for many families, especially those headed by single mothers who experience higher poverty rates than other family forms in any economic climate, according to a new report from Child Trends. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111202s1.html Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST The Freedom from Religious Foundation is seeking disciplinary action against a North Carolina Sheriff who placed an advertisement in a local newspaper calling on Americans to turn “back to God’s Law and man’s standards established from God’s Law.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/111201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111201s1.html Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST Even though over 300 applications for the “Choose Life NC” specialty license plates have been submitted by North Carolina motorists to the State Department of Motor Vehicles as required by law before new plates are produced, the DMV is currently prohibited from producing the plates, because of a federal judges’ ruling Monday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111130s1.html Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST Governor Beverly Perdue has signed a new 30-year compact with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that would allow Las Vegas style gambling at their casino and open the door for more casinos across North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111129s1.html Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST A group of pro-life advocates in Jacksonville, North Carolina, will be allowed to resume praying and picketing in front of the city’s only abortion clinic, while city attorneys modify a public ordinance that the city had previously used to prohibit them from doing so. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111128s1.html Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST The majority of American teenagers have never had sexual intercourse, and religious or moral values are the top reasons cited by teens for not having sex, according to the latest report on teen sexual activity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111123s1.html Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST A new government report finds that the rate of sexually transmitted diseases in the country rose in 2010, especially among younger populations. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111122s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111122s1.html Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST Less than half of American teenagers today are growing up in families headed by both biological parents who are married to one another, according to a new report from the Marriage and Religion Research Institute at the Family Research Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111121s1.html Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST Proponents of California’s marriage amendment, Proposition 8, have the right to continue to defend the amendment in federal court against an ongoing legal challenge, even though state officials normally charged with that responsibility refuse to do so, according to a long-awaited ruling issued yesterday by the State Supreme Court. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111118s1.html Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST After a lengthy review of preliminary arguments, the United States Supreme Court has agreed to review three lawsuits challenging the Patient Protection and Afordable Care Act, the controversial federal health care law passed in 2010. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111117s1.html Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST More than two-dozen members of the U.S. Senate are objecting to the Administration’s recent decision to discontinue its relationship with a Catholic group that provides services and help to victims of human trafficking. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111116s1.html Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST A federal court ruled November 8 in favor of New York’s “Choose Life” license plate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111115s1.html Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST Belmont Abbey, a small Catholic college near Charlotte, North Carolina, is suing the federal government, challenging a mandate in the healthcare reform law that forces the college to pay for contraceptive drugs that may cause abortions in its group insurance plan. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111114s1.html Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST Two national pro-life groups are seeking to defend North Carolina’s new informed consent law on behalf of a group of North Carolina physicians, post-abortive women, and pregnancy resource centers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111111s1.html Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST Members of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina overwhelmingly approved two resolutions this week related to key public policy issues facing the state—one that pledges the convention’s support for the Marriage Protection Amendment, and another that opposes the expansion of gambling in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111110s1.html Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST The Judiciary committee of the United States Senate has scheduled for consideration this week, a bill to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111109s1.html Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST A coalition of citizens from across the state filed a lawsuit last week in Wake County Superior Court, challenging the new voting districts approved by the North Carolina General Assembly this summer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111108s1.html Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST Newly released test scores from the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress contain encouraging trends in the math scores of North Carolina students, with the state ranking slightly higher than the national average. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111107s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111107s1.html Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST Many divorces in the United States are unnecessary and occur in low-conflict marriages that could be saved, according to a new report from the Institute for American Values. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111104s1.html Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST The U.S. House of Representative’s Energy and Commerce Committee recently held a hearing to “examine the status of internet gaming in the United States and to consider how consumers and other stakeholders would be affected if current legal restrictions were eased.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/111103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111103s1.html Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice gave pre-clearance to North Carolina’s proposed new voting districts. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111102s1.html Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST As part of the recently-enacted Woman's Right to Know Act, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has launched a website dedicated to providing pregnant women who seek abortions with complete and accurate information. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111101s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111101s1.html Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST Attorneys representing the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners filed a petition last week with the United States Supreme Court, asking it to reverse a federal appeals’ court ruling that found the county’s public prayer policy unconstitutional because it allows prayers to specific deities. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111031s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111031s1.html Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST The United States Supreme Court has denied review of the case Sherman v. Koch, thus upholding a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which ruled that an Illinois State statute mandating public schools to hold a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day was constitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111027s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111027s2.html Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that boys as young as 11 years old be vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111027s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111027s1.html Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A federal district court judge has ruled that a portion of the Woman’s Right to Know Act not take effect as scheduled today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111026s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111026s1.html Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST An official at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has said that a Christian a cappella group did not violate the University’s non-discrimination policy when they expelled a homosexual member of their group for his views on homosexuality. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111025s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111025s1.html Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A bill has been filed in the Illinois State Senate to allow Catholic Charities in the state to continue their foster care and adoption programs after the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services ended its nearly 50-year relationship with Catholic Charities in light of the State’s new civil unions law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111024s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111024s1.html Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A federal judge signed a consent decree this week ordering the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to put an end to policies hostile to religion at national seminaries. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111021s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111021s1.html Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A newly released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some encouraging news about the sexual behavior of teenagers, including that an increasing number of teens are choosing abstinence. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111020s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111020s1.html Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition to review a lower court’s decision that Louisiana is not required to recognize a same-sex couple’s adoption of a child that occurred in New York. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111019s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111019s1.html Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 358—Protect Life Act, a measure that would prohibit the federal healthcare law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), from requiring “any health plan to provide coverage of or access to abortion services” or “coverage of, access to, or training in abortion services.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/111018s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111018s1.html Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST Christian and conservative groups in California failed to collect enough signatures to prevent the State’s “first-in-the-nation gay history law” from going into effect. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111017s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111017s1.html Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST A new poll by Public Policy Polling has found strong support for the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment that will be put before North Carolina voters in the 2012 primary election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111014s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111014s1.html Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST The Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation, an organization devoted to highlighting the harms caused by government policies that allow and promote gambling, has released a new report that exposes the fact that many who benefit from the gambling industry do not themselves gamble. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111013s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111013s1.html Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST The Town Council of La Grange, North Carolina has decided to reinstate its 140-year tradition of convening meetings with prayer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111012s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111012s1.html Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST Late Friday afternoon, Governor Perdue announced that she plans to vote against an amendment to the State Constitution that would preserve the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111011s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111011s1.html Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) recently issued two guidance memos for military chaplains that appear to indicate a change of policy regarding their participation in same-sex wedding ceremonies as a result of last month’s repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111010s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111010s1.html Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST Congress has launched an investigation into questionable practices by the nation’s leading abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111007s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111007s2.html Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A Congressional committee has given preliminary approval to a bill that would end U.S. funding of controversial anti-life family planning operations through the United Nations Population Fund. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111007s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111007s1.html Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A new poll of likely North Carolina voters finds strong support across partisan lines for the actual wording of the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment that will come before North Carolinians in the May 2012 primary election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111006s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111006s1.html Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST In the opening days of its new term, the United States Supreme Court opted to let stand a lower court ruling that religious organizations may use religious-based criteria in their hiring and practices. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111005s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111005s1.html Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A homosexual advocacy group based in Asheville launched a campaign this week aimed at publicly resisting North Carolina’s current laws that prohibit same-sex “marriage,” and protesting the proposed amendment to the State Constitution that will further protect the institution of marriage in the Tar Heel state from redefinition. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111004s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111004s1.html Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST A new study from the North Carolina Justice Center concludes that the North Carolina lottery, which was sold to citizens and legislators as a means to provide additional funding to schools, has not fulfilled it promises to education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/111003s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/111003s1.html Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging North Carolina’s recently enacted Woman’s Right to Know Act, which requires that women seeking an abortion be provided with complete and accurate information about the procedure and their unborn child, and wait 24 hours after receiving that information to procure an abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110930s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110930s1.html Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST The estimated number of same-sex couple households in the United States for 2010 is significantly lower than previously reported, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau earlier this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110929s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110929s1.html Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST A new report from the John Locke Foundation contends that North Carolina education leaders have sacrificed quality education in favor of high graduation rates. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110928s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110928s1.html Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST Pro-life citizens in North Carolina and across the United States will have the opportunity this month to participate in two important events aimed at protesting and ending abortion with the bi-annual “40 Days for Life” campaign, and “National Life Chain Sunday.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110927s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110927s1.html Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST Today families across the country will eat dinner together as part of Family Day — A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children, a national initiative proclaiming that “Dinner Makes A Difference.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110926s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110926s1.html Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST Several of today’s most popular social media platforms have policies and practices in place that censor the expression of Christian viewpoints, according to a new report from The John Milton Project for Religious Freedom of the National Religious Broadcasters. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110923s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110923s1.html Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST This week, parties on both sides of the debate over the definition of marriage in North Carolina have taken to the airwaves and gone before the general public to make the case for and against the Marriage Protection Amendment, which the General Assembly recently voted to place before voters on the 2012 primary ballot. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110922s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110922s1.html Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST A new report is giving analytical support to the charge that family planning and abortion providers like Planned Parenthood target minority populations. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110921s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110921s1.html Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST Today, homosexual activists across the nation are celebrating the official end of the 17 year-old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibited homosexuals from serving openly in the United States military. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110920s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110920s1.html Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST The nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group has launched a new 50-state campaign aimed at increasing the number of children placed with LGBT foster or adoptive parents. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110919s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110919s1.html Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST A bill has been introduced in the United States House that would reauthorize some of the federal funding for abstinence education that was eliminated from the most recent federal budget for 2012. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110916s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110916s1.html Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST Nearly nine out of 10 Protestant pastors disagree with the government’s use of IRS regulations to censor political content from their sermons, according to a new survey conducted by the Alliance Defense Fund and Lifeway Research. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110915s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110915s1.html Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST In just over 24 hours, the General Assembly accomplished what pro-marriage advocates have been asking it to do for eight years—pass marriage protection legislation to place a Marriage Protection Amendment before the people of North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110914s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110914s1.html Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST This afternoon, the State Senate gave final approval to a bill that puts to rest a nearly decade-long battle to put a Marriage Protection Amendment before the people of North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110913s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110913s2.html Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST On Monday, September 12th, the North Carolina House stood up for the right of North Carolinians to vote on the definition of marriage by approving legislation that would send a Marriage Protection Amendment to the citizens in the first primary in 2012. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110913s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110913s1.html Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST A homosexual advocacy group has released an updated set of legal guidelines for same-sex parents that encourages them to avoid using state marriage and/or adoption laws that uphold the rights of natural parents against their former same-sex partners in custody disputes. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110912s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110912s1.html Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST On September 8, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit arguing that the General Assembly violated the First Amendment when it authorized a “Choose Life” license plate without also authorizing a plate supporting abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110909s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110909s1.html Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST This Monday, September 12, as lawmakers prepare to begin the long-awaited special session on constitutional amendments, pro-family citizens will have the opportunity to physically show their support for proposed legislation that will allow North Carolinians to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110908s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110908s1.html Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST With the special legislative session on constitutional amendments scheduled to begin next Monday, September 12, the verbal battle over proposed legislation that would finally give North Carolinians the opportunity to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment is in full swing. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110907s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110907s1.html Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST On Friday, the state Attorney General’s Office filed legal papers with the U.S. Department of Justice and a federal district court in Washington, seeking approval of its proposed new boundaries for congressional and state legislative districts. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110906s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110906s1.html Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST On Thursday, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved a proposal to allow for a “fast-track” application process for charter schools, which would allow approved charters to be operational by August 2012, instead of August 2013. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110902s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110902s1.html Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST A group of Catholic Charities in Illinois plan to appeal a state circuit judge’s ruling that the State’s new civil unions law allows it to end its nearly 50-year relationship with Catholic Charities to provide adoption and foster-care services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110901s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110901s1.html Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST Leaders of the North Carolina House of Representatives held a press conference Tuesday stating their unequivocal support for SB 106—Defense of Marriage, a bill slated to be considered by the General Assembly in mid-September that would allow voters to decide whether to protect the definition of marriage in the State Constitution. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110831s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110831s1.html Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST A group that had previously been unfairly denied the opportunity to show a film promoting Intelligent Design will receive $110,000 from the state-run California Science Center and be allowed to reschedule the cancelled event. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110830s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110830s1.html Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST Children and teens watching today’s most popular animated programming on cable are consuming large doses of sexual content, explicit drug use, and profanity along with their cartoons, according to a new report from the Parents Television Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110829s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110829s1.html Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Yesterday, the U.S. Census Bureau released new state and national data that provide a more detailed picture of the characteristics of marriage and divorce in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110826s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110826s1.html Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST A new survey finds that only one in seven ob-gyns in the United States perform abortions for their patients who seek them. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110825s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110825s1.html Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST At least 14 states in 2011 have considered bills dealing with “foundational questions on the meaning of marriage,” including some states, such as North Carolina, where the measures are still pending, according to a new research brief from the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110824s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110824s1.html Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST On August 19, a federal district court judge temporarily halted a provision of the North Carolina state budget that prohibits the state from providing funding to Planned Parenthood. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110823s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110823s1.html Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Legislative efforts to expand parental choice in education were “unprecedented” in 2011, with lawmakers in the majority of states, including North Carolina, introducing or passing measures aimed at supporting school choice, according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110822s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110822s1.html Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST The State Attorney General has filed a notice of  appeal on behalf of legislative leaders, challenging a Wake County Superior Court judge’s ruling that the State cannot deny admission to eligible applicants for the State’s pre-kindergarten program for at-risk children. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110819s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110819s1.html Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Homosexual advocates in Maine are launching a second attempt to legalize same-sex “marriage” in the state, despite a 2009 vote by the people to repeal a same-sex “marriage” law enacted by the legislature. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110818s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110818s1.html Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Children today are more likely to spend time in a cohabiting household and to suffer a myriad of negative lifetime effects as a result, than they are to experience the divorce of their parents, according to a new report released Wednesday by a team of family scholars from some of the nation’s leading educational institutions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110817s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110817s1.html Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST The University of North Carolina at Wilmington has prepared a list of homosexuality affirming churches in the area to provide to students, raising concerns that taxpayer funds are being used for the promotion of the homosexual lifestyle. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110816s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110816s1.html Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST A federal appeals court has ruled that a key provision of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110815s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110815s1.html Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST On Wednesday, Governor Beverly Perdue issued an executive order, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to accept all eligible children into the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program despite recent funding cuts, as well as to work with the state’s educational agencies to ensure that “current academic standards and operation” are “maintained and strengthened” while oversight of the program is transferred. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110812s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110812s1.html Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Homosexual men and minority men accounted for the largest increases in HIV incidences in the United States between 2006 and 2009, according to new data released August 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110811s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110811s1.html Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Forsyth County will ask the United States Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court ruling that prohibits the county from allowing local clergy to open its public meetings with prayers that mention a specific deity. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110810s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110810s1.html Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST A bill to provide stronger conscience protections related to medical care in light of the recently passed healthcare overhaul legislation is gaining attention after a new poll found that 46 percent of Americans oppose requiring all insurance companies to cover contraception without any charges to the patient. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110809s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110809s1.html Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST In a move that comes as no surprise to those on both sides of the national debate over the institution of marriage, the governing board of the American Psychological Association has unanimously approved a resolution endorsing “full marriage equality for same-sex couples.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110808s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110808s1.html Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST This week, the State Board of Education approved a new Advisory Council charged with recommending charter school policies and new charter school approvals to the Board in light of the General Assembly lifting the cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110805s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110805s1.html Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST On August 1, the Obama Administration issued a requirement that all public and private health insurance plans must cover “all Food and Drug Administration contraceptive methods, [and] sterilization methods” without making them subject to copays, as part of the implementation of the new health care law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110804s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110804s1.html Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Last week, as legislators concluded the first of two special legislative sessions, they also approved the final changes to the new redistricting maps for the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the state’s congressional delegation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110803s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110803s1.html Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST On Friday, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that prohibits Forsyth County, North Carolina, from opening its public meetings with prayers that promote a specific faith. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110802s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110802s1.html Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST Nearly half of American high school students currently report smoking, drinking alcohol, or using other drugs, which greatly increases their chances of addiction as adults, according to a new report from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110801s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110801s1.html Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST In a historic vote on July 28, the North Carolina Senate joined the House in voting to override the Governor’s veto of HB 854—Abortion-Woman’s Right to Know, a measure that has been a key legislative goal for pro-leaders and lawmakers in the state for over a decade. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110729s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110729s1.html Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST After a nearly decade-long wait, pro-life motorists in North Carolina can finally apply for a “Choose Life” specialty license plate to support the work of pregnancy resource centers throughout the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110728s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110728s1.html Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST On Tuesday afternoon, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted to override the Governor’s veto on HB 854—Abortion-Woman's Right to Know, a measure that helps ensure that women considering abortion are given complete and accurate information about the procedure and their unborn child. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110727s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110727s1.html Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST As of September 20, 2011, openly homosexual persons will be permitted to serve in the United States armed forces. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110726s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110726s1.html Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST On July 21, the Durham City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing proposed legislation in the North Carolina General Assembly that would give the voters of this state the opportunity to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110725s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110725s1.html Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST According to a new report, amenities such as air conditioning, cable or satellite television, and an X-Box are found in the homes of the majority of American families that the United States government defines as “poor.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110722s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110722s1.html Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST This week, Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning issued a Memorandum of Decision and Order dealing with certain provisions of the recently approved State Budget that apply to state-funded pre-Kindergarten programs. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110721s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110721s1.html Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST Yesterday, the White House made President Obama’s previous statements in favor of repealing the 1996 federal law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman official by publicly supporting legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110720s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110720s1.html Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST Three of Illinois’ Catholic Charities will continue their work with the State’s Department of Children and Family Services to serve the children in need of foster care and adoption services, while a lawsuit regarding the Charities’ refusal to place children with same-sex couples in the wake of Illinois’ recently-passed civil unions law moves forward. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110719s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110719s1.html Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST Last week, California became the first state in the nation to enact a law requiring the teaching of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history in the state’s public school classrooms. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110718s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110718s1.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST Americans United for Life and some members of Congress are calling for a Congressional review of Planned Parenthood in light of a new AUL report that explores a number of disturbing allegations of misconduct and illegal activity by the nation’s largest abortion provider and its affiliates. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110715s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110715s1.html Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST On their first day back in Raleigh, the North Carolina Senate successfully voted to override the Governor’s veto on six different measures that had been vetoed after the traditional session came to a close at the end of June. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110714s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110714s1.html Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST Today, at 12:00 noon, the North Carolina General Assembly will formally reconvene in Raleigh for a special session to finalize the state’s new redistricting maps, as well as to attempt to override the Governor’s veto of several different measures. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110713s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110713s1.html Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST For the first time in nearly 150 years, Republican legislators in North Carolina have one of the most valuable privileges of their historic 2010 electoral wins—the right to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative districts in light of population changes over the last decade. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110712s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110712s1.html Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST On July 7th, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in support of an amendment to affirm the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for all federal purposes. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110711s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110711s1.html Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the State for a provision in the recently enacted state budget that prohibits the abortion provider or any of its affiliates from receiving state funding, as well as certain federal funding administered by the State. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110708s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110708s1.html Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST On July 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a court order that reinstates a lower court’s decision to prevent the enforcement of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110707s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110707s1.html Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST A national school choice advocacy group reports that in the first six months of 2011 alone, 11 states, including North Carolina, enacted school choice legislation in the form of school vouchers or tax credit programs—more than any other previous year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110706s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110706s1.html Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST On July 1, Rhode Island became the eighth state to legalize same-sex civil unions, in the second major victory for homosexual rights activists in as many weeks. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110705s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110705s1.html Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST Two long-awaited pro-family bills became law yesterday after the Governor signed a license plate bill that authorizes a “Choose Life” license plate and allowed an education tax credit for parents of special-needs children to go into effect without her signature. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110701s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110701s1.html Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST On June 24, a federal judge in Indiana issued a ruling that upheld a key provision of the state’s informed consent for abortion law, which requires that women be informed that the life of their unborn child begins at conception. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110630s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110630s1.html Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a 2005 California law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors is unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110629s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110629s1.html Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST Hours before the deadline, Governor Beverly Perdue vetoed a bill that would require women to be provided with complete and accurate information about their unborn child and the procedure when considering an abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110628s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110628s1.html Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST In what marriage redefinition supporters dubbed a “historic turning point” for the state and the nation, New York is set to become the sixth and largest state to legalize same-sex “marriage.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110627s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110627s1.html Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST Last night, Governor Beverly Perdue signed into law 22 of the over 200 bills sent to her by the General Assembly, and vetoed a bill that would have required voters in North Carolina to provide a photo I.D. before they could cast their votes. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110624s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110624s1.html Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST A new study shows that early sexual activity is directly linked to an increased risk of divorce later in life. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110623s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110623s1.html Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST On Saturday, June 18, the North Carolina General Assembly concluded the first part of the 2011-2012 legislative biennium and brought to an end a fast-paced session that saw the passage of a host of key pro-family initiatives. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110622s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110622s1.html Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST Last week, at its meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations Human Rights Council made history by narrowly approving a pro-homosexual resolution that for the first time focuses on human rights violations related to homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110621s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110621s1.html Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST A new nationwide survey shows that the majority of Americans still define marriage as only between one man and one woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110620s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110620s1.html Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned today, having completed the first part of what is arguably the best pro-family legislative session in more than a decade. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110618s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110618s1.html Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST Next Monday, June 20, citizens from across North Carolina are invited to gather with a bipartisan group of state and national lawmakers at the State Capitol for the first-ever “North Carolina Call to Prayer Day.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110617s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110617s1.html Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST In an unprecedented and historic move, the North Carolina General Assembly overrode a gubernatorial veto of the state budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, which makes North Carolina the third state in the nation to defund Planned Parenthood. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110616s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110616s1.html Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST Yesterday, a federal district court judge in California denied a motion to vacate now-retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s controversial ruling that struck down Proposition 8, California’s marriage amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110615s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110615s1.html Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST Homosexual activists and their allies are busy celebrating “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride” during the month of June, and the White House has been helping to promote the annual pro-homosexual event in various and unprecedented ways. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110614s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110614s1.html Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST On Sunday afternoon, Governor Beverly Perdue vetoed the $19.7 billion State budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year that was sent to her earlier this month by the General Assembly, blaming her decision mainly on the proposed cuts in the area of education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110613s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110613s1.html Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST This week, the North Carolina General Assembly approved two bills to provide greater educational choice to parents, and another bill to emphasize the principles included in America’s founding documents in high school curricula. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110610s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110610s1.html Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST Yesterday, in a major victory for the pro-life movement in North Carolina, the State House of Representatives passed two long-awaited measures—one aimed at providing women with more information about abortion and their unborn babies, and another that includes a specialty license plate that will help raise funds for pro-life groups that provide women with alternatives to abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110609s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110609s1.html Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST As Illinois’ new civil unions law takes effect this month, the leaders of three Catholic Charities in the state are taking a pro-active approach to the impending threat to religious liberty posed by the law, which has already led another diocese in Illinois to end its state-funded adoption and foster care services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110608s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110608s1.html Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST A new poll for National Public Radio finds that a strong majority of Americans, especially young Americans, believe having an abortion is wrong. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110607s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110607s1.html Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST On Friday, a special House subcommittee considered HB—239 Granparents Visitation Rights, a bill that seeks to change North Carolina law to significantly expand the legal rights of grandparents seeking visitation with their grandchildren. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110606s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110606s2.html Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST On Friday, the House Finance Committee voted 21 to 7 to approve HB 344—Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities, a bill that would allow eligible parents of disabled children to receive a yearly educational tax credit of up to $3,000 per semester. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110606s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110606s1.html Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST On Thursday, the House Finance Committee passed HB 298—Authorize Various Special Plates, a bill that would give approval to a number of new specialty license plates for North Carolina drivers, including a long awaited “Choose Life” plate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110603s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110603s1.html Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST A Texas court has ruled that the “marriage” of two men—one of whom was posing as a woman unbeknownst to the other—is null and void, stating that a person’s sex is determined at birth and cannot be changed. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110602s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110602s1.html Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST In yet another example of the growing threat to religious freedom from the legalization of same-sex unions, Catholic Charities of Rockford, Illinois, will end its 100 year-old state-funded adoption and foster care services today to avoid the possibility of having to place children with same-sex couples when Illinois’ new civil unions law takes effect. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110601s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110601s1.html Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST As the North Carolina Lottery enters its sixth year of operation, its advertising practices are raising eyebrows across the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110531s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110531s1.html Tue, 31 May 2011 10:00:00 EST Religious groups responsible for providing chaplains to serve members of the United States military have sent a joint letter to the three U.S. military’s chiefs of chaplains, urging them to advocate for clear religious liberty protections in light of the recent repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." http://ncfamily.org/stories/110527s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110527s1.html Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST The North Carolina House of Representatives has approved a bill to allow citizens to vote on a constitutional amendment that would that would change the state’s education administrative structure. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110526s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110526s1.html Thu, 26 May 2011 10:00:00 EST A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau includes several interesting findings, including the fact that Americans are marrying at older ages, if they marry at all. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110525s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110525s1.html Wed, 25 May 2011 10:00:00 EST The citizens of Minnesota will soon have the opportunity to vote on a state constitutional amendment to preserve marriage, after the State House gave final approval Saturday night to legislation that will put the question of a Marriage Protection Amendment before the voters on a November 2012 ballot. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110524s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110524s1.html Tue, 24 May 2011 10:00:00 EST In response to a request from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for public feedback on how the federal government should address peer-to-peer violence and bullying in K-12 public schools, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has submitted its model anti-bullying policy for consideration. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110523s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110523s1.html Mon, 23 May 2011 10:00:00 EST On Thursday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services approved legislation that would ensure that women considering abortion are given complete and accurate information about the procedure and their unborn child. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110520s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110520s1.html Fri, 20 May 2011 10:00:00 EST A federal appeals court is preparing to hear arguments in a case that questions whether the First Amendment right to free speech applies to elementary school students in public schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110519s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110519s1.html Thu, 19 May 2011 10:00:00 EST On Tuesday, the House Transportation gave approval to HB 289—Authorize Various Special Plates, a bill that would authorize numerous new specialty license plates for North Carolina drivers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110518s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110518s2.html Wed, 18 May 2011 10:00:00 EST Several thousand North Carolinians gathered outside the Legislature on May 17 to urge legislators to pass Marriage Protection Amendment legislation that would allow citizens to vote on whether to include the traditional definition of marriage in the State Constitution. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110518s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110518s1.html Wed, 18 May 2011 10:00:00 EST A new report from The Beacon Hill Institute finds that allowing the temporary one percent increase in North Carolina’s sales tax to expire, lowering the corporate income tax rate, and eliminating the surcharge on high income earners in the state would create tens of thousands of jobs, and lead to billions of dollars in increased investments and disposable income over the next two years. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110517s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110517s1.html Tue, 17 May 2011 10:00:00 EST Religious liberty is currently under attack in three key areas—health care, institutional religious freedom, and issues involving same-sex “marriage” and pro-homosexual nondiscrimination policies—according to a recent report published by The Heritage Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110516s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110516s1.html Mon, 16 May 2011 10:00:00 EST On May 11, a North Carolina House committee approved a bill that would protect a woman’s right to receive complete and accurate information when considering abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110512s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110512s2.html Thu, 12 May 2011 10:00:00 EST On Tuesday, the House Transportation committee heard HB 289—Authorize Various Special Plates, a bill that would authorize a host of new specialty license plates for North Carolina drivers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110512s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110512s1.html Thu, 12 May 2011 10:00:00 EST Tomorrow, a federal appeals court will hear oral arguments in an important religious freedom case for North Carolina involving a challenge to Forsyth County’s public prayer policy that allows various clergy members to pray to specific deities, including “in the name of Jesus,” prior to commission meetings. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110511s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110511s1.html Wed, 11 May 2011 3:00:00 EST A new report from The Heritage Foundation finds that the more time children spend in day care, the more problem behaviors they are likely to elicit. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110510s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110510s1.html Tue, 10 May 2011 12:00:00 EST After receiving U.S. House approval, a congressional ban on federal funding of abortions now seems likely to die in the Senate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110509s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110509s1.html Mon, 09 May 2011 10:00:00 EST Make plans now to join pro-family citizens from across the state in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 17, to express support for a constitutional amendment to preserve marriage in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110506s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110506s2.html Fri, 06 May 2011 10:00:00 EST On Wednesday, after a marathon committee discussion, two days of full debate on the floor, and numerous amendments considered, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted 72-47 to pass HB 200—Appropriations Act of 2011, the state budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110506s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110506s1.html Fri, 06 May 2011 10:00:00 EST Today, millions of Americans will exercise their constitutional right to gather in their homes, offices, churches, and on public property to pray for the United States and its leaders in recognition of the 60th annual National Day of Prayer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110505s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110505s2.html Thu, 05 May 2011 10:00:00 EST On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee B considered HB 854—Woman's Right to Know, a bill that would ensure that women considering an abortion are provided with complete and accurate information about the procedure and their unborn child. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110505s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110505s1.html Thu, 05 May 2011 10:00:00 EST The Senate Rules Committee has given initial approval to a bill that would allow the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians of North Carolina to operate its own Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, rather than remaining subject to the current statewide ABC system. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110504s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110504s1.html Wed, 04 May 2011 10:00:00 EST Children living with their married father and mother are significantly safer from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse than children living with single or cohabiting parents, according to the latest data on child abuse and neglect from the federal government. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110503s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110503s1.html Tue, 03 May 2011 10:00:00 EST On April 29, Governor Beverly Perdue signed a bill to make North Carolina the 36th state in the nation, in addition to the federal government, to provide legal protection and recognition to those unborn children who are injured or die as a result of violent crimes committed against their mothers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110502s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110502s1.html Mon, 02 May 2011 10:00:00 EST The House Appropriations Committee has approved its version of a $19.3 billion budget for the state, with the full House taking up the measure early next week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110429s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110429s1.html Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST On Tuesday, the House Education Committee passed HB 344—Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities, a bill that would provide the parents of disabled students with a tax credit, should those parents decide that their child would be better served in a nonpublic or tuition-based public school. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110428s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110428s1.html Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST A locally-produced documentary that aired the Monday night after Easter on UNC-TV provides a revealing glimpse into the homosexual agenda for the Church, both here in North Carolina and nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110427s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110427s1.html Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST House Republicans have hired a new law firm to represent the U.S. House of Representatives in a pending case challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act after the Obama Administration announced earlier this year that the Department of Justice will no longer be defending DOMA in court. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110426s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110426s1.html Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST Last week, Oklahoma became the fourth state in the nation to ban abortions after 20 weeks, joining a growing number of states to enact or consider legislation that restricts late-term abortions and recognizes that unborn children are capable of experiencing pain. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110425s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110425s1.html Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST Despite a slow start aimed at allowing members to assist their communities with recovery efforts after the weekend storms, the legislature was in high gear this week, as members tackled a number of bills, including a ban on considering international law in North Carolina courts, a number of newly-introduced bills in the Senate, and a new budget provision to prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving state funding or contracts. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110421s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110421s1.html Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST On Tuesday, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted 77-40 to concur with the Senate version of HB 215—Unborn Victims of Violence/Ethen's Law, sending the bill to Governor Beverly Perdue for final approval. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110420s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110420s1.html Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST Delaware is poised to become the eighth state in the nation to pass a law to offer same-sex couples nearly all the same rights and benefits as married couples. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110419s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110419s1.html Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST A federal appeals court has vacated an April 2010 decision by a district court judge that struck down the statute creating a National Day of Prayer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110418s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110418s1.html Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST On Thursday, the North Carolina Senate voted not concur with changes made by the House of Representatives on SB 8—No Cap on Number of Charter Schools by a unanimous vote of 47-0. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110415s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110415s2.html Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST This week, the North Carolina Senate gave final approval to a bill that would finally ensure that criminals who injure or kill an unborn child as part of committing a crime against a pregnant woman are properly penalized for injuring or killing both victims. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110415s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110415s1.html Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST This Friday, thousands of students in hundreds of public schools nationwide will participate in an annual event created by homosexual activists to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender behavior among young people. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110414s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110414s1.html Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST The American Civil Liberties Union has partnered with Yale Law School in launching a nationwide campaign to force schools to stop filtering “web content geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110413s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110413s1.html Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST On Monday evening, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed SB 8—No Cap on Number of Charter Schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110412s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110412s1.html Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST A federal appeals court ruled last week that the conservative writings and speeches of a criminology professor at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington constitute “private” speech and are fully protected by the First Amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110411s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110411s1.html Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST It was a busy week at the General Assembly, as legislators took action on a number of major initiatives and faced long, and often contentious, debate, both in committee and on the floor. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110408s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110408s2.html Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST Yesterday, informed consent to abortion legislation was filed in the State House to ensure that women considering an abortion are provided with complete and accurate information about the procedure and their unborn child. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110408s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110408s1.html Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST On April 4, six state representatives filed legislation to legalize the production, sale, and use of marijuana for medical purposes in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110407s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110407s1.html Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST A newly filed bill in the North Carolina House would establish a new graduation requirement for high school students in the state, aimed at ensuring that graduates have a firm understanding of America’s founding documents. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110406s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110406s1.html Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST In a precedent-setting ruling yesterday that will positively impact parental choice in education nationwide, the United States Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit against Arizona’s 13 year-old education tax credit program. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110405s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110405s1.html Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST The birth rate for teenage girls ages 15 to 19 has reached the lowest level ever recorded for this age group, according to the latest report from the National Center for Health Statistics. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110404s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110404s1.html Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST A new study provides compelling evidence that laws aimed at restricting access to abortion result in significantly lower abortion rates for the states that enforce them. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110401s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110401s1.html Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST In a letter mailed to the governors of every state earlier this week, the Alliance Defense Fund emphasizes that participation by public officials in the upcoming 60th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer is “constitutional and appropriate,” and urges state leaders to continue the long-standing tradition of voluntary public prayer on the first Thursday of May. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110331s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110331s1.html Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST Christian students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are stepping up to defend their faith against the arguments of UNC-CH Professor Bart Ehrman, whose writings have gained significant attention for seeking to discredit the Bible. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110330s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110330s1.html Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST A bill recently filed in the North Carolina House of Representatives seeks to give home-schooled students the opportunity to participate in the athletic programs of their local public schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110329s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110329s1.html Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST A new report on Planned Parenthood’s abortion facilities released by the American Life League shows that the nation’s leading abortion provider is closing more abortion clinics than it is opening new ones. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110328s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110328s1.html Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST After more than two hours of intense debate and multiple amendments proposed on the floor, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed HB 215—Unborn Victims of Violence Act/Ethen's Law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110325s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110325s2.html Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST Earlier this week, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed into law a bill that would institute the longest waiting period for abortion in the nation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110325s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110325s1.html Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST On Wednesday, HB 215—Unborn Victims of Violence advanced through the House Judiciary Subcommittee B with a favorable report and is headed to the House floor. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110324s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110324s1.html Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST Only a few weeks after the Obama administration announced that the Justice Department would no longer defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act in court, legislation to repeal DOMA has been introduced in the U.S. Congress. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110323s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110323s1.html Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST A bill introduced last week in the North Carolina General Assembly would give a tax credit and provide greater educational freedom to parents with special needs children. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110322s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110322s1.html Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST A bill that would expand grandparent visitation rights in North Carolina and weaken parental rights has been introduced in the General Assembly and is scheduled for consideration in a House subcommittee this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110321s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110321s1.html Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST Earlier this week, a superior court judge awarded the largest settlement in North Carolina history in an alienation of affections lawsuit filed by the former wife of a Raleigh business owner against the man’s current wife, who is accused of breaking up a 15-year marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110318s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110318s2.html Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST The State Supreme Court has declined to approve a controversial, pro-homosexual provision proposed by the North Carolina State Bar that posed a significant threat to the First Amendment rights of attorneys across the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110318s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110318s1.html Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST On Wednesday, the North Carolina Family Policy Council gave testimony to the House Judiciary Subcommittee-B in support of HB 215—Unborn Victims of Violence, or “Ethen’s Law.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110317s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110317s1.html Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST On Tuesday, the North Carolina Senate voted to concur with the House, giving final approval to a bill that adds synthetic marijuana and mephedrone to the state’s list of illegal controlled substances. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110316s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110316s1.html Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST Despite the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent announcement that it would no longer defend Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in two ongoing lawsuits, the battle to defend the law will continue, thanks to action by the U.S. House of Representatives. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110315s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110315s1.html Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST A bill that would have made Maryland the sixth state (plus the District of Columbia) in the nation to redefine marriage to include homosexual couples stalled in the Maryland House last week, when proponents realized they did not have the 71 votes necessary to pass the measure and sent it back to a committee. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110314s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110314s1.html Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST This week legislators confronted the second gubernatorial veto of the 2011-2012 session and took action on key pieces of legislation including removing the charter school cap, banning dangerous substances, and proposing term limits for legislative leadership positions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110311s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110311s1.html Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST The spring portion of the bi-annual “40 Days for Life” campaign kicked off yesterday for 2011 with observances planned in 247 cities across the United States, including in Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110310s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110310s1.html Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST Two very different video gambling bills were introduced in the General Assembly last week—one that would clarify the 2010 ban on video sweepstakes gambling in order to completely outlaw the predatory business, while the other would legalize video gambling in North Carolina and treat it has part of the State lottery. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110309s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110309s1.html Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST More teenagers are practicing sexual abstinence in the United States, according to newly-released survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110308s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110308s1.html Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST On Saturday, Governor Bev Perdue issued her second veto of the legislative session, rejecting HB 2—Protect Health Care Freedom, which sought to limit the impact of the recently passed federal healthcare legislation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110307s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110307s2.html Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST On March 3, the North Carolina Senate passed HB 48/S114—No Standardized Testing Unless Required by Feds, a bill that would get rid of four state End of Grade tests that are not federally mandated. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110307s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110307s1.html Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST Pro-life lawmakers have filed a bill to add North Carolina to the list of 35 other states that afford protection from acts of violence to unborn children, who are injured or die as a result of crimes committed against their pregnant mothers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110304s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110304s1.html Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST This week, the North Carolina Family Policy Council joined with 59 other pro-life groups and organizations in thanking House congressional leaders for supporting the Pence Amendment, a measure that seeks to remove all federal funding from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110303s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110303s1.html Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST Opponents of the Marriage Protection Amendment and their allies in the media are touting the results of a new poll by Elon University, which they claim show that the majority of North Carolinians oppose the MPA. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110302s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110302s1.html Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST Homosexual activists are stepping up their efforts to try to prevent the citizens of North Carolina from voting on a Marriage Protection Amendment in November 2012. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110301s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110301s1.html Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST Legislation adopted last week by the Virginia General Assembly that requires abortion clinics to be regulated as hospitals could result in the state having one of the strongest abortion clinic regulation laws in the nation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110228s1.html Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST The Asheville City Council approved a controversial pro-homosexual resolution at its February 22 meeting that not only supports the expansion of the city’s nondiscrimination policy to include terms associated with homosexuality and transgenderism, but also would create a domestic partnership registry for same-sex couples. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110225s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110225s2.html Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST On Thursday, the North Carolina Senate approved SB 8—No Cap on Number of Charter Schools, a bill that would eliminate the cap on the number of charter schools in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110225s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110225s1.html Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST Sen James Forrester and 22 other Senators filed a bill this week that could finally give North Carolinians the opportunity to vote on whether to place the definition of marriage, as currently protected by state law, into the State Constitution. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110224s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110224s1.html Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST On Tuesday, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted to concur with the Senate on HB 2—Protect Health Care Freedom, giving the bill final approval and sending it to the Governor’s desk. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110223s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110223s2.html Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST North Carolina Congressman Mike McIntyre has joined Senator Orrin Hatch and Congressman Randy Forbes in sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, urging him to begin enforcing federal obscenity laws. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110223s1.html Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST On February 18, in a move heralded as a victory for life, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to strip all government funding from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110222s1.html Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST Hawaii is set to become the seventh state in the nation to extend nearly all of the same rights and privileges of marriage to same-sex couples through a civil unions law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110221s1.html Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST On Wednesday, the Senate passed HB 2—“Protect Healthcare Freedom,” which would largely negate the impact of the recently passed federal healthcare reform in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110218s1.html Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST Fifteen Senators have cosponsored a bill to give pro-life motorists in North Carolina the option of supporting pregnancy resource centers across the state by purchasing a specialty “Chose Life” license plate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110217s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110217s2.html Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST On Wednesday, February 16, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 8—No Cap on Charter Schools, a bill that would eliminate the cap on the number of charter schools and make several changes to the oversight and regulation of charters in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110217s1.html Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST Pro-life members of Congress are moving forward with a comprehensive strategy to close loopholes in federal law that have allowed federal taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110216s1.html Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST The so-called “right” to same-sex “marriage” has been rejected by most American courts that have considered the issue, as well as by the majority of Americans who have had the opportunity to vote on it, according to a new research brief from the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110215s1.html Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST A majority of the Asheville City Council has indicated support of a four-part proposal the council is expected to consider at its February 22 meeting that would greatly expand homosexual rights in Asheville. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110214s1.html Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST  A small group of Senators met Wednesday to consider amendments to SB 8—Charter Schools Act of 2011, which represents a comprehensive change to the level of legislative support for the unique brand of public schools in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110211s1.html Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST  A recent report from the John Locke Foundation, calls for the North Carolina “Education” Lottery to be completely disbanded because it has failed to boost education funding in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110210s1.html Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST This week, the North Carolina “Education” Lottery requested details from gambling companies on running casino-style video gambling across the state in the event that the General Assembly and Governor Beverly Perdue opt to legalize and regulate what has long been considered the most predatory form of gambling and that is currently outlawed. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110209s1.html Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST Parents who determine that their children are better served in a nonpublic school environment in North Carolina may soon be eligible for some tax relief under a bill proposed last week in the General Assembly. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110208s1.html Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST A new survey from the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia finds that despite the additional financial stress it has brought to many marriages, the economic recession contains at least two “silver linings” for marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110207s1.html Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST The Senate Education Committee met Wednesday, taking up SB8—No Cap on Number of Charter Schools, a bill that aims to do away with the cap on charter schools for once and for all in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110204s3.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110204s3.html Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:10:00 EST On Thursday, the State Senate Judiciary II committee approved two bills to add synthetic versions of marijuana and mephedrone to the list of controlled substances that are illegal to possess, manufacture, sell, transport, and distribute in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110204s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110204s2.html Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:10:00 EST After nearly three hours of debate and two amendments, the North Carolina  House of Representatives gave final approval yesterday to a bill that would limit the impact of the 2010 federal healthcare reform legislation in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110203s1.html Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:35:00 EST The battle for marriage continued nationwide this week, with two victories for homosexual activists and their allies in Illinois and Hawaii, and what could prove to be a major setback to their efforts in Iowa. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110202s1.html Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:10:00 EST Funds from the North Carolina Education Lottery, totaling $124.3 million, were transferred to the state last week, fulfilling the second of four required transfers for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110201s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110201s2.html Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:10:00 EST A federal district court judge in Florida has ruled that the provision of the recently-passed healthcare reform law that requires all Americans to purchase insurance or pay a penalty makes the entire law unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110201s1.html Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:10:00 EST One of the first bills filed in the State Senate this session is sponsored by Senator Don Vaughan (D-Guilford) and would ban a dangerous new drug known as “K2,” which is marketed as “incense” but imitates the effects of marijuana. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110131s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110131s1.html Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST On the first day of the new legislative session, Sen. Don Vaughan (D–Guilford) filed a bill to further strengthen the state’s prohibition on video gambling that was revisited in 2010, but has been the center of some confusion after a local judge ruled that a portion of the law is unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110128s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110128s2.html Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST After an opening day full of ceremony and celebration, the House wasted no time getting down to business on Thursday, holding a committee meeting to consider a bill to limit provisions of the federal health care reform law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110128s1.html Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST Nearly half of the nation’s largest four-year universities, including several in North Carolina, cover elective abortions under their student health care plans, according to a new study by Students for Life of America. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110127s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110127s1.html Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST The 2011-12 session of the North Carolina General Assembly began at Noon today in what is expected to be a very different legislative session than in years past, with Republicans holding a majority in both the House and Senate for the first time in over a century. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110126s1.html Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:10:00 EST North Carolina is ranked 29th in the country in an annual report by Americans United for Life for how well its laws recognize and protect the fundamental right to life. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110125s1.html Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST “School Choice Week” kicked off yesterday across the nation—just three days before the North Carolina General Assembly convenes the 2011 legislative session, where lifting the charter school cap is part of the incoming Republican leadership’s agenda. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110124s1.html Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST In a highly publicized announcement issued January 20th, Governor Beverly Perdue voiced her opposition to efforts to privatize the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) system. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110121s1.html Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST The U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal the 10 month-old health care reform law Wednesday night, following almost two hours of debate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110120s1.html Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal of Washington, D.C.’s refusal to allow District residents to consider a ballot measure regarding the definition of marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110119s1.html Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:22:00 EST North Carolina continued a downward trend in its abortion rate, despite the national rate changing little, according to a new report from the Guttmacher Institute. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110118s1.html Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST With close to one million children a year experiencing the divorce of their parents, the makeup of the American family is changing rapidly—as shown in a new report from the Pew Research Center. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110117s1.html Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:17:00 EST Intimate relationships among 18 to 25 year-olds today are characterized by diversity and sometimes violence, according to a new report released this month by Child Trends. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110114s1.html Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:17:00 EST Pro-life North Carolinians will gather in Raleigh this weekend to begin commemorating the 38th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion on demand in the United States, in anticipation of the national March for Life to be held on January 24th in the nation’s capital. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110113s1.html Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:45:00 EST There were an estimated 2.04 million K-12 students educated at home in the United States in the spring of 2010, according to a new report from the National Home Education Research Institute. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110112s1.html Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:33:00 EST The N.C. Court of Appeals has denied the State Attorney General’s request for a stay of a lower court decision overturning a portion of the newly enacted ban on video sweepstakes gambling in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110111s1.html Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:45:00 EST Proponents of the “Choose Life” license plate are stepping up their efforts to ensure that North Carolinians finally get the opportunity to purchase the specialty plates by designating January 2011 “Choose Life License Plate Month.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/110110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110110s1.html Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:08:00 EST A recent study by N.C. Policy Watch found that North Carolinians from counties with high poverty levels spend more money on state gambling through scratch-off games and lottery tickets. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110107s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110107s1.html Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST The ongoing legal battle over the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the marriage amendment adopted by the majority of Californians in a 2008 referendum, has now reached the California Supreme Court. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110106s1.html Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST A U.S. biotech company announced January 3 that it has procured permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin a second round of human trials for a new vision therapy it has developed using human embryonic stem cells. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110105s1.html Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:22:00 EST The majority of Americans believe that God was involved in creating humans, either through a single act of Creation or through a “guided” evolutionary process, according to the latest Gallup poll on the topic. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110104s1.html Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:17:00 EST According to a December 2010 poll by the John W. Pope Civitas Institute, nearly two-thirds of North Carolinians favor including the definition of marriage in the State Constitution. http://ncfamily.org/stories/110103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/110103s1.html Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101230s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101230s1.html Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101229s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101229s1.html Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101228s1.html Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:10:00 EST The 111th Congress adjourned yesterday, and for many, the "lame duck" session ended not a moment too soon. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101223s1.html Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101222s1.html Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101221s1.html Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101220s1.html Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101217s1.html Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101216s1.html Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101215s1.html Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101214s1.html Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101213s1.html Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101210s1.html Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101209s1.html Thu, 09 Dec 2010 09:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101208s1.html Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101207s1.html Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101206s1.html Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101203s1.html Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:06:00 EST 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 (CER) 12th annual analysis of the nation’s 41 charter school laws. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101202s1.html Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101201s1.html Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:25:00 EST 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 and Record. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101130s1.html Tue, 30 Nov 2010 11:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101129s1.html Mon, 29 Nov 2010 23:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101126s1.html Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101125s1.html Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101124s1.html Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101123s1.html Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101122s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101122s1.html Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101119s1.html Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101118s1.html Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101117s1.html Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101116s1.html Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101115s1.html Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101112s1.html Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101110s1.html Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101109s1.html Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101108s1.html Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101105s1.html Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101104s1.html Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:22:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101103s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101103s2.html Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101103s1.html Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101102s1.html Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101101s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101101s1.html Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101029s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101029s1.html Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101028s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101028s2.html Thu, 28 Oct 2010 23:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101028s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101028s1.html Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101027s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101027s1.html Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST Two Internet sweepstakes companies have dropped their lawsuit challenging fees assessed on their operations by the cities of Fayetteville, Lumberton, Pembroke, Morganton, and Wilmington. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101026s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101026s1.html Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101025s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101025s1.html Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101022s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101022s1.html Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101021s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101021s1.html Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101020s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101020s1.html Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101019s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101019s1.html Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:22:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101018s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101018s1.html Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101015s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101015s1.html Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101013s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101013s1.html Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101012s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101012s1.html Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101011s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101011s1.html Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101008s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101008s1.html Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101007s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101007s1.html Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101006s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101006s1.html Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:18:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/101005s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101005s1.html Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101004s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101004s1.html Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:38:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/101001s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/101001s1.html Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100930s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100930s1.html Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100929s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100929s1.html Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:25:00 EST Today, the North Carolina Family Policy Council publicly released its 2010 General Election Voter Guide and activated its 2010 Voter Guide website in preparation for the November 2 general election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100928s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100928s1.html Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100927s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100927s1.html Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100924s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100924s1.html Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:47:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100923s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100923s1.html Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100922s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100922s1.html Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100921s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100921s1.html Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:05:00 EST 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." http://ncfamily.org/stories/100920s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100920s1.html Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100917s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100917s1.html Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100916s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100916s1.html Thu, 16 Sep 2010 08:42:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100915s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100915s1.html Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:58:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100914s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100914s1.html Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:28:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100913s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100913s1.html Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100910s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100910s1.html Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100909s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100909s1.html Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:43:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100908s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100908s1.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:08:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100907s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100907s1.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:38:00 EST An 18-year-old male from Zebulon, NC was arrested September 1 after sending sexually explicit texts to a 14-year-old girl. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100903s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100903s1.html Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100902s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100902s1.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:39:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100901s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100901s1.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:28:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100831s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100831s1.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100830s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100830s1.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100827s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100827s1.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100826s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100826s1.html Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100825s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100825s1.html Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100824s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100824s1.html Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100823s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100823s1.html Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100820s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100820s1.html Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:37:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100819s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100819s1.html Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:45:00 EST With 76 days until the 2010 mid-term elections, North Carolina voters have 51 days left to make sure they are registered to vote. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100818s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100818s1.html Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100817s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100817s1.html Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:13:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100816s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100816s2.html Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100816s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100816s1.html Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100813s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100813s2.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100813s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100813s1.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100812s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100812s1.html Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100811s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100811s1.html Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100810s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100810s2.html Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100810s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100810s1.html Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:50:00 EST Senators Tom Coburn and Orrin Hatch 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100809s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100809s1.html Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100806s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100806s1.html Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100805s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100805s1.html Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100804s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100804s1.html Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:25:00 EST States can now officially apply for federal Title V funding to use for programs that exclusively promote abstinence from sexual activity among young people. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100803s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100803s1.html Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100802s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100802s1.html Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100730s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100730s1.html Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:17:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100729s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100729s1.html Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100728s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100728s1.html Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:18:00 EST The majority of American children (67 percent) live with their married parents, according to an annual federal report on child wellbeing released this month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100727s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100727s1.html Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100726s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100726s1.html Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100723s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100723s2.html Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:10:00 EST Governor Perdue signed into law a bill to implement reforms to the state’s beleaguered Alcoholic Beverage Control system. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100723s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100723s1.html Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100722s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100722s2.html Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100722s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100722s1.html Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:55:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100721s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100721s1.html Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:03:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100720s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100720s1.html Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:50:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100719s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100719s1.html Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100716s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100716s1.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:44:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100715s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100715s1.html Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100714s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100714s1.html Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:02:00 EST At 5:33 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned its eight-week “Short” Session sine die. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100713s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100713s1.html Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:57:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100712s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100712s1.html Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100709s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100709s2.html Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:43:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100709s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100709s1.html Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100708s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100708s1.html Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100707s3.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100707s3.html Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:45:00 EST Yesterday evening, the House Judiciary I committee overwhelming recommended approval of an enhanced ban on video gambling in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100707s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100707s2.html Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:15:00 EST A conservative professor involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the University of North Carolina Wilmington has won the support of three key organizations. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100707s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100707s1.html Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100706s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100706s1.html Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:55:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100702s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100702s1.html Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST For the first time in seven years, lawmakers approved North Carolina’s budget in time for the beginning of the new fiscal year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100701s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100701s1.html Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100630s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100630s1.html Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100629s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100629s1.html Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100628s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100628s1.html Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:33:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100625s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100625s1.html Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100624s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100624s1.html Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100623s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100623s1.html Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:55:00 EST Last night, the North Carolina Senate overwhelmingly passed a more explicit ban on video gambling in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100622s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100622s2.html Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100622s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100622s1.html Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100621s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100621s1.html Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100618s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100618s1.html Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:05:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100617s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100617s1.html Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:35:00 EST The federal government continues to use “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month” to issue directives that promote the homosexual agenda. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100616s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100616s1.html Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100615s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100615s1.html Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:26:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100614s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100614s1.html Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:06:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100611s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100611s1.html Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:54:00 EST The U. S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in a case involving the constitutionality of Arizona’s education tax credit program. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100610s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100610s1.html Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100609s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100609s1.html Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:55:00 EST A new report from the Tax Foundation found that family savings from the federal child tax credit vary significantly from state to state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100608s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100608s1.html Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:05:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100607s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100607s1.html Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:40:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100604s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100604s1.html Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:25:00 EST President Barack Obama has once again declared June “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100603s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100603s1.html Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:22:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100602s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100602s1.html Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:20:00 EST Two bills were filed in the North Carolina General Assembly last week to legalize and regulate video gambling in the State. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100601s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100601s1.html Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100528s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100528s1.html Fri, 28 May 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100527s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100527s1.html Thu, 27 May 2010 00:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100525s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100525s2.html Tue, 25 May 2010 22:38:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100525s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100525s1.html Tue, 25 May 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100524s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100524s1.html Mon, 24 May 2010 11:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100521s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100521s1.html Fri, 21 May 2010 09:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100520s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100520s1.html Thu, 20 May 2010 01:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100519s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100519s1.html Wed, 19 May 2010 00:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100518s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100518s1.html Tue, 18 May 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100517s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100517s1.html Mon, 17 May 2010 17:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100514s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100514s1.html Fri, 14 May 2010 02:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100513s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100513s1.html Thu, 13 May 2010 16:07:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100511s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100511s1.html Tue, 11 May 2010 10:13:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100510s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100510s1.html Mon, 10 May 2010 10:17:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100507s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100507s1.html Fri, 07 May 2010 00:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100506s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100506s1.html Thu, 06 May 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100505s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100505s2.html Wed, 05 May 2010 23:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100504s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100504s1.html Tue, 04 May 2010 15:20:00 EST North Carolinians will head to the polls tomorrow to exercise their civic responsibility by voting in the 2010 primary election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100503s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100503s1.html Mon, 03 May 2010 15:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100430s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100430s1.html Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:05:00 EST On April 16th, administrators from predominantly African-American charter schools in North Carolina filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100429s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100429s1.html Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:48:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100428s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100428s1.html Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:50:00 EST Seventy percent of likely North Carolina voters support a marriage protection amendment to the State Constitution, according to a survey released this month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100427s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100427s1.html Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100426s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100426s1.html Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100423s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100423s1.html Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100422s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100422s1.html Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100421s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100421s1.html Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100420s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100420s1.html Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100419s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100419s1.html Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100416s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100416s1.html Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100415s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100415s1.html Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100414s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100414s1.html Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:47:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100413s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100413s1.html Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100412s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100412s2.html Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100412s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100412s1.html Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:36:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100409s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100409s1.html Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100408s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100408s1.html Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:05:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100407s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100407s1.html Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100406s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100406s1.html Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:27:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100405s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100405s1.html Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:58:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100401s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100401s1.html Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100331s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100331s1.html Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100330s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100330s1.html Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:10:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100329s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100329s1.html Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100326s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100326s1.html Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:43:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100325s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100325s1.html Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:43:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100324s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100324s1.html Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:03:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100323s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100323s1.html Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100322s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100322s1.html Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:25:00 EST Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 on March 15th to restore coverage for elective abortions to the county’s employee health plan. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100319s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100319s1.html Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:17:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100318s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100318s1.html Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:23:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100317s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100317s1.html Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:48:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100316s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100316s1.html Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100315s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100315s1.html Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST In recognition of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, March 7-13, the North Carolina Education Lottery is calling attention to its problem gambling program. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100312s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100312s2.html Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100312s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100312s1.html Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:40:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100311s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100311s1.html Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100310s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100310s1.html Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:45:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100309s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100309s1.html Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:05:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100308s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100308s1.html Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100305s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100305s1.html Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:05:00 EST Washington D.C. began issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples yesterday, officially joining five states in redefining marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100304s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100304s1.html Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100303s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100303s2.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100303s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100303s1.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:23:00 EST The Silver Ring Thing (SRT) is scheduled to bring its concert-style youth event promoting abstinence until marriage to three venues in North Carolina this month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100302s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100302s1.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100301s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100301s1.html Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:12:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100226s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100226s1.html Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST The city of Asheville, North Carolina, could become the next city to provide domestic partner benefits for the same-sex partners of homosexual employees. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100225s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100225s1.html Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:50:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100224s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100224s1.html Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100223s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100223s2.html Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100223s1.html Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:10:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100222s1.html Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100219s1.html Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100218s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100218s2.html Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:15:00 EST 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." http://ncfamily.org/stories/100218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100218s1.html Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100217s1.html Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100216s1.html Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100215s1.html Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100212s1.html Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100211s1.html Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100210s1.html Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:30:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100209s1.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:18:00 EST Filing opens today for North Carolina candidates who intend to run for public office in the 2010 elections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100208s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100208s2.html Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100208s1.html Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100205s1.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100204s1.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:58:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100203s1.html Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Despite North Carolina posting record high unemployment figures since November 2009, the lottery continues to report higher than expected and increasing levels of revenue. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100202s1.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100201s1.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:20:00 EST 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.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/100129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100129s1.html Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100128s1.html Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:48:00 EST The Supreme Court handed down a ruling January 21 that will allow more direct financial involvement by corporations in elections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100127s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100127s1.html Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100126s1.html Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:15:00 EST A legislative study committee met January 20th to consider new regulations and incentives intended to promote work and family balance in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100125s1.html Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:15:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100122s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100122s1.html Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100121s1.html Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:56:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100120s1.html Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:40:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100119s1.html Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100115s1.html Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:48:00 EST Health insurance premiums would be higher for some married couples than for comparable unmarried cohabiting couples under health reforms currently being considered by Congress. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100114s1.html Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100113s1.html Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:25:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100112s1.html Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:05:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100111s1.html Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:10:00 EST Yesterday, a bill that would have legalized same-sex “marriage” in the New Jersey was soundly defeated in the state senate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100108s1.html Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:35:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100107s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100107s1.html Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100106s1.html Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:20:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100105s1.html Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:17:00 EST 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. http://ncfamily.org/stories/100104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/100104s1.html Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:10:00 EST A December report released by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council ranked North Carolina’s policy environment for entrepreneurship as 39th in the nation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091231s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091231s1.html Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:35:00 EST In 2008, the divorce rate among American adults dropped for the first time since 2005, according to a new report by the National Marriage Project and the Institute for American Values. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091230s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091230s1.html Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:05:00 EST Churches in North Carolina and nationwide are preparing to help raise awareness about the constitutional rights of public school students by celebrating “Religious Freedom Sunday." http://ncfamily.org/stories/091229s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091229s1.html Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:20:00 EST The free speech rights of a North Carolina high school student who was prohibited by school officials from expressing her pro-life beliefs have been restored, after the Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter to the school on the student’s behalf. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091228s1.html Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST A three-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals has unanimously reversed a lower court’s decision, which had stated that the State could not legalize video poker on the Cherokee Indian Reservation when it is not allowed elsewhere in the State. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091223s1.html Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:00:00 EST Part of a statute that regulates activity by registered sex offenders in order to limit their association with children has been ruled unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091222s1.html Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:50:00 EST At 1:17 A.M. today, two Independents joined 58 Democrats to reach the 60 votes needed to cut off debate and move ahead with a healthcare reform bill that will force taxpayers to fund abortions for the first time. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091221s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091221s2.html Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:50:00 EST The mayor of Washington, D.C. has signed a bill to legalize the recognition of same-sex “marriages” in the District of Columbia. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091221s1.html Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:15:00 EST At its board meeting earlier this week, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners approved a controversial policy to extend health insurance benefits to the same-sex partners of homosexual county employees beginning in 2011. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091218s1.html Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:17:00 EST A new survey of adults who were home-schooled found that students who were educated at home are more likely than their peers to be socially active, well-educated, religiously committed, and married. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091217s1.html Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:05:00 EST More than 70 percent of American universities and colleges in a new survey have regulations that seriously curtail free speech, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091216s1.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:50:00 EST Two North Carolina schools ranked in the top 25 public high schools in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best High Schools” report released last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091215s1.html Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:18:00 EST One of the world’s leading scientific experts on Intelligent Design has received World magazine’s top honor as its 12th annual “Daniel of the Year.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/091214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091214s1.html Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:40:00 EST The United States Senate effectively killed an amendment December 8th that would have applied current prohibitions on federal funds paying for abortions to the proposed health care reform bill. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091211s1.html Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:20:00 EST Mecklenburg County is considering whether to join a handful of counties and cities in North Carolina in offering health insurance benefits to the unmarried opposite sex or same-sex partners of county employees. The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners is reportedly scheduled to vote on the issue of domestic partner benefits at its December 15 meeting. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091210s1.html Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST On December 2, the National Institute of Health authorized 13 new human embryonic stem cell lines for use in government-funded research for the first time since President George Bush’ executive order eight years ago that prohibited government funding for such research. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091209s1.html Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:25:00 EST When the U.S. Senate convenes today, they resume consideration of the Nelson-Hatch Amendment that would prevent federal funding for abortion under the healthcare reform bill. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091208s1.html Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:25:00 EST An alliance of conservative ministries within several mainline denominations is urging members and leaders of the United Church of Christ (UCC), the Episcopal Church, and other mainline churches to join the hundreds of thousands of Christians who have signed the Manhattan Declaration. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091207s1.html Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:10:00 EST New York state lawmakers soundly rejected a bill Wednesday that would have established same-sex “marriage” in the Empire State. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091204s1.html Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:15:00 EST Two men, who are registered as domestic partners in California and are current residents of Virginia, have been granted primary custody of a five-year old girl, who was conceived by a surrogate mother through artificial insemination. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091203s1.html Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:15:00 EST The Family Research Council and the North Carolina Family Policy Council jointly released a new study today that comprehensively details the effects of pornography on marriages, children, communities and individual happiness. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091202s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091202s2.html Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:55:00 EST The majority of North Carolina’s 115 school districts earned C grades for their level of parent-friendliness in a new report from the John Locke Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091202s1.html Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:02:00 EST A Vermont judge has awarded sole custody of a seven-year-old Virginia girl to the non-biological ex-lesbian partner of her mother. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091201s1.html Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:20:00 EST Nearly 1.8 million of all children in the United States were adopted, according to new data released November 23 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091130s1.html Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST As no truth is more clearly taught in the Volume of Inspiration, nor any more fully demonstrated by the experience of all ages, than that a deep sense and a due acknowledgment of the governing providence of a Supreme Being and of the accountableness of men to Him as the searcher of hearts and righteous distributor of rewards and punishments are conducive equally to the happiness and rectitude of individuals and to the well-being of communities; http://ncfamily.org/stories/091126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091126s1.html Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST A new study has found that students living in co-ed college housing are more likely to consume alcohol, engage in binge drinking, hold permissive attitudes toward sexual activity, and have more recent sexual partners. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091125s1.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:15:00 EST Harrah’s Cherokee Casino located in Western, North Carolina is hoping to receive approval from the Alcohol Beverage Commission (ABC) to begin selling beer, wine, and liquor to players on the casino floor by the end of the year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091124s1.html Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:08:00 EST Over 125 Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical Christian leaders have signed a landmark declaration pledging their united commitment to stand for and defend three foundational Biblical principles (the sanctity of human life, marriage, and religious liberty) in the face of mounting attacks. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091123s1.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:35:00 EST Tomorrow, Saturday, November 21, the Senate is expected to vote on whether to begin debate on an overhaul of the nation’s health insurance system, restoring some federal funds for Abstinence-Until-Marriage (AUM) education and adding federal funding for abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091120s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091120s2.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST Facing more than 700 charges related to prostitution, drug violations, alcohol violations, and nudity, the owner of a strip club in Alamance County has reached a settlement with the county commissioners that requires him to “cease and desist” current operations of the strip club, and prohibits future ownership, operation, or affiliation with a sexually oriented business in the county. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091120s1.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Adolescent girls accounted for the largest number of reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea—the two most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States—in 2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091119s1.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:09:00 EST North Carolina’s public school system earned five Bs, one C, and one D in a November study released by the American Enterprise Institute, rating states on innovation in education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091118s1.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:19:00 EST This Saturday, November 21, the North Carolina Family Policy Council is bringing Focus on the Family’s Truth Project Leader Training to Greenville and on December 5 to Greensboro, NC. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091117s1.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:43:00 EST A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention task force report that recommends contraceptive-based sex education programs for adolescents is misleading and based on flawed data, according to two members of a consultant panel charged with analyzing the available research on group-based sex education programs for the task force. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091116s1.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:43:00 EST Parental involvement heavily influences whether adolescents will become sexually active before age 16. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091113s1.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST In a recommendation to the federal district court judge in a pending case challenging Forsyth County’s public prayer policy, a federal magistrate has said the policy violates the U.S. Constitution, in part, because all of the prayers given by clergy members before Board of Commission meetings invoked the name of “Jesus.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/091112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091112s1.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:20:00 EST The U.S. House of Representatives approved a nearly 2,000-page overhaul of the health insurance industry late Saturday night that includes explicit prohibitions against federal funding for abortions and establishes a government-run “public option.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/091110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091110s1.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST The fictionalized depiction of graphic violence against women and teenage girls has increased dramatically on prime time television over the past several years, according to a new study by the Parents Television Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091109s1.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council joined several groups in filing a motion asking the North Carolina Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision to allow same-sex adoption in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091106s1.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:05:00 EST The North Carolina Lottery Commission voted unanimously on November 2nd to introduce a second national lottery game in 2010 by selling tickets for the Mega Millions multi-state drawing in addition to Powerball. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091105s1.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:05:00 EST The nationwide effort to legalize same-sex “marriage” received a huge blow yesterday, when voters in Maine voted to repeal a law that would have made the state the sixth in the nation to redefine marriage to include homosexual couples. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091104s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091104s2.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:48:00 EST Churches and families are preparing for Orphan Sunday coming up on November 8th to raise awareness of the more than 140 million orphans worldwide and how churches and families can respond to God’s call to “Defend the cause of the fatherless.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/091104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091104s1.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:53:00 EST An average of 87 abortions a day were performed in North Carolina in 2008, according to the latest data released by the State Center for Health Statistics. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091103s1.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:55:00 EST Nearly every county in North Carolina is holding local elections tomorrow, while voters in Maine and Washington will determine the future of marriage in those states. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091102s1.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:10:00 EST The percentage of Americans who identify themselves as politically conservative has increased slightly since 2008, with conservative Americans now outnumbering moderates for the first time since 2004, according to a new Gallup report. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091030s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091030s1.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week its plans to create the nation’s first ever federally funded national resource center for aging homosexual, bisexual and transgendered individuals. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091028s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091028s1.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST North Carolinians pay the eighth highest sales tax rate in the nation, according to a new report from the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091027s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091027s1.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:20:00 EST As Congressional leaders and the Obama Administration continue to press for an overhaul of the nation’s healthcare system, many Americans and their legislators remain concerned with the status of funding for abortion coverage in the various proposals. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091026s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091026s1.html Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:20:00 EST The U.S. Department of Justice announced October 19 that the federal government will not seek to prosecute individuals who use marijuana for medical reasons in states where medical marijuana is legal, as long as these individuals follow the state law regarding its use. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091023s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091023s1.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:40:00 EST North Carolina’s fourth and eighth grade students scored slightly higher than the national average in mathematics on the National Assessment of Education Progress test, according to the results released October 14 by the U.S. Department of Education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091022s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091022s1.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:19:00 EST Over 22,000 moms and their daughters will go shopping this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 23 and 24) at Old Navy, Gap Kids, Children’s Place, and Lands’ End to thank the four retailers for selling “age appropriate and modest clothing” for little girls age 12 and under. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091021s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091021s1.html Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:35:00 EST The effort to give North Carolina motorists the opportunity to purchase a “Choose Life” specialty license plate is alive and well, despite the General Assembly’s failure in 2009 to consider a bill that would allow the sale of the plates. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091020s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091020s1.html Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:38:00 EST A federal judge in Greensboro heard arguments last week in a lawsuit challenging the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners’ policy of allowing various clergy members from the community to offer sectarian prayers before public meetings. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091019s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091019s1.html Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:08:00 EST In a decision that could have national repercussions, a judge in Texas recently declared that state’s marriage protection amendment and Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in a case involving the “divorce” of two homosexual men who were “married” in Massachusetts. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091016s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091016s1.html Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:20:00 EST Next week on October 20, students across the globe will give up their voices for a day to bring attention to the 46 million children who have been silenced by abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091015s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091015s1.html Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST The U.S. House passed a defense bill last week that includes an expansion of the federal definition of hate crimes to include crimes seemingly motivated by sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, and military service. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091014s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091014s1.html Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:38:00 EST Former American Civil Liberties Union president, Nadine Strossen, and pro-life apologist and author, Scott Klusendorf, are scheduled to debate the issue of abortion tonight at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091013s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091013s1.html Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:06:00 EST Belmont Abbey College has retained The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty to aid in its appeal of an U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruling that the school’s health insurance policy constitutes gender discrimination. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091012s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091012s1.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:36:00 EST Last week, a new law went into effect that significantly weakens two different, centuries-old, North Carolina civil actions, or torts, that are designed to protect marriages from third party interference and/or adultery. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091009s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091009s1.html Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:05:00 EST A homosexual advocacy group has erected a provocative billboard in Greensboro that promotes the legalization of same-sex “marriage” without ever mentioning the term. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091008s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091008s1.html Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:35:00 EST The health of marriage in the United States has declined significantly over the past several decades—especially in the African American community—according to a new report released October 2 by the Institute for American Values and the National Center on African American Marriage and Parenting at Hampton University. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091007s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091007s1.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST On October 1, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R–NC) introduced legislation aimed at providing federal recognition to North Carolina's 55,000-plus member Lumbee Indian tribe. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091006s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091006s1.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST A new study of New York City charter schools found that the race-based achievement gap shrinks more quickly and by more among charter school students than it does among their counterparts who applied and were not admitted to a charter school. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091005s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091005s1.html Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:10:00 EST The nation’s roughly 2,300 Pregnancy Resource Centers assist about 1.9 million Americans each year with a comprehensive and growing list of mainly free services ranging from parenting classes to STD testing, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Family Research Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091002s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091002s1.html Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST This week—September 26-October 3—the American Library Association (ALA) is promoting the 28th annual “Banned Books Week” at libraries nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/091001s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/091001s1.html Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:35:00 EST President Barack Obama emphasized that “children raised in loving, caring homes have the ability to reject negative behaviors and reach their highest potential,” regardless of family structure, as part of his Proclamation on “Family Day” this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090930s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090930s1.html Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:15:00 EST A new report from Morality in Media (MIM) lays out six ways in which adult pornography leads to the exploitation of children. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090929s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090929s1.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:05:00 EST About 60 pro-life measures were enacted in 2009, and nearly every state considered at least one piece of pro-life legislation, according to a new report from Americans United for Life. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090928s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090928s1.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:47:00 EST A group of North Carolina charter schools, students, and parents from several counties have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the State’s system for funding public charter schools differently than traditional public schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090925s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090925s1.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:21:00 EST An estimated 34.4 percent of 13 to 17 year-old girls in North Carolina received the first dose of the recommended three-dose Gardasil vaccine for the Human Papillomavirus in 2008, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090924s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090924s1.html Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:05:00 EST The fourth 40 Days for Life campaign kicks off in over 212 cities worldwide—with at least six locations in North Carolina—today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090923s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090923s1.html Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:05:00 EST Wednesday, September 23, marks the 20th anniversary of “See You at the Pole”, the student-led, student initiated prayer gathering that is observed by millions of students annually at public and private schools across the nation, including North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090922s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090922s2.html Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:02:00 EST High school students who attend private schools through the aid of tax credit scholarships appear to be more politically tolerant and engaged in volunteer work in their communities than public high school students, according to a new study from the Goldwater Institute. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090922s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090922s1.html Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:10:00 EST On September 18, the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges approved an amendment to the system’s admissions policy to allow for the admittance of illegal aliens at the out-of-state tuition rate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090921s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090921s1.html Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:42:00 EST A measure that would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090918s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090918s1.html Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:05:00 EST Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute and Joe Antos of the American Enterprise Institute recently wrote an article listing the top 10 reasons why Medicare should not be a model for health reform, starting with the fact that Medicare is going bankrupt. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090917s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090917s1.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:40:00 EST Most Americans view the news media as generally inaccurate and politically biased, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090916s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090916s1.html Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:05 EST North Carolina’s child death rate dropped in 2008 to the lowest level on record, according to data from the State Center for Health Statistics and the Child Fatality Prevention Team Research Staff. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090915s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090915s1.html Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:30 EST A recent article in The Nation attacking pregnancy resource centers and Christian adoption agencies for their efforts to promote adoption over abortion unfairly depicts these ministries as adoption mills. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090914s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090914s1.html Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:55:00 EST There were an average of 151 births to unmarried women, and 41 births to older teens (ages 15 to 19) every day in North Carolina in 2008, according to the latest data from the State Center for Health Statistics. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090911s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090911s1.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:40:00 EST North Carolina’s education leaders have asked the Obama Administration to rethink its emphasis on charter schools in making determinations for the distribution of federal funds for innovations and accountability in education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090910s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090910s1.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST Eliminating the federal estate tax could potentially lead to the creation of over 40,000 jobs in North Carolina and boost the nation’s struggling economy, according to a new report released today by the North Carolina Family Policy Council, the Family Research Council (FRC), and the American Family Business Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090909s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090909s1.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:30:00 EST The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is back-peddling on a ruling last month prohibiting residents of a High Point subsidized housing community from holding worship services and Bible studies in its common areas. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090908s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090908s1.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:05:00 EST A national education advocacy group is promoting a new model charter school law aimed at helping states create “more and better public charter schools based upon the lessons learned from experience, research and analysis.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090904s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090904s1.html Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:10:00 EST The North Carolina State Board of Education was briefed yesterday about the Department of Public Instruction’s preparations for implementation of the state’s new sex education law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090903s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090903s1.html Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:25:00 EST On August 20, a U.S. District Court upheld most of a South Dakota law requiring abortionists to give more accurate and specific information to women seeking their services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090902s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090902s1.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:40:00 EST This week the State Board of Education will consider a $188,000 contract with Appalachian State University to promote contraceptive sex education and pro-homosexuality activities and training for North Carolina teachers and parents. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090901s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090901s1.html Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:15:00 EST Growing up in an intact family that attends religious services regularly appears to decrease the likelihood of smoking as an adult, according to the latest report from the Mapping America Project at the Family Research Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090831s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090831s1.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:14:00 EST Fewer public school students in North Carolina took the SAT in 2009 than in the previous year, with public school students scoring three points behind the national average in critical reading and math, according to the latest SAT data from College Board. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090827s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090827s1.html Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:20:00 EST Today is “Women’s Equality Day,” which is celebrated on August 26 to commemorate ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted voting rights to women in 1920. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090826s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090826s1.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:55:00 EST A new government study found that the Gardasil vaccine—which helps to protect against genital warts and certain cancers that are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus—results in higher, but expected, instances of fainting and blood clotting than similar vaccines. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090825s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090825s1.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:50:00 EST In what pro-life groups are calling a “victory for women’s health,” a federal appeals court has vacated a permanent injunction of an Ohio law that regulates the use of RU-486, the abortion drug that causes an abortion of a developing baby up to 49 days after the last menstrual cycle. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090824s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090824s1.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:20:00 EST After conceding that “same-sex adoption” does not exist in North Carolina law, a three-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals has affirmed that a woman is a legal parent of the biological child of her former partner. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090821s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090821s1.html Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST The North Carolina Lottery continues to grow and benefit from the recession that has forced families statewide to tighten their belts, and the General Assembly to take an extra month to balance the state’s budget. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090820s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090820s1.html Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:55:00 EST On Monday, the United States Department of Justice revised its position regarding a California district court lawsuit challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which protects states from being forced to recognize the same-sex “marriages” of other states. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090819s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090819s2.html Wed, 19 Aug 2009 9:30:00 EST This week, the Durham City Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing same-sex “marriage” in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090819s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090819s1.html Wed, 19 Aug 2009 9:30:00 EST New results from an ongoing national study of same-sex attracted men and women seeking sexual orientation change through religious ministries shows that change is possible for some individuals and not likely to cause harm. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090818s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090818s1.html Tue, 18 Aug 2009 8:25:00 EST A federal employment agency has found a Catholic college in North Carolina to be in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws for refusing to offer insurance coverage for artificial contraception, abortion, and sterilization because of religious objections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090817s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090817s1.html Mon, 17 Aug 2009 9:57:00 EST When election time rolls around, the talk from incumbents more often than not centers on legislation they helped to get passed, but the real news out of the North Carolina General Assembly most years is what bills are left untouched. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090814s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090814s1.html Fri, 14 Aug 2009 5:57:00 EST Homeschooled students in the United States continue to outscore public school students by wide margins on the most common standardized achievement tests, according to a report released this week by the Home School Legal Defense Association. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090813s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090813s1.html Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:35:00 EST Less than a week after approving a $19 billion state budget more than a month into the new fiscal year, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned its 2009 Legislative Session yesterday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090812s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090812s1.html Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:52:00 EST A report on sexual orientation change therapy that was released last week at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention is generating both positive and negative reactions from Christian mental health professionals. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090811s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090811s1.html Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:07:00 EST Congressional representatives home during the August recess are getting an earful from constituents regarding the plethora of healthcare overhaul proposals being floated by Congress and the White House. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090810s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090810s1.html Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST Now that the Budget bill has passed, the North Carolina General Assembly can see the light at the end of the tunnel and has set its sights on the adjournment of the 2009 session which should come early next week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090807s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090807s1.html Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:10:00 EST The Senate Judiciary II Committee today narrowly approved a bill that essentially does away with closed adoptions in North Carolina and wipes out the confidentiality promised by the State to thousands of mothers who placed children in closed adoptions over the past decades. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090806s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090806s2.html Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:45:00 EST The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns in a new report that the positive trends in the sexual and reproductive health of young people in the United States that began in the early 1990s appear to be slowing down in recent years. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090806s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090806s1.html Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:15:00 EST The saga of the 2009 session of the North Carolina General Assembly may soon be over now that SB 202—Appropriations Act of 2009 has been ratified and sent to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090805s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090805s2.html Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:55:00 EST Eight former commissioners of the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule two previous rulings involving federal campaign finance laws they argue are “chilling” to free speech. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090805s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090805s1.html Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:20:00 EST Most North Carolina private schools offer some type of financial aid and are affiliated with religious denominations, according to a new guide for parents from the John Locke Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090804s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090804s1.html Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:44:00 EST The North Carolina State Bar Ethics Committee withdrew a proposed amendment to the Rules of Professional Conduct that stated: “While employed in a professional capacity, a lawyer should avoid knowingly manifesting through word or deed bias or prejudice based upon a person’s race, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or other protected status or personal characteristic.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090803s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090803s1.html Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST Federal funding for abstinence education is not included in the fiscal year 2010 budget bill for the Department of Health and Human Services and other government agencies that was considered by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090731s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090731s1.html Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST Members of the General Assembly’s Legislative Black Caucus called for the legalization of video poker in North Carolina at a press conference Tuesday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090730s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090730s1.html Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST Beginning October 1, grocery stores in North Carolina will be able to host beer tastings to introduce customers to the growing malt beverage industry in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090729s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090729s1.html Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:40:00 EST A small group of North Carolina senators are trying to find some compromise on a bill that would jeopardize the confidentiality of parents who choose to place a child in a closed adoption. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090728s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090728s1.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST A new breakthrough in stem cell technology raises simultaneous excitement and concern in the pro-life community. Chinese researchers have enhanced the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapy that can revert an existing cell back into an embryonic state to grow mice from skin cells. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090727s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090727s1.html Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST Legislation that would grant special protections to homosexual, bisexual and transgendered individuals under federal hate crimes laws has been attached to a military funding bill in the U.S. Senate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090724s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090724s1.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST A civil liberties group and a nonprofit education organization have joined forces to launch a national campaign to educate the public about the free speech and religious liberty rights of public school students. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090723s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090723s1.html Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST The North Carolina Senate has rejected a House bill that would have prohibited the sale of lottery tickets at check-cashing businesses, and prevented the state from advertising the lottery at high school sporting events. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090722s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090722s1.html Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST The proliferation of pornography in the United States is endangering children and families, and federal efforts to combat it need to be expanded, according to the hundreds of pro-family advocates who sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Erik Holder last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090721s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090721s1.html Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:50:00 EST The nation’s largest teacher’s union, the National Education Association, has openly pledged its support for efforts to give homosexual couples the same rights and privileges traditionally granted to married couples, and its opposition to constitutional amendments or laws that preserve marriage as only between a man and a woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090717s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090717s1.html Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:10:00 EST Cohabitation is becoming more common among young adults in their early twenties, and two recent studies shed light on the attitudes and characteristics of men and women who live together outside of marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090716s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090716s1.html Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:10:00 EST A North Carolina House committee recently defeated a bill that would have given mayors statewide the authority to solemnize marriages. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090715s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090715s1.html Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:32:00 EST Pro-homosexual advocates in North Carolina are celebrating the enactment of two pieces of legislation that were recently signed into law by Governor Beverly Purdue—one that opens the door for the promotion of homosexuality in the classroom, and another that forces public schools to teach contraception-focused sex education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090713s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090713s1.html Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:59:00 EST The North Carolina Lottery experienced unexpected revenue growth for the second year in a row, while North Carolina’s unemployment rate rose into the top ten in the nation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090710s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090710s1.html Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:40:00 EST On July 7, the N.C. Senate passed HB 1110–Clarify/Alienation of Affection/Criminal Conversation, which limits the application of these two centuries-old laws designed to protect marriages from harmful acts by third parties and to provide legal remedies if those acts do occur. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090709s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090709s1.html Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST The National Institutes of Health has released its final guidelines for expanded federal funding of research involving human embryonic stem cells. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090708s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090708s1.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST A new policy report from the John Locke Foundation shows that while most private schools in the state support expanded school choice options for North Carolinians, such as voucher programs or tuition tax credits, most express concern about any programs that expand the state’s control over private schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090707s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090707s1.html Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EST A new survey from the Barna Group reveals some key spiritual differences between adults who identify as heterosexual and those who identify as homosexual. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090706s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090706s1.html Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EST President Obama and the First Lady welcomed more than 200 members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) community to the White House for a party celebrating Gay Pride Month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090702s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090702s1.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:40:00 EST June 30 marked the end of Title V funding from the federal government for abstinence education programs, meaning that these programs must now look elsewhere for funding. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090701s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090701s1.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:55:00 EST A full panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has upheld the constitutionality of a Virginia statute banning partial-birth abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090629s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090629s1.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:45:00 EST The North Carolina State Senate rejected a bill Wednesday afternoon that would have limited local school districts’ authority on policies related to the use of corporal punishment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090625s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090625s1.html Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST Yesterday afternoon, House Speaker Joe Hackney cast the deciding vote as the North Carolina House voted 58 to 57 in favor of passing SB 526–School Violence Prevention Act on its third reading. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090624s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090624s2.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:58:00 EST By a vote of 25–21, the North Carolina State Senate approved a bill Tuesday that will force the 104 of the state’s 115 school districts that currently teach Abstinence-Until-Marriage sex education programs to change to a more contraception-focused Comprehensive Sex Education program. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090624s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090624s1.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:10:00 EST A bill to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in a school bullying bill has passed the North Carolina House by a vote of 59 to 57 and will be on the calendar for a final vote today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090623s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090623s1.html Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:05:00 EST The United States Department of Justice has filed a brief defending the federal Defense of Marriage Act against a lawsuit in federal court that demands federal benefits recognizing same-sex marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090622s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090622s1.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST Focus on the Family is bringing its “Family Champion Training” seminar for pastors and church leaders to Raleigh on August 22, 2009. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090619s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090619s1.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:25:00 EST Expectant parents in the United States can now purchase a urine-test kit at their local drugstore that promises to predict their unborn baby’s sex as early as 10 weeks into a pregnancy, raising concerns that the test could lead to an increase in sex-selective abortions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090618s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090618s1.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:40:00 EST A federal appeals court has upheld a zoning ordinance that restricts the location of sexually oriented businesses in Charlotte, ruling the City is not required to consider whether such establishments have actually caused negative secondary effects in the surrounding community in determining whether to enforce the ordinance. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090617s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090617s1.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EST Young men who engage in homosexual sex are “disproportionately” affected by HIV/AIDS, according to a new fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090616s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090616s1.html Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:50:00 EST President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan are calling on states like North Carolina to remove limitations on public charter schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090615s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090615s2.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST A North Carolina State House committee will consider a bill Tuesday that would allow up to $6,000 in income tax credit for students with disabilities whose needs are better met in private or tuition-based public schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090615s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090615s1.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST A Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that would force the estimated 104 of North Carolina’s 115 school districts to implement a Comprehensive Sex Education curriculum in lieu of the existing Abstinence-Until-Marriage curricula. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090610s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090610s2.html Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:20:00 EST North Carolina’s public schools have experienced a greater percentage of growth in non-classroom personnel positions than in student enrollment over the past nine years, according to a new Spotlight report by the John Locke Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090610s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090610s1.html Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:20:00 EST The North Carolina House budget writers today rolled out a $17.8 billion budget proposal and a $940 million tax increase package to help balance a $4 billion budget gap in the State budget. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090609s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090609s1.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:10:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will not hear an appeal of a case challenging the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibits homosexuals from serving openly in the military. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090608s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090608s1.html Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:55:00 EST A bill that would grant federal recognition to the Lumbee Indians in Eastern North Carolina passed the U.S. House on June 3 by a vote of 240 to 179 and now goes to the Senate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090605s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090605s1.html Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST In the wake of heated debate between their state legislature and Governor, New Hampshire has become the latest in a recent string of states to legalize same-sex “marriage." http://ncfamily.org/stories/090604s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090604s1.html Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST In May 2009, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released a new report showing that nonpublic school teachers nationally have higher job satisfaction, greater autonomy, and more support than their public school counterparts. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090603s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090603s1.html Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:15:00 EST In keeping with his administration’s support of the homosexual rights movement, President Barack Obama issued an official White House proclamation yesterday, declaring June, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090602s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090602s1.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST Although media attention in recent months has focused on the slight increase in the teen birth rate in the United States, a new study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) highlights a more troubling trend—the dramatic rise in births to unmarried women age 20 and over. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090601s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090529s1.html Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:05:00 EST The pro-homosexuality “Bullying Bill” passed the House Education committee today after one hour of discussion over two days. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090528s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090528s1.html Thu, 28 May 2009 15:00:00 EST In a press conference yesterday morning, President Obama announced Sonia Sotomayor as his choice to fill Justice David Souter’s vacated seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090527s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090527s1.html Wed, 27 May 2009 09:00:00 EST The California Supreme Court upheld the state’s constitutional amendment Tuesday, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, after it received more than 7 million votes on the November 2008 ballot. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090526s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090526s1.html Tue, 26 May 2009 18:00:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council is pleased to announce that it will partner with Focus on the Family to offer The Truth Project worldview series. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090522s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090522s1.html Fri, 22 May 2009 11:05:00 EST The Oklahoma state legislature voted unanimously May 15 to ban human cloning. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090021s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090521s1.html Thu, 21 May 2009 13:48:00 EST A new study by researchers at Child Trends credits the positive changes in teen sexual health since the early 1990s—in part—to “positive trends” in teen sexual activity, including waiting later to have sex and reductions in the number of sexual partners. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090520s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090520s1.html Wed, 20 May 2009 16:20:00 EST A recent Gallup poll found that more Americans are calling themselves pro-life than at any other time since Gallup started asking in 1995. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090519s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090519s1.html Tue, 19 May 2009 10:10:00 EST This year’s May 14 “crossover deadline” marked a defining point in the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2007-08 legislative biennium. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090515s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090515s1.html Fri, 15 May 2009 13:25:00 EST The institution of the family will be undermined and North Carolina’s sovereignty threatened, if the United States ratifies two United Nations treaties involving women’s and children’s rights, according to a new report released today by the Family Research Council and the North Carolina Family Policy Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090514s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090514s1.html Thu, 14 May 2009 11:05:00 EST With no debate, a bill that would codify gestational surrogacy agreements in North Carolina passed the Senate on second reading on May 13 by vote of 31 to 17. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090513s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090513s2.html Wed, 13 May 2009 17:30:00 EST A lawsuit involving the constitutional rights of an Eastern North Carolina church group to share the Gospel with visitors at a local State Park has been resolved. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090513s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090513s1.html Wed, 13 May 2009 09:30:00 EST A recent report by NewsChannel 36 in Charlotte, unveiled a potential conflict in the amount of North Carolina Lottery winnings that retailers, charged with selling the game, are collecting for themselves. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090512s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090512s1.html Tue, 12 May 2009 09:50:00 EST Teens in North Carolina can now use their cell phones to text anonymous questions on topics ranging from sex and condoms to sexual orientation, and receive “expert” advice within 24 hours—all without parental knowledge or consent. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090511s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090511s1.html Mon, 11 May 2009 10:30:00 EST Yesterday, the parents of three North Carolina women who were murdered while pregnant joined North Carolina Right to Life and legislators at a press conference urging passage of HB 890—Unborn Victims of Violence Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090508s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090508s1.html Fri, 08 May 2009 10:40:00 EST The North Carolina Senate gave final approval Wednesday afternoon to a bill that would grant special legal protections based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” for the first time in North Carolina history. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090507s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090507s2.html Thu, 07 May 2009 15:50:00 EST Today, millions of Americans will gather in their homes, in their churches, at national monuments and town squares to pray for our nation, our leaders, and our military in observance of the 58th annual National Day of Prayer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090507s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090507s1.html Thu, 07 May 2009 10:40:00 EST Today, in a victory for homosexual activists seeking to redefine the nature of marriage and family, Maine became the fifth state in the nation to legalize same-sex “marriage.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090506s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090506s2.html Wed, 06 May 2009 15:50:00 EST Late Tuesday afternoon the North Carolina State Senate gave initial approval to the so-called “Bullying Bill” that would introduce special legal protections for “alternative” sexual behaviors for the first time in state history. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090506s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090506s1.html Wed, 06 May 2009 12:50:00 EST With two weeks left until crossover deadline, the pace is picking up at the General Assembly. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090504s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090504s1.html Mon, 04 May 2009 11:35:00 EST During a last minute meeting on April 29, the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Youth Services approved two bills that would drastically affect public school students across North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090430s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090430s1.html Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:05:00 EST Legislation that would legalize video poker again in North Carolina and give a percentage of the gambling profits to the State was recently introduced in the General Assembly. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090428s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090428s1.html Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:28:00 EST Major legislative activity this week included the passage by both the State House and Senate of a State Employees' Health Plan while the House began work on the budget it received last week from the Senate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090427s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090427s1.html Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST America’s largest abortion provider performed 62 abortions for every adoption referral it made in 2007, according to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s 2007–2008 annual report released earlier this month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090423s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090423s1.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:05:00 EST Focus on the Family has launched an informative new web site aimed at equipping parents and students to respond to the promotion of homosexuality in public schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090422s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090422s1.html Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:15:00 EST A coalition of pro-life groups unveiled a new design for North Carolina’s “Choose Life” license plate at a press conference held at the General Assembly earlier this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090417s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090417s1.html Thu, 17 Apr 2009 9:30:00 EST In just one week, the pro-homosexual “Day of Silence” will be observed by thousands of students in public and private schools across America, including nearly 200 schools in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090416s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090416s1.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:50:00 EST In just one week, the pro-homosexual “Day of Silence” will be observed by thousands of students in public and private schools across America, including nearly 200 schools in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090415s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090415s1.html Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:20:00 EST Lottery sales could potentially increase by 127 percent nationwide, if states would implement a number of consumer marketing tactics, including putting the games online and increasing public awareness about the government programs the lottery helps fund, according to a new study released last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090414s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090414s1.html Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:20:00 EST Having spent the first 103 days of 2009 earning enough money to pay off all their federal, state, and local taxes, American taxpayers celebrate Tax Freedom Day today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090413s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090413s1.html Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:15:00 EST The White House received over two million empty red envelopes emphasizing the consequences of abortion last week as a result of “Red Envelope Day” on March 31. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090409s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090409s1.html Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:20:00 EST On April 7th, the North Carolina House Judiciary 3 Committee began considering a bill to establish a study on the expansion of grandparent visitation rights that could violate the fundamental right of parents to raise their children as they see fit. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090408s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090408s1.html Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:35:00 EST On April 7, the House Health Committee voted to send a slightly amended version of HB 88—Healthy Youth Act, which would change the standard for sex education in North Carolina public schools from Abstinence Until Marriage to Comprehensive Sexuality Education , to the House floor for a vote. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090407s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090407s1.html Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:45:00 EST Family Issues Abound With the Senate still working on the state budget, this week the House turned its attention to other issues such as smoking bans, fixing the health plan for state employees, and electing members to the UNC System Board of Governors. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090406s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090406s1.html Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:36:00 EST Lacking a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage, the Iowa Supreme Court on April 3rd unanimously legalized same-sex “marriage” by upholding a lower court ruling that the state’s 1998 marriage statute is unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090403s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090403s1.html Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:45:00 EST Thursday afternoon, the House Health Committee severely limited debate, discussion, and amendments for a bill that would affect how millions of children in North Carolina schools are taught about sexuality. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090402s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090402s1.html Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:15:00 EST On March 17, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a single paragraph unpublished order upholding a public university law school’s decision to deny official campus recognition to the Christian Legal Society. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090401s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090401s1.html Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:15:00 EST Today, the North Carolina Family Policy Council announced the results of a statewide survey of registered voters, which found that 73 percent of North Carolinians support an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as only between one man and one woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090331s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090331s2.html Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:15:00 EST On Tuesday, March 31, pro-life citizens from across the United States will go to their mailboxes to employ a new weapon in the battle to end abortion in this country—an empty red envelope with a simple, yet powerful message on the back that is mailed to the White House. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090331s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090331s1.html Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:15:00 EST This was a busy week at the North Carolina General Assembly and by Thursday afternoon when legislators headed home for the weekend, everyone was ready to go. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090330s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090330s1.html Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:31:00 EST The North Carolina “Education Lottery” Commission, which met on March 24 in Raleigh, has approved guidelines for printing some games and promotional materials in Spanish. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090327s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090327s1.html Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST Sixty-two of the 120 members of the North Carolina State House of Representatives have signed onto a bill that would require all school boards to have stated policies “prohibiting bullying or harassing” any student for any reason by December 31, 2009. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090326s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090326s1.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:47:00 EST A federal judge in New York has ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reconsider its August 2006 decision limiting non-prescription access to the emergency contraception drug, Plan B, to individuals aged 18 or older. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090325s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090325s1.html Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST The majority of North Carolinians in an Elon University poll released March 23 oppose full marriage rights for same-sex couples. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090324s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090324s1.html Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:50:00 EST On Tuesday, March 24, homosexual activists and allies will convene in Raleigh for an annual lobbying event to pressure lawmakers to support a legislative agenda that promotes an acceptance of homosexuality and gender confusion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090323s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090323s1.html Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:40:00 EST In a three-to-three split decision filed today, the North Carolina Supreme Court allowed the State Lottery to continue to operate in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090320s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090320s2.html Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST Governor Beverly Perdue released a budget proposal this week that will attempt to close an estimated $6.4 billion gap in the State’s two-year budget. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090320s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090320s1.html Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST Preliminary data released yesterday (March 18) by the National Center for Health Statistics shows a slight increase in the teen birth rate nationwide in 2007—the second year in a row that births to teens have increased. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090319s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090319s1.html Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:53:00 EST Next Tuesday, March 24, homosexual activists and their allies from across the state will gather in Raleigh for Equality North Carolina’s “Day of Action.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090318s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090318s1.html Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:34:00 EST Nearly 500 teenagers converged upon Washington D.C. on March 12 to promote sexual purity until marriage and urge our nation’s leaders to continue to support and fund abstinence-until-marriage education programs. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090317s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090317s1.html Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:05:00 EST A Wake County judge has proposed ordered a mother to enroll her three children in public school after she had homeschooled them for four years. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090316s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090316s1.html Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:15:00 EST The Obama administration is moving forward with plans to rescind an executive order that was issued late last year by President George W. Bush and protects the right of conscience for health care providers, including the right to decline involvement in abortion-related services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090313s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090313s1.html Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:17:00 EST The so-called Bullying Bill, which purports to be about safety but actually seeks to promote acceptance of homosexuality and transgenderism in North Carolina public schools, was introduced in the General Assembly yesterday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090312s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090312s1.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:39:00 EST The North Carolina House Education Committee allowed little debate Tuesday morning as it passed a bill that would change the standard for sexuality education in public schools from abstinence until marriage to comprehensive sexuality education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090311s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090311s1.html Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:08:00 EST Despite a growing federal deficit, President Obama issued an executive order on March 9 allowing taxpayer dollars to be used for research involving the intentional destruction of human embryos. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090310s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090310s1.html Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:56:00 EST The State Board of Education met last week to elect Bill Harrison as the new Board Chairman, discuss renewal of school charters and review a consolidated report on crime in North Carolina public schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090309s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090309s1.html Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:20:00 EST On March 2, a lawsuit was filed in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act in an attempt by homosexual activists to require recognition of same-sex marriage in all 50 states. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090306s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090306s1.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:17:00 EST Last month, the Montana State Senate gave its final approval to legislation that would allow voters of the chance to vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would define personhood as a human being at all stages of development, regardless of health and level of functioning. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090305s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090305s1.html Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:40:00 EST Over 3,000 North Carolinians braved the freezing temperatures and melting snow and ice on March 3 to express to the members of the General Assembly their desire to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment this November. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090304s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090304s1.html Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:36:00 EST The battle for the future of marriage continues in state legislatures across the nation, with several states considering bills this year that would either legalize same-sex “marriage” or give the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090303s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090303s1.html Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:44:00 EST In light of this year’s budget difficulties, Governor Bev Perdue has authorized the transfer of $150 million in education funds, most of which was generated by the state lottery, into the State General Fund potentially to be used to pay for non-education items. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090302s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090302s1.html Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:40:00 EST The snow that covers much of North Carolina will not deter supporters of marriage from attending the Marriage Rally at the state capital tomorrow. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090227s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090227s1.html Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:37:00 EST School voucher programs improve academic achievement in public schools, according to a new study by Greg Forster, Ph.D., of the Freidman Foundation for Education Choice. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090226s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090226s1.html Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:05:00 EST The majority of voters in North Carolina support amending the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman, according to a new poll by the John W. Pope Civitas Institute. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090225s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090225s1.html Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:21:00 EST Today, legislators, in conjunction with the NC4Marriage Coalition, introduced the House and Senate versions of bills that would allow North Carolina citizens to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment to include the definition of marriage in the state as the union between one man and one woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090224s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090224s1.html Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:25:00 EST Thousands of North Carolinians from a variety of backgrounds and religious beliefs will gather in Raleigh on Tuesday, March 3, for a Marriage Rally to express their support for a Marriage Protection Amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090223s1.html Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:47:00 EST On Thursday, a State Superior Court judge overturned North Carolina’s 2006 law that banned video poker. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090219s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090220s2.html Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:35:00 EST In a unanimous vote on February 16, the Rowan County Commission approved a resolution urging the General Assembly to pass legislation that would give North Carolinians the opportunity to vote this November on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090220s1.html Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:21:00 EST Lotteries continue to attract players despite a national recession, according to press reports and the lottery industry. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090219s1.html Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:31:00 EST The “Why Not NC? Rally” held Tuesday in front of the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh brought attention to the fact that North Carolina is the only southern state that refuses to allow its citizens to purchase a “Choose Life” license plate. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090218s1.html Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:02:00 EST The NC4Marriage Coalition is preparing for two large grassroots events in defense of traditional marriage — Marriage Sunday and a Marriage Rally. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090217s1.html Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:39:00 EST The overwhelming majority of Americans in a recent Zogby poll support teaching both sides of the evolution debate, and support academic freedom for students and teachers on the issue. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090216s1.html Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:23:00 EST The NC4Marriage campaign is sponsoring two upcoming events, Marriage Sunday and a Marriage Rally, to demonstrate support for a State Marriage Amendment protecting marriage in NC as between one man and one woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090213s1.html Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:18:00 EST This week, thousands of homosexual activists and their allies are demanding “equal” marriage rights in staged protests across the United States as part of the 12th annual “Freedom to Marry Week.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090212s1.html Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:40:00 EST While students across the country celebrate the 200th birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin today, many high school and college students are also celebrating “Academic Freedom Day.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090211s1.html Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:11:00 EST International family planning groups that perform abortions or provide abortion counseling in foreign nations will now have access to funds from the United States government, after President Barack Obama reversed a policy last month that prohibited federal funding for overseas abortion providers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090210s1.html Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:39:00 EST Nearly 200 couples will renew their wedding vows at a Celebration of Marriage in Rocky Mount on the weekend of Valentine’s Day. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090209s1.html Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:39:00 EST The North Carolina State Board of Education will decide today whether or not it will renew charters for 16 public charter schools in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090205s1.html Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:05:00 EST The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners approved a plan last week to study whether to offer domestic partnership benefits to the same-sex and opposite-sex partners of county employees. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090204s1.html Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:18:00 EST Proposed budget cuts submitted to Governor Bev Perdue by agency officials include a complete elimination of the State Abortion Fund. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090203s1.html Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:55:00 EST Last week, the Board of Directors and the Council on Christian Life and Public Affairs of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina voted unanimously to join NC4Marriage, a coalition of pastors, churches, organization and individuals across North Carolina dedicated to adding the definition of marriage to the North Carolina Constitution. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090202s1.html Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST The sponsor of a controversial bill that would have forced all North Carolina school districts to adopt pro-homosexual “anti-bullying” policies has said he intends to reintroduce the legislation this session. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090130s1.html Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:10:00 EST According to the North Carolina School Report Cards released Thursday, N.C. public schools did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind, and only 50.9 percent of students passed both reading and math scores on the state’s ABC end-of-grade tests for the 2007–2008 school year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090129s1.html Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:12:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly convenes at Noon today in Raleigh to begin the 2009-2010 Legislative Session facing a budget gap that some have predicted could reach $3 billion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090128s1.html Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:49:00 EST Sunday hunting is expected to be among the issues discussed at two public hearings later this week, after the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission rescheduled the meetings due to last week’s snow. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090127s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090127s1.html Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:05:00 EST A new study published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction highlights the importance of father involvement to an expectant mother’s decisions about abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090126s1.html Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:47:00 EST There were approximately 19 million new infections of sexually transmitted diseases in 2007, with nearly half occurring in 15 to 24 year-olds, according to the latest national estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090123s1.html Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:05:00 EST Today, over 200,000 Americans are expected to gather in the nation’s capital for the 36th consecutive March for Life to protest the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090122s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090122s1.html Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:55:00 EST Following the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States, the official White House website was updated with the new administration’s agenda, and it contains an extensive pro-homosexual platform. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090121s1.html Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:44:00 EST Prayer and references to God will be part of today’s presidential inauguration ceremony, after a federal judge denied an attempt by California atheist Michael Newdow to ban the phrase “So help me God” and prevent clergy from offering prayers during the swearing-in ceremony for Barack Obama. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090120s1.html Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:35:00 EST One of the first bills introduced in the 111th Session of the U.S. Congress would grant full federal recognition to the Lumbee Indian Tribe of North Carolina, and the measure contains a provision to prevent the tribe from gambling in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090116s1.html Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:55:00 EST A new report from the National Center for Health Statistics detailing the birth and fertility rates of American women in 2006 contains both positive and negative findings. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090115s1.html Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:57:00 EST This Sunday, January 18, thousands of pro-life advocates in North Carolina will join millions from across the nation in recognition of “Sanctity of Human Life Day.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/090114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090114s1.html Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:46:00 EST Students “shouldn’t feel like they have to be ‘undercover’ about their religion” is the primary message of this year’s “Religious Freedom Day,” scheduled for Friday, January 16. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090113s1.html Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:10:00 EST The overwhelming majority of American adults in a recent online poll said they support laws that regulate or limit abortion, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090112s1.html Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:48:00 EST A U.S. District Court heard arguments January 8 in a case filed by Charlotte residents arguing that the city violated their First Amendment rights when it denied an application for a permit to hold an abortion protest. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090109s1.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:16:00 EST The makers of the Gardasil vaccine, which prevents four strains of HPV (human papillomavirus)—including those responsible for most cervical cancers and genital warts—are seeking government approval to make it available for males now. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090108s1.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:56:00 EST The proportion of school-aged children in the United States who are homeschooled increased by an astounding 74 percent between 1999 and 2007, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090107s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090107s1.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:20:00 EST Infamous atheist Michael Newdow recently filed a lawsuit in federal district court that is aimed at banning prayer and references to God from the presidential inauguration ceremony for Barack Obama, which is scheduled to take place on January 20, 2009. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090106s1.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:18:00 EST The New Jersey Division of Civil Rights ruled against a Christian camp for refusing to allow its facilities to be used for a civil union ceremony between a lesbian couple. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090105s1.html Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:50:00 EST Half of the physicians in a recent national survey said they support a newly enacted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule that strengthens the legal protections for health care providers who refuse to participate in services, such as abortion, that violate their moral, religious, and ethical convictions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/090102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/090102s1.html Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:37:00 EST A new study by the media watchdog group, Parents Television Council, warns that sexually explicit and profanity-laced content is merely a “click away” for children searching for videos on the popular website, YouTube. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081231s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081231s1.html Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:12:00 EST Abstinence-until-marriage proponents are criticizing a new study published in the January 2009 issue of the journal, Pediatrics, which found that teenagers who take virginity pledges differ little in terms of sexual behavior from closely matched teenagers who do not make a virginity pledge. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081230s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081230s1.html Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:33:00 EST Business owners protesting the proposed construction of a strip club near their properties on Mount Hermon Road in Wake County won the latest round of a three-year legal battle on December 12, when the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that they have standing to contest the city’s issuance of a permit that would allow the establishment of a sexually oriented business. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081229s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081229s1.html Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:29:00 EST Members of a University of North Carolina study commission convened on December 17 for the first of several meetings in Chapel Hill to consider whether or not to adopt a system-wide policy on hate speech. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081223s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081223s1.html Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:43:00 EST A recent report found that over 74 percent of American colleges and universities clearly and substantially violate student and faculty First Amendment rights through campus speech codes. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081222s1.html Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:51:00 EST A national homosexual advocacy group launched a new, community-based program December 10 in an effort to make schools more friendly towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered students. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081219s1.html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:14:00 EST The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has proposed a new rule change that would roll back portions of a longstanding prohibition against Sunday hunting in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081218s1.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST The Roman Catholic Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith released a new document on December 12 aimed at addressing some of the tough bioethical questions related to biomedical technology that have arisen over the past 20 years. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081217s1.html Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:20:00 EST Children who live with both biological parents and attend religious services frequently are less likely to exhibit behavior problems, and more likely to perform well in school and be respectful to others, according to a new study released today by the North Carolina Family Policy Council in conjunction with the Family Research Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081216s1.html Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:55:00 EST Living with two biological parents is one of the best means of preventing adolescent sexual activity, according to a Heritage Foundation paper. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081215s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081215s1.html Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:44:00 EST In the latest example of the nationwide attack on Christmas, library officials at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have decided not to display Christmas trees at the campus’s two main libraries this year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081212s1.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:20:00 EST North Carolina’s Alcohol Beverage Control System is outdated and needs modernization in three areas according to a legislative committee that met this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081211s1.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:23:00 EST Forsyth County will continue to defend its sectarian prayer policy against a lawsuit that is pending in federal court, despite calls by at least one member of the County Board of Commissioners to pull out of the suit because of alleged costs to the county, according to reports in the Winston-Salem Journal. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081210s1.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:13:00 EST A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University claims that their analysis of 21 studies on the subject of abortion and mental health risk found no reliable evidence of a link between the two, despite two new studies out this month reporting strong correlation between abortion and mental health risks. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081209s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081209s1.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:57:00 EST Single mothers spend less time with their children than married mothers, mainly because they tend to work more outside the home and have less education than married mothers, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081208s1.html Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST Seeing the Hispanic population as a largely untapped resource for lottery ticket sales, the North Carolina Lottery Commission is exploring ways to get around a law which directs that “No [lottery] advertising may intentionally target specific groups or economic classes.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/081205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081205s1.html Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:09:00 EST Over 500 individuals representing more than 350 organizations in 45 states and the District of Columbia signed a letter encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to continue federal funding for state abstinence education programs. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081204s1.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:28:00 EST On December 2, for the second time in two years, the Carrboro Board of Alderman passed a resolution in support of same-sex “marriage” in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081203s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081203s1.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST On December 1 in conjunction with “World AIDS Day,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new estimates of HIV/AIDS infections in the United States. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081202s1.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:05:00 EST On November 25, a Florida circuit court judge struck down a 31-year-old state law banning homosexuals from adopting, concluding in part that “the best interests of children are not preserved by prohibiting homosexual adoption.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/081201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081201s1.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:02:00 EST Abortion in the United States is a cutthroat industry where money—and not the well-being of women—is the bottom line, according to former abortion clinic owner and operator, Carol Everitt. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081126s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081126s1.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:30:00 EST While the state of Indiana distributes standard license plates with the message “In God We Trust,” they also forbid any references to religion on personalized license plates. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081125s1.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:36:00 EST In an order issued November 19, the California Supreme Court agreed to hear three lawsuits against Proposition 8, the marriage amendment that was approved by a majority of voters in the state on November 4. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081124s1.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:06:00 EST Hundreds of state anti-discrimination laws would be “triggered” by the legalization of same-sex “marriage” and used to bring lawsuits against religious individuals and organizations that object to the practice, according to a new study by the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081121s1.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:50:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council led a successful voter guide project for the 2008 election, despite a nationwide trend of declining church involvement in elections this year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081120s1.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:19:00 EST Regular church involvement and an intact family structure have a positive impact on how children behave, according to two new reports from the Mapping America Project at the Family Research Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081119s1.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:20:00 EST Approximately 400 people gathered outside the North Carolina General Assembly building on Saturday, November 15th to protest the passage of a constitutional amendment in California defining marriage as between a man and a woman. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081118s1.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:58:00 EST One of the nation’s leading pro-life organizations is sponsoring a campaign aimed at educating Americans about the dangers of the Freedom of Choice Act and what they can do to fight its enactment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081117s1.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:07:00 EST Officials in Connecticut began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Wednesday, November 12—the result of a Connecticut Supreme Court decision in October that established a constitutional right to “same-sex marriage” in that state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081114s1.html Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST The Catholic Bishops of the United States released a statement this week, strongly condemning the Freedom of Choice Act, which President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to sign upon taking office. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081113s1.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:47:00 EST On November 10, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina heard arguments in an important religious freedom case involving a pastor who was denied a permit by the city of Charlotte to hold a pro-life event. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081112s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081112s1.html Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:45:00 EST There were an estimated 25,000 annual cases of cancer associated with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) during 1998-2003 in 38 states and the District of Columbia, according to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081111s1.html Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:35:00 EST The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released a report November 6 showing an increase in the number of schools that did not meet education standards last year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081110s1.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:31:00 EST Allowing parental choice in education through charter schools appears to increase the odds that a school finance ballot measure will pass, according to a new study by Lawrence University associate professor of government, A.F. Shober. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081107s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081107s1.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:56:00 EST The North Carolina “Education Lottery” is hoping to cash in during the holiday season by releasing three new holiday themed scratch-off games this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081106s1.html Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:23:00 EST According to unofficial election results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, over 68 percent of the state’s 6,262,566 voters participated in the November 4 General Election, choosing Democrats Barack Obama for President, Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate and Beverly Perdue for Governor. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081105s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081105s2.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:48:00 EST Amid the high-profile presidential and senatorial races across the country, the citizens of three states have voted to protect traditional marriage. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081105s1.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:13:00 EST Frequent exposure to sexual content in TV programming can lead to an increased likelihood of teens becoming pregnant or being responsible for a pregnancy during the next three years, according to a study released Monday in Pediatrics. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081104s1.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:13:00 EST On November 4, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to begin hearing arguments in FCC v. Fox Television Stations—the first major broadcast indecency case the high court has considered since 1978. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081103s1.html Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:21:00 EST A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has upheld the practice of allowing local clergy members to offer public prayers that invoke the name of Jesus or other religious deities at government meetings in Cobb County, Georgia. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081031s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081031s1.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:59:00 EST On Tuesday, October 28, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes North Carolina, held an 80–minute hearing on the constitutionality of Virginia’s partial birth abortion ban. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081030s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081030s1.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:55:00 EST A coalition of pro-family advocates is asking Americans to take a stand against pornography this week by displaying white ribbons and reporting obscenity violations in observance of “White Ribbon Against Pornography” week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081029s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081029s1.html Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:25:00 EST On Tuesday, October 14, a New York Supreme Court Justice ruled a petition for divorce filed by a lesbian couple could proceed, even though the State of New York does not grant “same-sex marriages.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/081028s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081028s1.html Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:12:00 EST The November 4 General Election is merely a week away and already North Carolina is on its way toward a record voter turnout. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081027s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081027s1.html Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:46:00 EST On Wednesday, October 22, Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy opened in Chantilly, VA to provide alternative sources of health care to pro-life customers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081024s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081024s1.html Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:56:00 EST Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies recently announced that they have managed to rapidly increase the production of induced pluripotent stem cells by using a new process that only requires a single human hair. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081023s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081023s1.html Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:04:00 EST Pro-life student groups at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are sponsoring a bold and controversial traveling abortion exhibit on campus this week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081022s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081022s2.html Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:18:00 EST In a North Carolina Lottery Commission teleconference this morning, lottery director Tom Shaheen told commissioners that he anticipated at least a $16 million drop in lottery revenues next year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081022s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081022s1.html Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:32:00 EST A recent report from the Maryland-based National Fatherhood Initiative estimates the cost of father-absence for taxpayers to be at least $99.8 billion per year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081021s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081021s1.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:57:00 EST A Virginia-based group that works to promote the rights of men and women who choose to leave homosexuality has filed a lawsuit against the Washington DC Office of Human Rights for failing to include former homosexuals in a city wide anti-discrimination policy that gives special protections to homosexual, bisexual and transgender individuals. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081020s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081020s1.html Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:46:00 EST Parents have the strongest influence on adolescent decisions about sex, and sex education programs and policies must encourage and strengthen parental involvement to be effective, according to a new “Backgrounder” report from The Heritage Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081017s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081017s1.html Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:39:00 EST The North Carolina “Education Lottery” Commission held a strategic planning workshop Wednesday, October 15 to discuss proposed legislation for the 2009 legislative session, advertising, and minority participation, among other topics. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081016s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081016s1.html Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:09:00 EST A majority of Americans in a new survey commissioned by the Elliot Institute said that a political candidate’s position on abortion is “somewhat important” or “very important” to how they will vote in the upcoming election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081015s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081015s1.html Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:45:00 EST This week, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network is sponsoring “Ally Week” in K-12 schools across the nation in an effort to build support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender student activities. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081014s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081014s1.html Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:16:00 EST On Friday, October 10, the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling by a 4–3 margin to establish a constitutional right to “same-sex marriage” in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081013s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081013s1.html Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:20:00 EST Nebraska’s controversial “safe haven” law that essentially allows parents to abandon children of any age at hospitals without facing criminal penalty is getting national attention, after more than a dozen older children, including a teenager from Iowa, have been abandoned at hospitals around the state since September. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081010s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081010s1.html Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:32:00 EST On Tuesday, October 7, a North Carolina House Select Committee met to consider the legal aspects of using lottery proceeds to help fund charter school construction in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081009s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081009s1.html Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:39:00 EST A new report by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute argues that state laws and long-standing adoption agency practices need to be changed to allow for homosexuals to adopt children in foster care. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081008s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081008s1.html Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:23:00 EST After a six year battle, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling on Monday, October 6 protecting the constitutionality of life-affirming speech in the form of “Choose Life” license plates. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081007s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081007s1.html Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:22:00 EST Adolescents who live in an intact married family are less likely to be suspended or expelled from school than adolescents from non-intact families, according to a recent report from the Mapping America Project of the Family Research Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081006s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081006s1.html Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:32:00 EST City officials in Hickory, North Carolina, have pledged to recognize and protect the constitutional rights of citizens to express their religious faith in public after an incident this summer involving the silencing and arrest of two Christian men who were attempting to share their faith at a public festival. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081003s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081003s1.html Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:22:00 EST This Sunday, October 5, thousands of pro-lifers across the United States and in North Carolina will gather together to publicly pray for an end to abortion on “National Life Chain Sunday 2008.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/081002s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081002s2.html Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:26:00 EST Fireproof, an independent film that highlights the struggles and importance of marriage, has surpassed industry expectations this week by opening at number four nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081002s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081002s1.html Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:18:00 EST Today, the North Carolina Family Policy Council publicly released its 2008 General Election Voter Guide and activated its 2008 Voter Guide website at ncfamily.org. http://ncfamily.org/stories/081001s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/081001s1.html Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:02:00 EST This week, September 27-October 4, libraries and bookstores across the United States will be promoting “Banned Books Week 2008,” an annual event promoting the “freedom to read” at libraries nationwide. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080930s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080930s1.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:15:00 EST President Bush is expected to sign a bi-partisan bill aimed at curbing the incidence of abortion of children diagnosed prenatally with Down Syndrome. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080929s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080929s1.html Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:29:00 EST The U.S. abortion rate has dropped 33 percent since peaking in 1980, reaching its lowest level since 1974, according to a new report from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080926s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080926s1.html Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:46:00 EST Evangelical leaders from around the country will meet in Durham to answer the question of how the Christian faith should be related to the public square. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080925s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080925s1.html Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:30:00 EST State laws that require parental involvement before an abortion can be performed on a minor contributed to the nearly 50 percent decline in abortions performed on minors nationwide between 1985 and 1999, according to a new Family Research Council study. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080924s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080924s1.html Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:28:00 EST On Wednesday, September 24, the second annual national fall 40 Days for Life campaign will kick off. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080923s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080923s1.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:13:00 EST The millions of students who will gather around their school flagpoles to pray this Wednesday, September 24, have a constitutional right to do so, according to a legal memo published by the Alliance Defense Fund. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080922s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080922s1.html Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:50:00 EST Approximately one in five young women in America report being forced into sex, with the majority reporting that the sexual assault occurred when they were teenagers, according to a new study from Child Trends. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080919s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080919s1.html Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:46:00 EST Despite rising unemployment rates and consumer costs in North Carolina, the North Carolina lottery is benefiting from increasing sales. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080918s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080918s1.html Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:32:00 EST Two comprehensive sex education advocates claim that some abstinence programs are unconstitutional because they promote “gender stereotypes” by teaching students that men and women have innate differences. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080917s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080917s1.html Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:53:00 EST A new study confirms the prevailing wisdom that marriage brings with it better health. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080916s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080916s1.html Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:35:00 EST Two new reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include additional details about the incidence of HIV infections among high-risk populations in the United States, specifically homosexual men. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080915s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080915s1.html Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:20:00 EST In yet another example of the increasing promise of adult stem cell research and the lack of need for destructive embryonic stem cell research, Harvard biologists recently reported a new breakthrough in regenerative medicine. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080912s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080912s1.html Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:24:00 EST The Joint Study Commission on Children and Youth kicked off its opening meeting on September 10, 2008 to study the issues plaguing children and youth in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080911s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080911s1.html Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:07:00 EST Over half of Americans in a new Barna survey say they believe that Evangelical voters will have a significant impact on the upcoming election and will cause the political conversation to be more conservative. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080910s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080910s1.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:02:00 EST Six justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments of counsel on Monday in an appeal of a suit brought by the North Carolina Family Policy Council and others to challenge the constitutionality of passage of the North Carolina Lottery Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080909s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080909s1.html Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:48:00 EST The North Carolina Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a case concerning the manner in which the North Carolina Lottery Act was passed by the state legislature in 2005. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080908s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080908s1.html Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:37:00 EST The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology is urging physicians to advise their female adolescent and adult patients about the serious disease risks of sexual activities that do not involve sexual intercourse. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080905s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080905s1.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:57:00 EST In light of a recent study showing only 9 percent of Christians subscribe to a Biblical worldview, Focus on the Family has launched The Truth Project to rebuild a foundational biblical worldview among Christians. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080904s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080904s1.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:23:00 EST The majority of school districts in North Carolina are not friendly to parents, with most earning a grade of “C” or “D” in a new report from the John Locke Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080903s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080903s1.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:44:00 EST U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt proposed a rule August 21 to strengthen legal conscience protections for medical personnel. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080902s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080902s1.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:09:00 EST A group of 129 college and university presidents has signed a public statement that seeks an open debate about lowering the drinking age from 21 years of age to 18. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080829s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080829s1.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:42:00 EST The American Psychological Association recently announced its support for “full equality for transgender and gender variant individuals,” and urged psychologists nationwide to “provide appropriate, nondiscriminatory treatment” for these individuals. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080828s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080828s1.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:49:00 EST On Friday, August 22, members of the North Carolina Lottery Oversight Committee met to consider the benefits of North Carolina’s so-called “Education” Lottery, now in its third year of operation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080827s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080827s1.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:13:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council continues to be ranked as one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the state, according to a report released this week by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080826s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080826s1.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:24:00 EST The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina has filed a lawsuit to overturn a North Carolina statute prohibiting lobbyists from making political contributions to candidates for the state legislature and other state offices. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080825s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080825s1.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:26:00 EST Researchers on both sides of the abortion debate are questioning the conclusions of an American Psychological Association task force report that claims there is “no credible evidence” that an elective, first-trimester abortion causes mental health problems for some women. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080822s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080822s1.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:46:00 EST The North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled that the Department of Social Services can be sued for its failure to conduct statutorily mandated home assessments of child abuse that eventually result in the death of the child. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080821s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080821s1.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:09:00 EST A new study contends that parents who spank their children, especially with an object such as a switch or a belt, are more prone to child abuse than parents who don’t. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080820s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080820s1.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:37:00 EST A Massachusetts group, Mass Resistance, has filed papers with the Massachusetts Secretary of State to put one aspect of same-sex marriage to a vote on November’s General Election ballot. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080819s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080819s1.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:40:00 EST The citizens of Colorado will go to the polls this November to vote on a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to define a “person” under Colorado law as “any human being from the moment of fertilization.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080818s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080818s1.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:57:00 EST Election season is upon us, and the North Carolina Family Policy Council is committed to helping educate voters about candidates running for state and federal elected offices. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080815s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080815s1.html Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:08:00 EST A staggering 61.1 percent of North Carolina public schools failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress targets set by No Child Left Behind for the 2007-2008 school year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080814s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080814s1.html Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:26:00 EST Non-marital sexual behaviors—including adultery and “threesomes”—dominate the broadcast television airwaves, while marriage relationships are either ignored or portrayed in a negative light, according to a new report from the Parents Television Council. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080813s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080813s1.html Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:55:00 EST A recent peer-reviewed study published in the June 2008 Scandinavian Journal of Public Health finds a link between abortion and subsequent depression. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080812s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080812s1.html Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:21:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council today began production of a new news feature, "Family North Carolina Update." http://ncfamily.org/stories/080811s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080811s2.html Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:37:00 EST On Friday, August 8, the Second District Court of Appeals for the State of California reversed course on a decision it rendered in February, in which the court had concluded that many homeschools in that state were operating illegally. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080811s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080811s1.html Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:10:00 EST Proposition 8, California’s marriage amendment that appears on this November’s ballot and defines marriage as only “between a man and a woman,” will not be enough to prevent challenges to state marriage laws across the country. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080808s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080808s1.html Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:41:00 EST North Carolina’s teen pregnancy rate for females ages 15-19 increased to 63.1 pregnancies per 1,000 women in 2006, up from 61.7 in 2005, according to data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080807s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080807s1.html Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:33:00 EST Sexual risk behaviors among high school students in the United States have decreased significantly since 1991, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://ncfamily.org/stories/080806s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080806s1.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:20:00 EST The Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, whose jurisdiction includes North Carolina, has agreed to rehear a case involving the constitutionality of a Virginia law banning partial-birth abortion. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080805s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080805s1.html Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:40:00 EST Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill, S800, into law that allows same-sex couples across the country to be married in Massachusetts before returning to their home state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080804s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080804s1.html Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:20:00 EST In an effort to “more accurately reflect” the increasing number of cohabiting couples with children in America, the U.S. Census Bureau has changed how it identifies unmarried partners and their relationship to the children who are living with them. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080801s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080801s1.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:17:00 EST It appears that homosexual couples from other states will soon be able to get “married” in Massachusetts, opening the door wider for possible legal challenges to the marriage laws of other states. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080731s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080731s1.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:52:00 EST A new report from the Southern AIDS Coalition blames “social conservatism” and “the church,” at least partially, for the alarmingly high rates of HIV/AIDS in the Southern states. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080730s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080730s1.html Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:27:00 EST A new study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University shows that people who are made to believe they are poor tend to purchase more lottery tickets than other groups of people. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080729s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080729s1.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:14:00 EST On Friday, July 18, 2008, a new South Dakota law took effect, requiring abortionists to inform women considering an abortion that they will terminate the life of “a whole, separate, unique, living human being.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080728s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080728s1.html Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:23:00 EST The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes North Carolina, ruled on July 23, 2008 that the Fredericksburg, Virginia City Council may prohibit its members from opening their meetings with a prayer in Jesus’ name without violating free speech rights under the First Amendment. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080725s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080725s1.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:42:00 EST Ten years after it was enacted, the 1998 Child Online Protection Act has once again been found unconstitutional and barred from enforcement by a federal appeals court. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080724s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080724s1.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:21:00 EST With the traditional drop of a white handkerchief and a bang of the bell on Friday, July 18, the 2008 “Short” Session of the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned “sine die." http://ncfamily.org/stories/080723s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080723s1.html Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:17:00 EST Senators in Massachusetts have passed a bill that would allow the state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex residents of other states. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080722s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080722s1.html Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST Lawmakers return home today following the closing of the 2008 “Short” Legislative Session shortly before 5:00 P.M. on Friday. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080718s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080718s2.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:45:00 EST The "Bullying Bill" has been removed from consideration on the floor of the North Carolina House and Senate as the 2008 Session draws to a close, which means that the bill is unlikely to reappear on the floor of either chamber. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080718s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080718s1.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:45:00 EST In a victory for pro-family advocates, federal funding of Title V abstinence education programs has been extended for another year through June 2009. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080717s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080717s1.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:11:00 EST Resident fathers who regularly engage in activities such as holding, feeding, dressing and reading to their infant children have a positive impact on their infant’s cognitive development, according to a new Child Trends study published in June in the online version of the Journal of Family Issues. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080716s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080716s1.html Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:35:00 EST The legalization of same-sex “marriage” will most certainly impact the religious liberties of people of faith who believe that homosexuality is wrong, according to a panel of legal, academic and policy experts who participated in a Family Research Council (FRC) event last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080715s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080715s1.html Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:06:00 EST A California court has overturned a ruling in the homeschooling lawsuit that had held most forms of homeschooling in that state unlawful. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080714s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080714s1.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST The people of North Carolina lost a great friend and a true statesman on July 4, with the passing of Sen. Jesse Helms. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080711s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080711s2.html Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:10:00 EST A measure that would extend federal funding for Title V abstinence education programs for one year passed by unanimous consent in U.S. Senate on July 9 as part of a large healthcare bill, but could fall victim to a presidential veto. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080711s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080711s1.html Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:17:00 EST On Tuesday, July 8, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a final version of the 2008-2009 budget, which includes over $405 million in estimated funding for public education programs using proceeds from the State Lottery. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080710s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080710s1.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:36:00 EST The number of homosexually active men diagnosed with HIV/AIDS continues to increase nationwide, including in North Carolina, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://ncfamily.org/stories/080709s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080709s1.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly has named the members of the conference committee tasked with finding a compromise between the House and Senate on HB 1366–School Violence Prevention Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080708s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080708s1.html Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:11:00 EST A bill moving through the North Carolina House is aimed at closing a loophole the gambling industry has exploited to skirt the state’s ban on video poker. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080707s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080707s1.html Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:24:00 EST Sixty-six members of the North Carolina House have signed on as co-sponsors of a new bill calling for an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution defining marriage as “the union of one man and one woman at one time.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080703s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080703s2.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:41:00 EST On Wednesday afternoon, by a 60–56 vote, the North Carolina House voted to "Not Concur" with the Senate version of HB 1366—School Violence Prevention Act, sending the bill to a conference committee. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080703s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080703s1.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:55:00 EST Arizona’s citizens will soon have the opportunity to vote for an amendment to their State Constitution defining marriage as a “union of one man and one woman.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080702s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080702s1.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:46:00 EST The United States House of Representatives has approved a bill that would extend Title V abstinence funding for another year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080701s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080701s1.html Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:06:00 EST A growing number of states are enacting laws that give abortion-minded pregnant women the option of viewing ultrasound images of their unborn child, according to a report by Stateline.org. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080630s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080630s1.html Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:43:00 EST Dr. Jocelyn Elders, former United States Surgeon General, visited the North Carolina General Assembly on Wednesday, June 25 to advocate for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080627s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080627s1.html Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:52:00 EST Two recent surveys by different polling groups show that about the same percentage of Americans believe homosexual behavior is morally wrong as believe it is acceptable. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080626s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080626s1.html Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:54:00 EST On Saturday June 21, Fayetteville Police officers found the body of seven-month pregnant Spc. Megan Lynn Touma in a motel room, making Touma the second pregnant soldier to die in North Carolina this year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080625s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080625s1.html Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:17:00 EST Homosexual advocates in California have filed a lawsuit in the California Supreme Court in the hopes of removing the initiative from the ballot, denying Californians the opportunity to vote on this matter in the November election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080624s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080624s1.html Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:56:00 EST The rapid increase in cohabitation in the United States and other advanced nations over the past three decades has “little social benefit,” according to a new report from the National Marriage Project at Rutger’s University. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080623s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080623s1.html Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:20:00 EST The UNC Law School is omitting a controversial question about applicants’ “sexual orientationfrom its future Law School admissions applications, according to Charles Boger, Dean of the Law School. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080620s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080620s1.html Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:22:00 EST Last Wednesday, June 11, the N.C. Senate passed the “Jessica Lunsford Act.” Jessica’s Law, as the bill is called, creates new criminal offenses for rape and first-degree sexual assault if the perpetrator is at least 18 years of age and the victim is a child under the age of 13 years. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080619s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080619s1.html Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:33:00 EST As California begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples this week, a coalition of national homosexual legal and advocacy groups is advising gay and lesbian couples to get married but hold off on most lawsuits in other states—at least for now. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080618s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080618s1.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:50:00 EST June 16 marked the date that California began officially performing same-sex “marriages.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080617s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080617s1.html Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST This week, a State House committee approved a bill that could help facilitate reunions between adoptees and biological family members but also could undermine the confidentiality of many adoptions in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080613s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080613s2.html Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:06:00 EST Teens who make a pledge to abstain from sexual activity until marriage are more likely than similar teens who do not to postpone sexual activity, according to a new study released June 10 by the Rand Corporation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080613s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080613s1.html Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:11:00 EST The majority of North Carolinians in a recent poll support the idea of providing the parents of special needs children with education tax credits or scholarships that would allow the child to attend a school of their parents’ choice. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080611s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080611s1.html Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:29:00 EST Sexual risk behaviors among high school students have declined significantly in the United States since the 1990s, according to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance report released June 4 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080610s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080610s1.html Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:02:00 EST Waiting to have sex benefits the physical, mental, emotional, financial and relational health of young people, according to a new report from the Institute for Youth Development. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080609s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080609s1.html Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:24:00 EST On June 4, the California Supreme Court denied a request to delay implementation of its May 15 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the state. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080606s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080606s1.html Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:52:00 EST One of the most lively discussions to take place during consideration of the state budget in the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday was an amendment by Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph) to slash the salaries of North Carolina’s top lottery officials. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080605s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080605s1.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:08:00 EST During Tuesday’s budget debate, the N.C House Finance Committee eliminated a proposal in the chamber’s state spending plan that would have increased the marriage license fee in order to provide additional funding for domestic violence services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080604s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080604s1.html Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:47:00 EST California Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified that a measure to amend the state’s constitution defining marriage as “between a man and a woman” will appear on the ballot for the November election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080603s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080603s1.html Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:45:00 EST A bill that would prohibit the State’s health insurance plan from being used to pay for the medical or surgical abortions of teachers and state employees has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080602s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080602s1.html Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:31:00 EST In the wake of the California decision to perform same-sex marriages, New York’s governor has taken steps to ensure that New York will accept those “marriages.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080530s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080530s1.html Fri, 30 May 2008 13:35:00 EST In the wake of the California decision to perform same-sex marriages, New York’s governor has taken steps to ensure that New York will accept those “marriages.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080529s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080529s1.html Thu, 29 May 2008 10:55:00 EST The North Carolina House Transportation Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would authorize the state to issue a special license tag bearing the pro-life message, “Choose Life.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080528s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080528s2.html Wed, 28 May 2008 13:35:00 EST Americans generally affirm traditional family values more than Europeans according to a recent series of Gallup Polls. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080528s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080528s1.html Wed, 28 May 2008 10:27:00 EST State Representative Earl Jones (D-Guilford), who sponsored a bill last year to authorize state taxpayer funding of destructive embryonic stem cell research, is now calling for a study of the legalization of marijuana in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080527s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080527s1.html Tue, 27 May 2008 09:17:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to peddlers of child pornography earlier this week in a 7-2 decision that upholds a 2003 federal statute criminalizing the pandering or solicitation of child pornography. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080523s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080523s1.html Fri, 23 May 2008 08:55:00 EST State Senator Harris Blake (R-Moore) has introduced a bill that would eliminate the word “Education” from the title “North Carolina Education Lottery” and rename the government-sponsored numbers game the “North Carolina State Lottery.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080522s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080522s1.html Thu, 22 May 2008 08:33:00 EST On May 14, Georgia became the eighth state in the nation to offer an educational tax incentive program that will open the door for thousands of students in the state to attend private schools of their choice. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080521s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080521s1.html Wed, 21 May 2008 08:32:00 EST Marijuana and depression are a “dangerous combination,” especially for teenagers, according to a new report from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080520s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080520s1.html Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford has been convicted of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from illegal gambling operators, and for his involvement in an illegal gambling ring in Western North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080519s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080519s1.html Mon, 19 May 2008 16:33:00 EST Despite the fact that 61 percent of California voters passed “Proposition 22” in 2000 recognizing marriage in that state as only between a man and a woman, the California Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the law as unconstitutional. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080516s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080516s1.html Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The N.C. State Personnel Commission has abandoned its effort to enact a proposed rule change that would have added “sexual orientation” as a protected classification in North Carolina’s state employment regulations. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080515s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080515s2.html Thu, 15 May 2008 16:00:00 EST One of the first bills filed during the 2008 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly calls for an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution to define marriage as “the union of one man and one woman at one time.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080515s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080515s1.html Thu, 15 May 2008 10:30:00 EST The majority of Americans do not believe that Christians are “too involved in politics,” according to a recent survey conducted for Lifeway Research and the Southern Baptist’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080514s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080514s1.html Wed, 14 May 2008 00:53:00 EST State lawmakers converge on Raleigh today to begin the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2008 Legislative Session. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080513s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080513s1.html Tue, 13 May 2008 00:01:00 EST Despite the increasing number of successful medical treatments using adult stem cells, and the recent discovery of a non-destructive method to generate embryonic-like stem cells without destroying human life, some state and congressional leaders continue to push for taxpayer funding of destructive embryonic stem cell research. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080512s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080512s1.html Mon, 12 May 2008 00:05:00 EST The preservation of marriage, the homosexual agenda in schools, destructive embryonic stem cell research, and unborn victims of violence are among the issues facing North Carolina legislators when they return to Raleigh next week for the 2008 “Short” Legislative Session. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080509s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080509s1.html Fri, 09 May 2008 15:30:00 EST In a May 6th opinion, the N.C. Court of Appeals granted joint legal custody of a minor child to the biological mother of the child and her estranged lesbian partner. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080508s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080508s1.html Thu, 08 May 2008 14:50:00 EST “Sex has consequences” is supposed to be the message of the 2008 “National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy” scheduled for today. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080507s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080507s1.html Wed, 07 May 2008 11:00:00 EST Voters from all over North Carolina will head to the polls today to exercise their civic responsibility by voting in the Primary Election. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080506s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080506s1.html Tue, 06 May 2008 12:38:00 EST North Carolina earned a “D” for its over-regulation of private schools in a new report from the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, entitled “50 Educational Markets: A Playbook of State Laws and Regulation Governing Private Schools.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080505s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080505s1.html Mon, 05 May 2008 15:28:00 EST The United States Congress passed a bill that would prevent companies from discriminating against people based on findings from genetic tests.. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080502s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080502s1.html Fri, 02 May 2008 11:02:00 EST Today, millions of men, women and children across the nation will gather in churches, offices and public parks to pray for America and its leaders during the 57th annual National Day of Prayer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080501s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080501s1.html Thu, 01 May 2008 12:22:00 EST North Carolinians have the opportunity to exercise their civic duty by taking an active part in local, state, and national government next week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080430s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080430s1.html Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:18:00 EST Nearly a year after a bill to ban corporal punishment in public schools was defeated by the North Carolina House of Representatives, a legislative study commission is proposing to ratchet down on this form of discipline in the school setting. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080429s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080429s1.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:58:00 EST State Auditor Les Merritt released an audit of the NC Educational Lottery on April 10, 2008 that reveals glaring problems in the way the lottery is being managed. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080428s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080428s1.html Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:07:00 EST The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved a bill Thursday that would grant the Lumbee Indian Tribe full federal recognition and all the related benefits—except the right to pursue gambling operations in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080425s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080425s1.html Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:57:00 EST A new report from The Heritage Foundation shows that abstinence-until-marriage (AUM) education is effective at helping teens delay sexual activity. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080424s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080424s1.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:59:00 EST A study committee in the State House has recommended expanding the process by which adoptees and biological family members can identify and contact each other. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080423s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080423s1.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council and other plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the N.C. Supreme Court on April 17, 2008 in Heatherly v. State, the case challenging the constitutionality of the State Lottery Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080422s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080422s1.html Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:48:00 EST On Monday, April 28, thousands of Christian students in public and private schools across the United States will exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and religious expression by participating in the 2008 “Day of Truth.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080421s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080421s1.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:52:00 EST Christians from around the nation will gather together at events throughout the country on May 1 for the National Day of Prayer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080418s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080418s2.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:15:00 EST A legislative study committee voted on Wednesday to recommend giving an extra $32.5 million from the lottery reserve fund to 57 North Carolina counties for public school construction. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080418s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080418s1.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:15:00 EST Next Wednesday, April 23, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is scheduled to discuss the future of federal abstinence education funding. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080417s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080417s1.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:25:00 EST Divorce and unwed childbearing cost American taxpayers an estimated $112 billion each year, and at least $1 trillion over a decade, according to a groundbreaking new study released April 15 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080416s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080416s1.html Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:15:00 EST In and effort to better equip Tar Heel voters for the upcoming elections, the North Carolina Family Policy Council has activated its 2008 Primary Election Voter Guide website. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080415s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080415s1.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST Parents beware. In less than two weeks, the pro-homosexual “Day of Silence” will be observed by thousands of students in public and private schools nationwide, including nearly 30 schools right here in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080414s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080414s1.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:20:00 EST A conservative professor’s discrimination lawsuit against the University of North Carolina at Wilmington will continue, after a federal judge last week denied most of the university’s motion to dismiss the case. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080411s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080411s1.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:38:00 EST North Carolina lawmakers should expand school choice in the state by offering parents education tax credits or incentives, according to a new report from The John Locke Foundation’s the North Carolina Education Alliance. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080410s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080410s1.html Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:25:00 EST TA California appeals court ruled April 3 that an online roommate-matching service can no longer ask users about their sexual orientation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080409s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080409s1.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:43:00 EST The new film, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” which opens nationwide on April 18, documents the debate between Darwinism and Intelligent Design in the academy. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080408s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080408s1.html Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:43:00 EST North Carolina charter schools that fail to hire enough licensed teachers will now lose some state funding, and could face the possible revocation of their charter, according to new rules adopted this month by the State Board of Education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080407s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080407s1.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:43:00 EST The Executive Committee of House District 18 has named Sandra Spaulding Hughes as the replacement for the seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives formerly held by Thomas Wright. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080404s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080404s1.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:45:00 EST A Maryland jury has found a man guilty of murdering a woman and her unborn child in the state’s first conviction under its fetal homicide law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080403s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080403s1.html Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:28:00 EST Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to account for the largest proportion of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080402s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080401s2.html Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EST Divorce is as common among born-again Christians as it is among the general population, according to a new report from The Barna Group. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080401s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080401s1.html Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:45:00 EST The 2nd District Court of Appeals for the State of California has agreed to reconsider its earlier ruling requiring state-recognized teaching credentials for homeschoolers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080331s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080331s1.html Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:05:00 EST On March 17, state lottery officials announced the addition of a new mid-day drawing of the “Carolina Pick 3” game. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080326s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080326s1.html Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:48:00 EST As part of our ongoing effort to promote civic responsibility and involvement, the North Carolina Family Policy Council has launched its 2008 Voter Registration web page. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080325s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080325s1.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:15:00 EST The American Psychological Association released a new brochure that indicates changes in the way homosexuality is perceived among the scientific community. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080324s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080324s1.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:50:00 EST For the first time since 1880, the North Carolina House of Representatives has expelled one of its own members. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080320s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080320s2.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:25:00 EST This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving the constitutionality of a Federal Communications Commission rule targeting profanity on the broadcast airwaves. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080320s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080320s1.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:18:00 EST A divided three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals issued a ruling on March 18 upholding the constitutionality of the N.C. Lottery Act. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080319s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080319s1.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:13:00 EST Election season is upon us, and once again the North Carolina Family Policy Council is working to help educate voters about candidates running for state and federal elected office. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080318s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080318s1.html Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:32:00 EST The safest place for children is an intact married-parent household where their father and mother are present, according to a new research brief from the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080317s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080317s1.html Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:26:00 EST An alarming new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the dangers of premarital sexual activity for young women and the need for an increased emphasis on abstinence-until-marriage education in our nation’s schools. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080314s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080314s1.html Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:35:00 EST The Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board voted 6 to 3 on March 11 in favor of a pro-homosexual anti-bullying policy that includes the categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080313s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080313s1.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:05:00 EST Two-thirds of Americans believe that traditional journalism is “out of touch with what they want from news,” and 64 percent are not satisfied with the quality of journalism today, according to a recent "We Media/Zogby" Interactive poll. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080312s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080312s1.html Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:05:00 EST The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Joe Hackney, has asked Governor Mike Easley to call for a special session of the North Carolina General Assembly to “consider a resolution regarding the recommendations of the Select Committee to Investigate Alleged Misconduct and Other Matters Included in Indictments against Rep. Thomas Wright.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080311s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080311s1.html Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:18:00 EST A New York court has officially recognized a lesbian “marriage” as valid in the state, according to court documents. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080310s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080310s1.html Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:45:00 EST California parents without state-approved teaching credentials have no right to home school their children, according to a recent ruling by the California Court of Appeals. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080307s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080307s1.html Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:25:00 EST The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board is poised to vote next Tuesday, March 11 on a pro-homosexual anti-bullying policy that includes the categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080306s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080306s1.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:35:00 EST Researchers have cured sickle cell anemia in a mouse using stem cells cultured from the mouse’s own body according to an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080305s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080305s1.html Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:35:00 EST On February 26, the U.S. Senate voted 52-42 in favor of a pro-life amendment that would permanently ban federal health care programs for American Indians from paying for on-demand abortions. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080304s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080304s1.html Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:15:00 EST School choice programs that provide parents with more educational options for their children are expanding in the United States, according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080303s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080303s1.html Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:40:00 EST The belief that homosexuality is unhealthy, and sexual orientation can be changed through therapy and/or through religious faith should not be welcome in public schools, according to a primer mailed earlier this month to the nation’s 16,000 public school superintendents. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080229s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080229s1.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:45:00 EST The religious landscape in America is “both very diverse and extremely fluid,” according to a new study from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life http://ncfamily.org/stories/080228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080228s1.html Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST The majority of children in the United States live with their married biological mother and father, according to the latest analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080227s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080227s1.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:20:00 EST In addition to encouraging breastfeeding by new moms, the American Public Health Association also wants state lawmakers to “repeal or oppose” laws that ban abortion procedures or limit access to abortion in any way. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080226s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080226s1.html Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:40:00 EST State Lottery Director Tom Shaheen reported that for the first seven months of the lottery’s fiscal year (July, 2007 through January, 2008), lottery sales have fallen below budget projections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080222s1.html Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST Those wishing to run for elected office in North Carolina have only one more week to file with the State Board of Elections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080221s1.html Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST Earlier this month, Albert Harris, a biology professor at UNC-Chapel Hill told students in his embryology class that aborting unborn children with Down Syndrome was the moral thing to do. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080220s1.html Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:14:00 EST The percentage of high school students who report ever having sexual intercourse continues to decline in the Tar Heel state, according to the latest data from the North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance reports. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080219s1.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:17:00 EST A leading homosexual activist has admitted that HIV/AIDS is a “gay disease.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080218s1.html Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:35:00 EST Thousands of students across the United States and around the world will mark this Valentine’s Day by renewing their commitment to sexual purity until marriage during the fifth annual “Day of Purity.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080213s1.html Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:45:00 EST North Carolina experienced a 6.2 percent increase in the number of high school dropouts in the 2006-07 school year, according to a new report presented to the State Board of Education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080212s1.html Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:17:00 EST A television commercial that would use four-year-olds from a Cumberland County pre-school program to advertise the North Carolina Education Lottery is drawing fire from a state senator, according to the Fayetteville Observer. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080211s1.html Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:11:00 EST The N.C. Commission for Public Health unanimously approved a rule change that will effectively force community programs seeking to reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancy to throw out true abstinence until marriage education and instead teach comprehensive sex education and refer teens to family planning services. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080208s1.html Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:06:00 EST The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System under-funded five charter public schools in its district and must pay the schools what it owes, according to a North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080207s1.html Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:55:00 EST Beginning on Wednesday, February 6, thousands of pro-lifers across the United States will join together in the second annual “40 Days for Life” campaign, a 40-day event of prayer and fasting, constant vigil outside abortion clinics, and community outreach. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080206s1.html Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:55:00 EST Elementary schools in Massachusetts are not required to alert parents before using pro-homosexual books in the classroom, according to a recent ruling by a federal appeals court. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080204s1.html Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:10:00 EST The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board is currently considering an anti-bullying policy that includes the categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080201s1.html Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:40:00 EST Motorists in Missouri and Arizona will now have the option of purchasing specialty license plates containing the message “Choose Life” after two different federal court rulings this month. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080131s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080131s1.html Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:35:00 EST A new study committee appointed by North Carolina Speaker of the House Joe Hackney is looking into the feasibility of opening sealed adoption records in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080130s1.html Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:20:00 EST Fifty-two ABC-owned and affiliated television stations could be forced to pay $27,500 each in fines for broadcasting indecent material during a 2003 episode of “NYPD Blue.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080129s1.html Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:06:00 EST A marine accused of killing a fellow service-member who was eight-months pregnant at the time of her death will not face separate charges for the murder of the woman’s unborn child, because North Carolina lacks a fetal murder law. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080128s1.html Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:40:00 EST A new study published in the January issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine warns that a drug-resistant and potentially deadly Staph infection is spreading rapidly among homosexual men in several major cities. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080125s1.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:20:00 EST Abortion could still be legal in North Carolina even if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080124s1.html Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:05:00 EST North Carolina is ranked as the 30th most pro-life state in the nation in a new report from Americans United for Life. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080123s1.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:53:00 EST The number of abortions in the United States declined 25 percent between 1990 and 2005, and the abortion rate dropped to its lowest level since 1974, according to the latest census of abortion providers conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080122s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080122s1.html Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:05:00 EST The UNC-CH School of Law has added a new question to its 2008 Law School application:  “Do you self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer?” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080121s1.html Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST Children in elementary and middle schools across the nation could be introduced to "sexual orientation" and other homosexual themes during the upcoming “No Name-Calling Week” scheduled for January 21-25. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080118s1.html Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:15:00 EST The North Carolina Rules Review Commission voted on Thursday, January 17 to reject a rule change proposed by the North Carolina State Personnel Commission that would grant protected status to state employees on the basis of “sexual orientation.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080117s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080117s2.html Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:20:00 EST The overwhelming majority of Americans support greater religious freedom in public schools and in public places, according to a new survey released this month from Ellison Research, a Phoenix-based marketing research company. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080117s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080117s1.html Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:35:00 EST The Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability submitted its report on North Carolina’s public school testing and accountability programs to the North Carolina Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080115s1.html Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:35:00 EST Homosexual activists celebrated a victory in New Jersey last week with the state legislature’s passage of a controversial bill that expands the state’s existing hate crimes law to include “gender identity or expression.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/080114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080114s1.html Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:20:00 EST Officials at Winston-Salem State University have decided to revise a new policy that restricts free speech to a specific area of campus, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080111s1.html Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:35:00 EST By declining to accept an appeal of a Mississippi case, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively upheld actions for alienation of affections. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080110s1.html Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:30:00 EST The Blue Ribbon Commission on Charter Schools has formally issued a report to the State Board of Education recommending more charter schools in North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080109s1.html Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST Each year since 1993, the President has declared January 16 to be Religious Freedom Day, commemorating the Virginia legislature’s passage in 1786 of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, authored by Thomas Jefferson. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080108s1.html Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:10:00 EST Rep. Pete Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg) has resigned from the North Carolina General Assembly after serving nearly eleven terms in the State House, most recently as Assistant to the Speaker. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080104s1.html Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:35:00 EST As part of a $500 billion-plus spending bill passed in late December, the U.S. Congress has authorized the use of taxpayer-funded needle exchange programs in the nation’s Capitol. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080103s1.html Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST On Sunday, January 20, pro-life advocates in North Carolina will join with others from across the nation in recognition of Sanctity of Human Life Day. http://ncfamily.org/stories/080102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/080102s1.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:35:00 EST As we close out the year 2007 and look foward to the new year, it is a good time to pause and reflect on some of the issues that have developed in North Carolina over the past year. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071231s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071231s1.html Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:05:00 EST Congress closed out its 2007 session on Wednesday, December 19, by renewing federal funding for abstinence until marriage education programs. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071221s1.html Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:30:00 EST A bill introduced in the U.S. House last week would ban almost all gambling on U.S. military bases around the world. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071220s1.html Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:25:00 EST Under new rules proposed by the North Carolina Commission for Public Health, applicants seeking grants from the State to teach high-risk teens about sex would be forced to abandon authentic abstinence until marriage education and replace it with comprehensive sex education. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071219s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071219s1.html Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:08:00 EST A former Sheriff of Buncombe County and three of his deputies have been charged with taking bribes to cover up an illegal video gambling operation in western North Carolina, according to an indictment released December 13 by federal officials. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071218s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071218s1.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:50:00 EST The number of high school students reporting use of illegal drugs continues to decline, according to a study from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071217s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071217s1.html Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST A notice has gone out from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announcing a proposed rule change for grants given by DHHS to outside groups that provide pregnancy prevention programs either in public schools or in another community setting under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071214s3.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071214s3.html Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:01:00 EST In a nearly unanimous vote, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution on December 11 recognizing the importance of the Christmas holiday and Christianity’s integral part in the founding of America. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071214s1.html Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST Marriage will remain a heterosexual institution in Rhode Island, at least for the time being, after the Ocean State’s highest court rejected on December 7 an attempt by a lesbian couple to have their “marriage,” which was solemnized in Massachusetts, legally ended in Rhode Island. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071213s1.html Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:55:00 EST A state representative from Wilmington was indicted Monday, December 10, on five felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses and one count of felonious obstruction of justice. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071211s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071211s1.html Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:52:00 EST A provision that would have expanded federal hate crimes laws to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected categories was stripped from the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill before the measure passed the U.S. Congress last week. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071210s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071210s1.html Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:50:00 EST The North Carolina lottery plans to introduce a mid-day drawing for Carolina Pick 3 sometime this spring, according to comments made by lottery executive director Tom Shaheen during a December 5 meeting of the State Lottery Commission. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071207s1.html Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:42:00 EST A new study from Michigan State University has reached a notable conclusion—rising divorce rates around the world contribute to environmental decay. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071206s1.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:59:00 EST One of the most anticipated movies of the Christmas season, “The Golden Compass,” may appear to be a harmful fantasy adventure aimed at young adults, but many Christian scholars are warning parents about the film’s atheistic themes and dangerous messages. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071205s1.html Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:41:00 EST In an opinion handed down on November 21, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld a Texas law that recognizes an unborn child as a legally protected “individual.” http://ncfamily.org/stories/071204s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071204s1.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:25:00 EST Lackluster lottery sales have led North Carolina lottery officials to seek more lottery ticket outlets and to design lottery games with Christmas themes in an attempt to attract more potential ticket buyers. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071130s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071130s1.html Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:45:00 EST State Representative Rick Glazier, the primary sponsor of the pro-homosexual “Bullying Bill,” was recently honored by a statewide pro-homosexual lobbying organization for his efforts during the 2007 Legislative Session on this legislation. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071129s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071129s1.html Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:50:00 EST Private groups will no longer be able to leave Bibles or any other “proselytizing texts or materials” in Cumberland County elementary schools after public school officials caved in to pressure from a disgruntled mother and the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071128s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071128s1.html Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:45:00 EST The N.C. Department of Public Instruction has notified public school Superintendents and Abstinence Until Marriage Program Coordinators across North Carolina that federal abstinence funds for the first quarter of 2007-08 are available. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071127s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071127s1.html Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:12:00 EST In a decision that is sure to have a significant impact on the debate over destructive human embryonic stem cell research in the United States and abroad, the British scientist responsible for cloning Dolly the sheep has decided to abandon controversial “therapeutic cloning” methods in favor of ethical research using adult stem cells. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071121s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071121s1.html Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:25:00 EST Almost two months after Virginia Governor Tim Kaine issued a budget amendment requiring his state to reject $275,000 in abstinence education funding from the federal government’s Title V Program, new research is showing the effectiveness of Virginia’s abstinence initiatives. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071120s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071120s1.html Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:11:00 EST The North Carolina Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a man for viewing child pornography on his computer and participating in several child pornography Internet groups. http://ncfamily.org/stories/071119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071119s1.html Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:43:00 EST A commission designed to study the effectiveness of North Carolina’s charter school program has issued an initial proposal recommending that the N.C. General Assembly and State Board of Education approve more flexible guidelines for the creation of new charter schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071116s1.html Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:15:00 EST A federal lawsuit was filed on November 2 by a registered sex offender challenging North Carolina’s new law requiring that the worst sex offenders wear GPS monitoring devices. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071115s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071115s1.html Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:56:00 EST The United States saw an increase last year in infection rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, according to a newly released report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071114s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071114s1.html Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:56:00 EST Recently, the Associated Press reported that the majority of adults in a recent AP-Ipsos poll favored the distribution of birth control to children in public schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071113s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071113s1.html Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:20:00 EST Advocates of public funding for human embryonic stem cell research were dealt a significant defeat on Tuesday, November 6, when New Jersey voters rejected a bond measure that would have appropriated $450 million to embryonic stem cell research over a 10-year period. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071109s1.html Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:12:00 EST A bill that would enshrine “sexual orientation” as a protected class under federal employment non-discrimination law passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, November 7, but fell well short of the two-thirds majority necessary to override a promised presidential veto. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071108s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071108s1.html Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:27:00 EST A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that men who have multiple sexual relationships at one time are contributing to the HIV epidemic in the United States. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071106s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071106s1.html Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:50:00 EST The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear a challenge to the Indiana General Assembly’s practice of conducting public prayers before each of its sessions. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071105s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071105s1.html Tue, 06 Nov 2007 02:10:00 EST The North Carolina lottery may be less than two years old, but better odds and bigger prizes continue to lure Tar Heel players across state lines to purchase lottery tickets in Virginia and South Carolina, according to the Charlotte Observer. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071102s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071102s2.html Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:40:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to limit the amount of damages that can be collected by a wronged spouse in an action for alienation of affections. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071102s1.html Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:40:00 EST The First Amendment was on trial against internet child pornography on Tuesday, October 30, before the U.S. Supreme Court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071101s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071101s1.html Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:12:00 EST A student who was required to attend homosexuality “diversity training” at his Kentucky school can proceed with a lawsuit seeking damages against school district officials for implementing a policy forbidding him and other students from sharing their Christian beliefs on homosexuality. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071031s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071031s1.html Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:22:00 EST The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which operates North Carolina’s only gambling casino, made over $175,000 in political contributions over the past two years, $58,000 of which tribal leaders failed to disclose to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071029s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071029s1.html Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:35:00 EST High dropout rates among North Carolina high school students cost the state $169 million annually in lost tax revenue, lower earning power, and increased public assistance expenses, according to a new study commissioned by Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071025s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071025s2.html Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:55:00 EST The U. S. House of Representatives is poised to vote on a controversial measure, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), that would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment practices against people on the basis of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071025s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071025s1.html Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:55:00 EST On the same day he vetoed a bill that would define marriage in California as the “union of two persons,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed four bills into law on October 12 favorable to the homosexual lifestyle. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071023s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071023s2.html Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:59:00 EST One school district in Florida has solved its problem of whether to allow clubs promoting homosexuality to meet at its schools by adopting a policy banning all sex-based school clubs. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071023s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071023s1.html Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:55:00 EST While the number of teen pregnancies in North Carolina declined over the last five years, alcohol and drug abuse remained at “unacceptably high levels” among adolescents, according to the 2007 N.C. Child Health Report Card. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071018s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071018s1.html Thu, 18 Oct 2007 06:00:00 EST Britain's ruling Labor Party government has announced plans to introduce a new "hate crimes" law that would result in jail terms of up to seven years (more than the average penalty for rape) for "incitement to hatred" against homosexuals, according to The Times Online. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071017s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071017s1.html Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:30:00 EST In a long-awaited decision, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled today that economic incentives offered to Dell, Inc. in 2004 do not violate the North Carolina Constitution or the U.S. Constitution. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071016s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071016s2.html Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:45:00 EST According to the Charlotte Observer, the Union County Public School system is currently in the process of updating sex education materials that will be used in the classroom to instruct children in grades 4-12. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071016s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071016s1.html Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:45:00 EST The Fayetteville City Council will apparently continue to offer sectarian prayers at open meetings, even after a city attorney warned elected officials to avoid frequently including the name of Jesus Christ in public invocations. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071015s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071015s1.html Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:40:00 EST In a controversy that could lead to the recognition of same-sex “marriage” in the nation’s smallest state, the Rhode Island Supreme Court heard oral arguments on October 9 in a complaint filed by two lesbians seeking to have their “marriage,” which was solemnized in Massachusetts, legally ended in Rhode Island. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071012s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071012s1.html Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:10:00 EST In an opinion filed on September 7, 2007, Judge Earl Britt of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled that the federal government has no constitutional authority to indefinitely institutionalize sexual predators who might pose a danger to society or who cannot control their behavior. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071011s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071011s1.html Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:07:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court began its fall term on October 1, by declining two religious freedom appeals from New York and California, allowing the lower court rulings to stand. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071008s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071008s1.html Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:45:00 EST A three-judge panel of the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision on September 20, 2007, ruling that transsexuals are not a specially protected class of workers under a federal nondiscrimination employment law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071005s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071005s1.html Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:00:00 EST In an opinion issued on October 2nd, the N.C. Court of Appeals upheld the right of a local town to ban registered sex offenders from public parks. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071004s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071004s1.html Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:30:00 EST The N.C. Child Fatality Task Force met yesterday to discuss its latest figures on child deaths in the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071002s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071002s1.html Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:30:00 EST In a victory for abstinence education advocates, President Bush signed legislation into law over the weekend that extends, until December 31, 2007, the federal government’s Title V Abstinence Education Program. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/071001s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/071001s1.html Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:12:00 EST On Thursday, September 27, the United States Senate passed an amendment to a Defense spending bill that would add “actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity” to the classifications receiving special protection under federal “hate crime” laws. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070928s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070928s1.html Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:35:00 EST Legislation that would grant the Lumbee Indian Tribe full federal recognition and possibly pave the way for casino gambling in Eastern North Carolina is still pending in the U.S. Congress. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070927s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070927s2.html Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:20:00 EST North Carolina public school students in the fourth and eighth grades are performing at or slightly above the national average in reading and math, according to the latest results of the biennial National Assessment of Educational Progress. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070927s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070927s1.html Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:20:00 EST In contrast to claims by gambling advocates that government-sponsored lotteries provide vital revenue for public education, an investigation by CBS News has found that funds generated from state lotteries cover just a “fraction” of overall education spending. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070925s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070925s1.html Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:05:00 EST North Carolina’s child mortality rate reached an all-time low in 2006, according to the N.C. Child Fatality Task Force. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070920s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070920s2.html Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:45:00 EST In a stunning defeat for proponents of same sex-marriage, the Maryland Court of Appeals (the state’s highest court) issued a decision on September 18, 2007 affirming marriage as a union between one man and one woman. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070920s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070920s1.html Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:45:00 EST A bill currently pending in the U.S. House could force organizations and businesses across the country to hire, promote, and compensate employees regardless of their “sexual orientation.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070919s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070919s2.html Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST On Wednesday, September 26, 2007, millions of students across the United States, including many in North Carolina, will get up early to gather around their school flag poles with their peers to pray for their their families, their friends and their nation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070919s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070919s1.html Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST Men and women engaged in the homosexual lifestyle can overcome same-sex attractions without suffering psychological harm, according to the findings of a four-year study announced last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070917s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070917s1.html Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:40:00 EST Abortion providers in foreign countries could receive federal funding from the United States under an amendment passed on September 6 by the U.S. Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070914s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070914s1.html Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST In its first official act after convening for a special session on September 10, the North Carolina House announced that Ken Furr had replaced Representative David Almond in State House District 67. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070913s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070913s1.html Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST North Carolina Governor Mike Easley avoided the first veto override in state history this week, and instead signed into law a bill that makes $60 million in corporate incentives available to large employers in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070912s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070912s1.html Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST Following over a decade of steady decline, the number of teen suicides rose by eight percent between 2003 and 2004, according to a new analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070911s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070911s1.html Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:16:00 EST Governor Mike Easley has called the North Carolina General Assembly back to Raleigh, on Monday, September 10, to consider his veto of a corporate incentives bill. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070907s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070907s2.html Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:51:00 EST Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, a part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, have discovered a population of adult stem cells they believe have the ability to treat muscle injuries and diseases. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070907s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070907s1.html Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:50:00 EST Two individuals appointed by Governor Mike Easley to the North Carolina State Board of Education were recently sworn in. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070906s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070906s1.html Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:10:00 EST The North Carolina Court of Appeals has upheld a Pitt County ordinance that forced four sexually oriented businesses in the county to shut down. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070905s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070905s1.html Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:00:00 EST Iowa’s law stating that "only a marriage between a male and a female is valid," was temporarily struck down last week after a state district court judge ruled in favor of six homosexual couples who sued to have the act declared unconstitutional. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070904s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070904s1.html Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:30:00 EST A lawsuit challenging South Carolina’s 1999 ban on video poker will continue after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit determined on August 29 that the federal courts may hear the case. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070831s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070831s2.html Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:20:00 EST Governor Mike Easley’s appointment last week of Judge John Arrowood to the North Carolina Court of Appeals has received the praise of Equality North Carolina, a statewide pro-homosexual organization. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070831s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070831s1.html Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:15:00 EST The North Carolina Supreme Court handed down a decision last Friday that could cause multiple legislative districts in North Carolina to be redrawn after the 2008 election. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070830s3.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070830s3.html Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:30:00 EST After ten consecutive years of increases in SAT scores among North Carolina students, a new report from the NC Department of Public Instruction shows that scores have dropped for the second year in a row. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070830s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070830s2.html Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:10:00 EST Men who participate in homosexual acts with other men accounted for 71 percent of all HIV infections among males in the United States in 2005, according to a recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070830s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070830s1.html Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:05:00 EST A new study published in the August 16 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine gives an inaccurate picture of the safety of the abortion drug RU-486, according to several pro-family organizations. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070824s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070824s1.html Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:30:00 EST The presence of drugs and alcohol are “common features of school life” for the vast majority of middle and high school students across the country, according to a new study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070822s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070822s1.html Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:15:00 EST Teenagers value a relationship with their family as the number one key to happiness and are most likely to view parents as their personal heroes, according to the results of a survey of 13- to 24-year-olds released on August 20 by MTV and The Associated Press. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070820s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070820s2.html Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:30:00 EST A new poll conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation reveals that a majority of Americans disapprove of legally sanctioning same-sex “marriage.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070820s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070820s1.html Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EST Women at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary can learn the basics of hospitality, cooking and child-rearing in a new concentration set to debut during Fall 2007. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070816s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070816s1.html Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:45:00 EST U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R–NJ) introduced legislation on August 3 that would require abortionists to inform patients of the pain experienced by unborn children during abortion procedures. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070814s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070814s1.html Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:15:00 EST With the drop of a gavel on Thursday evening, August 2, the 2007 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly was brought to a close. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070810s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070810s1.html Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:15:00 EST In a move that is causing alarm among pro-life advocates and abstinence education supporters, the U.S. House approved legislation on August 1 that would further erode the rights of the unborn and undermine federal abstinence education funding. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070809s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070809s1.html Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:45:00 EST The United States remains the most marriage-friendly nation in the West, but the percentage of Americans who choose to marry is continuing to decline while rates of cohabitation are increasing, according to the latest report from the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070807s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070807s1.html Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:15:00 EST Just days after federal agents arrested 12 people for illegally possessing and operating video poker machines in western North Carolina, law enforcement officials have uncovered another underground video gambling operation in Cumberland County. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070806s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070806s1.html Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:05:00 EST The 2007 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly was gaveled to a close at 10:45 pm, Thursday night, shortly after the “Bullying Bill” was removed from consideration and sent to a House committee. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070803s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070803s2.html Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:25:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly has given final approval to a bill that revamps the state's laws regarding end of life care. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070803s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070803s1.html Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:55:00 EST FBI agents arrested 12 people on July 31, including two former Buncombe county Sheriff’s deputies, in connection with an illegal video gambling operation in western North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070802s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070802s1.html Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:35:00 EST On Tuesday, July 31, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed into law a $20.7 billion budget after lawmakers in the General Assembly gave final approval to the spending plan the day before. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070801s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070801s1.html Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:35:00 EST A bill that would weaken the rights and legal standing of adoptive parents was abandoned in a State Senate committee last week after it appeared that the committee might defeat the bill. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070731s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070731s2.html Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:35:00 EST The number of syphilis cases in Mecklenburg County increased 74% in 2005, according to the Mecklenburg County Health Department. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070731s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070731s1.html Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:05:00 EST The North Carolina House has approved legislation that would authorize the use of state taxpayer dollars to fund human embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070730s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070730s1.html Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST Legislators are putting in extra hours to finish up their work before the 2007 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly adjourns, and a number of controversial bills hang in the balance. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070727s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070727s1.html Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST A bill that would authorize embryonic stem cell research in North Carolina is headed for a full vote on the floor of the North Carolina House after passing the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070726s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070726s1.html Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST The North Carolina Education Lottery’s revenues for state education fell nearly 25% below projected amounts for the first full fiscal year of the state sponsored gambling operation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070725s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070725s2.html Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would have greater authority to regulate the broadcast of indecent programming under a bill approved on July 19 by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070725s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070725s1.html Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST Washington State’s new domestic partnership law took effect Monday, allowing same-sex couples who register with the state the ability to receive many of the rights previously reserved for married couples. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070724s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070724s1.html Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST The U.S. House approved a fiscal year 2008 appropriations bill on July 19 that includes funding for both abstinence education and family planning programs. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070723s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070723s1.html Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST A bill currently pending before the State House Judiciary 1 Committee has raised significant issues regarding end of life care. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070720s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070720s2.html Fri, 20 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST A biotechnology researcher in Japan reportedly has discovered a method of generating stem cells similar to those taken from embryos without requiring the destruction of human life. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070720s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070720s1.html Fri, 20 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST More teenagers are abstaining from sexual intercourse and fewer adolescent females are having children, according to a new report by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070719s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070719s1.html Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST The High Point City Council voted Monday to allow only nonsectarian prayers during Council meetings. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070718s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070718s1.html Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST Louisiana lawmakers became the first in the nation to enact a state law banning partial birth abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on the procedure. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070717s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070717s1.html Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST States will have access to federal abstinence education dollars for at least another three months after the U.S. House approved legislation last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070716s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070716s1.html Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST A federal judge, on Wednesday, sentenced former Speaker of the North Carolina House Jim Black to five years and three months in federal prison and fined him $50,000. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070713s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070713s2.html Fri, 13 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST State Representative David Almond (R-Stanley) resigned from the North Carolina House on Thursday, July 12 following allegations of “serious, improper behavior.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070713s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070713s1.html Fri, 13 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EST The House Finance Committee approved a bill on Tuesday that would change the manner in which lottery proceeds are distributed to public schools for school construction. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070712s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070712s1.html Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST In a memo to the chancellors of North Carolina’s 16 public universities, University of North Carolina President Erskine Bowles has called for an end to lottery advertising at UNC collegiate athletic events. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070711s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070711s1.html Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST A new study from the Tax Foundation confirms the suspicions of many lottery critics: lotteries are one of the most detrimental state government financing policies. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070710s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070710s1.html Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST A new study from the Tax Foundation confirms the suspicions of many lottery critics: lotteries are one of the most detrimental state government financing policies. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070709s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070709s1.html Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council is monitoring the films and seminars being offered at the North Carolina Governor’s School, because of objectionable material offered in past years. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070706s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070706s1.html Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST State Representative Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe) has abandoned efforts to push a controversial bill that would promote contraceptives and “alternative” sexual behaviors in North Carolina public schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070705s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070705s1.html Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST The culmination of years of work to eliminate from North Carolina what many gambling experts refer to as the “crack cocaine” of gambling, came to fruition on Sunday, July 1. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070703s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070703s1.html Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST The controversy surrounding stem cell research continues in North Carolina with the release of a new survey conducted by Duke University researchers. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070628s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070628s1.html Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST The U.S. House voted down two family-friendly amendments on June 21 designed to support abstinence funding and to prevent the use of taxpayer dollars in overseas abortions. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070627s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070627s1.html Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST When the body of 22-year-old Kathryn Nielson was found behind a Raleigh gas station on June 12, family and friends mourned two lives. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070626s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070626s1.html Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST A study released June 12 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Children and Families critiqued nine popular comprehensive sex education curricula. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070625s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070625s1.html Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly has ratified a bill that will ban the possession and operation of machines in North Carolina that vaporize alcoholic beverages for inhalation by the user. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070622s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070622s1.html Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST President George W. Bush vetoed a bill on June 20 that would have used federal taxpayer monies to fund embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070621s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070621s1.html Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST On June 20, the Science and Technology Committee of the N.C. House passed a bill that would appropriate $10 million in state taxpayer dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070620s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070620s2.html Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST A law passed in June 2006 to phase-out the possession and operation of video poker machines withstood a legal challenge in Union County Superior Court—just a few days before the machines will be completely banned from the State. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070620s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070620s1.html Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST Legislation working its way through Congress could muzzle preachers across the United States should it become law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070619s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070619s1.html Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST Massachusetts lawmakers voted Thursday to block a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide whether to ban same-sex marriage in the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070615s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070615s1.html Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST With the North Carolina Governor’s School set to open on June 17, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) warned they would be monitoring the content of the school’s curricula and programs. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070614s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070614s2.html Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST North Carolina’s Catholic Bishops have penned their opposition to HB 1837—Stem Cell Research Health and Wellness Act, a bill that would appropriate state taxpayer dollars for embryonic stem cell research in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070614s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070614s1.html Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST North Carolina will lose over $1.24 million in federal abstinence education funding if the U.S. Congress does not reauthorize the federal Title V grant program. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070613s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070613s1.html Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST For the third consecutive year, Raleigh Charter High School was named one of Newsweek’s “Best American High Schools.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070612s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070612s1.html Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST By a vote of 247-176, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday afternoon that would greatly expand taxpayer funded embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070608s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070608s1.html Fri, 8 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to grant the Lumbee Indian Tribe full federal recognition, and the bill includes a provision prohibiting the Tribe from conducting gambling activities should the act ultimately become law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070607s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070607s2.html Thu, 7 Jun 2007 15:45:00 EST If all goes according to plan, video poker machines will become illegal in North Carolina beginning next month, but the lottery could serve as a mechanism to usher video machine gambling back into the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070607s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070607s1.html Thu, 7 Jun 2007 11:30:00 EST A number of bills that would impact the sanctity of life in North Carolina were introduced in the 2007 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly, but few of them have seen any action. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070605s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070605s1.html Tue, 5 Jun 2007 15:00:00 EST This year’s May 24 “crossover deadline” marked a defining point in the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2007-08 legislative biennium. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070601s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070601s1.html Fri, 1 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST The North Carolina Senate passed its version of the state budget today, leaving one month for the Senate and House to iron out differences in the chambers’ respective proposals before the beginning of the 2007-08 fiscal year on July 1. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070531s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070531s1.html Thu, 31 May 2007 13:00:00 EST Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway ruled on May 24 that court precedent and common law allow witnesses to be sworn in using texts other than the Holy Bible. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070529s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070529s1.html Tue, 29 May 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill, H.B. 1366–School Violence Prevention Act, directing local school boards to adopt policies to protect public school students from bullying and harassment passed 2nd reading in the House on Wednesday, May 23. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070524s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070524s2.html Thu, 24 May 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill in the North Carolina House to ban corporal punishment in public schools was defeated on the House floor Wednesday night, by a vote of 50-66. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070524s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070524s1.html Thu, 24 May 2007 10:00:00 EST A new poll measuring public opinion on the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision shows that Americans’ perspective on the issue shifts when they clearly understand the implications of the controversial abortion ruling. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070523s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070523s1.html Wed, 23 May 2007 15:00:00 EST At the close of the House session today, Speaker Joe Hackney (D-Orange) re-referred the marriage amendment bill to the Judiciary 1 Committee. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070522s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070522s2.html Tue, 22 May 2007 15:00:00 EST The North Carolina Marriage Amendment finally saw some movement today as the House Rules Committee passed the bill to the House floor without prejudice. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070522s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070522s1.html Tue, 22 May 2007 10:00:00 EST North Carolina may enter a compact that will eliminate the Electoral College as it currently operates. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070521s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070521s1.html Mon, 21 May 2007 10:00:00 EST A bill directing local school boards to adopt policies to protect public school students from bullying and harassment passed the House Education Committee on Thursday, May 17. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070518s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070518s1.html Fri, 18 May 2007 10:00:00 EST The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved a policy that allows clergy from the community to offer sectarian invocations at public meetings. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070517s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070517s2.html Thu, 17 May 2007 15:40:00 EST On May 7, the Yadkin County Commissioners decided to continue with the prayer policy which they began earlier this year, allowing meetings to be opened only with nonsectarian prayers. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070517s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070517s1.html Thu, 17 May 2007 15:40:00 EST A bill pending before the N.C. House Education Committee contains language that would grant specially protected status to individuals on the basis of their actual or perceived "sexual orientation" or "gender identity or expression." http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070516s3.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070516s3.html Wed, 16 May 2007 15:40:00 EST Parents strongly oppose contraceptive-based sex education (or Comprehensive Sex Education) curricula when they understand what the programs actually teach, according to the results of a new poll. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070516s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070516s2.html Wed, 16 May 2007 13:00:00 EST Oregon granted special rights to homosexuals after Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed two bills into law that prohibit discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation” and create domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070516s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070516s1.html Wed, 16 May 2007 13:00:00 EST Legislation recently introduced in the General Assembly would make North Carolina the first southeastern state to devote public funds to destructive human embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070514s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070514s1.html Mon, 14 May 2007 13:00:00 EST A provision to establish three pilot needle exchange programs in North Carolina was added to the House budget bill last week, but was removed during floor consideration amidst controversy over the proposal. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070511s3.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070511s3.html Fri, 11 May 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill to abolish North Carolina’s cohabitation law was briefly discussed in the House Judiciary 2 Committee on Thursday, May 10, before being sent to a subcommittee for further consideration. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070511s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070511s2.html Fri, 11 May 2007 13:00:00 EST By a 10 to 8 vote on May 10, the Senate Judiciary I Committee defeated a bill that would have abolished the civil actions of alienation of affections and criminal conversation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070511s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070511s1.html Fri, 11 May 2007 13:00:00 EST On May 4, 2007, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld a ruling of the N.C. Court of Appeals that allowed a minor to be prosecuted for violating the State’s crimes against nature statute. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070510s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070510s1.html Thu, 10 May 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill that would have given adult adoptees access to sealed adoption records in North Carolina was significantly amended by the House Judiciary 1 Committee before passage on Tuesday. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070509s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070509s1.html Wed, 09 May 2007 13:00:00 EST A U.S. district judge sentenced Kevin Geddings on Monday to four years in prison plus two years probation and a $25,000 fine for the former lottery commissioner’s role in the scandal surrounding the state lottery. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070508s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070508s1.html Tue, 08 May 2007 13:00:00 EST A rally was held on Saturday, April 29 in Yadkinville, NC to challenge the decision made by the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners earlier this year to ban sectarian prayer from their meetings. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070507s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070507s1.html Mon, 07 May 2007 13:00:00 EST In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the ban on partial-birth abortion, North Carolina lawmakers have the opportunity to approve two bills that would protect life in the Tar Heel State. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070504s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070504s2.html Fri, 04 May 2007 13:00:00 EST In a move that is being decried by pro-family organizations, the U.S. House passed a measure on Thursday that would equate homosexual behavior with such immutable factors as race or national origin in federal law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070504s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070504s1.html Fri, 04 May 2007 13:00:00 EST Upholding a state superior court ruling from 2005, a three-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled on May 1 that poker is a game of chance and a violation of N.C. general statute. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070502s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070502s1.html Wed, 02 May 2007 13:00:00 EST The House Health Committee, on Tuesday, avoided an up or down vote on a controversial sex education bill, instead opting to forward the bill to the House Education Committee without prejudice. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070501s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070501s2.html Tue, 01 May 2007 13:00:00 EST North Carolina’s only Indian gambling operation saw an increase in profits in 2006, according to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070501s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070501s1.html Tue, 01 May 2007 13:00:00 EST On April 23, 2007, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners unanimously decided to postpone a vote on a resolution that would allow sectarian prayer before public meetings. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070430s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070430s1.html Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST On April 10 Montreat College was visited by Soulforce, an advocacy group which views itself as a voice for social justice on behalf of the gay community. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070427s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070427s1.html Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill to grant full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina passed a House Committee, but only after the Committee adopted an amendment to prohibit the Tribe from conducting gambling activities. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070426s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070426s1.html Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire signed a measure into law on April 21 that grants individuals in same-sex relationships many of the same privileges available to married couples. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070425s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070425s1.html Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST At their annual Tax Day Press Conference, the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) warned citizens about the potential for the largest tax increase in U.S. history. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070424s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070424s1.html Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A lawsuit filed on behalf of a pro-life demonstrator in Raleigh will continue after the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) decided last week to appeal the case in federal court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070423s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070423s1.html Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST The U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources conducted a hearing on April 18 on H.R. 65—The Lumbee Recognition Act. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070419s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070419s1.html Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST In a 5 to 4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban (2003) ruling that the government’s legitimate interest in preserving fetal life did not violate a woman’s right to choose abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070418s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070418s2.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A recently-released study on abstinence education programs by Mathmatica Policy Research is not sufficient evidence to make policy decisions on the effectiveness of abstinence until marriage education programs. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070418s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070418s1.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has decided to fight a lawsuit that challenges its policy of allowing various clergy members from the community to offer sectarian prayers before public meetings. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070417s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070417s1.html Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST The North Carolina lottery is rolling out another plan to help boost lagging ticket sales – vending machines that dispense lottery tickets in grocery stores across the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070416s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070416s1.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill that would prohibit corporal punishment in all North Carolina Public schools passed the House Children, Youth and Families Committee by 6-4 vote on April 11. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070412s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070412s1.html Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST Some state governments are rejecting federal dollars earmarked for education programs aimed at reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070411s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070411s1.html Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate will vote this week on legislation that may force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070410s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070410s1.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly that would prohibit the state lottery from sponsoring games, or advertising with state colleges and universities. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070409s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070409s1.html Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill has been introduced in the North Carolina House to make cohabitation legal everywhere in the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070405s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070405s2.html Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill to eliminate North Carolina’s abstinence until marriage education law and replace it with a mandate for comprehensive sex education was pulled from Tuesday’s agenda of the House Health Committee. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070405s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070405s1.html Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST Public prayers that invoke the name of Jesus Christ or other recognized deities are under attack in Forsyth County. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070404s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070404s2.html Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has ordered the state to record the marriages of homosexual couples that came from out of state to be married. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070404s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070404s1.html Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A Christian is free to express messages in public without government interference after the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) settled a religious freedom lawsuit against the city of Goldsboro, N.C. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070402s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070402s1.html Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill to grant protected status on the basis of an individual’s “sexual orientation” has been introduced in the North Carolina Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070330s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070330s1.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST An analysis of the longest running and most comprehensive study of child care in the United States draws a link between the amount of time children spend in pre-kindergarten daycare and behavioral problems later in life. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070328s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070328s1.html Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST The N.C. Senate approved a bill on March 20 that would require schools to provide information to parents and guardians on “cervical cancer...human papillomavirus [HPV], and the vaccines available to prevent these diseases.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070327s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070327s1.html Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST A new group called True Love Revolution has formed to promote “premarital sexual abstinence” among Harvard’s population. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070326s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070326s1.html Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST Legislation has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly that would eliminate the current requirement to teach abstinence from sex until marriage as the expected standard in the state’s public schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070323s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070323s2.html Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST The South Carolina State House approved a bill on March 21 that would require women considering an abortion to see an ultrasound of their unborn child. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070323s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070323s1.html Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST In a nearly unanimous vote, the City Council of Thomasville, N.C., approved a policy on March 19 that allows council members to voluntarily offer sectarian prayers at the start of public meetings. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070322s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070322s1.html Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST The Yadkin County Board of Commissioners decided to discontinue opening meetings with prayer after the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) demanded that all invocations be non-sectarian. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070321s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070321s1.html Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine concludes that adult men who grew up in a single-parent household are more likely to have experienced sexual abuse as children. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070320s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070320s1.html Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST On March 14, a bill was introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly that would prohibit corporal punishment in the public schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070316s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070316s2.html Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST A bill has been introduced in the North Carolina House that would eliminate two laws designed to protect marriages from third-party interference and adultery. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070316s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070316s1.html Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST According to a new study published by the Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology, there is a correlation between abortion and acts of physical aggression toward subsequent children. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070315s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070315s1.html Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST A majority of Americans agree that moral values have declined over the last two decades, but many disagree on the importance of sexual morality and religious belief, according to the results of a new survey. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070314s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070314s1.html Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST According to reports, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour will be signing an abortion law that would prohibit abortions should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070313s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070313s1.html Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST A diverse group of about 800 parents, children, educators, and legislators met yesterday to discuss options for broader school choice in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070307s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070307s1.html Wed, 7 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST According to Capitol Police, ten-thousand people rallied outside the legislature in Raleigh today to call for lawmakers to allow a vote on the state marriage amendment. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070306s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070306s1.html Tue, 6 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST A lawsuit filed by the owners and operators of video poker machines in North Carolina failed to enjoin a law that would phase-out, and eventually ban, video poker. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070305s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070305s1.html Mon, 5 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST In just the first five weeks of the 2007-08 Legislative Session, members of the North Carolina General Assembly have introduced close to 1,000 bills. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070302s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070302s1.html Fri, 2 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST The Journal of the American Medicine Association estimates the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), finding one fourth of women ages 14-59 infected with HPV, or nearly 20 million women in the U.S. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070301s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070301s1.html Thu, 1 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf ruled that a Massachusetts elementary school was constitutionally justified in refusing to notify parents of pro-homosexual material presented in the classroom. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070228s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070228s1.html Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST The Transylvania County Board of Commissioners passed a marriage amendment resolution by a 5-0 vote on February 26. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070227s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070227s2.html Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST Creating and destroying human embryos for the sole purpose of extracting their stem cells may soon be legal in Iowa after the state General Assembly gave final approval on February 22. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070227s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070227s1.html Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST Attitudes about sex in popular culture and inappropriate portrayals of sex in the media have a negative impact on girls’ physical and emotional health, according to the American Psychological Association. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070222s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070222s1.html Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST The pharmaceutical company Merck announced on February 20 that it would halt efforts to get state legislatures to require teen and pre-teen girls to take the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination known as Gardasil. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070221s1.html Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST Third parties who transport a minor girl across state lines for an abortion in order to evade parental involvement laws would face prison time and fines under a bill introduced on February 15 in the U.S. House. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070220s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070220s1.html Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST Former North Carolina Speaker of the House Jim Black pleaded guilty on Thursday to a federal corruption charge bringing an end to a state legislative career that spanned 25-years. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070216s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070216s2.html Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:00:00 EST One scientist has pointed out that embryonic stem-cell research has many hurdles to overcome before it is possible to use in a human transplant situation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070216s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070216s1.html Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:00:00 EST President Bush has proposed more funding for abstinence education in a budget that includes a $28 million increase in funding. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070214s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070214s1.html Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:35:00 EST From testifying in the courtroom to entering into elected office, North Carolina has long recognized the value and importance of swearing an oath with one’s hand upon the Bible. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070213s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070213s1.html Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:35:00 EST Many North Carolina parents remain unaware that a state law prohibits them from being notified if their child is treated for a communicable disease, pregnancy, alcohol or drug abuse or emotional disturbance. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070212s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070212s1.html Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:35:00 EST Three bills have been introduced in the General Assembly seeking to increase the number of charter schools allowed in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070208s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070208s1.html Thu, 8 Feb 2007 16:19:00 EST The Utah House of Representatives passed a bill that would establish the first statewide school choice program in the nation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070207s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070207s1.html Wed, 7 Feb 2007 16:19:00 EST The State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction on Wednesday released their annual dropout report for high school students for the 2005-06 school year. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070206s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070206s1.html Tue, 6 Feb 2007 13:19:00 EST Last week, a report entitled "Effects of the North Carolina State Lottery on the Incidence of Gambling Addiction" was presented to the Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee of the North Carolina General Assembly. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070205s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070205s1.html Mon, 5 Feb 2007 13:05:00 EST On Wednesday, pro-life members of the South Dakota legislature attempted once again to ban most abortions in the state by reintroducing a modified version of a bill that nearly made it into law last year. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070202s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070202s1.html Fri, 2 Feb 2007 13:15:00 EST Lawmakers concluded the first full week of the 2007 Legislative Session with a blanket of snow and scarcely attended Thursday morning meetings in Raleigh. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070201s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070202s2.html Thu, 1 Feb 2007 13:15:00 EST Activist organizations that sue local municipalities for allowing religious displays on public property would be prohibited from recovering legal expenses under legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070201s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/07020s1.html Thu, 1 Feb 2007 13:15:00 EST Revenue growth at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, in 2005, has propelled North Carolina into a top 10 position among states with Indian casino gambling. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070131s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070131s1.html Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:15:00 EST One of the first bills introduced in the 2007 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly was an act to amend the North Carolina Constitution to define marriage as “the union of one man and one woman at one time.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070125s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070125s2.html Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:20:00 EST Senator Sam Brownback (R–KS) reintroduced legislation that would require those who perform abortions 20 weeks after conception to inform women that unborn children experience pain during abortion procedures. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070125s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070125s1.html Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:20:00 EST State lawmakers returned to Raleigh today to convene the 2007 Legislative Session. Members of the North Carolina House and Senate were sworn into office and began the first of a two-year legislative biennium. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070124s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070124s1.html Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:20:00 EST Roman Catholic Bishops in Charlotte and Raleigh are urging parishioners to ask their representatives in the General Assembly to oppose legislation that would expand embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070123s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070123s1.html Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:30:00 EST A proposal sent forward by a state legislative study commission last week could undermine adoption in North Carolina and place an undue burden on adoptive families. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070122s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070122s1.html Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:30:00 EST Senator Elizabeth Dole (R–NC) filed a bill that would grant the Lumbee Indian Tribe of North Carolina full federal recognition and possibly lead to the creation of a major casino in the state’s southeast region. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070119s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070119s2.html Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:30:00 EST A lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s courtroom oath-taking procedure will move forward after a three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s dismissal of the suit. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070119s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070119s1.html Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:30:00 EST Researchers at the University of Minnesota and Stanford University have discovered new non-embryonic stem cells derived from bone marrow that have the potential to offer future treatments for patients. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070118s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070118s1.html Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:30:00 EST The Alliance Defense Fund has filed suit against the City of Goldsboro, N.C., after police department officials prohibited a man and his wife from voicing a religious message on a public sidewalk without first obtaining a permit. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070116s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070116s1.html Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:30:00 EST The U.S. House of Representatives has once again passed legislation that will require taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research that results in the destruction of human life in its earliest form. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070111s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070111s1.html Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST One of the first bills introduced in the 110th United States Congress would grant full Federal recognition to the Lumbee Indian Tribe of North Carolina and potentially pave the way for a massive gambling casino in the eastern part of the State. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070110s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070110s1.html Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST Researchers announced this week the discovery of a new stem cell source that may yield treatments for a variety of diseases and conditions without necessitating the destruction of a human embryo. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070109s2.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070109s2.html Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST North Carolina is mourning the loss of two Democratic state lawmakers from Hertford County this week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070109s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070109s1.html Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST The Court of Appeal for Ontario has essentially redefined the family by ruling that a five-year-old child can have three parents—two lesbian mothers and one father. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070104s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070104s1.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST A state marriage amendment is one step closer to becoming law in Massachusetts after pro-marriage lawmakers advanced the amendment to the next legislative session. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070103s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070103s1.html Wed, 03 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST Lottery officials are anticipating lower than expected revenues for the first year of North Carolina’s numbers game. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/070102s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/070102s1.html Tue, 02 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST A State House Study Committee has adopted a recommendation encouraging the North Carolina General Assembly to “enact legislation to provide ethical guidelines for the conduct of stem cell research in the State.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061221s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/061221s1.html Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST New Jersey is expected to become the third state to legalize civil unions after the state legislature approved a bill that grants homosexuals the same rights and privileges traditionally reserved for heterosexual marriage. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061220s1.html Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST The North Carolina Supreme Court denied a Petition for Discretionary Review in the lawsuit challenging the legality of how the Lottery Act was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2005. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061219s1.html Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST Reversing a lower court ruling, a federal appeals court has upheld North Carolina’s law restricting conduct in sexually oriented businesses that serve alcohol. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061218s1.html Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST The recent debate over whether to allow sectarian prayer at City Council and County Commission meetings in Forsyth County has prompted two pro-family organizations to get involved. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061215s1.html Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST A State House Study Committee is preparing to make a recommendation regarding stem cell research to the 2007 General Assembly. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061214s1.html Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST Four-term Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives Jim Black (D-Mecklenburg) announced Tuesday that he will not seek a fifth term as the House leader. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061213s1.html Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST A recent survey conducted by Zogby International shows that not saying “Merry Christmas” could be more offensive to many shoppers than saying "Happy Holidays." http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061212s1.html Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST About half of all abortions performed in 2002 in the Unites States were among women who had undergone at least one previous aborted pregnancy, according to a new study. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061208s1.html Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. House failed to pass legislation that would require abortionists to fully inform women seeking abortions about the pain experienced by their unborn child during the procedure. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061207s1.html Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST Although 81 percent of North Carolinians support hunting in general, two-thirds of Tar Heel citizens oppose hunting on Sundays, according to a new report. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061206s1.html Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST The number of married stay-at-home mothers is increasing, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061205s1.html Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST The longstanding debate over sectarian invocations at public meetings has come to a head in Forsyth County after the ACLU sent local officials a letter demanding and end to prayers that mention specific deities. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061201s1.html Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:00:00 EST A state legislative study committee was confronted this week with the dark and growing underworld of child exploitation on the Internet. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061130s1.html Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST A spouse may sue an individual who has committed adultery with his or her husband or wife up to three years after learning of the act, according to the North Carolina Supreme Court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061129s1.html Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST The N.C. House Select Committee on Stem Cell Research met again last week to continue discussions about the medical, scientific, moral and ethical issues surrounding stem cell research and cloning. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061128s1.html Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST New government data shows a record number of births in the United States are to unmarried women. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061127s1.html Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST Calling on citizens across the country to “give thanks for the many ways that our Nation and our people have been blessed,” President George Bush proclaimed this Thursday as a National Day of Thanksgiving. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061120s1.html Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST The Davidson County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a resolution calling on the N.C. General Assembly to allow the citizens of the state to vote on a marriage amendment. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061117s1.html Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST A state legislative study committee is debating whether charter schools in North Carolina should receive a share of lottery proceeds to aid in school construction. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061116s1.html Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council has been ranked among the “most influential lobbyist in the N.C. General Assembly,” according to a new report released by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061115s1.html Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST Last year, abortion providers in North Carolina performed 32,335 abortions, representing a 4.8 percent decrease in the number of abortions performed in the state in 2004, according to the latest data from the State Center for Health Statistics. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061114s1.html Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST A majority of states in the U.S. now have marriage amendments after Tuesday's vote, including two neighboring states to North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061109s2.html Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST In addition to marriage amendments, voters in many states considered ballot issues including abortion, drugs and stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061109s1.html Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST The November 7 General Election in North Carolina netted gains for Democrats in the U.S. Congress, State Supreme Court and North Carolina General Assembly. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061108s2.html Wed, 08 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST A high school student’s request to form a Gay-Straight Alliance club can move forward at Currituck County High School after the school superintendent announced new procedures for noncurriculum-related student groups. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061108s1.html Wed, 08 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in two highly anticipated cases dealing with the constitutionality of federal legislation banning partial-birth abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061108s3.html Wed, 08 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST A recent undercover investigation by North Carolina law enforcement found that over a quarter of the lottery retailers they targeted were illegally selling lottery tickets to minors. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061106s1.html Mon, 06 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST A Dunn, North Carolina high school may not enforce its policies restricting students from passing out religious materials, a federal judge has ruled. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061103s2.html Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST North Carolinians are just a few days away from casting their vote on Election Day. And though there are no high profile presidential or gubernatorial races on the ballot, there are numerous important elections being held across the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061103s1.html Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST In addition to the negative consequences for society, teenage childbearing has tangible economic costs as well, according to a new report. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061102s1.html Thu, 02 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST States that receive abstinence education funds from the federal government are free to use them to encourage young adults in their twenties to remain abstinent outside of marriage, according to revised federal guidelines. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061101s1.html Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST One week after the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the State Legislature must legalize same-sex “marriage” or an equivalent, lawmakers in New Jersey are signaling that they will consider legislation to enact civil unions. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061031s1.html Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The State of North Carolina is fighting in federal court to defend a law passed in 2003 that restricts conduct in sexually oriented businesses that serve alcohol. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061027s1.html Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST Former Scientific Games vice president Alan Middleton has been found guilty of violating North Carolina’s lobbying statutes in connection with efforts to approve the state-run lottery last year. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061026s1.html Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled today that the State Legislature must legalize same-sex “marriage” or an equivalent within six months in order to comply with the equal protection guarantee of the state constitution. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061025s1.html Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST With Election Day just two weeks away, North Carolinians do not have to wait until November 7 to vote. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061024s1.html Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST North Carolina received its first payment from the state lottery towards education, but according to the Raleigh News and Observer, the deposit was millions less than the amount projected. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061023s1.html Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has failed to file a Notice of Appeal in Hobbs v. Smith—a ruling that found North Carolina’s cohabitation law unconstitutional. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061019s1.html Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The two speakers who testified before a House Committee this week urged the North Carolina General Assembly to support and fund embryonic stem cell research in the Tar Heel State. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061019s2.html Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The City Council of Thomasville, N.C. voted October 16 to approve a resolution calling for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061018s1.html Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The percentage of U.S. households made up of married couples has declined slightly in the past five years, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061017s1.html Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST Although the lottery has been in operation less than a year, many North Carolina retailers are opting out of selling tickets. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061016s1.html Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST A federal jury found former State Lottery Commissioner Kevin Geddings guilty of five counts of mail fraud in what government attorneys characterized as a “scheme to defraud the people of North Carolina of honest services.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061013s2.html Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The nation's highest court declined without comment this week to reconsider its infamous 1973 Doe v. Bolton case that, together with Roe v. Wade, formed the foundation of a so-called constitutional right to an abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061013s1.html Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to consider an appeal that sought to overturn California’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), allowing the marriage law to stand. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061012s1.html Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST In an effort to “examine the cultural and legal influences that threaten to erode religious liberties and muzzle free speech,” the Family Research Council is hosting “Liberty Sunday: Defending Our First Freedom.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061011s1.html Wed, 11 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST A week-long event aimed at building support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students may be headed to a K-12 school near you. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061010s1.html Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The California Court of Appeals upheld marriage in the Golden State saying that it is up to the legislature and the voters to decide how to define the institution of marriage. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061006s1.html Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST A lawsuit filed by the Alliance Defense Fund on behalf of a Dunn, N.C., high school student will continue after a federal judge on October 2 denied a motion to dismiss the suit. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061005s1.html Thu, 05 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST As the nation’s highest court returned to work on Monday the controversial abortion procedure known as partial-birth abortion is among the cases it will be considering. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061004s1.html Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate fell three votes short of forcing a vote on an important pro-life bill in the waning hours of the congressional session last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061003s1.html Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST Shortly before adjourning on September 30 for the fall election season, the U.S. Congress approved a final version of a measure outlawing Internet gambling. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/061002s1.html Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:00:00 EST Wake County Superior Court Judge Narley Cashwell ruled Thursday that the State’s new law phasing out video poker machines can go into effect as scheduled on Sunday, October 1. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060929s1.html Fri, 29 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST Plaintiffs who win a lawsuit claiming violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution may not receive monetary awards and attorneys fees under legislation approved Tuesday by the U.S. House. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060928s1.html Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would make it a crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion in an attempt to avoid state parental involvement laws. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060927s1.html Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST The number of charter schools across the country this school year increased by 11 percent over the previous year according to a new survey by the Center for Education Reform. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060926s1.html Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST In a proclamation issued today, President George W. Bush declared September 25 as "Family Day," and highlighted the importance of family time together. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060925s1.html Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST The Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed a vote on four of the president’s judicial nominees, lessening the chances that all the nominated judges will be considered before Congress recesses for the year. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060920s2.html Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST On October 1, thousands of pro-lifers across the United States and in North Carolina will come together to pray for an end to abortion on “National Life Chain Sunday 2006.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060920s1.html Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, the president’s nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration, is facing a potential roadblock in the Senate over safety issues related to the controversial abortion drug, RU-486. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060919s1.html Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST A family planning expert in the United Kingdom said recently that over-the-counter access to emergency contraception has not reduced abortion rates in the country. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060918s1.html Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST Attorneys representing the video poker industry are filing a lawsuit challenging a new law that phases out video poker in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060915s1.html Fri, 15 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST Superior Court Judge Benjamin Alford issued a written order in the case of Hobbs vs. Smith, striking down North Carolina’s cohabitation statute. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060914s1.html Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass legislation today aimed at restricting Indian tribes that seek to operate off-reservation casinos. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060913s1.html Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST N.C. Lottery Commission Chairman Charles Sanders announced on September 12 that he is stepping down as head of the Commission. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060912s1.html Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST A 3-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals has upheld the State’s crime against nature law as applied to minors participating in consensual sexual activities in a public place. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060911s1.html Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST With Congress reconvening on September 5, lawmakers have a renewed opportunity to act on a number of pro-family bills currently pending in the U.S. House and Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060907s1.html Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST Private school voucher programs in the Cleveland and Milwaukee areas are less segregated than area public schools two recent studies have found. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060906s1.html Wed, 06 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST Voters in Arizona will have their say on a marriage protection amendment this November, thanks to an August 31 ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060905s1.html Tue, 05 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST Oklahoma’s parental notification for abortion law will remain in effect after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit dismissed a legal challenge by a Tulsa-area abortion provider last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060901s1.html Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:00:00 EST A federal lawsuit filed in May against the Sampson County Board of Education for violating the First Amendment rights of a Christian high school student in Dunn, North Carolina, is moving forward. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060831s1.html Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law that adds “sexual orientation” to a list of protected classes under state law and prohibits any entity that receives state funding from speaking against homosexuality. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060830s1.html Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has unanimously struck down a Florida school board’s policy prohibiting public school students from distributing pro-life and religious material. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060829s1.html Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST Pornography that is available to hotel patrons may violate federal obscenity laws, according to a number of groups who are asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060828s1.html Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST A businessman who wants to open a poker parlor in Durham, North Carolina is appealing a State Superior Court judge’s decision that poker is a game of chance and a violation of North Carolina law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060825s1.html Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST Anyone 18 years and older will now be able to obtain the contraceptive drug Plan B from a pharmacist without a prescription following the FDA’s announcement today that it has approved the drug for over-the-counter sales. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060824s1.html Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The United States Department of Justice has announced a new series of public service announcements aimed at informing the public about the risk of sexual exploitation of children on the Internet. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060823s1.html Wed, 23 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST Life without children is increasingly becoming the central life experience for many adults in the United States, making the task of rearing children more difficult for today’s parents, according to a new report. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060822s1.html Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The United States Supreme Court announced this week that it would hear oral arguments on November 8 in two contentious cases relating to the constitutionality of the federal ban on partial-birth abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060818s1.html Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST In an effort to thwart extracurricular school clubs that promote homosexuality, the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education has unanimously adopted a policy banning all sex-based school clubs. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060817s2.html Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST Those who are married enjoy greater health and longevity than their never-married, divorced, or widowed counterparts, according to the results of a new study. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060817s1.html Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST Carolina’s statutes against sexual predators were significantly strengthened after Governor Mike Easley signed a bill into law today that establishes new requirements for sex offender registration. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060816s1.html Wed, 16 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The number of teenagers reporting that they have engaged in sexual activity has declined over the last fifteen years, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control revealed. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060814s1.html Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST A new study has revealed what pro-family advocates have been emphasizing for years—teenagers who listen to music laced with sexually explicit lyrics are more likely to engage in sexual activity. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060811s1.html Fri, 11 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST Assisted suicide would be outlawed across the nation under a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060810s1.html Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST Families in several North Carolina counties will have expanded school choice options next year after the state Board of Education approved six new charter schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060809s1.html Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The Davie County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved putting the national motto “In God We Trust” on the county’s administration building. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060808s1.html Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The 2006 "short" legislative session ended with the passage of several significant new laws and a record-breaking $18.9 billion state budget. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060804s1.html Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST A 10-term member of the North Carolina House of Representatives has pleaded guilty to accepting money in exchange for political support. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060803s2.html Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST A statistical report released this month from the N.C. Division of Non-Public Education reveals that more North Carolina parents are choosing to home school than ever before. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060803s1.html Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved a bill today that would grant full federal recognition to the Lumbee Indian Tribe and possibly lead to expanded casino gambling in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060802s1.html Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The morning after pill may soon be available for non-prescription use after the Food and Drug Administration announced plans to continue negotiations with the pharmaceutical company responsible for producing the contentious contraceptive. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060801s1.html Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:00:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned at 1:11 a.m. today, bringing to a close the 2005-2006 biennial session. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060728s1.html Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate passed S.B. 403—Child Custody Protection Act in a 65 to 34 vote on July 25, “to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions,” but the further consideration of the bill has been blocked. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060728s2.html Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:00:00 EST A number of organizations in favor of legalizing same-sex “marriage” have launched a promotional campaign by placing an advertisement in 50 newspapers across the nation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060727s1.html Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs was originally scheduled to vote on S.B. 660—The Lumbee Recognition Act on July 26, which could send the bill to the full Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060726s2.html Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST Today, in a 5-4 decision, the Washington Supreme Court upheld the state’s 1998 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bars same-sex couples from marrying. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060726s1.html Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on legislation on Wednesday, July 26 that could eventually lead to the expansion of casino gambling in eastern North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060721s3.html Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The 2006 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly is winding down and could conclude as early as next week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060721s2.html Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST North Carolina voters’ views on the definition of marriage and the abortion issue have noticeably changed over the past year, according to a recent poll. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060721s1.html Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST A State Superior Court judge ruled that North Carolina’s law against cohabitation violated the plaintiff's constitutional right to liberty. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060720s2.html Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. House has again passed legislation that would prevent federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, from hearing cases that deal with the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060720s1.html Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST President Bush has used his executive veto power for the first time to reject a bill that would increase taxpayer funding for destructive human embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060719s1.html Wed, 19 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. House failed to rally the two-thirds majority required to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060718s1.html Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST In another significant victory for marriage, the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Nebraska’s marriage amendment is constitutional. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060714s1.html Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate is poised to again consider the controversial issue of embryonic stem cell research in a vote on three stem cell bills early next week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060713s1.html Thu, 13 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The Committee on Indian Affairs conducted a hearing today on legislation that would likely bring casino gambling to eastern North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060712s1.html Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The N.C. Senate approved SB 700—Flag/Pledge of Allegiance in Schools today by concurring with the House passed version of the bill. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060711s2.html Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST Gambling on the Internet would be banned in the United States under legislation approved by the U.S. House on Tuesday. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060711s1.html Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has scheduled a hearing on a bill that would likely bring a gambling casino to eastern North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060710s1.html Mon, 10 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Georgia reinstated the state’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex “marriage.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060707s2.html Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval to an $18.9 billion budget plan on Thursday, July 6, just under one week after the start of the state’s 2006-2007 fiscal year. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060707s1.html Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST In a 4-2 decision, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s Domestic Relations Law does not allow for same sex marriage. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060706s1.html Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST A government panel has recommended that a vaccine against the sexually transmitted disease known as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) become a part of routine vaccinations for girls as young as nine years old. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060705s1.html Wed, 05 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST The N.C. House approved a bill that requires the display of the United States Flag and the North Carolina Flag in public school classrooms and requires recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school students on a daily basis. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060703s1.html Mon, 03 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST An amendment to the North Carolina Constitution to clarify the eminent domain powers of state and local governments was effectively tabled on this week after legislative leaders referred the bill to the House Rules Committee. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060630s2.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Terence Boyle’s nomination to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals received a much-needed lift from North Carolina Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060630s1.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The N.C. House Rules Committee approved a bill on Wednesday that would establish a Joint Legislative Lottery Oversight Committee to regularly review the activities of the lottery and the N.C. Lottery Commission. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060629s1.html Thu, 29 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The Governor’s School of North Carolina has ostensibly backed off a plan to expose high school students to a film containing explicit and objectionable material. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060628s1.html Wed, 28 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are responding to criticism presented in a recent report by the National Abortion Federation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060627s1.html Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has declined without comment to consider appeals by pro-abortion groups in Louisiana and Tennessee challenging the states’ “Choose Life” customized license plates. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060626s1.html Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The House Education Committee has approved a bill that would require the display of the U.S. and N.C. flag in every classroom and the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in all of the state’s public schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060622s1.html Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST On Tuesday, the N.C. House approved numerous changes to the state's sex offender laws. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060621s1.html Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco signed a bill into law creating a “trigger” abortion ban that would take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision is overturned. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060620s1.html Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Monday that it would consider a second appeal by the U.S. Attorney General to reinstate a federal ban on partial-birth abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060619s1.html Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST With two full weeks to go before the beginning of the state’s 2006-2007 fiscal year, the North Carolina House of Representatives approved an $18.9 billion budget plan by a vote of 90 to 23 on Thursday. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060616s1.html Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST A federal judge dealt atheist Michael Newdow a legal defeat on Monday, June 12 by ruling that the phrase “In God We Trust” on United States currency does not violate the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition of the establishment of a state religion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060615s1.html Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST A Greensboro woman has been awarded $500,000 in damages after it was determined that another woman violated state law by intruding into and breaking up her marriage. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060614s1.html Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST A South Carolina education panel gave unanimous final approval to change science standards in biology classes by calling for the critical analysis of the theory of evolution. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060613s1.html Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST In response to a nationwide quest to prevent convicted sex offenders from repeating their crimes, the North Carolina General Assembly is considering several bills that would strengthen sex offender laws. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060612s1.html Mon, 12 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed legislation on Wednesday to increase fines against broadcasters who violate federal decency standards. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060608s1.html Thu, 08 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST Once again, the U.S. Senate has failed to overcome a procedural barrier and bring the Federal Marriage Amendment up for a floor vote, effectively ending efforts this year in the Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060607s2.html Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST One day before the U.S. Senate failed to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment voters in the state of Alabama overwhelmingly approved an amendment to their State Constitution banning homosexual “marriage.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060607s1.html Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST Acting on legislation approved last week by the N.C. House, lawmakers in the state Senate passed a bill on Monday, June 5 that phases out video poker machines across the state and bans them entirely by next summer. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060606s1.html Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The State House has passed legislation that would make clear the eminent domain powers of state and local governments. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060606s2.html Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST Public support for legalized gambling has decreased significantly since 1989, even as Americans now spend more money on forms of legal gambling than ever before in the nation’s history. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060605s1.html Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST The N.C. House Judiciary III Committee unanimously approved a bill this week that would make clear the eminent domain powers of state and local governments. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060601s1.html Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:00:00 EST After years of failing to consider a ban on video poker in North Carolina, the State House has voted to phase out the gambling machines and ban them entirely by next summer. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060531s2.html Wed, 31 May 2006 17:00:00 EST A nationwide ban on Internet gambling has passed another hurdle after being approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060531s1.html Wed, 31 May 2006 17:00:00 EST The N.C. House Rules Committee has approved a bill to phase out video poker machines and ban them statewide by next year. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060530s1.html Tue, 30 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Two new Gallup polls reveal Americans' attitudes on everything from same-sex marriage to the moral acceptability of divorce and abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060526s1.html Fri, 26 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Senators gave final approval to a state budget today, voting 34 to 15 for an $18.8 billion spending plan. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060525s1.html Thu, 25 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Legislation to constitutionally define marriage as the union of one man and one woman was filed in the N.C. House today, just two weeks after a similar bill was introduced in the state Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060524s1.html Wed, 24 May 2006 17:00:00 EST State lawmakers have wasted no time introducing bills to adjust how they think lottery proceeds should be spent. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060523s1.html Tue, 23 May 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate has approved legislation that would authorize the Federal Communications Commission to levy increased fines against broadcasters who violate federal decency standards. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060522s1.html Mon, 22 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Former North Carolina Lottery Commissioner Kevin L. Geddings, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday, May 18 on multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060519s1.html Fri, 19 May 2006 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today approved a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman in a party-line vote of 10 to 8. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060518s2.html Thu, 18 May 2006 17:00:00 EST A judge in Georgia has struck down the state's overwhelmingly voter-approved marriage amendment, ruling that it violated a stipulation in the state constitution by addressing more than one subject on the ballot question. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060518s1.html Thu, 18 May 2006 17:00:00 EST The N.C. Senate voted overwhelmingly to ban video poker in North Carolina on Wednesday, May 17, after addressing concerns about amended language adopted last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060517s2.html Wed, 17 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Members of the N.C. Senate have voted to reconsider a bill that would ban video poker in the state after concerns were raised about its impact on the Cherokee reservation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060516s1.html Tue, 16 May 2006 17:00:00 EST There appears to be low demand for same-sex marriage among homosexuals in areas where it is legal, according to a new report. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060515s1.html Mon, 15 May 2006 17:00:00 EST The legislative session began on a high note as the State Senate moved to ban video poker statewide, however things quickly began to unravel after the bill was amended. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060512s1.html Fri, 12 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Gaveling in at noon on Tuesday, May 9, the N.C. General Assembly wasted no time getting down to business. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060511s1.html Thu, 11 May 2006 17:00:00 EST State lawmakers will have another opportunity to protect the definition of marriage this year now that a State Marriage Amendment has once again been introduced in the State Senate. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060510s1.html Wed, 10 May 2006 17:00:00 EST A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by members of a Christian fraternity against the UNC-Chapel Hill for revoking its charter as an officially recognized student organization by the University. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060508s1.html Mon, 08 May 2006 17:00:00 EST A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the Sampson County Board of Education for violating the free speech rights of a Christian student. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060505s2.html Fri, 05 May 2006 17:00:00 EST State lawmakers will return to Raleigh on Tuesday, May 9 to convene the 2006 “Short” Legislative Session where they will be considering a number of issues. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060505s1.html Fri, 05 May 2006 17:00:00 EST An ongoing investigation into illegal video gambling operations came to a head last week when law enforcement agents raided one of the largest distributors of video poker machines in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060504s1.html Thu, 04 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Despite exceptionally low turnout on May 2, Tar Heel voters made some significant decisions in North Carolina’s legislative primary elections. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060503s1.html Wed, 03 May 2006 17:00:00 EST This week marks National Charter Schools Week 2006, an event designed to celebrate the critical role played by charter schools in providing alternative educational options. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060502s1.html Tue, 02 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Embryonic stem cell research was the primary topic of a state legislative study committee meeting last week that explored the ethical issues surrounding the issue. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060501s1.html Mon, 01 May 2006 17:00:00 EST Online pornographers may soon find it more difficult to target Internet users, especially minors, with obscene images and material in the wake of a legislative initiative put forth by the U.S. Attorney General. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060428s1.html Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST On Thursday, May 4, millions of Americans will join together for the 55th annual National Day of Prayer. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060427s2.html Thu, 27 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST A state legislative committee studying eminent domain has agreed to a change in the law instead of an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060427s1.html Wed, 26 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST There are no constitutional obstacles to expanding school choice in North Carolina, according to a new report from the Institute for Justice and the North Carolina Education Alliance. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060425s1.html Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST On Thursday, April 27, thousands of Christian students will have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and religious expression by participating in the 2006 “Day of Truth.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060424s1.html Mon, 24 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST Months of negotiations between Governor Mike Easley’s office and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians came to a sudden end after the two sides failed to agree on a plan that would have significantly expanded the tribe’s gambling privileges. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060420s3.html Fri, 21 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST More than one-third of adults living in the United States know someone who educates his or her child through either part-time or full-time schooling at home, according to a new poll. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060420s3.html Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) is challenging the types of prayers allowed by local governments in the Triangle area. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060420s2.html Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST North Carolina coffers will be flush with more than $600 million in surplus tax dollars by June 30, the end of the state’s current fiscal year, according to a state legislative fiscal expert. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060420s1.html Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:18:00 EST The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education is under fire from homosexual advocacy groups over its unanimous decision on April 10 to draft a policy banning all sexually oriented clubs from schools in the district. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060418s1.html Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:18:00 EST As part of its ongoing effort to educate the citizenry of North Carolina and to equip them to impact North Carolina’s public policy arena, the North Carolina Family Policy Council is producing a web-based 2006 Voter Guide for the upcoming, May 2 Primary Election. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060413s1.html Thu, 13 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST The Florida Supreme Court unanimously upheld on April 6 an informed consent for abortion statute requiring abortion providers to obtain informed and voluntary written consent from the patient prior to the procedure. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060412s1.html Wed, 12 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST An analysis by the Fayetteville Observer has already found a troubling link between the state’s poorest counties and disproportionately higher lottery ticket sales. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060411s1.html Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST The Brunswick County School Board has approved a new policy allowing various faith groups to passively offer literature to students outside classrooms and assemblies on an assigned day each year. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060410s1.html Mon, 10 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST A new study has found a disturbing connection between the sexually explicit media teenagers consume and the likelihood of their engaging in sexual intercourse. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060407s1.html Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST Twenty-four million dollars were gambled on the state lottery during the first five days of play, producing $8.4 million in new tax revenue to the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060406s1.html Thu, 06 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST State school officials have asserted that the Governor’s School is not a “public school,” therefore negating objections to “The New Gay Teenager” seminar. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060405s2.html Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is continuing its study into whether or not to repeal the state's ban on Sunday hunting. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060405s1.html Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST U.S. House members are requesting an investigation into whether contraception-based programs in public schools promote risky and unhealthy sexual behavior among youth. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060404s1.html Tue, 04 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that same-sex couples living outside of Massachusetts may not legally marry there if same-sex marriage is unlawful in their home state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060331s1.html Fri, 31 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST At 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning the State of North Carolina officially entered the gambling business as lottery tickets began being sold to the public. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060330s1.html Thu, 30 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST The N.C. House Select Committee on Stem Cell Research met for the first time and began delving into the complex science of stem cells and cloning. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060329s2.html Wed, 29 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST A Notice of Appeal has been filed with the N.C. Court of Appeals in the lawsuit challenging the legality of how the Lottery Act was passed by the General Assembly. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060329s1.html Wed, 29 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST For the third time in just over a month, an Asheville pastor is taking action to protest prohibitions on same-sex marriage. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060328s1.html Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Speaker Jim Black now faces possible criminal prosecution after the State Board of Elections referred evidence regarding the Speaker and his campaign to the Wake County District Attorney. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060324s1.html Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Two more women have died after taking the controversial abortion drug RU-486, prompting the Food and Drug Administration to issue another public health advisory. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060323s1.html Thu, 23 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Data recently examined by the Charlotte Observer has revealed that families who can least afford to play the lottery are routinely its biggest spenders. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060322s1.html Wed, 22 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Judge Henry Hight wasted no time in issuing his ruling on the Lottery lawsuit finding in favor of the State on almost all counts. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060321s1.html Tue, 21 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Wake County Superior Court Judge Henry Hight heard oral arguments today in the trial of the lottery lawsuit. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060320s1.html Mon, 20 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST The FCC has released three orders taking enforcement action against offensive television programs. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060316s1.html Thu, 16 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Just two weeks before the North Carolina Lottery is scheduled to begin, the Iowa legislature has passed legislation restricting some lottery activities in that state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060315s1.html Wed, 15 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST The N.C. State Lottery Commission finally got around to discussing what the state plans to do to address the growth in gambling addiction and the related problems that will ensue. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060314s1.html Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Two national polls are revealing the current attitudes of Americans on the morality and acceptability of this contentious practice. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060313s1.html Mon, 13 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds has signed a law that bans almost all abortions in his state except when the life of the mother is endangered. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060309s1.html Thu, 09 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST As the North Carolina lottery speeds ahead with preparations for the upcoming debut of state-sponsored gambling, many across the nation are observing National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060307s1.html Wed, 08 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST An opinion filed by the North Carolina Court of Appeals on March 7 upheld the application of North Carolina’s alienation of affections law to out-of-state residents. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060307s3.html Tue, 07 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST The NC Court of Appeals has ruled that there is no duty of a commercial vendor of alcoholic beverages to prevent an intoxicated person who consumes alcoholic beverages on its premises from operating a motor vehicle. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060307s2.html Tue, 07 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST Wisconsin has become the latest state to allow voters the opportunity to define marriage in their state constitution. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060306s1.html Mon, 06 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST The state's arbitrary cap on charter schools became apparent once again as the State Board of Education approved only one charter at their meeting this week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060303s1.html Fri, 03 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST An outright ban on abortion is one step away from becoming law in South Dakota after the state legislature approved a measure that would outlaw all abortions in the state except when the life of the mother is endangered. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060302s1.html Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST The filing period to run for office in North Carolina has ended with a surprising number of candidates facing no opposition—especially in the North Carolina General Assembly. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060301s1.html Wed, 01 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that federal racketeering and organized crime laws cannot be applied to groups that protest outside abortion clinics. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060228s1.html Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST The Lottery Commission and their ad agency face a serious dilemma in how they will market state sponsored gambling in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060227s1.html Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST The Alliance Defense Fund has sent a letter to the State Board of Education asking them to “cease and desist” from offering any more seminars like “The New Gay Teenager” at the Governor’s School of North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060224s3.html Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST An Asheville pastor has announcing his decision to no longer perform civil marriage ceremonies as a way to protest the state’s prohibition against same-sex marriage. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060224s2.html Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST This week, the North Carolina Lottery Commission made two significant changes in how it plans to peddle lottery tickets in the Tar Heel State. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060222s1.html Wed, 22 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will consider a lower court ruling that struck down the partial-birth abortion ban as unconstitutional. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060221s1.html Tue, 21 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST New legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representative to ban Internet gambling in the United States. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060220s1.html Mon, 20 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has scheduled a Senate vote in early June on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060217s1.html Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST A Wake County Superior Court Judge has denied the state’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit that could put a stop to the lottery in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060216s1.html Thu, 16 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST The filing period for candidates running for office in North Carolina in 2006 is now underway. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060215s2.html Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST The NCFPC was pleased to host a question and answer session featuring noted Professor Phillip E. Johnson, a leading critic of evolutionary theory and a pioneer in the Intelligent Design movement. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060215s1.html Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST Governor Easley has announced plans to use lottery dollars to replace existing education funding. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060214s1.html Tue, 14 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST A legal challenge to the North Carolina lottery was heard Monday morning in Wake County Superior Court, and could bring the state-run gambling scheme to a halt. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060213s1.html Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST A new study by the Tax Foundation shows that money spent on lottery tickets would go a lot further if it were invested in the stock market for retirement. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060209s1.html Thu, 09 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST A Superior Court judge has ruled that a lawsuit aimed at striking down the state’s cohabitation law can continue. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060208s1.html Wed, 08 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST The Governor’s School of North Carolina is being criticized for offering a seminar on teenage homosexuality during its 2005 session, the Carolina Journal reports. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060207s1.html Tue, 07 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST A 71-year-old North Carolina man has announced that he will not pay federal or North Carolina income taxes to protest what he characterizes as discrimination in the tax codes. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060206s1.html Mon, 06 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST Appellate courts in two states have declared the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 unconstitutional. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060202s2.html Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST North Carolina lost a strong defender of traditional values with the recent death of State Senator Hamilton C. (Ham) Horton, Jr. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060202s1.html Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST President Bush delivered his sixth State of the Union address renewing his call for Congress to approve legislation banning all types of human cloning and emphasizing the important of personal responsibility. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060201s1.html Wed, 01 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate confirmed Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday by a 58 to 42 margin. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060131s2.html Tue, 31 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST Lottery giant, GTECH Corporation of Rhode Island, has been awarded two major lottery contracts by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060131s1.html Tue, 31 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST A family’s religious beliefs and activities affect when teenagers initiate sex, according to a new report. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060130s1.html Mon, 30 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST In the past few weeks, two state lawmakers have resigned from the North Carolina General Assembly to pursue other government positions. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060127s1.html Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST North Carolina Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr have each announced their intention to vote “yes” on the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060126s2.html Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST A new poll released by a pro-abortion group has found that a large majority of North Carolinians believes that abstinence education is effective. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060126s1.html Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST A Maryland judge has ruled that a state statute defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman violates Maryland’s Equal Rights Amendment. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060125s1.html Wed, 25 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST By a party line 10 to 8 vote, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito today. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060124s1.html Tue, 24 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST Homosexual advocacy groups are using "No Name Calling Week" as a way to influence students in schools across the country. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060123s2.html Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST Governor Mike Easley has named Justice Sarah Parker, who currently is the only woman and only Democrat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, to serve as chief justice. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060120s2.html Fri, 20 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST A U.S. congressman is calling on President Bush to impose a moratorium on new tribal casinos and stop the federal recognition process of tribes until Congress has a chance to review the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060120s1.html Fri, 20 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously vacated and remanded for further consideration a ruling that found New Hampshire’s parental notification for abortion law unconstitutional. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060119s1.html Thu, 19 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST By the filing deadline on Friday, January 13, two lottery giants were the only companies to submit bids to run the state-operated gambling venture in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060118s1.html Wed, 18 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law will remain in place after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6 to 3 decision today that the federal government overstepped its authority by attempting to regulate the controversial law under the Controlled Substances Act. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060117s1.html Tue, 17 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST An appellate court ruling upholding restrictions on a sexually oriented business will stand after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider the case. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060113s1.html Fri, 13 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST A new report has declared that a majority of schools in the University of North Carolina System have policies that violate the First Amendment rights of students and faculty. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060112s1.html Thu, 12 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST A new study has found that an increasing number of women who have unwanted pregnancies are choosing to give birth. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060111s1.html Wed, 11 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST The South Carolina Lottery is finding itself the target of a fraud lawsuit after an audit concluded that the state deceptively sold scratch-off lottery tickets after the top paying prizes had already been awarded. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060110s1.html Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST School vouchers suffered a setback last week when the Florida Supreme Court struck down the state’s public school voucher program. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060109s1.html Mon, 09 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST The North Carolina State Board of Education voted today to make changes in the health curriculum to better reflect the state’s abstinence-until-marriage law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060105s1.html Thu, 05 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin hearings on the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito next week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060104s1.html Wed, 04 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST Embryonic stem cell research suffered a severe blow after it was revealed that South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk falsified research involving allegedly cloned embryonic stem cell lines. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060103s1.html Tue, 03 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has upheld a display of the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky courthouse and criticized the ACLU for its stand in the case. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/060102s1.html Mon, 02 Jan 2006 18:00:00 EST President Bush signed a bill into law on Tuesday, December 20, that creates a new program to collect and store umbilical cord blood and expands the current bone marrow registry program. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051221s2.html Wed, 21 Dec 2005 18:00:00 EST In a decision that is drawing outrage from religious leaders and organizations across the country, a federal judge ruled on December 20 that a Pennsylvania school board violated the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution by offering Intelligent Design as an alternative to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051221s1.html Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Succumbing to the lure of huge jackpots that are expected to drive millions of dollars in ticket sales, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission voted Monday to join the multi-state Powerball lottery game. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051220s1.html Tue, 20 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Women who undergo abortions are more likely to experience long-term negative mental consequences than women who experience miscarriages, according to a new study. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051219s1.html Mon, 19 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Several homosexual couples have filed a lawsuit in Iowa seeking legal recognition for same-sex “marriage,” adding to the list of states now facing a legal challenge. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051215s1.html Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Several homosexual couples have filed a lawsuit in Iowa seeking legal recognition for same-sex “marriage,” adding to the list of states now facing a legal challenge. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051214s1.html Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Once again, Planned Parenthood is promoting their controversial "Choice on Earth" cards this Christmas season. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051213s1.html Tue, 13 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST A New York court has affirmed the institution of marriage by overturning a lower court ruling in favor of same-sex “marriage.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051212s1.html Mon, 12 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST A newspaper’s investigation into lottery ticket sales and lower income players has resulted in some not-so-surprising findings about the New Jersey lottery. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051209s1.html Fri, 09 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Representatives from Governor Mike Easley’s office have been meeting with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to discuss the possibility of bringing live dealer gambling to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in western North Carolina, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051208s1.html Thu, 08 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Despite a policy intended to prevent failing public school students from being promoted to the next grade, a news report has found that many North Carolina students continue to advance. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051207s1.html Wed, 07 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Kevin Martin, testified before a U.S. Senate committee last week with strong words for the television industry that he says is not doing enough to keep families safe from indecency on television. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051206s1.html Tue, 06 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST The NCFPC has sent a letter to every public school principal and superintendent in the state to help educate them on the constitutional rights that students, teachers and schools have to celebrate Christmas. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051205s1.html Mon, 05 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST The sharp increase in gasoline prices over the last several months may be to blame for a reduction in lottery ticket sales in several states, some state lottery officials are claiming. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051202s1.html Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST On Thursday, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley confirmed Bridget-Anne Hampden of Charlotte to fill one of two vacant seats on the state lottery commission. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051201s1.html Thu, 01 Dec 2005 17:00:00 EST For the first time since 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court has considered the constitutionality of an abortion law, as justices heard arguments on New Hampshire’s parental notification statute. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051130s2.html Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST On the same day the Supreme Court heard arguments on New Hampshire’s parental notification law, Gallup released a new poll that found that 69 percent of Americans favor a law that requires notifying a minor’s parents before an abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051130s1.html Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The American Liberties Institute filed suit this week against the town of Concord, N.C., over a number of city ordinances that place broad restrictions on the free speech rights of citizens who hold demonstrations on public property. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051128s1.html Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST Though hundreds of years apart, Presidents Washington and Bush both encouraged Americans to remember the many things for which to be grateful. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051123s1.html Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST Reacting to a controversial decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that undermines the rights of parents, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a resolution urging the court to rehear the case. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051122s1.html Tue, 22 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) has released a new survey revealing that most Americans have a positive view of marriage. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051121s1.html Mon, 21 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The North Carolina State Lottery Commission announced their choice to lead the state lottery on Thursday—the same day a former lottery commissioner was in the news again about further improprieties. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051117s2.html Thu, 17 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal that sought to remove a sign bearing the phrase "In God We Trust" from a Davidson County Government Center. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051117s1.html Thu, 17 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST A third member of the North Carolina Lottery Commission has resigned, making this the third departure from the panel in three weeks. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051116s1.html Wed, 16 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST A former state Supreme Court chief justice has suggested that the state should consider legalizing currently unlawful drugs to ease inmate overcrowding in North Carolina and reduce the need for additional prisons in the future. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051115s1.html Tue, 15 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The Marriage Protection Amendment, which would amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, has passed a U.S. Senate Subcommittee and is now on its way to the full Judiciary Committee. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051114s1.html Mon, 14 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The North Carolina Lottery Commission met again on Wednesday, November 9, mostly behind closed doors as they considered candidates for the position of lottery director. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051110s1.html Thu, 10 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST Texans turned out in an off-year election to overwhelmingly approve an amendment that protects marriage in the state’s constitution. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051109s1.html Wed, 09 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled that parents have no constitutional right to be their children’s sole provider of information on sexuality. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051108s2.html Tue, 08 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST As the North Carolina Lottery Commission continues to consider how to implement a lottery in the Tar Heel State, the city of Charlotte has raised concerns about the impact it could have on the city’s neighborhoods. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051108s1.html Tue, 08 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST A poll recently conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University has found that an overwhelming majority of Americans do not believe that embryonic stem cell research provides the greatest hope for curing disease. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051107s1.html Mon, 07 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST Former lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings is facing added criticism for his involvement in producing pro-lottery radio advertisements during the legislative session. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051103s3.html Thu, 03 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST On Wednesday, November 2 the North Carolina Secretary of  State’s office requested a criminal investigation into the activities of lottery company Scientific Games and other individuals. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051103s2.html Thu, 03 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST The North Carolina State Board of Education rejected a controversial policy change on Thursday, November 3 that could have led to the affirmation of harmful sexual behaviors in North Carolina public schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051103s1.html Thu, 03 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST Just two days after saying, “I won’t step aside because I feel that would be acknowledging that I did something wrong...And I haven’t done anything wrong,” lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings announced his resignation from the North Carolina State Lottery Commission. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051102s1.html Wed, 02 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST Charter schools are gaining acceptance and popularity and are enjoying robust growth across the United States, according to a new study released on October 27 by The Center for Education Reform. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051101s1.html Tue, 01 Nov 2005 17:00:00 EST Within hours of President Bush’s announcement of federal appeals court judge Samuel Alito to replace Sandra Day O’Conner, conservative leaders began offering positive feedback about the nominee. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051031s1.html Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST The North Carolina State Lottery Commission meeting this week included a member's resignation and the adoption of a code of ethics. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051027s1.html Thu, 27 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) has announced that a deal had been struck to guarantee a vote on a bill that would allow public funding of embryonic stem cell research. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051026s1.html Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST Twenty video poker machines and nearly $24,000 in cash were apprehended from eight Charlotte area businesses suspected of operating illegal video gambling machines. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051025s1.html Tue, 25 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST Language that would have altered the federal hate crimes statute to include sexual orientation was successfully removed in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051024s1.html Tue, 25 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST A national exam designed to measure the reading and math ability of students in the fourth and eighth grades has revealed mixed results for the Tar Heel State. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051020s1.html Thu, 20 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST New statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau reveal trends in marriage and fertility across the country and offer a snapshot of family structures in America in recent years. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051019s1.html Wed, 19 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST A new bill introduced in Congress would amend current federal law to provide families who choose to educate their children at home with a number of benefits previously available only to other students. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051018s1.html Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST Five members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation have joined 60 other members of Congress in signing a letter to President Bush expressing concern about the administration’s plan to give tax breaks to casinos affected by hurricane Katrina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051017s1.html Mon, 17 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST This week, state lawmakers made their way back to Raleigh to consider an override vote to a bill that was approved by the State House and Senate, but subsequently vetoed by Governor Mike Easley. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051013s2.html Thu, 13 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST The town of Marshall, North Carolina, did not violate the free speech rights of a woman when it banned her from a community event due to her lewd dancing style, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051013s1.html Thu, 13 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST A new research brief by the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy (IMAPP) has addressed the question of whether intact families reduce the level of criminal activity. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051012s1.html Wed, 12 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST A new Harris poll reveals that Americans have differing opinions on what effect pornography has and what role the government should have in regulating it. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051011s1.html Tue, 11 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST The State Board of Education delayed action on revisions to the Standards for Teacher Education Programs, some of which the North Carolina Family Policy Council had raised concerns about in a letter to Board members last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051007s1.html Fri, 07 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST The North Carolina Lottery Commission has met for the first time to discuss details about the state's new lottery. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051006s1.html Thu, 06 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST The Bush administration is coming under fire for a provision included in Gulf Coast economic recovery legislation that would give tax breaks to casinos affected by hurricane Katrina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051005s1.html Wed, 05 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments regarding Oregon’s assisted suicide law on Wednesday, October 5. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051004s1.html Tue, 04 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST President Bush nominated White House Counsel Harriet E. Miers to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/051003s1.html Tue, 04 Oct 2005 17:00:00 EST Next week, the North Carolina State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled to consider and vote on a number of policy changes, including two that would affirm “sexual orientation,” “gender identification,” and “sex role orientation.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050929s2.html Thu, 29 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST The U.S. Senate has confirmed John Roberts as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States by a vote of 78 to 22. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050929s1.html Thu, 29 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST The Bush administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a law passed by Congress that bans partial-birth abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050928s1.html Wed, 28 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced a new nationwide project on September 21 aimed at rejecting abstinence education programs in 18 states around the country. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050926s1.html Mon, 26 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST The Governor and legislative leaders have announced the nine members of the North Carolina Lottery Commission. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050923s2.html Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST A majority of North Carolina citizens who responded to a recent poll identified themselves as “pro-life” and disapprove of the way the state Senate passed the lottery. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050923s1.html Thu, 22 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST Following years of public unrest over alleged voter fraud and disenfranchisement, an independent commission charged with finding ways to improve the nation’s elections has reported its findings to Congress. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050922s1.html Wed, 21 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-Robeson) has placed a correction in the Congressional Record reflecting his intention to vote "no" on a "hate-crimes" amendment passed by the U.S. House last week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050920s1.html Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST The U.S. House has approved an amendment that would revise existing hate crimes statutes to impose tougher penalties for crimes committed due to an individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, or disability. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050915s2.html Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST A federal judge in California has ruled that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in a public school classroom is unconstitutional—a ruling with a scope that effects only a few school districts in that state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050915s1.html Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST A Kenly, North Carolina man has been sentenced to seven years in jail and the forfeiture of $5 million after being found guilty of money laundering and running an illegal gambling business. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050914s1.html Wed, 14 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST A federal judge in Ohio has upheld a law that requires minors to obtain parental consent prior to an abortion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050913s1.html Tue, 13 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST Following the national trend, the number of homeschoolers in North Carolina continues to increase, according to recent numbers released by the state’s Division of Non-Public Education. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050912s1.html Mon, 12 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST A decision about whether or not to establish a “.xxx” domain for pornographic websites may come as early as Thursday, September 15 and pro-family groups (including the NCFPC) are urging that it be rejected. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050908s2.html Thu, 08 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to veto a bill legalizing homosexual “marriage” following a vote in the state Assembly to approve a measure that would redefine marriage as the union of one man and one woman. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050908s1.html Thu, 08 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST A number of people have contacted the North Carolina Family Policy Council about what they can do to help those affected by hurricane Katrina. There are a number of worthy charitable organizations collecting funds. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050907s1.html Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again postponed its decision on whether to make Plan B, also known as the “morning after pill” or “emergency contraception,” available to women and teenagers without a prescription. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050906s1.html Tue, 06 Sep 2005 17:00:00 EST A twenty-three year legislative battle to keep North Carolina government out of the gambling business ended Wednesday, August 31, when Governor Mike Easley signed House Bill 1023–North Carolina State Lottery Act into law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050831s1.html Wed, 31 Aug 2005 17:00:00 EST A newly released study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute has found that charter schools are significantly underfunded when compared to traditional public schools. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050829s1.html Mon, 29 Aug 2005 17:00:00 EST After months of work, the General Assembly approved sweeping changes to the state’s lobbying laws. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050825s1.html Thu, 25 Aug 2005 17:00:00 EST Twenty-six courageous members of the North Carolina Senate appear to have held off the lottery for this session, however, until both the House and Senate chambers adjourn for the year, the possibility of a lottery vote still lingers. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050824s1.html Wed, 24 Aug 2005 17:00:00 EST The debate over embryonic stem cell research took an interesting turn this week when American and British researchers announced two new preliminary methods for generating embryonic stem cells without undergoing the controversial process of creating and then destroying a human embryo in order to harvest its stem cells. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050823s1.html Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:00:00 EST A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has unanimously upheld restrictions on abortion coverage for military personnel. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050822s1.html Mon, 22 Aug 2005 17:00:00 EST With the enactment of a lottery in North Carolina teetering by a single vote in the State Senate, gambling proponents are pulling out all the stops to pressure at least one more senator into voting for the lottery. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050819s1.html Fri, 19 Aug 2005 17:00:00 EST Households consisting of married parents with natural or adopted children are no longer the most common type of family unit in the United States, according to a report released on August 16 by the U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050817s1.html Wed, 17 Aug 2005 18:00:00 EST Health officials are renewing an investigation into the risks of the RU-486 abortion pill following the deaths of four California women who suffered lethal infections after undergoing medical abortions by using the drugs Mifeprex (also known as mifepristone) and misoprostol. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050816s1.html Tue, 16 Aug 2005 18:00:00 EST The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has lifted a ban on billboard advertising of liquor in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050815s1.html Mon, 15 Aug 2005 18:00:00 EST More than a month overdue and after several deadline extensions the North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval to a $17.2 billion budget this week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050812s1.html Fri, 12 Aug 2005 18:00:00 EST A Virginia law requiring the daily, voluntary recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools has been upheld by a federal appeals court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050811s1.html Thu, 11 Aug 2005 22:00:00 EST On August 8, the James Madison Center for Free Speech filed a class action lawsuit against North Carolina's public financing program for judicial races, calling it “an unconstitutional infringement” on the free speech rights of political candidates who do not participate but raise their own funds instead. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050809s1.html Tue, 09 Aug 2005 22:00:00 EST In hopes that the third time is a charm, the North Carolina General Assembly, on Thursday, August 4, passed its third “continuing resolution,” extending the deadline for enacting a state budget for yet another week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050805s4.html Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:00:00 EST While the North Carolina General Assembly appears to be drawing close to a state budget, the status of state sponsored gambling remains far from settled. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050805s3.html Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:00:00 EST After an absence of more than a hundred years, North Carolina’s original copy of the Bill of Rights has returned to the state. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050805s2.html Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:00:00 EST If you would like to be among the first North Carolinians to receive the new “In God We Trust” state license plates, now is your chance. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050805s1.html Fri, 05 Aug 2005 23:00:00 EST A bill to allow beer with a 15 percent alcohol content to be sold in North Carolina stores and restaurants gained final approval by the General Assembly after the Senate passed the bill on Wednesday by a 27 to 21 vote. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050804s1.html Thu, 04 Aug 2005 23:45:00 EST In response to a discrimination lawsuit filed by a homosexual couple, the California Supreme Court ruled on August 1 that state law requires private businesses to extend to registered domestic partners the same benefits offered to married couples. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050803s1.html Wed, 03 Aug 2005 23:45:00 EST On July 29, much to the dismay of the pro-life community, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced his support for legislation that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, the controversial procedure that involves destroying human embryos to harvest their stem cells. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050802s1.html Tue, 02 Aug 2005 23:45:00 EST On Friday, August 5, state lawmakers will face their second self-imposed, and third deadline for passing a state budget. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050729s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/050729s1.html Fri, 29 Jul 2005 23:55:00 EST In the first instance of a formal challenge to North Carolina’s oath-taking procedures since their inception in 1777, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina has filed a lawsuit against the state challenging the state courts’ practice of not using any other text than the Christian Bible when administering oaths. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050727s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/050727s1.html Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:55:00 EST In response to a number of court rulings limiting the equal access rights of the Boy Scouts of America, the U.S. Senate has approved a bill that prevents federal law from limiting the Department of Defense’s support for a youth organization to any less support than was provided during the preceding four years. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050726s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/050726s1.html Tue, 26 Jul 2005 23:55:00 EST The North Carolina General Assembly again has bought itself more time to reach an agreement on the state budget for fiscal year 2005-06, which actually began the first of this month. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050722s1.html http://ncfamily.org/stories/050722s1.html Fri, 22 Jul 2005 23:55:00 EST A bill currently being considered in the U.S. Congress would grant native Hawaiians the same federal recognition enjoyed by many Indian tribes and would allow for the establishment of an independent government. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050721s1.html Fri, 22 Jul 2005 23:55:00 EST President Bush named Judge John Roberts as his pick to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050720s1.html Fri, 22 Jul 2005 23:50:00 EST According to the latest report from the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, Americans today are increasingly less likely to get and stay married, as the percentage of cohabiting couples continues to rise, and more children are raised in “fragile” (typically fatherless) families. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050719s1.html Fri, 22 Jul 2005 23:45:00 EST A North Carolina woman has filed an alienation of affections lawsuit against a man who had an affair with her husband, the Durham Herald-Sun has reported. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050718s2.html Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:50:00 EST The North Carolina Family Policy Council’s weekly radio program “Family Policy Matters” is now available on iTunes as a free podcast. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050718s1.html Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:20:00 EST A State House Committee began the process this week of considering several reforms to North Carolina’s lobbying laws. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050715s1.html Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:15:00 EST The issue of homosexual rights is again being considered on Capitol Hill after legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress that would grant special rights to federal employees based on their sexual orientation. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050713s1.html Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:10:00 EST The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued an updated policy on teen pregnancy prevention that supports the mixed message of comprehensive sex education programs and recommends that all adolescents have access to contraception. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050712s1.html Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:00:00 EST Last Friday, a three-judge panel of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, Missouri upheld a lower court ruling that the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 is unconstitutional. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050711s1.html Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:00:00 EST A bill approved by the North Carolina House Judiciary 2 Committee on Thursday, July 7 is designed to protect churches, synagogues, and other places of worship from break-ins and theft. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050708s4.html Sat, 9 Jul 2005 22:00:00 EST A bill to allow beer with a 15 percent alcohol content to be sold in North Carolina stores and restaurants made it to the floor of the North Carolina Senate on Thursday, July 7, only to be removed and re-referred to a Senate committee for further consideration. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050708s3.html Sat, 9 Jul 2005 19:00:00 EST On July 6, the Senate Health Care Committee approved a bill that proposes several minor changes to the State’s decade-old abstinence until marriage education law. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050708s2.html Fri, 8 Jul 2005 17:00:00 EST A bill that would protect the right of private property owners to fly an American flag or any other official governmental flag on their own property ran into trouble in a State Senate Committee this week. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050708s1.html Fri, 8 Jul 2005 15:00:00 EST The composition of the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled for a change following Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s announcement on July 1 that she will retire from the nation’s top court. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050706s1.html Wed, 6 Jul 2005 12:00:00 EST On Thursday, June 30, the last day of the North Carolina’s 2004-05 fiscal year, State lawmakers passed a bill to keep the state running by continuing a “temporary” sales tax increase and maintaining state funding at current levels through July 20, 2005. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050701s1.html Fri, 1 Jul 2005 12:00:00 EST Traditional marriage suffered two blows this week when Canada and Spain passed legislation lifting all restrictions on same-sex “marriage.” http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050630s1.html Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:00:00 EST A federal judge has rejected arguments by the American Civil Liberties Union that a state-sponsored abstinence education web site in Louisiana endorses religion. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050628s1.html Tue, 28 Jun 2005 15:00:00 EST A sharply-divided Court issued two long-awaited Ten Commandments decisions today, but, by its own admission, failed to provide a clear rule for future courts to follow. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050627s1.html Mon, 27 Jun 2005 15:00:00 EST With the start of the state fiscal year fast approaching, House and Senate leaders are once again enmeshed in the annual battle over the state budget and taxes. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050624s2.html Fri, 24 Jun 2005 13:00:00 EST On Thursday, June 23, a State House committee advanced a bill designed to curb sexually deviant behavior in North Carolina. http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/050624s1.html Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:45:00 EST