The Stack for January 18, 2009

WASHINGTON — It is true, President Bush sounded alarms about Barack Obama during the campaign season. On Tuesday, Mr. Bush went one step further: He declared Mr. Obama’s inauguration an actual emergency.

Video: Obama's Grandmother Comes to Washington

Source: AssociatedPress - Jan 13, 2009

The step-grandmother of President-elect Barack Obama began her journey to Washington on Tuesday to see her grandchild become the first African-American ..

TEXAS POLITICS

Immigration Will Be Hot Topic for Texas Legislature

Source: The 33 News, Norris Deajon, January 12, 2009

Immigration will once again be a hot topic in the upcoming legislative session. More than a dozen bills have already been filed as some state lawmakers are tired of waiting for the Federal Government to reform immigration.

Will the Legislature take on the thorny immigration issue?

Source: MySA, Victor Landa , 01/20/2009

Let’s say that the well publicized bustle of anti-immigrant ordinances in Farmers Branch was intended to preserve something that the city leaders felt was worth preserving.

EDUCATION POLICY

Texas Board of Education Schedules Special Expert Hearing on Strengths and Weaknesses of Evolution

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) has scheduled a hearing of scientific experts, including three scientists who are recommending that students should learn about scientific evidence that challenges Darwin's theory of evolution.

On Wednesday, January 21st, six experts selected by the SBOE to review a proposed update of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for science will give testimony to the board. Three of the scientists will recommend that the board retain long-standing language in the TEKS calling on students to examine the "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific theories in order to strengthen students' critical thinking skills. The other experts are on record supporting repeal of the language.

TFN Flies Blue Flag

Source: TakeUp.Org, Brent Bullock, January 16, 2009

The so called “Texas Freedom Network” (TFN) reveals their true blue colors once again. This time they are waving the banner of scientific opinion on evolutionary origins. TFN has published a survey on what Texas scientists think about Creation/Evolution education for the 21st Century.

Texas SBOE TEKS

Intolerance on Parade in Texas Debate Over Evolution

Source: Discovery.org, Robert Crowther, January 6, 2009

Eric Lane, head of the local San Antonio chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, makes bold — and bogus — assertions in the San Antonio Express about the current debate over how to teach evolution, and what he imagines might be the reasons behind it. Not surprisingly, Lane apparently didn’t bother to do a shred of research, instead seeming quite satisfied to let his imagination come up with all sorts ridiculous things.

Good News: Louisiana Schools Allowed to Discuss Criticisms of Evolution

Source: CitizenLink, January 14, 2009

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved rules Tuesday that will allow public-school teachers to debate and discuss origin-of-life theories and criticisms of Darwinian evolution.

A mixed result in Louisiana

Source: National Center for Science Education, January 15th, 2009

On January 15, 2009, Louisiana's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a set of guidelines about what types of supplementary classroom materials will, and will not, be allowable under the Louisiana Science Education Act. While the guidelines echo the LSEA's requirement that such materials "not promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or non-religion," a provision that "materials that teach creationism or intelligent design or that advance the religious belief that a supernatural being created humankind shall be prohibited for use in science class" was deleted, according to a report from the Associated Press (January 15, 2008).

ECONOMICS

Casino Industry Targets Texas, Montana, Other States

Source: CitizenLink, January 13, 2009

With many casinos closing their doors, the casino industry is aggressively pursuing large, untapped states like Texas and Montana. More than 60 gambling-related bills are sitting in 17 state legislatures — including 12 in Texas and eight in Montana. Many of the bills would expand gambling.

Is now the time for gambling in Texas?

Source: KTRK-ABC Galveston, Tuesday, January 13, 2009

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Las Vegas style gambling casinos could be in the future for Galveston Island. Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston County, but is gambling the push the economy there needs

RELIGION

Fla. county schools ordered to stop promoting religion

Source: The Associated Press, 01.14.09

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A federal judge has ordered Santa Rosa County schools to stop promoting religion.

U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers granted a preliminary injunction late on Jan. 9. The American Civil Liberties Union had filed a suit against the school district in August, claiming that school officials were proselytizing and conducting other religious activities in public schools.

Attorney General Abbott Defends Constitutionality Of Prayer During Presidential Inauguration

Abbott leads 50-state coalition in defense of prayer, presidential oath of office

Source: Texas A.G. Office, Thursday, January 8, 2009

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and a bipartisan coalition of Attorneys General representing all fifty states and the U.S. Virgin Islands today took legal action to defend the constitutionality of prayer during President-elect Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration. In an amicus brief that was authored by Attorney General Abbott and filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the state Attorneys General also defended the President-elect’s right to say the words “so help me God” while reciting the presidential oath of office.

SOCIAL POLICY

Under the Influence: TV and Teenage Sex

Source: BreakPoint Commentaries, By Chuck Colson, 1/15/2009

Approximately $60 billion is spent every year on television advertising. That’s $200 for every man, woman, and child. It is spent in the hopes that by seeing something on television, people will think or act in some desired fashion. Judging by the reaction to a new study on television’s effect on our kids, that $60 billion might better be used as kindling.

Liberty Counsel Files Brief in Defense of California's Marriage Amendment

Contact: Liberty Counsel Public Relations Department, 800-671-1776

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14 /Standard Newswire/ -- Tomorrow morning Liberty Counsel is filing a brief in support of California's Marriage Amendment (Proposition 8), defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Shortly after the amendment passed, three lawsuits were filed at the California Supreme Court by same-sex marriage advocates, claiming Proposition 8 is itself unconstitutional. Liberty Counsel represents the Campaign for California Families.

Annual CDC Report Finds High Burden of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Especially among Women and Racial Minorities

Source: CDC Press Release, January 13, 2009,

Reported cases of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea in the United States exceeded 1.4 million in 2007, according to an annual report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These diseases continue to be the most commonly reported infectious diseases in the nation and pose persistent and preventable threats to fertility in the United States.

Stung! Abortionist fakes sonogram to avoid age limit

Undercover investigation reveals business skirting state law

Source: WorldNetDaily, By Drew Zahn, January 12, 2009

While Kansas doctor George Tiller is still fighting accusations of illegally aborting 19 viable babies, an undercover sting operation conducted by a pro-life organization revealed his clinic intentionally underestimating fetal age and viability to dodge state laws.