Dr. Kermit Gosnell

Jurors found Dr. Kermit Gosnell guilty of first-degree murder for killing three new born infants. The jurors found that his "greed"was a major element in their verdict. Dr. Kermit Gosnell was sentenced to a third life sentence. They will be served consecutively, ensuring that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The doctor was accused of routinely carrying out late term abortions, but was convicted of "snipping" the spinal cords of three babies who were born alive. For two months, the jury heard the horrible testimonies from members of Gosnell's staff. Eight staffers have pleaded guilty to several crimes. None of the staff were licensed nurses or doctors.

To read more, click here and here.

Federal Appeals Court Denies Asylum

A federal appeals court has denied asylum to a Christian family who fled Germany because the country does not allow homeschooling. If they return to Germany they will face persecution from education officials there who seek fines and jail from those who homeschool.  

While judges admitted the U.S. Constitution recognizes the rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children, they refused to concede that the harsh treatment of religiously and philosophically motivated homeschoolers in Germany, including fines, jail, and the loss of custody of their children, amounts to persecution within the laws on asylum.

A representative of the family says they plan to appeal.

To read more, click here and here. 

Margaret Thatcher Dies At 87

Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female Prime Minister, died following a stroke on April 8, 2013. Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" of British politics helped guide the United States and the Soviet Union through difficult years during the Cold War and brought her own country out of years of socialism. Thatcher was the first woman to lead a major Western power in modern times and led her conservative party through three elections, holding the office of Prime Minister for 11 1/2 years, from 1979-1990.

To read more click here and here.

Judge Halts Ban on Large, Sugary Drinks

New York City's planned restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks exceeding 16 ounces in restaurants, movie theaters, and stadiums, have been put on hold.
"The court finds that the regulation...is laden with exceptions based on economic and political concerns," Justice Milton Tingling wrote.
The restrictions were to begin at midnight, on March 12, and would only stop the sales regulated by the city.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters, "We believe that the judge's decision was clearly in error and that we will prevail on appeal."
The super-sized drinks ban is just the latest regulation of the Bloomberg administration targeted at public health, as nearly 60% of New York City adults and 40% of the children are overweight.

To read more, click here. 

Cardinals Gather to Elect a New Pope

The work to elect Pope Benedict XVI's successor begins tomorrow morning. In the morning the cardinals will begin the secret election, in the Sistine Chapel, called the conclave. The only clue the outside world will have are the puffs of smoke coming out of the copper chimney.
Black smoke, no pope. White smoke, the new pope has been chosen.
The election process could take hours or it could be a matter of days before white smoke is seen. Tailors have made a new set of clothes for the new pope, for as soon as a decision has been made the new pope will dress and appear on the balcony of St. Peter's

To read more, click here. 

State of the Union

President Barack Obama gave his first State of the Union address in his second term. He began by quoting John F. Kennedy, saying, "The Constitution doesn't make us rivals for power, but partners for progress...it is my task to report the state of the union -to improve it is the task of us all."
Obama began by reporting that our men and women in uniform will be coming home (he said that by next year the war in Afghanistan would be over and 34 thousand troops would be home), that 6 million new jobs have been created since 2008, and that we are less dependent on foreign oil than we have been in 20 years. He said the reforms for our country are going to be asking more from the wealthy, changing the way we pay for medicare, and not taking the cuts to education and military that the Budget Control Act would have taken.
Obama said, "The government is not expected to fix everything or agree on everything, but the American people expect government to put their interests before it's own."
Obama wants to raise the minimum wage, which is 7.25 in North Carolina, to 9 dollars.
He also brought up gun violence, saying that it needs to be voted on. "The families deserve a vote." (In the audience were families from Newtown and Aurora)  

The Pope's Resignation

     "Strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me," said Benedict XVI, age 85.

     The religious leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI, announced on Monday that he will resign at the end of the month "because of advanced age". Benedict will become the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. The news has shocked the Catholic world and led to speculation about who would replace him.

To read more click here.