Television lights burned brightly in the room at the National Press Club where the Consumer Federation of America was holding a press conference on holiday spending. Outside the room where something called the 2010 Hunger Report was about to be released, the juice-and-muffin table was swarmed. Things were a little quieter in the Zenger Room.... Continue Reading

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Friday that a federal district court should have considered whether a Gilbert, Ariz., sign ordinance unconstitutionally discriminates against religious signs among all non-commercial signs. The court sent the case, filed by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund who represent Good News Community Church (ARP), back... Continue Reading

The State Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with breaking state ethics laws 37 times, including using state planes for family trips, spending campaign funds on a hunting trip and flying first class, instead of coach, while on state travel. The commission, which last week wrapped up its preliminary, three-month-long investigation into allegations against... Continue Reading

Richard H. Powell’s parents divorced when he was a young boy. “My mother, Virlee (Grimes) Powell, raised me and my two sisters,” he said. “I gained experience later through military training, and developed a love for education.” He attained his doctorate and spent more than 40 years as a professional educator. He worked with students,... Continue Reading

‘The two MMs have been after the CRU station data for years. If they ever hear there is a Freedom of Information Act now in the U.K., I think I’ll delete the file rather than send to anyone. . . . We also have a data protection act, which I will hide behind.” So apparently... Continue Reading

As a BYU football player competing against Utah, Aaron Roderick remembers the derisive signs and religious taunts of fans — likely the same fans who now support him as a Ute assistant coach. Much of the passion involved in the rivalry stems from BYU’s affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As... Continue Reading

The British government is being forced by the European commission to rip up controversial exemptions that allow church bodies to refuse to employ homosexual staff. It has emerged that the commission wrote to the government last week raising concerns that the UK had incorrectly implemented an EU directive prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of a... Continue Reading

A president’s first Thanksgiving Day proclamation is an opportunity for the commander in chief to highlight his new administration’s accomplishments or reassure the nation at a time of gratitude and family togetherness. But President Obama’s Turkey Day bulletin Monday went in a different direction. Obama’s declaration is short — just over 400 words — and... Continue Reading

Even for a religion started by a science fiction writer, the allegations levelled against the Church of Scientology in Australia’s federal parliament last week sound stranger than fiction. Blackmail, cover-ups of child abuse, labour camps, embezzlement and coerced abortions are spelled out among the 53 pages of allegations by seven former Scientologists – some of... Continue Reading

A month of harsh words between Rep. Patrick Kennedy and a strident critic, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin, escalated recently when the bishop acknowledged asking Kennedy not to receive Holy Communion because of the Democratic lawmaker’s support for abortion rights. The bishop’s attempt to publicly shame Kennedy on his abortion stance comes just a few... Continue Reading