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Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is proposing a new tax on annual incomes of $1 million or more. The tax would raise over $1 billion.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is proposing a new tax on incomes of $1 million or more a year, just two days after multimillionaire Bruce Rauner won the Republican nomination to run for governor.
The Chicago Democrat introduced a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would tack a 3 percent surcharge on incomes of more than $1 million a year.
Madigan said the tax would raise just over $1 billion annually that would be used to pay for K-12 education. The money would be distributed on a per-student basis, and Madigan said it would come out to about $550 a student.
"We've done this because we feel the millionaires in Illinois are better-equipped to support education than others," Madigan said Thursday at a Statehouse news conference. "That's why we drafted this the way we drafted it."
Madigan said there are 13,675 millionaires in the state. Madigan, who practices law in addition to his legislative duties, said he would be in that category "in a good year."
Already firmly in that category is Rauner, who has said he wants the state's temporary income tax increase to expire at year's end, although he has not detailed how the state would cope with the loss of more than $1 billion in revenue. Madigan, who is also state chairman of the Democratic Party, said the amendment is not a shot at Rauner.
"It's introduced today because we had some time to discuss it with our members in the House and it's been well received," Madigan said. "I happen to think this is a good idea. I've given a lot of thought to this. What we're doing here is calling upon people who are well-equipped to provide support for education."
Rauner campaign manager Chip Englander said Rauner would be happy to pay more to help education, but "he doesn't support what looks like a first step towards empowering Mike Madigan and Pat Quinn to raise taxes on the middle class, small businesses and family farms."
"The last time they raised taxes, they hit every Illinoisan with a 67 percent increase and they still turned around and cut funding for education," Englander said in a statement.
He said the entire tax system in the state should be reviewed.
Regardless of what happens to the amendment, lawmakers will have to decide this year whether or not to continue the income tax increase. It will expire at the end of the year and leave a huge hole in the state budget. Madigan said Thursday he has taken no position on the issue.
Quinn has also not stated a position on continuing the tax increase. He is scheduled to deliver is budget address next week.
Madigan also has not taken a position on adopting a graduated income tax for the state. There are proposed amendments to the Constitution that would scrap the state's flat tax and impose a graduated tax based on income.
Madigan's millionaire tax plan would have to be approved by super-majorities in both the House and Senate in order to appear on the fall ballot. And even though Democrats hold super-majorities in both chambers, Madigan said he thinks the measure will pick up some Republican support as well.
"I would think there would be Republicans from areas of the state where they don't have any millionaires, and they ought to take good hard look at this and say, 'Well, why not let the people decide?'" Madigan said.
Contact Doug Finke: firstname.lastname@example.com, 788-1527, twitter.com/dougfinkesjr.


text: Well I am going to start Jamaal Charles on my fantasy team this week. Ha no Biggie. But really, I have complete faith in Jamaal and feel he will do a great job against arguably the best Defense in the league. LJ's bad attitude will be riding the bench. The spotlight will be on the rookie Longhorn as they come off a shutout and their bye week at home. Again I understand how good the Titans D is...but I really like this kid as I think he will be LJ's replacement in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sponsored by Swimming and Diving (women)
Luther cruised to a 170-47 victory over Coe tonight in Cedar Rapids. The Norse placed first in every event led by Margaret Yapp, Chrisann Zuerner and Zoe Johnson who tallied multiple event victories.
Yapp won both the 50 and 100 freestyle, Zuerner won the 200 and 500 freestyle, and Johnson won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. Johnson's point total of 259.85 for 3-meter, six dives, is a new school record.
The Norse will wrap up their dual meet schedule tomorrow at home when they will host Morningside College and College of St. Mary. Start time is 1:00 p.m.
Questions? Contact David Blanchard, post_to_results, 563-387-1586


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Having been betrayed and left for dead on a sun-scorched planet, Riddick must fight for his survival against the deadly alien predators that exist in this barren land. After activating an emergency beacon Riddick soon finds himself battling teams of mercenaries from around the galaxy who are determined to bring him home as their bounty.
Read Full Production Details
Having been betrayed and left for dead on a sun-scorched planet, Riddick must fight for his survival against the deadly alien predators that exist in this barren land. After activating an emergency beacon Riddick soon finds himself battling teams of mercenaries from around the galaxy who are determined to bring him home as their bounty.
To get showtimes, enter your location to find theaters showing this movie in your area.
Universal Pictures
A ludicrous script is usually the hurdle you find yourself trying to jump in an effort to enjoy an action-heavy science fiction in the character of Riddick. Surprisingly, it isn't the story that holds Vin Diesel's third Richard Riddick movie back, but what launches it forward through a dust cloud of other shortcomings and malfeasances. Kicking off with a wordless first act involving the lone criminal's determination to survive on a wasteland planet and progressing very gradually toward and through an intergalactic bounty hunter team's stakeout for the wanted man, we find ourselves adhering reluctantly to the slow-burning but densely packed drama. It'll get you. The claustrophic, death-on-the-horizon mission facing the band of lowlifes hunting down Riddick - and the intercepting troupe of more ostensibly ''righteous'' law enforcement officials (there's a guy who speaks calmly, a woman, and a kid who prays, so you know they're the good ones) - coughs up pissing contests, gender politics, and strategy debates in the valley of meaty sociological sci-fi like classic Star Trek episodes. Meanwhile, Diesel is hiding out in the adjacent caves, plotting his next move.
After a uniquely primal introductory chapter, wherein we're engrossed by the vivid hell that is ''Not Furya'' (Riddick's affectionate name for the world within which he is prisoner) in the same way that we connect to the first chapter of 2001: A Space Odyssey, we're relieved to welcome in some new characters (and, of course, actual dialogue). While Diesel can muster charisma taunting Jordi Mollà's bounty hunter creep Santana or Matt Nable's stoic (with a breaking point) officer Johns, he's not the sort of actor who can carry long stretches of wordless, pensive survival on his own. Luckily, he gets a dog pretty early on, so that picks things up a bit.
But problems are not absent when the film duodecuples its population. Once the talking kicks up, so does the occasional weaving of mythos. Even those familiar with the old films will find themselves boggled by the convoluted, cantankerous backstory building that pops in obligatorily, wishing that the film would just get back to the quavering stakeout. However, there is a far bigger issue at hand.
While the heated issues presented Within the tiny world of the battling teams sent to the planet to hunt down Riddick are a banquet for the viewer, some of the problems actually traverse beyond the screen, and All of them involve sole female player Katee Sackhoff and her character Dahl. It says everything that the only woman in this film bears a handle that is homophonous to ''Doll.'' While we can expect the no nonsense officer to be treated with a dearth of respect (and worse) by money hungry, lustful bounty man Santiago, the film itself doesn't seem to have a much more forgivable attitude toward the character, her gender, or her sexual orientation (which is, inscrutably, one of the most revisited topics of conversation).
Present through the movie as soon as Dahl steps onscreen, Riddick's misogyny will get in the way of its otherwise enjoyable and interesting foray into gritty sci-fi, but stands as its sole indefensible problem. Had a more diligent, progressive eye in the edit bay relinquished David Twohy's screenplay of this outrageously persistent repulsion, we might have a film altogether triumphant. With a cherished character readily available for returning fans and a new stock of interesting set-ups for any genre aficionado, not to mention palpable tension - and, yes, the dog - Riddick really only suffers from its misshapen approaches toward gender and sexuality. It's one problem, but it's a damn big one.
More Reviews:'Getaway' Is a Train Wreck'The World's End' Is Funny, But Something More'You're Next' Amuses and Occasionally Scares
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Home » 60's, 70's, 80's landmarks » SUN RA: Dance of the Living Image, The Lost Reel Collection - Volume 4 (dbl)
SUN RA: Dance of the Living Image, The Lost Reel Collection - Volume 4 (dbl)
This is a rehearsal tape from late 1974 and comes raw, with cuts and edits as the recorder was started and stopped. It has been remastered to improve the sound, but otherwise remains unaltered. There's minimal talk as they work up or rehearse material already known, a fair chunk of which has not been heard before. They fool about and acclimatise themselves to new riffs and tunes. It's relaxed, and the sound is good - Ra always kept a tape recorder running and several of the early Saturn releases originated from the resulting tapes. Nice package, but for Ra fans, I think. It is a rehearsal, not a concert, which is fascinating, but specialised. 96 minutes.
Code: Transparency0304
Price: £17.00


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Greig said the caller is not a licensed agent of the state or any county. He also reminded restaurants that inspections by the Department of Agriculture's food sanitarians are always unannounced. Upon arrival, sanitarians will identify themselves and show proper identification, including a commonwealth employee photo identification card and food sanitarian badge.
If a restaurant is contacted by someone claiming to be a health inspector who seems suspicious, restaurant personnel should contact local law enforcement.
Similar incidents have occurred in counties across the state in 2011.
For more information about food safety, visit


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Looked around and didn't see that this had been done here.
My family plays this game via email and have now had one story going for about 9 months continuously.
Here's how it works, I'll start the story with the first line. Subsequent people add a line at a time to the story and see how long we can keep it going.
Read the story and try to keep it going in a similar vein. That is to say, use your line to build upon the previous part of the story. Add characters, tell a joke within the story etc etc.
the big rule is this, you only get to add ONE line at a time and you must wait until there's another line from another poster before you go again. other than that, have at it...
format: please quote the line from the previous post, and add yours directly below it. if you want to comment off the story set your post up like this:
your line of story...previous line of story
----------------------------------------------------- add this line
your comments....
let's have some fun!


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Well, in my opinion...I don't see the mag valve/blow forward design lasting another 10 years...I just feel something may come along and completely blow older designs like this and the cocker away.
Any thoughts on if AGD would move on with the rest of the world?
In the eyes of outsiders, AGD has been one step behind for awhile (RT when electro started, emag when electros were getting faster, efficient, consistent)


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FT Assistant Manager - Famous Footwear - Current Opening
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View similar jobs.
Caleres, Inc.
Grove City, OH
JOB DESCRIPTIONAt Famous Footwear, we believe in inspiring people to take the next step in everything they do. We seek people who are passionate about creating an easy, rewarding and personalized shopping experience for our customers every time they step into our stores and shop online. If you share our love for shoes and are passionate about putting the customer first, you belong on our team!
We seek a full time Assistant Sales Manager who:
Demonstrates a passion for exceeding customer expectations
Partners with managers to foster an environment of teamwork
Assists in the individual growth and development of store team members
Can work a flexible schedule
Famous Footwear is a retail division of Caleres, a $2.6 billion footwear company with a diverse portfolio of global footwear brands, which fit people s lives. We offer competitive pay, career advancement opportunities and a 30% shoe discount. Apply today!


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Marvel Comics Review: Captain America: Reborn #5
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, Marvel Comics,
Rating: *** 1/2*
A great recovery executed to this story by writer Ed Brubaker. I was starting to get a bit bored with it. Although you know how this story is going to end, I still enjoyed this issue. Besides knowing how this story will end, the only other drawback for me was the artwork by Bryan Hitch. I think Hitch is a great artist, but I felt his work seemed rushed here. From what I understand, he's not a fast artist. so maybe he was rushing to try and get this book out as soon as possible.
I was a bit confused by what was happening as this issue opened with Steve Rogers in a world where the Nazi's have taken over America. At first I thought he was transported to an alternate universe where the Nazi's won World War II, but I soon realized that his essence is stuck within his body in some weird world that has been created by the Red Skull as the Skull's essence has taken over Steve's body. Thank God because had this been an alternate universe I thought it would have been too cheesy to have a Nazi America where instead of Uncle Sam, you have Uncle Skull.
Click to continue reading Marvel Comics Review: Captain America: Reborn #5
Weekend Reading: James Bond, Wally Wood, Stan Lee and Frank Frazetta
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics, Independent,
It's old-school comic book week for the past several days as Wally Wood, Frank Frazetta, Stan Lee and that crazy caveman Alley Oop pop up. If that's not all, Evan Dorkin opened up an excellent thread on health insurance and freelance artists that's must read for anyone who's ever seen a 1099 form.
Wally Wood: Gold Key Stories posts a complete issue of M.A.R.S. Patrol Total War, with art by the great Wally Wood. Fanboys drool over this kind of stuff, and I'm not ashamed to say I'm one of them.
Frank Frazetta: A backhoe, a museum and millions of dollars worth of original art add up to a very sad family tragedy for the great artist. Heidi MacDonald over at The Beat has been on top of the story here and here and that'll get you started. Be sure to follow through and read all the comments and updates.
Free Content: Xark has a great take on why newspapers complain so much about the online readership who wants it for free, but it's really diners and coffee-sippers who are the real content thieves who don't pay for what they read.
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: James Bond, Wally Wood, Stan Lee and Frank Frazetta
Bryan Singer Signs Deal For X-Men Origins Film
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Movies, Marvel Comics,
Showing up on the red carpet at the Avatar premiere a few nights ago, X-Men and X2 director Bryan Singer spilled some major news regarding the next X-Men Origins film.
"I'm prepping up to do a movie called Jack the Giant Killer [at] Warner Brothers, and I just yesterday signed a deal to do an X-Men First Class Origins picture, which is kind of cool." So much for keeping the audience guessing!
Then again, word of Singer directing the next X-Men film isn't as shocking when you consider that he's already expressed interest in returning to the mutant mythology; he probably was simply uber-excited to break the story: "I'm still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I've been talking to Fox about it. I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast."
Unfortunately, Singer will be working with a younger cast that sounds like Jackman won't be asked to join. Series producer Lauren Shuler Donner described X-Men Origins: First Class as such: "The movie focuses on the first class at Xavier's school of the gifted, so only those mutants will be featured in the first movie."
Street Kings writer Jamie Moss is set to pen the script; aside from that, little else has been said about the project.
Click to continue reading Bryan Singer Signs Deal For X-Men Origins Film
Read More | /Film
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Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Aliph Jawbone Prime
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Accessories, Techies, Under $100,
If you have someone if your life that is constantly on their mobile phone, chances are they'd highly benefit from a Bluetooth headset, and the Aliph Jawbone Prime is the best for the job. You get best-in-class call quality and a cool design (rare for Bluetooth headsets.) Just like previous Jawbones, it's constructed of medical-grade plastic and has no visible buttons. The Jawbone Prime also brings it when it comes to noise cancellation, including wind noise reduction. Finally, it supports multipoint technology, which means this bad boy can be paired to several devices at one time, which is super convenient. The Jawbone Prime sells for $129, but Amazon has them for $92.74.
Read More | Jawbone Prime
Zune HD Twitter app now available
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video, Software,
If you've been wanting to use your Zune HD to get your Twitter on, today is your day. Twitter for Zune HD is a free app, now available in the Zune Marketplace, that lets you interact with your Twitter peoples. You can read Tweets, update your status, and all that good stuff. If you don't see it, give it a little bit, it was just deployed, which means it may take a few before it shows up.
Now, can we get some Zune HD Facebook love?
Quote of the Day: James Cameron on Superhero Movies
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Interviews, Movies,
"I feel there are too many superhero movies right now. I think Hollywood's in a bit of a rut. They've done the good ones and they're starting to get down to the second and third tier of superheroes—the guys that would not be asked to speak at the annual superhero dinner."
- Avatar director James Cameron commenting on the plethora of superhero film adaptations these days.
(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)
Read More | Splash Page
Is Verizon encouraging AT&T users to partake in Operation Chokehold?
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Cell Phones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,
My pal Matt Hickey from over at Crave has seemingly connected a few dots as it pertains to the battle between AT&T and Verizon, and this whole Fake Steve Jobs "Operation Chokehold" stunt aimed at taking down the AT&T Wireless data network this Friday afternoon. In case you are unfamiliar, Fake Steve proposed that AT&T customers load up bandwidth-intensive apps on Friday at noon, all at the same time, to saturate the AT&T network to a point of failure as a way of expressing they they are fed up with the horrible performance of the network. Thing is, one of my other pals, John Czwartacki, who just happens to be a contributor to the Verizon Policy Blog and a prolific Verizon personality on Twitter, linked to the movement via a tweet. Some are seeing this as a Verizon official condoning, or possibly even encouraging, the whole "Operation Chokehold" act.
Personally? We think that this is more of a finger pointing statement. It's John saying "Haha - look at AT&T - their users are so fed up that they want to crush the service that they pay for! Tee hee! Verizon customers wouldn't do that to us!" What do you think? Was John, and thusly Verizon, out of line here? Either way, we can stomach the rivalry that is happening in the television commercials…but let's keep the battle outside of our Twitter streams, okay guys?
Edit: John Czwartacki just hit me with an email, pointing out that he certainly doesn't condone this behavior at all, and even said as much in a few tweets that followed. He was simply linking to industry news, as he normally does. He thinks that if customers are fed up with AT&T, they should vote with their wallets. We agree.
Read More | Crave
OnStar lets you get Santa location updates on Christmas eve
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: GPS, Transportation,
Plan on being in the car with the little ones on Christmas Eve? If so, are you an OnStar subscriber? Then you'll want to hit that blue OnStar button and ask for a Santa update, because OnStar is teaming up with NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) to keep tabs on Santa's location as all times through the evening. Oh, what's that? You find that to be almost as ridiculous as the Necky?
Hey, we agree, but let's not let the silliness of this promotion get in the way of…no, you're right. It's silly. Silly enough that we want to try it.
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z280
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Cameras, Features, Family, Women, Men, Under $250,
Casio rocks it this year with the Exilim Zoom EX-Z280 digital camera, and we like it enough that we are recommending it in this years gift guide. It sports a dedicated Easy Mode, making it easy enough for pretty much anyone who enjoys pressing buttons to operate, while still maintaining the advanced features for more experienced pros, including ones that you don't typically find on budget-priced digital cameras. One such feature is mechanical (instead of digital) image stabilization, giving you nice clear shots while you stumble around during a holiday party after one-too-many eggnogs, as well as a 4x optical zoom lens. In addition, it shoots video in 720p, so it can even take the place of your Flip-style camcorder. You can grab one now for $173 on Amazon.
Read More | Casio Exilim
Necky: The neck Snuggie. Please, no.
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Wearables, Videos,
Please, someone explain to me why you'd need a Necky, because I am just not seeing it. What is wrong with the regular clothes that we already have, and have used for generations? Why do you need a chestplate that is fashioned out of cheap cloth to stay warm in the winter? Huh?? Answer me!! It's a scarf, not a freaking bow tie. Learn how to wear one, Necky enthusiasts!
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Sponsored by Music
The Luther College Cathedral Choir, the sophomore mixed choir from Decorah, Iowa, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. on April 19, 2013 at Woodlake Lutheran Church. Conducted by Dr. Sandra Peter, the program will include works by Brahms, Jan Sweelinck, Palestrina, Rihards Dubra, Brooke Joyce, Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, Eleanor Daley and arrangements by Paul J. Christiansen, Jeffrey Ames and Moses Hogan. A freewill offering will be taken for the choir during the concert.
Questions? Contact Eric Ellingsen, Music Organizations Office, 563-387-1267
Learn more at http://www.luther.edu/music/tours/cathedralchoir/appearances/


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Brian Scott Slated for NASCAR Nationwide Series Ride with RCR
Scott, 24, of Boise, Idaho, has twice finished in the top 10 of the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings in three full seasons of competition. He finished eighth in 2011 and ninth this past year. He finished 14th and was runner-up in the series' rookie of the year standings in 2010. Phil Gould, car chief for the No. 2 team in 2012 and with previous experience at RCR as a car chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been promoted to crew chief for the team.
"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to drive the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the Nationwide Series," said Scott. "RCR has proven over the past 13 years that it can build and prepare winning cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and has for a variety of drivers. I just want to be the next name on that list. RCR has a rich tradition of winning races and championships at the highest level of our sport and I am excited about being a part of an organization, like theirs, that is committed to winning.
"Our goals for 2013 are going to be set at a high level and we are going to do everything within our power to achieve those goals. On a personal level I think I am going to fit in really well. Richard Childress and a lot of the people affiliated with RCR are avid outdoorsmen and that matches my background as well."
Located on the sandy shores of the glacially carved Payette Lake, the iconic Shore Lodge is the premier resort in McCall, Idaho, offering a quintessential mountain retreat just two-hours north of Boise. The AAA Four Diamond award-winning resort boasts 77 spacious and comfortable guest suites, most featuring a large private balcony or patio overlooking Payette Lake. Dining options include The Narrows, Shore Lodge's signature fine dining restaurant and lounge, or for more casual dining and drinks, the Narrows Grill and the Lake Grill. Additionally, The Cove provides a relaxing and authentic mountain spa experience with a full menu of facial and body therapies complemented by immersion pools, gardens, a fitness studio and salon.
"We are thrilled to continue our support of Brian as he embarks on yet another successful year of racing," said Dan Scott, general manager of Shore Lodge. "The team at Richard Childress Racing has been fantastic to work with and we are honored to have them representing Shore Lodge and McCall with the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevy."
RCR and its drivers have earned 64 race victories, five season championships and two rookie-of-the-year awards since opening its Nationwide Series shop for the 2000 season. Kevin Harvick earned rookie of the year honors in 2000 and overall championships in 2001 and 2006. Harvick and Johnny Sauter earned the series' first owner-only championship in 2003. Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer duplicated the task in 2007, tying Richard Childress for the most owner championship titles in the Nationwide Series with four. Clint Bowyer earned the driver portion of the championship in 2008. In addition to Scott, the 2013 team lineup will include 2012 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon in the No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet Camaro and an all-star lineup of drivers and sponsors in the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro.
"Brian is a strong young talent and we look forward to him, Phil and the entire No. 2 Shore Lodge team adding their part to RCR's history of success in the NASCAR Nationwide Series," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The fact that Brian is an avid outdoorsman only makes it an even better fit. We're also proud to welcome Shore Lodge to our family of partners. The Scott family knows what it takes to create a tradition of excellence so we look forward to making our program a success both on the track and off."
For additional information on today's announcement, and all that's happening at RCR, please visit http://www.rcrracing.com.


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The success of Hannibal's Common Ground Community Garden will be celebrated during Re-Creation Day on Saturday, Aug. 3.
The success of Hannibal's Common Ground Community Garden will be celebrated during Re-Creation Day on Saturday, Aug. 3.
"It's a celebration of the summer harvest," said Jessie Dryden, a social engineer with Common Sense for an Uncommon Bond who is partnering with the Parks Department on the garden project. "Even if it rains, we'll feel like it's a celebration anyway."
Dryden wants people to come and be a part of the event, even if they have never been to the garden site at 322 S. Eighth St.
"It's about getting people in the community to come down here and start using this space as a park, too, because it isn't just a garden. You don't have to volunteer just to come and enjoy the scenery. We're trying to get people involved with music and healthy food," she said.
The garden's inaugural growing season has been a success.
"I'm really happy with the way it turned out," said Dryden. "Everything seemed to flourish. We've had quite a large yield in spite of the weird weather and other environmental elements, insects coming at us and things like that."
While the garden has been a success, Dryden is at a loss to explain some things she has seen over the spring/summer growing season.
"We have a melon bed that's flourishing, and we have a bunch of honeydew on it, but we have another melon bed that isn't growing," she said. "It's the same thing with eggplant. We have four eggplant plants that are just producing a lot and a couple that have nothing on it. It's just weird."
Dryden admits the season has been a learning experience.
"It's an interesting chemistry with the raised beds because you really do have to get the soil-to-fertilizer ratio right," she said. "We also had a few squash bugs and one of the things I read was to plant in a tire or use a rubber mulch. We put it (rubber mulch) around all the plants that could be attacked by squash bugs and I haven't seen any since. It's little tricks like that. I'm learning, too."
Some ideas are already in the works to make the garden program even more successful in the future.
"We were requiring a minimum of four hours a month to get the produce from here. I think that (next season) if people just want to come and work a day we will at least be able to give produce out," said Dryden, who plans to offer some of the garden's excess produce to the Nutrition Center. "It's about getting people to volunteer at least one day, or just a little bit of time. Anybody who wants food, all you have to do is come and work, or water a little bit, or prune a few things."
With the planting of winter-harvest crops set to begin soon, Dryden is hopeful the garden will serve as an inspiration to residents.
"If we can just encourage one person to go and plant their own garden, to even help facilitate that in any way, that to me is a success," she said. "If it's just a way to encourage people and get them involved and thinking about growing their own food, we've accomplished a lot."
Saturday's celebration at the garden will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until sunset.


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DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomores Elizabeth Campbell and Emily Sklar combined for 28 kills as the Duke volleyball team downed Indiana 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-18) Friday evening at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils' victory marked the first three-game sweep of a Big Ten opponent in program history.
Sklar added three blocks to go along with her match-high 15 kills, bring her team-leading total to 107 kills on the season. Campbell hit a match-high .478, adding 13 kills, seven digs and three blocks. Together, the tandem posted a .418 hitting percentage, helping the Blue Devils hit .337 as a team.
"Both those kids [Campbell and Sklar] played quite a bit as freshmen and now they're sophomores," said head coach Jolene Nagel. "It's really exciting to see them have matches like this tonight because not everything is so new to them anymore. They're feeling a little bit more comfortable. They're not afraid to go after it, and we're reaping the benefits of them having a year's experience under their belt and having a better understanding of what this level of volleyball is all about."
Indiana (8-2) entered Friday's match ranked 12th nationally in hitting percentage, but the Hoosiers struggled to find a rhythm against the Blue Devils. Duke totaled 7.5 team blocks to 1.0 for Indiana, and limited the Hoosiers to a .081 hitting percentage overall.
"I was really excited the way we were focused and ready to go at the start of the match," Nagel said. "I thought we did a good job of maintaining that intensity throughout. We did have great starts almost in all three sets. That really helped us because we had a little bit of a breakdown in set two. We helped ourselves by having such great starts. I was really pleased with how our team played and competed tonight."
Duke (9-2) trailed 11-9 to start the first set, but a 6-0 run catapulted the Blue Devils ahead. A Chelsea Cook service ace made it 18-13 before Duke finished the set on a 7-3 run. The Blue Devils utilized 4.5 team blocks to hold Indiana to .000 hitting, while Sklar paced the offense with six kills.
Duke's momentum carried over into the second stanza as the Blue Devils jumped out to an 11-2 advantage. Indiana made it move following a timeout, putting together a 6-1 spurt to pull within three points. Duke had an answer and regained control of the set with a 5-2 run. Campbell led the way with four kills while senior Ali McCurdy aided Duke's defense with five digs.
The Blue Devils won the first five points of the third set and never looked back, winning the frame 25-18. Obeime knocked down the final kill to clinch the victory, one of six for the Carmel, Ind., native in the set and nine on the evening.
McCurdy finished the match with a team-high 11 digs, bringing her season total to 133. Freshman Jordan Tucker led all players with four blocks. Junior Maggie Deichmeister totaled 37 assists, six digs and a block.
Amelia Anderson led the Hoosiers with nine kills followed by Jordan Haverly with eight. Caitlin Hansen added 12 digs and Katie Gallagher had 18 assists and three aces.
Duke faces its second Big Ten opponent in as many days, welcoming No. 16 Illinois to Cameron Saturday at 6:30 p.m.


text:
Student stands up for right to sit by Joshua Flashman
FFRF has awarded Josh a $1,000 Cliff Richards Memorial Student Activist Award. He was FFRF's complainant in Orange County, Fla.
My name is Joshua Flashman and I am 14 years old. This past year while in the eighth grade at Southwest Middle School in Orlando, Fla., I fought for the right of our students to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Our school had a policy of forcing students to stand and recite the pledge, regardless of a person's beliefs. When I tried explaining that I believed I was allowed to sit quietly during the pledge, I got in trouble with the deans. I worked with FFRF to get this to be allowed. The school now allows students to sit quietly during the pledge and has posted a notice saying so.
Even after we were finally allowed to sit during the pledge, I still faced many repercussions from the deans and principal. They were not happy that I made them change. But it was worth it because I knew I was helping other students who would have been too scared to stand up for their rights and beliefs.
Next year at my new high school, I am creating a Secular Student Alliance club with a dedication and determination to advance secular rights. I expect to run into some trouble and bullying, but I feel this is important and will continue to press on.
My main interests are in computers, and I am also joining the high school ROTC program in High School. I hope to go to college (MIT would be my choice) to study computer programming so I can join the military as an information warfare officer.
Meet an Intern: Sam Erickson
Sam Erickson may occasionally wrap himself in the flag but never the cross.
Name: Sam Erickson.
Where and when I was born: Eagan, Minn., Aug. 13, 1994.
Family: Mother, Pamela; father, Keith; brothers Tim, 23, Ben, 17, and Dan, 14.
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison class of 2016, majoring in economics and political science.
My religious upbringing was: Baptist.
How I came to work as an FFRF legal intern: I am the president of Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics (AHA!) at UW-Madison. We are one of the largest student atheist groups in the country and have hosted Dan Barker, Annie Laurie Gaylor and Andrew Seidel of FFRF at various times. Through those connections, I was offered a summer internship.
What I do here: I split time between the legal department and doing graphic design work. When not writing follow-up legal letters or dealing with legal paperwork, I am designing the Freethought of the Days seen on Facebook and Twitter [examples shown below], in addition to many other cool design projects.
In the future, I hope to get more heavily involved in legal projects while continuing to help with design needs.
What I like best about it: Gives me a chance to help out a cause that I am extremely passionate about!
Something funny that's happened at work: When I first started working with the office equipment, I had to be taught how to use a fax machine because I had never used one before. That is how young I am, I suppose.
My legal interests are: I am still exploring all my career options, but if I decide on law school, I would use my law degree to fight for causes that I am passionate about, such as the environment, protection of civil liberties or the separation of church and state.
My legal heroes are: Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Meiklejohn, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Clarence Darrow.
These three words sum me up: Workaholic, outgoing, optimistic.
Things I like: When I have the time, I love staying up way into the night doing one of my many hobbies. I will commonly be up until 3 in the morning engrossed in a book or a song that I'm producing on my computer, or just messing around in graphic design software.
I also love staying in shape and exercising. You'll see me playing pickup soccer at least once a week, in addition to running, weight lifting and skiing in winter.
Things I smite: Religion's foothold in our world and influence in American culture and politics; religious repression of critical thinking, sexuality, and many other things; how religion poisons the minds of the young; and how awkward family dinners are now that I'm the only "out" atheist in the family.
My loftiest goal: To one day get interviewed on Fox News and then proceed to offer an intellectual smackdown of whichever bigot is interviewing me (I'm looking at you, Bill O'Reilly).
Sharing the Crank Mail
Special treatment under the law for religious people was popular in this abbreviated edition of the crank mail, printed as received.
Miserable with your own life: You should rename your site "Demons of Satan and servers of Jesus Christ haters". Hell will be your eternal dwelling at the moment of your death! — Grady Brown
you: You guys must be bigger assholes than the assholes at the IRS, if you want to partner with the against churches in America to shut them down. — doug akers, columbus, ohio
So you did not like the Hobby Lobby decision: This white, Catholic male was thrilled. Now don't you have the Little Sisters of the Poor to pursue? — kenneth k
Court ruling: Too bad all nine judges are not Catholic, then the supreme court could be counted on to always rule in a most judicious manner! — John Duffy
Hobby Lobby: Nations build on lies, such as communism and socialism and all the isms, have risen and fallen. See you either at the top with the truth, or the fallen with the likes of Stalin and Hitler. — M. Gazal
Hello: came across your website and fleetingly read a few stuff. are you opposed to all religions eg islam hinduism or just the church? — Daisy Pillai, CARLETONVILLE
Religious Liberty: So you guys think religious liberty trumps women's rights. I believe contraception is immoral. That being said, if you guys want your women contracepting why don't you guys stand up like men and pay for it yourself. — rjvrable
Hobby Lobby: Your latest tirade of ant-Catholicism bigotry has no place in America. My legal team is looking into having your tax-exempt status revoked. — John Lushis, Jr, Bethlehem, PA
Shame: Your anti-Catholic venom is beneath contempt. Hitler would be proud. — William W. Whiting
Freedom from Tyranny: Couldn't your time be better spent? But I guess I should not be surprised at your self-centeredness since you have no concept of self-sacrifice. Note: it's all about a cross. I am sad you cannot grasp that. — Lynn Weathers, Ohio
FFRF victories: It pays to complain
Bible ads take permanent vacation
An advertisement for vacation bible school in front of the Caraway Public Library in Caraway, Ark., has been removed. The sign, an electronic, scrolling text marquee, promoted a bible program for children at a local church.
Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott wrote to Mayor Barry Riley on June 13, noting the Establishment Clause violation. "The best policy would be for the city to disallow such advertising," Elliott suggested.
Riley responded the same day: "The message on the sign has been removed."
FFRF thwarts school abstinence assembly
Onaway Area Community Schools in Onaway, Mich., will no longer invite speakers with a proselytizing agenda. Matt Fradd, who describes himself on his website as "a Catholic apologist and speaker," was invited to give a presentation April 29 to Onaway High School students on the subject of abstinence.
According to Fradd's website, his presentation "challenges audience members to open their minds and hearts and embrace the Church's teachings on human sexuality." Students were reportedly told, "Romantic love is impossible without chastity."
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote Superintendent Rod Fullerton on May 20, citing constitutional concerns over the religious content, adding that regardless of the motive, inviting such a speaker "gives the appearance that Onaway Area Community School District endorses the program's message."
Replying on June 18, Fullerton said the school "had no intention of violating any laws with this assembly" and that it "will not be participating in this type of assembly in the future."
Bible quote off township website
Inappropriate religious material brought to FFRF's attention by a concerned individual has been removed from the official website of the township of Watersmeet, Mich.
The bible quote, accredited to "Mr. Jesus Christ," which we will politely refrain from quoting again here, endorsed a belief in heaven, sin and Jesus.
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote Township Supervisor Mike Rogers on June 16 to relay the information that "Courts have continually held that townships may not display religious messages."
Rogers agreed moments after receiving the letter electronically to remove the quote.
School to review
policy on religion
Due to FFRF's intervention, Manierre Elementary School in Chicago relocated its kindergarten graduation from a church sanctuary to its banquet hall.
On June 10, Staff Attorney Sam Grover, acting on reports from a concerned community member that the ceremony was to be hosted in Moody Church, wrote Barbara Byrd-Bennett, chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools about the clear constitutional violation.
The next day, school attorney James Bebley replied that, "the school has arranged for the captioned ceremony to be moved to the banquet hall." And "at our administrator training this summer, we plan to address again the prohibition on the use of religious sites for public school events."
No more religious rituals at school
Rockwall Independent School District in Rockwall, Texas, will no longer permit prayer at any school-sponsored events. According to a local complainant, Rockwall High School's June 10 graduation included a religious prayer led by a local police officer. The graduation was one of two scheduled that week.
Staff Attorney Sam Grover wrote to Superintendent Jeff Bailey on July 11. "Graduation should be an inclusive, unifying event designed to celebrate the accomplishments and prospects of the graduates. Including religious references does exactly the opposite, isolating non-Christian and nonreligious students, cheapening their participation by sending the message that they are outsiders at their own graduation and in their own community."
Later that day, counsel for Rockwall ISD replied that the district "has agreed to take [the] appropriate steps to ensure that religious rituals are not part of graduation ceremonies or any school-sponsored events in the future."
The Rockwall-Heath High School graduation, which took place after the FFRF complaint, did not include prayer.
Swan song for graduation prayer
Graduation ceremonies in Forsyth County School District in Cummings, Ga., will no longer include religious prayer.
On May 24, Forsyth Central High School's graduation reportedly included a student-delivered invocation and benediction, both of which specifically mentioned God and Jesus.
Staff Attorney Sam Grover wrote Superintendent L.C. Evans on May 30: "School officials may not invite a student to give any type of prayer, invocation or benediction at a public high school-sponsored event."
District counsel replied July 13: "The issues which you raise in your letter will not be a part of next year's graduation program at Forsyth Central High School."
Satisfied complainant: FFRF is 'awesome'
A concerned resident reported church ads in front of Castle Rock Middle School and Castle View High School. The signs advertised Sunday morning worship at Eternal Rock Lutheran Church and Summit Church. The churches rent from the school district, but have routinely left advertising banners up for months on school property.
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote a letter of complaint to the Douglas County School District on July 8. The next day, the complainant confirmed that FFRF's letter had a positive effect. "You guys are awesome — the signs are down now!"
FFRF intervention saves prayer addicts
Prayer will no longer be sanctioned at Piedmont High School athletic events in West Piedmont, Ala.
Previously, it was the practice for a Christian prayer to be delivered over the school's public address system before football games. A graduate and Piedmont athletics booster reached out to FFRF, noting that he found the prayers "very offensive to those who do not share in the belief of prayer," and that a student should not be "subjected to ridicule for not participating."
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert notified Superintendent Matt Akin of the unconstitutional action on March 20. Akin responded July 2 after two follow-up letters: "Beginning immediately, the Piedmont City School District will no longer allow student-led prayer at athletic events."
Navy agrees to allow equal access
Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) and associated clinics in Bremerton, Wash., will no longer block minority religious Web pages. Their Internet filtering policy banned websites of non-monotheistic religions.
A concerned individual was distressed to learn that the online Church of Satan was "blocked for reasons of Cult and Occult," along with other non-mainstream religions such as Scientology, Wicca and various pagan religions. He described the discriminatory practice as "an outrage," noting that monotheistic websites, including the outrageously bigoted Westboro Baptist Church's site, were readily available.
Staff Attorney Sam Grover wrote the NHB on May 1, explaining that the policy was discriminatory. On July 15, Lt. Cmdr. David Peck reported that the policy had been changed to allow sites such as wicca.org and churchofsatan.org.
Church graduation ceremonies moving
Graduation ceremonies for Perry Local School District, Massillon, Ohio, will no longer be held at the Faith Family Church. From now on, nonreligious students wishing to participate in one of life's most momentous occasions will not be excluded from doing so.
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote to Superintendent Martin Bowe on Feb. 17, informing him that "It is unconstitutional for a public high school to force, compel, or coerce its graduation students, their parents, teachers, and other members of their families or friends, to violate their rights of conscience at a graduation ceremony."
Bowe's May 15 reply said the district has "agreed to find a different site for the 2015 graduating class."
Bible distribution stopped in school
A South Carolina school district has agreed to stop allowing the distribution of bibles on school property due to a July 3 letter from Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott to Superintendent David Havird, Anderson School District One in Anderson.
FFRF's complainant reported that a man told students they could take a bible as a staffer stood by outside an elementary school library, with bibles on the table.
Elliott's letter addressed illegal events that occurred in April, when the bibles were distributed to students at Powdersville Elementary School in Greenville, S.C. "It is unfortunate that some adults view public schools as ripe territory for religious recruitment," wrote Elliott, adding that courts have held that "religious instruction is for parents to determine, not public school educators." Elliott noted that the distribution also violated school policy.
District counsel responded July 21 that "the district will ensure that bibles are not made available to elementary school-aged students during the school day on school premises."
'Pervasive religious culture' addressed
Lamar County School District staff in Purvis, Miss., will no longer be permitted to proselytize to students. A Sumrall Middle School student contacted FFRF in April about a teacher who talked about "why our country needs God" and the "war on Christmas." Another teacher apparently held an Easter event and spoke about "the Rapture" and the anti-Christ.
Staff Attorney Sam Grover noted the violations June 20 in a letter to interim Superintendent Tess Smith, also citing faculty participation in prayer at Sumrall Elementary School and a "pervasive culture of proselytization in the district."
Smith responded July 8 and agreed to "meet with each of the staff members mentioned, including a follow-up meeting with the school principal." Smith said she's organizing an in-service for principals to give them "the necessary guidance to train their staff in the future regarding constitutional issues."
FFRF ends prayer at school banquet
There will no longer be teacher-led prayer or any prayer at the end-of-year banquet for Sarah Scott Middle School in Terre Haute, Ind.
A family member of a student contacted FFRF with information that, like ceremonies from previous years, a school-sponsored banquet May 27 celebrating the top 10 students in each grade featured teacher-led prayer.
"Everyone is expected to bow their heads while a teacher leads the prayer," reported the complainant. "The school is fairly diverse, so I'm sure I'm not the only person that is uncomfortable with the school trying to force everyone to pray."
Staff Attorney Sam Grover sent a letter May 30 to Superintendent Daniel Tanoos of Vigo County School Corp., declaring that, "The district should make certain that teachers in its schools are not unlawfully and inappropriately indoctrinating students in religious matters by encouraging them to engage in prayer. Schoolchildren already feel significant pressure to conform from their peers. They must not be subjected to similar pressure from their teachers, especially on religious questions."
After a July 8 follow-up inquiry, district counsel replied July 17 that each building principal has been told that "teacher-led prayer with students present will cease, as it is prohibited by the Constitution and should not be allowed."
Georgia Air Force base
grounds job ad bias
Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta, Ga., has removed a requirement that only Catholics need apply for a position as music director.
FFRF was alerted to the July 15 job ad, which requested a "Catholic Music Director to provide worship services at Moody AFB Chapel." The posting specified that "the contractor shall maintain a lifestyle consistent with Catholic principles" for the position, and said the applicant would "not be required to perform duties that are incompatible with the Catholic faith."
Staff Attorney Sam Grover's July 18 complaint letter noted that the religious test violates the equal employment provisions of the Civil Rights Act, which says military departments may not discriminate on the basis of religion.
Within 15 minutes of receiving the complaint, an Air Force representative called to apologize for impermissible language in "all of the solicitations" and said the base intends to "modify the verbiage" in all of its job postings and remove the "Catholic lifestyle" mention.
Prayer breakfast promotion stopped
Putnam County in Carmel, N.Y., will no longer use county email to promote prayer breakfasts. Last fall, the director of personnel invited county employees to attend the 22nd Annual Putnam County Leadership Prayer Breakfast. The email included a bible verse from 2 Chronicles: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive them, and heal their land."
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert sent three letters to the county, starting March 17. County counsel responded July 10: "The individual who sent the email in question regarding the Prayer Breakfast event has been advised not to send such notices by County email in the future."
Baccalaureate will include disclaimer
Columbian High School in Tiffin, Ohio, will no longer be involved with a baccalaureate service for seniors. The June 7 baccalaureate at Trinity United Church of Christ was coordinated with school faculty, including the principal, his secretary and the choir director.
The religious service was listed on the school's graduation checklist and promoted on the school calendar. Additionally, the graduation FAQ on the school's website encouraged graduates and their families to attend.
On June 12, Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote Superintendent Vicki Wheatley of Tiffin City Schools. Due to the school's "promotion of the worship service on its school website, students will perceive the baccalaureate service as school-sponsored," Markert wrote.
Wheatley responded June 25 that "future District publications regarding a baccalaureate service will include a disclaimer indicating the event is not school-sponsored, it is an optional event, and that the District does not endorse any message espoused."
Wheatley said she has "reminded the appropriate District employees of the policies and limitations discussed above, and [has] clarified the District's expectations."
Georgia district agrees to prayer curbs
Future graduations at Bremen City High School in Bremen, Ga., will not include prayer, at FFRF's behest. A religious photo of prayer has also been removed from the Bremen City Schools Facebook page.
The school's May 24 graduation included opening and closing prayers. Each lasted several minutes and addressed the Christian "Heavenly Father, we thank you."
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote the district June 6, noting other recent violations in the district, including a photo on the district website of the football team praying and an elementary school administrator leading kindergarteners in prayer.
The district responded June 17, saying that "the phrase 'invocation' will not be used in next year's graduation program." Additionally, the "superintendent has removed that photo" in question.
Prayer off football team pregame menu
Illegal pregame prayer at football team meals has been halted at Alexander High School in Douglasville, Ga. According to reports by a concerned individual, the varsity football team had been supplied pregame meals by Pray's Mill Baptist Church. A pastor was present at the meals and at most of the practices and games.
At the end of the mandatory meals, the pastor would deliver a "pseudo-sermon" and ask those present to bow their heads and pray. The complainant said the prayer "makes several nonbeliever athletes uncomfortable as well, but because they're students on the team, they can't just 'step out' and not participate or risk banishment."
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote Superintendent Gordon Pritz on May 27. District counsel replied June 17 that Pritz "has discussed with school administration and appropriate staff members the legal issues that you raised. . . . To the extent there existed any issue with a prayer or religious talk being given to students on the team during a team event by local clergy, there will be no such activity during next football season."
The district was successfully sued by Doug Jager, son of a longtime FFRF member, over pregame invocations in the late 1980s. Doug was a member of the marching band. In Jager v. Douglas County District, the Supreme Court in 1989 let stand a ruling in Doug's favor by the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Jesus vanishes from department's Facebook
The police department in Jacksonville, Ala., has removed and will no longer display religious postings on its official Facebook page. The posts included an image with the words "Happy Birthday Jesus," an image of a nativity, a number of bible verses, a picture promoting the "National Day of Prayer for Law Enforcement," a picture of a man carrying a "Police Officer's Bible" and a link to a Christian website with police officers singing a Christian song.
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert contacted Jacksonville Chief of Police T.L. Thompson on Dec. 31. After two follow-up letters, Thompson finally replied July 2: "That post and similar ones were deleted from that account and no new posts of this nature have been posted."
FFRF halts public school prayers
Ignacio School District in Ignacio, Colo., will no longer feature prayers at certain ceremonies held throughout the academic year.
A complainant reported to FFRF that schools included prayers before graduation, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas ceremonies. It was also reported that two prayers are offered at each of these events, one to the Christian god and another to a Ute Native American god.
FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel sent a letter Oct. 18, explaining that the district has a legal duty to remain neutral toward religion.
After receiving a follow-up letter, the district responded June 23: "We have discontinued that practice."
The response sets a record for the most concise letter of compliance an FFRF attorney has ever received.
— Compiled by publicist Lauryn Seering and intern Noah Bunnell
FFRF's New York Times ad creates stir
FFRF ran a full-page ad in the July 3 New York Times to protest the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby ruling that is bringing in many new members (welcome, all) and is still creating a stir.
Featuring a portrait of birth control pioneer Margaret Sanger, whose motto was "No Gods — No Masters," the ad criticizes the "all-male, all-Roman Catholic majority" on the court for putting "religious wrongs over women's rights."
That caught the attention of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who facetiously thanked FFRF for showing there is still anti-Catholic bigotry. Dolan claimed the ad was a "drippingly bigoted blast in the hospitable pages of The New York Times."
The near-apoplectic Bill Donohue, Catholic League president, of course claimed FFRF was bigoted for pointing out that six of the nine court members are Catholic, with five of them very committed and reactionary Catholics.
FFRF's 2012 full-page ad in the Times was titled "It's time to consider quitting the Catholic Church." (The paper made FFRF rephrase the original headline, which was the much punchier: "It's time to quit the Catholic Church.")
Dolan is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which the ad criticized for openly declaring war on the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate and for placing dogma above humanity.
Online newscaster Cenk Uygur of "The Young Turks" featured an amusing analysis July 13 of the reaction to the latest ad, running clips of Fox News going after FFRF. Andrea Tantaros emceed a round table going after FFRF and the Times, showing a close-up of the "Dogma should not trump civil liberties" part of the ad.
"The ad doesn't go after Catholics. It says we don't want the Catholics to force their religion on us," Uygur pointed out. "If there's so much bigotry against Catholics, how did so many of them wind up on the Supreme Court?"
FFRF has taken the lead in calling for repeal of the 1993 Religious Freedom Resoration Act, which was the basis for the Hobby Lobby ruling.
"None of our civil rights, established after decades and decades of struggle and education, will be safe until RFRA is overturned," commented Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president. (See more about ruling on page 5.)
Proselytizing teacher 'no longer employed'
Lewis Public Schools in Lewis, Kansas, will no longer allow staff to facilitate distribution by the Gideons of religious materials. A complainant contacted FFRF after a fifth-grade teacher told students to cross the street unescorted to receive a bible. The teacher lined the students up, told them to cross the street to get the bibles, but did not accompany the children because she believed this made her actions legal.
When the complainant's child refused a bible because the student's family was not religious, the teacher asked the student, "Do you always do what your parents tell you to do?"
The complainant noted that bible distribution by Gideons at the school has been going on for 30-some years.
FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel sent a letter on May 21 to Superintendent Virgil Ritchie, pointing out why forcing students to accept religious literature is predatory and illegal. On June 10, Ritchie responded that it had been decided that "Lewis Elementary School will not allow The Gideon Society to distribute materials during the school day or on school grounds. The teacher mentioned in your letter is no longer employed by the school district."
State/Church Bulletin
Satanist suit based
on Hobby Lobby
The New York-based Satanic Temple announced July 28 a campaign against "informed consent" laws that require providers to furnish women certain information when they seek an abortion. Citing the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, the group argues that women can claim a religious exemption from the informational requirements.
A press release said the court "has decided that religious beliefs are so sacrosanct that they can even trump scientific fact. This was made clear when they allowed Hobby Lobby to claim certain contraceptives were abortifacients, when in fact they are not. Because of the respect the Court has given to religious beliefs, and the fact that our beliefs are based on best available knowledge, we expect that our belief in the illegitimacy of state mandated 'informational' material is enough to exempt us, and those who hold our beliefs, from having to receive them."
The temple's website says it holds "the basic premise that undue suffering is bad, and that which reduces suffering is good. We do not believe in symbolic 'evil.' We embrace blasphemy as a legitimate expression of personal independence from counterproductive traditional norms."
• • •
In Hasan v. Obama and Rabbani v. Obama, filed July 3 in D.C.'s federal district court, the British advocacy group Reprieve argued that the previous decision in Rasul v. Myers holding that Guantanamo Bay detainees are not persons protected by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has effectively been overruled by the Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case:
"The Guantanamo Bay detainees, as flesh-and-blood human beings, are surely 'individuals,' and thus they are no less 'person[s]' than are the for-profit corporations in Hobby Lobby or the resident noncitizens whom Hobby Lobby gives as an example of persons to whom the RFRA must apply."
Reprieve earlier filed emergency motions on behalf of two prisoners seeking the right to participate in communal prayer during Ramadan.
• • •
A Reuters/Ipsos poll of 10,693 people conducted April 28 to June 20 showed that most respondents oppose letting employers, based on their religious views, exclude certain contraceptives from workers' insurance coverage.
Results showed 53% disagreed that employers should be able to limit coverage, while 35% agreed and 12% were unsure.
Suit settled over
denial of bus ads
A federal lawsuit by the Washington, D.C.-based United Coalition of Reason against the Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh was settled July 2, with the agency agreeing to pay UnitedCoR $20,000 in damages and the Appignani Humanist Legal Center of the American Humanist Association $40,000 in expenses. FFRF is a coalition ally.
The suit was filed in November 2013 after the Port Authority refused to run $5,700 worth of bus ads which would have read "Don't believe in God? You are not alone."
Fred Edwords, national director of UnitedCoR, said, "We also still maintain that the Port Authority didn't correctly apply its new ad policy when they allowed certain ads by religious groups to run but not ours. However, through the litigation process we believe we've made our point and that the Port Authority will apply its new ad policy more consistently in the future."
31-cross display gets court setback
In Cabral v. City of Evansville, Indiana, the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on June 25 dismissed for lack of standing an appeal of an Indiana federal district court's injunction barring the city of Evansville from permitting West Side Christian Church's proposed display of 6-foot-tall crosses on the Riverfront area.
The district court ruled the 31 crosses would violate the Establishment Clause, reported Religion Clause. The city didn't appeal but the church did as an intervenor.
The 7th Circuit concluded that to have standing, West Side would need to apply for and have a permit denied, which hasn't occurred. The opinion said, "We question whether a reasonable observer would be put on notice that the 'Cross the River' display is strictly private speech given the sheer magnitude of a display that takes up four blocks and has two signs alerting citizens that it is a private display."
Board changes prayer policy after Greece
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners in Maryland unanimously approved a process June 26 for opening meetings with Christian prayers to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway. The 5-4 decision said that a governing body using sectarian prayer must have a formalized process, according to the Carroll County Times, quoting County Attorney Tim Burke.
Commissioners agreed to change "We pray" in the formal process to "I pray" at the end of the prayer led by participating board members. Residents Bruce Hake and Neil Ridgely sued the county earlier over the prayers, and while the suit is still pending, the Greece decision may have rendered it moot.
• • •
Opening prayer is back to start meetings in the town of Troutman, N.C., reported Time Warner Cable News. On July 10, the mayor and town alders were led in prayer by a local pastor. The restoring of the tradition came after the May Supreme Court ruling Town of Greece v. Galloway.
The board agreed to let non-Christians, including atheists, deliver invocations, during which the audience will not be asked to stand. "They have to remain seated except for the pastor, so everyone is perceived to be equal, you know. If we can get the prayer back, that's a fair trade off, I guess," said Mayor Elbert Richardson.
Certiorari denied in Soledad cross case
The Supreme Court declined on June 30 to review Mount Soledad Memorial Association v. Trunk, a decades-old case in which FFRF member and foxhole atheist Steve Trunk is a party. The high court said the case must first go to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The veterans group wanted to let it "leapfrog" to the Supreme Court after a lower federal court ruled in December that the 43-foot Christian cross erected on public land in San Diego in 1954 should come down.
"The Court of Appeals has not yet reviewed on appeal," Justice Samuel Alito wrote. "Any review by this Court can await the decision of the Court of Appeals."
Sending the case back to a lower court could mean the case will last at least another two to three years, Religion News Service reported.
Obama signs bill placing FDR prayer
President Barack Obama signed a bill June 30 to add President Franklin D. Roosevelt's D-Day prayer (June 6, 1944) to the World War II Memorial in the nation's capital.
The prayer encourages Americans to "Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment, let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose."
The bill requires private fundraising to have the prayer inscribed on the monument.
GOP not enamored of 'liberal' pope
The Hill reported July 29 that H. Res. 440, a resolution congratulating Pope Francis on his election last March and recognizing his inspirational statements and actions, has fallen victim to politics.
The resolution is stalled in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Only 19 of its 221 co-sponsors are Republicans. Apparently, most in the GOP see the pope as too liberal. The resolution was intended to reinforce Speaker John Boehner's invitation to the pope to address a joint session of Congress when he visits the U.S. in September 2015.
Suit: 'Sham' forum favored Christians
A dispute over a Christian war memorial in King, N.C., should go to trial, U.S. District Judge James Beaty ruled July 8. He also ruled that several of the city's practices regarding religious memorial ceremonies are unconstitutional.
Hewett v. City of King was filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of Steven Hewett, a decorated Afghanistan veteran and FFRF Life Member. The suit seeks removal of a Christian flag and a statue with a soldier kneeling before a cross and an end to city promotion of Christian prayers at official memorial events.
In November 2010, the city, on advice from the evangelical legal group the Alliance Defending Freedom, created a "limited public forum" in which a memorial flagpole was reserved for a rotating group of pre-approved flags. The city held a lottery and approved 52 applications.
The suit says the forum is a sham. The Christian flag flew for 47 out of 52 weeks in 2011-13. Beaty also rejected the claim that the Supreme Court decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway authorized the city's conduct.
Ohio students get 'released time' credit
An Ohio law goes into effect in September that allows up to two academic credits for public high school students taking part in "released time" religious programs off-campus.
In a Cleveland Plain Dealer op-ed July 13, Gary Daniels, chief lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, said the law unwisely added a "fourth 'R' [religion] to the "Three R's" — readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic."
"Ohio students can now learn dinosaurs died off millions of years ago, yet also lived only a few thousand years ago, and potentially receive credit for both lessons," Daniels wrote. "For their part, Ohio lawmakers deserve an 'F' for passing this poorly written, nonsensical mess of a law."
Appeals court upholds Ground Zero cross
In American Atheists Inc. v. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on July 28 rejected a challenge to the display in the National September 11 Museum of a 17-foot-high "Cross at Ground Zero" made up steel beams from the World Trade Center debris after 9/11. The court ruled "the stated purpose of displaying The Cross at Ground Zero is to tell the story of how some people used faith to cope with the tragedy is genuine, and an objective observer would understand the purpose of the display to be secular."
FFRF protests Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby ruling
June 30 marked a turning point in the struggle to uphold the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to FFRF's statement released on the day the Supreme Court issued its chilling abuse of "religious liberty."
In a 5-4 split, the court held that for-profit corporations can exercise their so-called religious conscience in order to restrict employees' access to contraceptives. The ruling in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores held that the contraceptive coverage granted by the Affordable Care Act creates a "significant burden" on a corporation's free exercise of religion.
Once again an all-Catholic, all-male, all-ultra-conservative majority of five has voted to eviscerate fundamental rights. The law's requirement that employers who provide health care coverage must offer preventive care, including prescriptive contraceptives, does not violate the rights of Hobby Lobby, even though it is run by a fundamentalist zealot. But the court's ruling giving corporate veto power over women workers' private contraceptive choices, certainly violates the rights of women.
It was all over by page 2 of the Supreme Court's decision favoring the fundamentalist Christian owner of Hobby Lobby Stores and the Mennonite owner of Conestoga Wood Specialties. Justice Samuel Alito, joined by his Catholic brethren, wrote these jaw-dropping words:
"[W]e must decide whether the challenged HHS regulations substantially burden the exercise of religion, and we hold that they do. The owners of the businesses have religious objections to abortion, and according to their religious beliefs the four contraceptive methods at issue are abortifacients. If the owners comply with the HHS mandate, they believe they will be facilitating abortions."
The fanatical businessmen who brought the litigation believe some forms of the birth control pill and IUD are abortifacients, despite reality. The amicus brief of the College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and 21 other medical professional groups thoroughly debunking this misrepresentation.
The ruling was not based on the Constitution, but on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a statute. This statute was adopted by Congress and must be repealed by Congress. Even Alito admits: "As we have seen, RFRA was designed to provide very broad protection for religious liberty. By enacting RFRA, Congress went far beyond what this Court has held is constitutionally required."
The Freedom From Religion Foundation's amicus brief noted state-church attorney Marci A. Hamilton (joined by groups advocating for the rights of victims of religious abuse), was the only brief before the Supreme Court that argued that RFRA is unconstitutional. FFRF's important brief points out that RFRA "accords religious believers extreme religious liberty rights that yield a political and fiscal windfall in violation of the clearest commands of the Establishment Clause."
During oral arguments, counsel for the government, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, noted that a decision in favor of Hobby Lobby would be "the first time under the Free Exercise Clause or under RFRA in which [the Supreme Court] or any court has held that an employer . . . may be granted an exemption that extinguishes statutorily guaranteed benefits of fundamental importance."
The ruling ignored the rights and needs of thousands of female Hobby Lobby employees, and millions of women nationwide who work at for-profit corporations. Women workers must not be at the mercy of employers who happen to be religious fanatics who want to intrude into private reproductive decisions that are none of their business. Rather than protecting women workers' right to health care and women's freedom of conscience, the Court has turned its back on them in the name of "religious liberty."
This damaging decision opens the floodgates for corporations, interested only in increasing their bottom line, to claim religious objections to a variety of generally applicable laws. The Court arbitrarily claims its decision would not necessarily allow a corporation to claim a similar religious objection to blood transfusions, vaccines, or mental health services, or create a religious right to discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or race. But very obviously, the ruling creates mischievous precedent that will haunt the next generation of litigation.
The high court has ruled that contraception — the right to plan families and avert unwanted pregnancies — is not necessary for women's health. One in four U.S. women died due to pregnancy or childbirth in the 19th century. It is a lie for the Supreme Court to aver that birth control is not preventive medicine. The court is practicing reckless medicine without a license.
We cannot let a male, Catholic, ultra-conservative majority on the court turn the clock back a century. Join FFRF in working now for the most practical remedy for this pernicious decision — the repeal by Congress of RFRA. None of our civil and human rights, established after decades and decades of struggle and education, will be safe from the reach of religious bigots until RFRA is overturned.
This statement was written by FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor, Staff Attorneys Andrew Seidel and Sam Grover. Turn to page 12 to read FFRF's ad against the Hobby Lobby ruling that ran in The New York Times on July 3.
In 2010, [Judge] Crabb declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional, provoking national outrage. The decision was overturned by a federal appeals court. Asked in a joking way what her thinking was in issuing that ruling, Crabb laughed softly and said, "I was thinking that the government shouldn't be in the business of sponsoring, promoting religion. Obviously, people disagreed."
Profile of U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, who ruled in favor of FFRF in its National Day of Prayer lawsuit
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7-22-14
Based on the evidence, this crime did not occur as reported.
Dayton, Ohio, Police Chief Richard Biehl, on a bus driver's story that his chest pocket bible miraculously stopped two bullets, when in reality he fired the shot himself with the book on the sidewalk
We have been starting our meetings with a nonsectarian prayer since 2013. The Greece, N.Y., case is prompting us to change the method.
Alex Saitta, chairman of the School Board of Pickens County, S.C., on switching to "Jesus prayers"
Christian Post, 6-27-14
The Supreme Court ruled today that some bosses can now withhold contraceptive care from their employees' health coverage based on their own religious views that their employees may not even share. President Obama believes that women should make personal health care decisions for themselves rather than their bosses deciding for them.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, on Obama's reaction to the Hobby Lobby decision
whitehouse.gov, 6-30-14
This is the heart of theocratic ideology: It is a fascism with a religious face. Although Christians and Muslims have had numerous conflicts over the centuries that cost countless lives, the similarities between their two doctrines when carried to extremes are downright eerie.
Randy Renau, Corryton, Tenn., letter to the editor, "Culture should not be based on Bible"
Knoxville News, 7-1-14
This is a simple case of equal time. The Supreme Court says that invocations are constitutional if the policy doesn't discriminate along sectarian bounds. That includes invocations by representatives of atheism, humanism, Wicca or any other religious tradition.
Randy Word, president of Metroplex Atheists, on applying to give the opening City Council invocation in Rowlett, Texas
Lakeshore Times, 7-1-14
When Gallup measured Bible reading in the 1980s, three in four Americans claimed to read Scripture at least on occasion. Two decades later, that number had fallen by 20%. That's like losing 700 Bible readers every day.
Ruth Kramer, article, "Decline in Bible literacy"
Mission Network News, 7-2-14
Atheism Rules/Wins (With Facts)
Message chalked on the sidewalk at John Knox Presbyterian Church, Keizer, Ore.
Salem Statesman Journal, 6-6-14
Muslims in the United Arab Emirates are among the most common sufferers of degenerative knee problems in the world because of soaring obesity rates and a kneeling-to-pray culture.
News story
Abu Dhabi National, 6-7-14
Wearing pink or blue shoes, [the soccer players] might as well wear women's panties or a bra.
Russian Orthodox priest Alexander Shumsky, calling the World Cup a "homosexual abomination"
Moscow Times, 6-7-14
In the Hobby Lobby [and Conestoga Wood] cases, five male justices of the Supreme Court, who are all members of the Catholic faith and who each were appointed by a president who hailed from the Republican Party, decided that a huge corporation, with thousands of employees and gargantuan revenues, was a "person" entitled to assert a religious objection to the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate because that corporation was "closely held" by family members. To the average person, the result looks stupid and smells worse.
Judge Richard G. Kopf, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush
herculesandtheumpire.com, 7-5-14
FFRF to distribute more atheist lit in Fla. district
Judge Kendall Sharp of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida dismissed FFRF's free speech case against the Orange County School District as moot, since the district has agreed to let FFRF distribute all of the literature it had previously prohibited.
In 2013, FFRF and its local chapter, the Central Florida Freethought Community, sought to distribute literature in several public high schools after the district allowed an evangelical Christian group to distribute bibles.
"This is a victory. The court has acknowledged that the school district is allowing all the materials that were initially prohibited," said FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. "We disagree with how the court and the school district chose to handle this clear-cut discrimination, so we're planning to appeal on some issues, but overall, it's a win."
The now-permitted materials include a pamphlet that the district had previously prohibited, claiming it "argues that Jesus did not promote equality and social justice, was not compassionate, was not reliable and was not a good example."
Other FFRF "nontracts" that discuss what the bible says about abortion and which, according to the district, "assert that God is hateful, arrogant, sexist and cruel," will now be allowed. As will Robert Price's Jesus Is Dead, which the district banned earlier because "[t]he claim that Jesus was not crucified or resurrected is age-inappropriate for the maturity levels of many of the students in high school." (An odd claim given that the district allowed the violence-filled bible.)
FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel, who worked closely on the case with litigating attorney Steven Brady, noted that the forum is now open to all comers. "Satanists can distribute their literature, Muslims can distribute the Quran and atheists can distribute books that criticize religion."
CFFC Leader David Williamson added, "We intend to give out a lot more literature to educate students about atheism and the importance of keeping religion out of public schools. We are even designing new materials specifically for students and families in Orange County."
From the beginning, FFRF and CFFC have maintained that Orange County should close the distribution forum. "The irony is that kids can get a bible anywhere. It's the country's most widely available book," Seidel said. "But where could a Christian kid get a copy of Sam Harris's Letter to a Christian Nation so easily? As long as the forum remains open, they can get one in Orange County Public Schools."
FFRF thanks David Williamson for being a plaintiff and for his hard work. Other plaintiffs were FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, whose writings were among those that were censored.