Ryan AbbottOctober 28, 2019

In regard to Miss Changs response on October 21st, 2019:

Miss Chang attempts to justify her intellectual intolerance with false and misleading claims on Mr. Sessions credibility. She notes that one news outlet ranked Mr. Sessions as a heavy conservative out of 55 senators 12 years ago alluding that it makes Mr. Sessions as a conservative extremist.

It does not: Mr. Sessions core beliefs are held by a majority of every type of conservative, according to 2017 data from the Pew Research Center. It would be quite fair to say his beliefs are that of the average conservative. This is troubling, since Miss Chang writes that even if Sessions does hold the views of the average conservative students should not simply accept this as the reality of conservative thought.

Translation: reject conservatism whether Mr. Sessions is radical or not. Or: (protest) all conservatism, which is the conflicting title of her response. In another contradiction, Miss Chang states that there are 1) both many alternative options for conservative speakers (naming none) and 2) whether most conservatives are not hateful or intolerant at all cannot be confirmed or denied.

Accordingly, whether most Leftists are hateful or intolerant cannot be confirmed or denied either.

Mr. Sessions is your fellow American. Does he not deserve any meaningful interaction at all?

How can any college student so vehemently resist an opportunity to have his/her core beliefs challenged? A baseless refusal to grant Mr. Sessions intellectual credibility ignorantly dismisses the views of millions of fellow Americans. Conservatives exist who have not actively oppressed others. Living with this sizeable subpopulation of the US will be less divisive if you do not assume their epistemology is based in hatred.

Finally, Miss Chang nonsensically states that a letter urging her to engage with Mr. Sessions instead of protesting his appearance is somehow an attempt to subdue (her) First Amendment right to assemble. It isnt, but confronted with the reality of Mr. Sessions views, Miss Chang does exactly as I predicted: declares a crisis, refuses to interact meaningfully, and falsely associates blind hatred with Mr. Sessions beliefs. Protesting Mr. Sessions confronts nothing but an imaginary and quite vapid avatar of intolerance. If anyone wishes to truly confront him, that involves speaking directly with him. I implore Miss Chang again to consider attending Mr. Sessions speech. If you arent challenging his beliefs, you arent challenging your own you accomplish nothing but the affirmation of your own bigotry.

Ryan Abbott, McCormick Junior

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LTE: The Il-liberty of Protest - The Daily Northwestern

If you buy and hold a stock for many years, youd hope to be making a profit. But more than that, you probably want to see it rise more than the market average. But One Liberty Properties, Inc. (NYSE:OLP) has fallen short of that second goal, with a share price rise of 23% over five years, which is below the market return. But if you include dividends then the return is market-beating. Zooming in, the stock is up a respectable 8.8% in the last year.

See our latest analysis for One Liberty Properties

To quote Buffett, Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Over half a decade, One Liberty Properties managed to grow its earnings per share at 0.6% a year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 4.2% per year, over the same period. So its fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. And thats hardly shocking given the track record of growth.

The companys earnings per share (over time) are depicted in the image below.

This free interactive report on One Liberty Propertiess earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for One Liberty Properties the TSR over the last 5 years was 73%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

One Liberty Propertiess TSR for the year was broadly in line with the market average, at 16%. That gain looks pretty satisfying, and it is even better than the five-year TSR of 12% per year. Even if the share price growth slows down from here, theres a good chance that this is business worth watching in the long term. If you would like to research One Liberty Properties in more detail then you might want to take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in the company.

But note: One Liberty Properties may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.

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If You Had Bought One Liberty Properties (NYSE:OLP) Shares Five Years Ago Youd Have Made 23% - Simply Wall St

Carpenter Eddie Dowd of Park Hills, Missouri, nails a truss Monday at the future site of Liberty Apartments in the 1100 block of Walnut Street in Cape Girardeau. Double Diamond Construction & Development of Crystal City, Missouri, is the general contractor for the project.

BEN MATTHEWS

Despite an unusually rainy spring and summer, developers of a low-income housing project in Cape Girardeau say construction is on track for the projects on-time completion in the spring.

Liberty Apartments, an eight-building, 40-unit apartment complex in south Cape Girardeau, is slated to open in April.

Groundbreaking for the $4.5 million project took place six months ago.

For a while, we thought wed have to push the opening back to June, but the contractor has been able to catch up, so were still looking at a completion date sometime in April, depending on winter weather, said Melissa Stickel, executive director of the Community Partnership of Southeast Missouri.

The Community Partnership, formerly known as Community Caring Council, is developing the project along with Chad Hartle of RCH Development and Cape Area Community Housing Development Corp.

RCH Development of Jackson will manage the apartment complex and manages similar apartment developments in several other communities.

Double Diamond Construction & Development of Crystal City, Missouri, is the projects general contractor.

Carpenter Beau Missey of Potosi, Missouri, center right, nails sheetrock to a truss Monday at the future site of Liberty Apartments in Cape Girardeau.

BEN MATTHEWS

Stickel said her office has received a lot of calls from people interested in renting an apartment at the complex, but it will be a few months before housing applications will be accepted.

We will likely start looking for a property manager early in the year and will probably begin taking applications soon after that, she said.

The complex, in the 1100 block of Walnut Street east of West End Boulevard, consists of seven one-story brick apartment buildings and a community center. Each 865-square-foot apartment will include living, dining and kitchen areas, two bedrooms, a bathroom and laundry facilities. The apartments are expected to rent for around $475 or $500 per month, Stickel said. Some of the units will be ADA accessible.

According to the projects plans, the community center will feature an open area for large gatherings as well as a learning center and an exercise area.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission, the Raymond James Tax Credit Fund and Banterra Bank are providing financing for the project.

Carpenter Jason Inman of Festus, Missouri, left, marks a measurement on a truss Monday at the future site of Liberty Apartments in Cape Girardeau.

BEN MATTHEWS

Do you crave business news? Check out B Magazine, and the B Magazine email newsletter. Check it out at http://www.semissourian.com/newsletters to find

out more.

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Liberty Apartments in south Cape still set to open in April - Southeast Missourian

Its been a while since weve heard much from Intrepid Theatre, the small but mighty San Diego company that has been an award-winning artistic marvel over the past few years, but has pulled back from regular producing of late.

Now, Intrepid resurfaces with The Thousandth Night a piece the troupe has taken out on the fringe-festival circuit (winning plaudits as most innovative production and best of fringe at the Boulder International Fringe Festival in Colorado), and plans to remount in New York after its local staging.

The accomplished San Diego theater artist Jason Heil (and admirably immersive actor) directs the Point Loma staging of this Carol Wolf work about an actor whos arrested in Nazi-occupied Paris for performing subversive material, and must take on the task of playing 38 characters from The Arabian Nights as a way to escape his fate.

Intrepid co-founder Sean Yael-Cox stars in the show, which runs for only two weekends beginning Friday, Oct. 25.

When: 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 3.

Where: Intrepid Theatre at White Box Live Arts, 2590 Truxtun Road No. 205, Arts District Liberty Station, Point Loma.

Tickets: $30 ($20 for students, seniors and military).

Online: intrepidtheatre.org

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Intrepid Theatre returns with 'The Thousandth Night' at Liberty Station - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Its been a tough stretch for Rutgers. One of the toughest stretches in program history, to be exact. But how has the product on the field affected recruiting?

Rutgers appears content to go into the early signing period with the 10 players currently committed, leaving around five slots for its next appointed head coach to take to (traditional) signing day. However, the staff must still keep potential targets warm and recruit committed players as their pledges are verbal and non-binding.

There havent been many high-profile recruits at games this year, partly because of Rutgers performance and partly because its intentionally building a small class, recruits have their own games to attend and most desired seniors are already committed somewhere.

The Irvington (N.J.) high school contingent -- which boasts three potential national recruits and other FBS-caliber players -- was a late scratch as the team had a game against Barringer, providing a blow to the star power on Rutgers visitors list. However, we caught up with others who made the trip for their thoughts about Rutgers on the heels of its 44-34 win over Liberty -- the programs first win since opening weekend.

Union (N.J.) wide receiver Ahmirr Robinson is having one of the best seasons of any wide receiver in the state. Hes committed to Rutgers and has frequented home games this year despite the teams struggles and is proud to be awarded a win.

I think the game was a well-needed spark for the team and the coaches, and the team rallying around their play-makers stood out to me the most, he said. The atmosphere was great, it made me feel that regardless of (how the season has gone )everyone was behind the team and coaches.

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Weequahic (Newark, N.J.) athlete Donovan Wadley, brother of Arkum Wadley who starred at Iowa, also came away impressed.

What stood out the most was how they just fought and kept their heads in the game. It was a good game, he said. Rutgers just wanted it more and they came out on top. They played with heart. It shows me that they have potential and they could bounce back from any situation.

West Side (Newark, N.J.) safety Shua Sutton is one of the most underrated seniors in North Jersey, however, Rutgers has picked up the scent.

I thought highly of the game, Sutton said. "The offense was moving the ball. The defense did a great job. There were a few mistakes, but overall Rutgers did a great job and got a great win.

What stood out the most is how good they treated the recruits and how the players stayed in the game and kept their heads high. As of now, Rutgers is one of my top schools and I hope everything goes well.

Paramus (N.J.) athlete Kyle Jacob is also underrated though being tracked by the Scarlet Knights. He was encouraged most by how Rutgers continued to fight through the back-and-forth game.

The atmosphere was great. Being on the field watching the guys warmup was awesome, Jacob said. They played hard and made plays against Liberty and it was great to see. I think what stood out most was how the players throughout the whole game stayed focus and played their hardest, doing what their coaches told them to do.

Class of 2022 DePaul (Wayne, N.J.) linebacker Thomas McGuire was one of the few players from the Big Six (of the Super Football Conference) to make the trip.

I thought it was great to watch Rutgers compete and win against Liberty. The game was also a great opportunity to talk and meet all the coaches. The culture stood out to me the most. I feel Rutgers has a brotherhood and amazing culture, McGuire said. I like Rutgers a lot and hope in three years to stay home and put on for the state.

Canadian linebacker Dawson Pierre is hopeful to attend Rutgers next season following his stint at Vanier College in Montreal, Quebec. He also gave Saturdays visit high marks.

Going to the Rutgers-Liberty game was a great experience. I think it was a great performance by Rutgers and a great team win. (The) offense and defense played a great game. The atmosphere was what really stood out the most for me, Pierre said. "The crowd, the ambiance and to see how much fun the guys were having.

Everything was awesome! Currently, Rutgers is my No. 1 choice. I would really love to play for Rutgers next season and I am looking forward to making it happen.

Many visitors who confirmed theyd attend never made it to Piscataway Saturday. However, those who did got a pleasant surprise. It remains to be seen if interim head coach Nunzio Campanile -- who got his first win as a college head coach Saturday -- and staff can build on this momentum.

I enjoyed the energy of the game and being on the sidelines, said Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.) class of 2022 defensive tackle Dominick Brogna. Watching them warm-up and run out really got me fired up. I was excited to be there as they got a team win along with coach Nunzios first win as head coach.

Can Rutgers find a way to be competitive against the brutal schedule ahead, starting with Illinois which recently beat Wisconsin in the biggest upset of the year?

And it doesnt get any easier from there.

In fact, it gets much, much harder as Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State round out Rutgers schedule down the stretch.

But, at least the coaches and players got to enjoy one more win in front of recruits before heading down the murderers row of Big Ten play.

Get Rutgers Sports Insider text messages from reporters: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the Rutgers beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TodderickHunt. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

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Rutgers won its 2nd game this year by defeating Liberty | What did visiting recruits think? - NJ.com

Editors note: Monday, Oct. 28, marks the 133rd anniversary of the Statue of Libertys dedication by President Grover Cleveland.

By Nicholas Garrison

Recent arguments over immigration policy have stirred debate over the purpose and meaning of the Statue of Liberty. This has me asking: When is the last time anyone visited her? For even the most jaded, being there is to be awestruck. Her simple, transcendent message is easy to grasp hope for a better world, for all.

I wish everyone would visit the Statue of Liberty and feel the power of her unifying message.

She beckons us from her tiny, floating garden in the middle of the Hudson River, rising symbolically atop a fort built to defend a young nation. One cant just go to Liberty Island one must cross over to her by ferry a pilgrimage. As we approach, facing the sun, Liberty Enlightening the World is spectacular. Ashore she emerges from the trees, and her scale seems impossible. Everywhere the fort is flecked with her patina. Inside she is tiny; gleaming copper sheets are held fast by a giddy framework where the rivets seem to have rivets. Its not hard to see and feel a relentless energy in her softly folded construction, reinforcing the very ideas of freedom and liberty. She is amazing.

Ones thoughts go from the idea of her, to her construction, back to the idea of her: What compelled thousands of private citizens, oceans and cultures apart, to band together and overcome ridiculous obstacles of engineering, logistics and fundraising to achieve such a feat? Not ego or profit. Not tribal pride. Not even, really, the end of a terrible civil war. It was simply the impulse of a human heart to build a physical symbol as grand as the foundational idea of hope and opportunity America had come to represent for the world.

Her message endures. When I first started thinking about the design for a new museum for the Statue of Liberty, the parks superintendent, David Lusinger, told me that still today, there are visitors that get on their knees and kiss the ground she stands on. This vision would not leave me. During construction, workers and tradespeople from every background and political leaning worked together with obvious pride and dedication to the project, often bringing their children to the jobsite. One particularly nasty day I asked the construction superintendent, Larry Sidoti, if his crew was getting discouraged. Not at all he beamed, we love her.

These feelings are contagious on the island.

Adding to the statues spell, Liberty Island is magical on its own. Conceived as a formal garden around the star-shaped fort, it contains wide pedestrian walks and bosques of trees shading rolling lawns. An esplanade along the waters edge is both a promenade for voices from around the world and a lookout for New York Harbor. Breezes fan spectacular panoramic views of New Yorks skyline across the Hudson to where the twin towers once stood, and we are reminded just how powerful this message of hope and opportunity is, and how lucky we are to live here.

Tasked with conceiving the first new building on this small island, it was not lost on me that I was on sacred ground and that every square inch of it mattered. Like everyone else, I was smitten with my surroundings, and I dedicated myself to do the best work I could in the service of her. The effort to rescue the original torch from its dark location inside the fort and persist so that it was given pride of place in the new museum in full daylight overlooking New York Harbor, was a labor of true love.

As the exhibits make clear, we have always contested the idea of what liberty means to each of us as individuals, but the power of the Statue of Liberty to inspire us to be the best we can be is indisputable. We have never been perfect, but her dream is: a monumental dream of hope for a better world.

Go and feel inspired again.

Nicholas Garrison, a partner at the New York architecture firm FxCollaborative, is the architect of the newly opened Statue of Liberty Museum.

Submit letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.

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Visit the Statue of Liberty, feel her unifying message | Opinion - NJ.com

TORONTO , Oct. 24, 2019 /CNW/ - Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (LHS.CN) (OTCQX: LHSIF) http://www.libertyhealthsciences.com("Liberty" or the "Company"), a provider of high quality cannabis, announced today thatit will open its 19th and largest Florida dispensary in Pensacola , subject to approval from the Florida Department of Health.

LHS Logo (CNW Group/Liberty Health Sciences Inc.)

Located at 7152 North Davis Highway Pensacola, FL. , the new dispensary will be open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. , Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. , and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The new6,434 square foot store includes a spacious retail and reception area, along with two private consultation rooms and a large waiting room. As with all of Liberty's dispensaries, locally inspired wall-art will be featured throughout the store on a rotating basis.

"We are excited to deliver on our continuing commitment to improve the quality of our patients' lives by providing access to our premium cannabis products right here in the beautiful and historic heart of Pensacola ," said Victor Mancebo , Interim Chief Executive Officer of Liberty . "Our patients in the panhandle will now have two locations in the most western region in the Florida Panhandle . Our new dispensary sits in one of the busiest corridors in Pensacola , where our patients can enjoy the accessibility and convenience of this beautiful location."

Liberty continues to steadily expand its operations throughout Florida and plans to open five additional dispensaries in November, subject to Florida Department of Health approval. The Company prides itself on providing customers safe, consistent products from discreet capsules and transdermal patches to premium flower products and pods. Liberty's dispensary teams are specially trained to answer questions about the various products it sells and how to best use them to meet their specific needs.

Liberty currently operates 18 dispensaries across Florida in the following locations:

Dania Beach

Port St. Lucie

Miami

Summerfield

Palm Harbor

Orange Park

St. Petersburg

Gainesville

Tampa (Hyde Park)

Cape Coral

Winter Haven

Boca Raton

Merritt Island

Bonita Springs

Tallahassee

Panama City

North Miami

Tampa (Tetra)

Patients may place an order online at http://www.libertyhealthsciences.com for in-store pick-up or free delivery. Liberty also offers patients free delivery statewide.

About Liberty Health Sciences Inc. Liberty is the cannabis provider committed to providing a trusted, high quality cannabis experience based on our genuine care for all cannabis users and a focus on operational excellence from seed to sale. Liberty's measured approach to expansion opportunities is focused on maximizing returns to shareholders, while keeping consumers' well-being at the forefront of what we do. For more information, please visit: http://www.libertyhealthsciences.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "plan", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, expectations related to the Company's production capabilities, expectations concerning the receipt of all necessary approvals from the Florida Department of Health, expectations concerning the opening of new dispensaries and the expansion of its greenhouse space, and the Company's future expansion and growth strategies. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments involving medical marijuana; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the medical marijuana industry in the United States generally, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability of Liberty to implement its business strategies; competition; crop failure; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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Liberty Health Sciences Announces Opening Of 19th Florida Dispensary In Pensacola; Second Panhandle Location - Yahoo Finance

Liberty tweaked its 2020 football schedule by adding a program shifting to independent status and moving a date with an in-state program to a later season.

The Flames will play the University of Connecticut on Oct. 31, 2020, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut as part of the Huskies independent schedule.

The Hartford Courant released nine of the Huskies 12 games for the 2020 season Thursday morning.

UConn announced over the summer it is moving all of its sports, except football, from the American Athletic Conference to the Big East Conference. UConn will join Liberty, Notre Dame, BYU, Army, UMass and New Mexico State as independent programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

As FBS independents, we certainly try to cooperate with one another in scheduling, Liberty athletic director Ian McCaw said in a phone interview Thursday morning. He cited Army, BYU and UMass as examples of independent programs moving around games to accommodate the Flames move to college footballs top tier in 2018.

We wanted to help Connecticut.

The Flames original 2020 schedule featured Oct. 31 as an open week. Liberty opted to move its scheduled Nov. 7 game at Virginia to Oct. 14, 2023.

The Nov. 7 weekend will serve as an open week for Liberty in 2020.

That schedule shuffling allowed UConn to play at Virginia next season.

McCaw confirmed the 2020 matchup with the Huskies is the first in a home-and-home series, with UConn playing at Williams Stadium on Nov. 11, 2023.

McCaw added Liberty and UConn envision playing frequently in the future and the programs are in discussions to continue the series beyond 2023.

The addition of UVa and UConn to the 2023 schedule gives Liberty 10 opponents for that season.

UVa is the second Power 5 opponent on the schedule. The Flames will play at South Carolina on Nov. 4, 2023, and receive a $1.5 million guarantee for the trip to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Libertys 2023 slate features five games in September (Bowling Green, at Coastal Carolina, at Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and at Miami (Ohio)), two in October (Old Dominion and at Virginia) and four in November (at South Carolina, UConn, UMass and at New Mexico State).

Were very close to announcing our 2023 schedule, McCaw said. Its a very attractive schedule. Were putting putting the finishing touches on that.

Damien Sordelett covers Liberty University athletics and local golf for The News & Advance. Reach him at (434) 385-5550.

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Liberty adds UConn to 2020 football schedule, moves UVa game to 2023 - Lynchburg News and Advance

Letters to the Editor

I hesitate to cast aspersions upon conservative intelligence or erudition, however, I must take exception to Jean Flanagans Sept. 12 letter: Letter outlines conservative beliefs, such as life, liberty.

As we learned in grammar school, the reference to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which is based on Lockean philosophy, is enshrined not in the U.S. Constitution but rather in the Declaration of Independence.

Perhaps Ms. Flanagan has been deluded by the renowned Fox News history scholars like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, or this may just be another example of Republican revisionist history.

I was also surprised by our presidents lack of conservative intelligence a few months ago when he decided to release a highly classified U.S. spy satellite photo taken over Iran.

Thanks to his display of childish pique, his tyrannical buddies who govern Russia, China, North Korea and our many other adversaries now know the trajectory of this super-secret satellite and can take evasive actions to thwart it.

Once again Trump had undermined our own intelligence and military services and helped those who would destroy us.

I guess thats why he donates his presidential salary; somebody else is going to be paying him substantially in the future.

Had anyone else released this photo, they would be in Leavenworth Prison.

Ed OlsenAffton

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Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not in US Constitution - Call Newspapers

LEICESTER, United Kingdom Religious freedom has deteriorated in several countries during the first half of 2019, according to a statement published Oct. 22 by the British Foreign Office.

The relatively short statement was a follow up to the 2018 Human Rights and Democracy Report published by the British government in June. The statement gave an updated assessment of the 30 priority countries in which the Foreign Office had noted particular concern about human rights issues, and felt the UK can make a real difference.

The 30 human rights priority countries are: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, North Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Libya, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Although the report encompassed the entirety of human rights concerns, it particularly pointed out instances of religious persecution, harassment, and discrimination in several countries.

The statement said the overall human rights situation in Pakistan continues to deteriorate, with religious minorities suffering in particular.

The situation for religious minorities continues to be very challenging and deeply concerning, with widespread intolerance, violence, and discrimination, including against Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, and Shias, the report says.

There have been some positive developments, notably the Supreme Courts January judgement upholding the acquittal of Asia Bibi of blasphemy. This was a welcome positive step, as was the issuing of thousands of visas to Indian Sikhs, allowing them to make the sacred pilgrimage journey to Pakistan following the opening of the India/Pakistan Kartarpur Corridor at the end of last year, it continued.

The statement noted that in Sudan, while restrictions on Christian school opening days were dropped in January, there are ongoing challenges to Freedom of Religion or Belief, including public order and guardianship laws, which have a disproportionate effect on Christian women.

The Foreign Office also expressed concern about growing restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China, including reports that authorities are tightening control over how certain religions are practiced.

It also said there was no improvement in the dire human rights situation in North Korea, which is at the top of Open Doors annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians experience extreme persecution and top of the Global Slavery Index, noting the regime continues to exercise total control over freedom of expression and Freedom of Religion or Belief.

The statement also highlighted restrictions on religious freedom in Russia, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Libya.

However, the Foreign Office noted improvement in a few countries.

Freedom of Religion or Belief in Bahrain is legally protected in society. Although there is more to be done, EU Special Envoy Jan Figel earlier this year observed that religions are not just tolerated but readily accepted by Bahraini society, the report says.

It also said modest progress is continuing to be made on religious freedom in Egypt, pointing out President Abdel Fattah Sisi inaugurated the largest cathedral in the Middle East on Jan. 6, and the continued progress on licensing church buildings under Egypts Church Building Law.

The British government has stepped up its engagement on the issue of international liberty, and 2018 saw the creation of the post of Prime Ministers Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

In December, the Foreign Office announced it would sponsor a report on Christian persecution around the world, which was published this summer.

Follow Charles Collins on Twitter: @CharlesinRome

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British government notes 'deterioration' of religious liberty in several countries - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

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LIBERTY, Mo. -- A Liberty man is the proud father of twin baby girls. And not only is he also a twin, but his daughters were also born on his birthday.

Kody Johnson and his twin sister Kierstin were born Oct. 16, 1993. Kody married his wife Laken, and she got pregnant this year.

"For some reason as a kid and getting older, I just always wanted twins, but you don't think that dream is going to come true," Laken said.

She said she had a feeling she was having twins before an ultrasound confirmed her premonition.

The babies were due in November. The couple planned to go to dinner and a movie last week to celebrate Kody's birthday after Laken's doctor's appointment.

"The doctor came in, and he's like, 'I'm 90% sure you are having these babies today,'" Laken said. "So I called him, and I said, 'Happy birthday, your twins are coming.'"

"I actually think my sister was even more excited. She started crying when I called her on the way to the hospital," Kody said.

Adalee and Kaelyn Johnson were born Oct. 16, exactly 26 years after their dad and aunt were born.

Now a week old, 7-pound, 2-ounce Kaelyn and 6-pound, 1-ounce Adalee are back home. Aunt Kierstin has already come to town to visit.

"She calls me every day tries to get me to send pictures nonstop," Kody said.

And Kody and Kierstin posed for the photo that's hard to believe, two sets of twins born on the same date.With the chance of twins being about 1 in 250 births, it would appear the odds of a twin having twins on his birthday are approximately 1 in 22,875,000.

Now a week old, mom and dad seem to be adjusting to life as parents of twins.

"We've got our little system down, or trying to get down, but I haven't quite figured out how to feed them at the same time yet," Laken said.

Of course, advice on raising twins is just a phone call away: Kody's parents.

"They just said it was going to be a lot of work, which we don't know any different," said Kody, a first-time parent.

Kody would still like to have a boy, but maybe he could settle for being an uncle to one or two if his sister has kids. But what if they were also born Oct. 16?

"That would be the craziest thing ever, but I guess it could happen. I didn't think it would happen to me," he said.

The odds of his sister also having twins on her birthday would be a little more than 1 in 2 trillion.

39.246114-94.419118

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What are the odds? Liberty twin has twin daughters born on his birthday - WDAF FOX4 Kansas City

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- When city officials look ahead, they often refer to Lakewoods second century.

For St. Clement Church, its next century on Madison Avenue may look different, as the parish is partnering with Liberty Development Company for the construction of 16 townhome units and shared parking on 1.25 acres of the parishs existing 2.25 acres. The church and rectory will remain.

We struck up a partnership with St. Clement, Father Workman and the parish probably about a year-and-a-half ago regarding 38,000 square feet of buildings vacant since 2005, Liberty Development Company Development Director Dru Siley said. They have a large parking lot, and its just too much excess building and space.

We were looking for a higher and better use that was appropriate to be next to the parish. We began investigating any potential adaptive reuse of the buildings. Those buildings are pretty far gone as far as their overall condition.

The Rev. Joe Workman said the parish has had a good relationship with Liberty Development Company over the years.

We worked together to overcome many obstacles, Workman said. Its going to be a good fit to repurpose the property and to have this part of Madison Avenue look more like a neighborhood than just a big building in the middle of the road.

Lakewood Director of Planning and Development Bryce Sylvester said St. Clements spent nearly a decade seeking an adaptive reuse for the church buildings, including a now-closed school.

They competed for tax credits to turn it into senior housing, and they just couldnt win, Sylvester said. It was a really good effort by the parish, but they needed to turn the page and figure out what could be there long term.

Once the buildings were condemned by Lakewood last year, the discussion turned to the development of townhomes, which tentatively have a price point around $300,000.

Weve had a couple of community meetings to talk to the neighbors, Siley said. Weve been grateful for their feedback and support as were figuring out this project.

Its an emotional thing for sure, because that school has been a part of that neighborhood for 100 years. We know its a big sign of trust from the folks in the parish and the folks in the neighborhood that theyre willing to let us do something special there," Siley said.

Liberty most recently completed the McKinley Place townhomes in Lakewood, which underwent a similar planned development rezoning process.

We had a nice success with our McKinley Place townhomes on the west end of Lakewood, Siley said. That went really well for us. Lakewood is a great community. The housing market is really hot, and were very excited about being some of the first new -- and maybe the first new -- market-rate housing on Madison Avenue in the last 50 years.

The proposed St. Clement project would introduce more than $4 million of new real estate value to Lakewood, and would generate new real estate taxes on property that has been exempt from taxes.

The St. Clement project requires the rezoning of the land from commercial to planned development. It must receive approval from the Planning Commission, Architectural Board of Review and City Council. If all goes well, Siley said demolition of the old school building will hopefully begin this winter.

Theres a lot of work we have to do there beyond taking down the building and structurally stabilizing some walls that are shared between the church and the school, Siley said. We also have to build new parking for the church. We have an ongoing shared parking arrangement with the church on part of their site.

Lakewood officials have pledged $300,000 of Cuyahoga County demolition funds to be contributed to the project.

Its kind of another sign of Madison Avenues strength, Sylvester said. This is going to be the first new residential construction on Madison Avenue in decades. Were excited about the process starting.

Read more news from the Sun Post Herald.

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Liberty Development partnering with St. Clement Church in Lakewood to build Madison Avenue townhomes - cleveland.com

Lawyers for Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. have threatened in a cease-and-desist letter to sue the author of an explosive report alleging misconduct by Falwell, calling the journalists claims false and defamatory.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by The News & Advance after it was delivered Tuesday, is the clearest sign yet Falwell intends to wage a legal battle over what he has previously called an attempted coup to oust him as university president.

Falwell has retained attorneys from the New York-based law firm Kasowitz, Benson & Torres, whose founding partner, Marc Kasowitz, served as a personal attorney for President Donald Trump until 2017. In a statement, Falwell said the firm is conducting a broad investigation into former Liberty officials and board members who may have spoken to or provided internal records to journalists.

We have been patient with the smear campaign being waged against the school, but it is clear now that there is a concerted effort to damage the schools reputation and mission, Falwell said. We have a fiduciary duty to defend the school from this attack.

Last month, Politico Magazine published a story alleging Falwell leveraged the universitys business interest to enrich himself, family members and friends. The story which carried the headline, Someones gotta tell the freakin truth: Jerry Falwells aides break their silence included internal university emails obtained by Politico and cited unnamed sources.

The magazine article, written by LU graduate Brandon Ambrosino, said it was based on interviews with more than two dozen current and former high-ranking LU officials and close associates of Falwells.

The article, which received widespread national attention, was published amid a cascade of media reports detailing free speech concerns at Liberty and business decisions Falwell has made during his tenure as university president.

Falwell has disputed the allegations in the magazine and has accused former university board members and political rivals of attempting to undermine his leadership. Falwell has stopped short of naming those he believes are behind the leaks but has said they are motivated by his support of Trump. The magazine story, in part, helped spark a university-approved student protest on Libertys campus and calls for greater accountability for Falwell.

Tuesdays letter, which was addressed solely to Ambrosino, was signed by Michael J. Bowe, an attorney, who among other high-profile clients, represented Trump during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The letter accuses Ambrosino of defaming Falwell and Liberty in the pages of Politico Magazine and during a public forum Oct. 7 at Villanova University, where Ambrosino discussed his reporting. Among the claims disputed in the letter are accusations Falwell steered business to companies run by his son Jerry Trey Falwell III and others close to Falwell.

These obviously defamatory claims are part of a pattern of disparagement you have directed at LU and Mr. Falwell, Bowe wrote in the letter, which is dated Oct. 22. The letter concludes with a demand Ambrosino immediately retract these false and defamatory statements, adding that defamation action is likely.

Ambrosino confirmed in a Facebook post Wednesday he received the cease-and-desist letter, and told The News & Advance on Wednesday night, I stand by my reporting. Politico did not respond to requests for comment.

If Falwell does pursue a defamation suit he could face a high hurdle in court, according to legal experts.

In order to bring a successful defamation action, a public figure like Jerry Falwell Jr. must prove by clear and convincing evidence that factual statements asserted by the defendant were false and that the defendant knew they [were] false or knew of a substantial risk that they were false, Leslie Kendrick, the vice dean of the University of Virginias School of Law, said in an email.

Falwell, who previously said Libertys board of trustees has approved legal action in response to recent media reports, said Tuesday he will only file a lawsuit if we are confident we can succeed.

A suit aimed at Ambrosino and Politico would not be the first time the Falwell family has sued a media outlet for defamation. In 1983, Jerry Falwell Sr. filed a federal lawsuit against Hustler Magazine and its publisher Larry Flynt after the magazine published a satirical advertisement parodying the elder Falwell. The suit eventually made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the court unanimously decided in favor of Flynt, ruling parodying public figures is protected speech.

Richard Chumney covers breaking news and public safety for The News & Advance. Reach him at (434) 385-5547.

Richard Chumney covers breaking news and public safety for The News & Advance. Reach him at (434) 385-5547.

Read more:

Falwell threatens to sue journalist behind explosive report, demands retraction - Lynchburg News and Advance

WHY IT RATES: Liberty Travel was interested in a partnership after noting the tour operators commitment to responsible travel and growing portfolio. Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer

G Adventures and Liberty Travel are proud to announce a new partnership that will see the award-winning small-group tour operator return as a preferred partner.

With more than 125 stores and 2,200 employees in 14 states, Liberty Travel, which is operated by parent company Flight Centre, will add a powerful boost to G Adventures mission to change more lives through travel.

Likewise, the tour operators 750 itineraries on all seven continents will enable the legacy agency brand to offer more options for clients looking to learn, see and do more while exploring the world.

Brian McLaren, Flight Centre Travel Groups vice president for cruise and tour Americas, says G Adventures expanding product portfolio was a persuasive factor in reigniting the relationship, alongside the community tourism specialists strong commitment to responsible travel.

"G Adventures product offering, most notably National Geographic Journeys, Wellness and Family travel styles, aligns perfectly with our evolving customer strategy. Were excited to bring G Adventures back as a preferred partner across our US retail brands, and we look forward to growing together, says McLaren.

G Adventures Boston-based vice president of sales, Peter Worthing, added his and his teams excitement about partnering with Liberty Travel and strategizing new ways to help inspire their clients and drive more business.

"I love Liberty Travels history. For more than 70 years theyve been one of the leading agency chains in the United States, demonstrating outstanding customer service and connection with travelers in communities across America. As pioneers in community tourism, we share a passion for building relationships and extend this through to the local communities hosting our travelers in destinations around the world.

"Between our National Geographic Journeys and National Geographic Family Journeys, our immersive small-ship cruises on rivers and seas, and our Private Travel and Tailor Made travel options, were confident G Adventures has adventures to excite Liberty Travels clients of all ages, interests, life stages and budgets.

SOURCE: G Adventures press release.

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G Adventures and Liberty Travel Form Preferred Partnership - TravelPulse

The Rutgers football team will be home again this weekend as they welcome the Liberty Flames to town for a week eight matchup. The Flames are coached by former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze and currently stand at 5-2 in his first season as head coach for the Flames.

Along with winning, coach Freeze has brought over a new culture to the Liberty Football program since hes arrived on campus.

Here's everything you need to know about the game.

WHO: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Liberty Flames

WHEN/TV: Saturday at Noon EST, Big Ten Network

WHERE: SHI Stadium - Piscataway, New Jersey

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QUARTERBACK STEPHEN CALVERT

THE SKINNY: Four-year starter Stephen Calvert has been a consistent playmaker at the helm for the Flames ever since he has stepped foot on campus. Heading into this weeks matchup, Calvert has already thrown for 1,920 passing yards along with 15 passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. Judging by his tape, you can see that Calvert sees the field really well and likes to challenge the back end of the secondary in the vertical passing game. He also has a quick release and a nice feel for the pocket when dealt with pressure. Overall he's a real solid player and one to watch for on the offensive end.

LINEBACKER SOLOMON AJAYI

THE SKINNY: Redshirt Senior Solomon Ajayi leads the Liberty Flames defense this season with a total of 48 tackles (27 solo). He is a real sideline to sideline player who is very active at the line of scrimmage. One of his best attributes is his ability to run down the ball carrier. He is also impressive in pass coverage and has good field awareness. He understands when to hit the open gaps and reads the pulling guards in the run game very well. Watch out for him on the defensive side of the ball on Saturday.

RECORD LAST SEASON: 6-6 / Notable wins against Old Dominion, New Mexico and Troy.

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first ever matchup between the two schools.

Excerpt from:

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football is set to welcome the Liberty Flames to town -- B1G Football - Rivals.com

What she represents is everything that has to be protected. Diane von Furstenberg

Shes celebrating her 133rd birthday on October 28. Shes the Mother of Exiles, one of Americas most iconic symbols, and an enduring beacon of hope to the worlds huddled masses, yearning to breathe free. Shes a colossus who stands 305 feet proud and tall. Shes the most photographed statue in the world, visited by over four million peopleannually. You know the Statue of Liberty, but do you know her story?

In the new HBO documentary Liberty: Mother of Exiles (view official film trailer above), award-winning directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbara reveal the statues unexpected history, following legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, a Belgian immigrant, daughter of a Holocaust survivor, and godmother of the new Statue of Liberty Museum, in her quest to discover how sculptor Frdric Auguste Bartholdis dream became a reality and what the statue has meant to generations of people worldwide.

Film synopsis via HBO, Like most Americans, Lady Liberty has its own immigrant story, and over the course of the film, von Furstenberg, who came to the U.S. from Belgium, reveals how intimately connected her background is with the statue. Her admiration for Lady Liberty began with her mother, who gave birth to Diane after surviving the Auschwitz labor camps and often called her daughter her torch of freedom. The fashion icon has long admired the 305-foot, toga-wearing statues strength and femininity and recalls first seeing Lady Liberty when she arrived in New York by boat in the 1970s.

The film follows von Furstenberg on her journey towards discovery, reading French sculptor Frdric Auguste Bartholdis diaries, and traveling to France to meet with descendants of douard de Laboulaye, who inspired Bartholdi to build the statue, and Gustave Eiffel, who designed its metal framework.

The ways in which the statues existence affects Americans is palpable through encounters with dozens of people, like those von Furstenberg spoke to, who share a connection to the colossal figure. From street artists to factory workers, the films robust cast of characters include a French metal artisan who came to America to work on the restoration of the statue in the 1980s and never left, workers in China who make the souvenir statues found in gift shops all over the world, a Russian graffiti artist whose street art prominently features the statue, and families who lived on the island for years until their homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy all underscoring von Furstenbergs notion that Lady Liberty belongs to everyone, as well as Bartholdis own idea that the statue should represent the unity of [hu]mankind.

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Her Immigrant Story: 'Mother Of Exiles' Documentary Reveals Statue Of Liberty's Little-Known History - Women You Should Know

October 23, 2019

By: Debbie Michel, Lake Union Conference, and Adventist Review

Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) representatives from regional (historically black) conferences across the United States met September 26-29, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Conscience and Justice Council annual conference, which this year examined issues surrounding the theme, Faith, Justice and Community.

Speakers sought to inspire the audience of 200 to take the Adventist Churchs message of hope and wholeness and make a meaningful difference in their communities. Topics included religious accommodation; conscience and justice according to the Bible; housing segregation then and now; engaging millennials in social justice; and many others.

Religious Freedom and LGBT Rights

One of the sessions with a robust discussion asked the question, Can religious freedom and LGBT rights coexist?

Justin Giboney, executive team member of the AND campaign, explained that his organization tries to get Christians to engage in politics more faithfully.

Tim Schultz (left), president of 1stAmendment Partnership, told the audience at the Conscience and Justice Council that if you care about religious freedom, you have to care about social justice. On Shultzs left is AND campaign executive team member Justin Giboney. [Photo: Lake Union Conference News]

In his Sabbath morning message, U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black used the Bible story of the good Samaritan to illustrate that we must have compassion for those in need. If youre going to have social justice, stop blaming the victim. Help people, even when theyre responsible for the trouble theyre in, he said. [Photo: Lake Union Conference News]

Margie P. Gill, executive director of Tabithas House, a human trafficking ministry of the House of Hope Church near downtown Atlanta, said she and others are working to support victims of human trafficking. We want to give power back to the victims and restore lives, homes, and communities, she said. [Photo: Lake Union Conference News]

If we are Christians, we should be both about justice and moral order. Our political landscape today separates them, Gibbons said. Christians are supposed to be about both. We cant choose between the two. We often talk about this in terms of compassion and conviction. When we look at an issue like LGBTQ, our conviction is what the Bible says, and were not going to change our conviction, but have we showed compassion? he asked.

Adventist HealthCare vice president and chief compliance officer Dwayne Leslie shared why it is important for Adventists to get involved in the legislative process.

As Seventh-day Adventists, religious liberty has been one of our core tenets, but weve also believed we shouldnt use the legislative process to enforce or mandate our philosophy. Were not trying to legislate morality, Leslie said. We want to protect ourselves according to our theology, as opposed to using our theology to deny or take away the rights of other people.

Tim Schultz, president of 1st Amendment Partnership, told the audience that if people care about religious freedom, they have to care about social justice. In that vein, Melissa Reid, executive director of the North American Division Religion Liberty Association (NARLA), mentioned that her department is working alongside other faith communities to pass legislation known as Fairness For All, which would protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Were now making visits to members of Congress and think we will have bipartisan support. Because of the diversity of our coalition group, it adds to the likelihood of bipartisan support. Even though it may take a while for the legislation to be enacted, Reid said, We recognize that this is an opportunity to restore the idea of religious freedom.

Stop Blaming the Victim

In his Sabbath morning message, U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black used the Bible story of the good Samaritan to illustrate that we must have compassion for those in need.

If youre going to have social justice, stop blaming the victim. Help people, even when theyre responsible for the trouble theyre in. This traveler got himself in trouble. He knew about the dangerous Jericho Road, but he still took it.

We got to go across the spectrum of diversity. We got to help people regardless of their sexual orientation. We got to help people regardless of their ethnicity. We got to help people regardless of their accent. We got to help people regardless of their socio-economic level, or lack of a level, Black said.

On Saturday (Sabbath) afternoon, council attendees visited Tabithas House, a human trafficking ministry of the House of Hope Church near downtown Atlanta. Executive director Margie P. Gill explained that Atlanta is a major hub for sex trafficking, and the youngest client theyve helped was a five-year-old.

We want to give power back to the victims and restore lives, homes, and communities, Gill said.

First-Person Account

On Saturday evening, Yusef Salaam, who was wrongly convicted of the 1989 assault and rape of a female jogger in Central Park, spoke about serving years in prison for a crime he, along with four other youth, did not commit. The highly publicized case was the subject of a recent Netflix movie, When They See Us, directed by Ava DuVernay.

Salaam, now a father of ten living in Atlanta, spoke softly of how he has been able to move on with his life.

Knowing you were born with a purpose, you were born brave, God gave you the means to survive and thrive. Its not about what happens to you, but your response to whats happening to you. God is in control. The sun shines on the sinner and the person who is filthy at the same time. But the blessing comes to one who is faithful.

Carmela Monk Crawford, ofMessagemagazine, moderated a Questions and Answers session, during which she asked Salaam if he had forgiven all the people responsible for his imprisonment.

Forgiveness is a challenging concept. Ive been able to forgive to a degree, Salaam said. Im reminded,Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.

Working Together to Reach Out

On Sunday, Oakwood Universitys chair of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Public Health, Sherine Brown-Fraser, discussed Health Disparities: The Impact of Food Deserts. Brown-Fraser said that churches can engage with their community through a variety of avenues, including a simple yet effective project such as a community garden. She presented evidence to show that when we grow our fruits and vegetables, we are likely to eat more of these foods.

Ann Roda, Adventist Healthcare vice president for Mission Integration and Spiritual Care, said her organization was proud to sponsor the conference because, looking back in church history, it was Washington Adventist Hospital that denied treatment to a black patient in 1943.

Our team was shocked to hear the story, and this was the catalyst for us asking, what are we going to do with this info? she said. We have to own our part, not shy away from it and commit to not letting this happen again.

Going forward, Roda said, the local church and the Adventist Health System could play a huge role in addressing societal ills. We need a clear partnership between the health system and the church. If we partner, we can change the paradigm of what it means to change our community.

Edward Woods, Lake Region PARL leader and chairperson of the Conscience and Justice Council, said he hopes participants will take the information presented and put it into action.

Its important to ensure theres liberty of conscience and justice for all people, through a biblical and contemporary context that reflects the consciousness of Christ, Woods said.

The Conscience and Justice Council conference began in 2016 in Detroit, Michigan, and the next conference is scheduled for September 24-27, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.

The original version of this story was posted on the Lake Union Heraldnews site.

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Religious Liberty Leaders Emphasize Connecting With the Marginalized - Adventist Review

Although the masses and most of the financial media blame hedge funds for their exorbitant fee structure and disappointing performance, these investors have proved to have great stock picking abilities over the years (that's why their assets under management continue to swell). We believe hedge fund sentiment should serve as a crucial tool of an individual investors stock selection process, as it may offer great insights of how the brightest minds of the finance industry feel about specific stocks. After all, these people have access to smartest analysts and expensive data/information sources that individual investors can't match. So should one consider investing in Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT)? The smart money sentiment can provide an answer to this question.

Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT) shares haven't seen a lot of action during the second quarter. Overall, hedge fund sentiment was unchanged. The stock was in 19 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2019. The level and the change in hedge fund popularity aren't the only variables you need to analyze to decipher hedge funds' perspectives. A stock may witness a boost in popularity but it may still be less popular than similarly priced stocks. That's why at the end of this article we will examine companies such as Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:ETSY), Guardant Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:GH), and American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH) to gather more data points.Our calculations also showed thatLPT isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds(see the video below). Video: Click the image to watch our video about the top 5 most popular hedge fund stocks.

5 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds

To most traders, hedge funds are seen as worthless, old investment tools of yesteryear. While there are greater than 8000 funds in operation today, Our researchers choose to focus on the masters of this group, approximately 750 funds. These hedge fund managers have their hands on the majority of the smart money's total asset base, and by watching their inimitable picks, Insider Monkey has unearthed various investment strategies that have historically outrun the broader indices. Insider Monkey's flagship hedge fund strategy defeated the S&P 500 index by around 5 percentage points per year since its inception in May 2014. We were able to generate large returns even by identifying short candidates. Our portfolio of short stocks lost 25.7% since February 2017 (through September 30th) even thoughthe market was up more than 33% during the same period. We just shared a list of 10 short targetsin our latest quarterly update .

Unlikethis former hedge fund manager whoisconvincedDowwill soar past 40000,our long-short investment strategy doesn't rely on bull markets to deliver double digit returns. We only rely on hedge fund buy/sell signals. Let's take a gander at the key hedge fund action surrounding Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT).

Heading into the third quarter of 2019, a total of 19 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 0% from the first quarter of 2019. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards LPT over the last 16 quarters. So, let's check out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves.

Story continues

Clint Carlson, Carlson Capital

Of the funds tracked by Insider Monkey, Zimmer Partners, managed by Stuart J. Zimmer, holds the largest position in Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT). Zimmer Partners has a $179.5 million position in the stock, comprising 1.9% of its 13F portfolio. Sitting at the No. 2 spot is Long Pond Capital, managed by John Khoury, which holds a $37.2 million position; the fund has 1.1% of its 13F portfolio invested in the stock. Some other members of the smart money that hold long positions comprise Clint Carlson's Carlson Capital, Jonathan Litt's Land & Buildings Investment Management and Renaissance Technologies.

Because Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT) has experienced declining sentiment from the entirety of the hedge funds we track, logic holds that there exists a select few funds that decided to sell off their positions entirely last quarter. Interestingly, Benjamin A. Smith's Laurion Capital Management said goodbye to the largest stake of all the hedgies watched by Insider Monkey, comprising close to $1.7 million in stock, and Matthew Tewksbury's Stevens Capital Management was right behind this move, as the fund dropped about $1.5 million worth. These moves are interesting, as aggregate hedge fund interest stayed the same (this is a bearish signal in our experience).

Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT). These stocks are Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:ETSY), Guardant Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:GH), American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH), and Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG). This group of stocks' market valuations match LPT's market valuation.

[table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position ETSY,41,1228455,2 GH,19,225721,5 AMH,25,454005,6 GLPG,14,97279,-2 Average,24.75,501365,2.75 [/table]

View table hereif you experience formatting issues.

As you can see these stocks had an average of 24.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $501 million. That figure was $338 million in LPT's case. Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:ETSY) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG) is the least popular one with only 14 bullish hedge fund positions. Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. Our calculations showed that top 20 most popular stocks among hedge funds returned 24.4% in 2019 through September 30th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by 4 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on LPT, though not to the same extent, as the stock returned 3.4% during the third quarter and outperformed the market.

Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.

Related Content

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Is Liberty Property Trust (LPT) Going to Burn These Hedge Funds? - Yahoo Finance

anchor

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

The Chrysler Museum of Art on the University of Virginia campus will put on an exhibit entitled "Thomas Jefferson, Architect: Palladian Models, Democratic Principles, and the Conflict of Ideals."

It looks at the Jefferson's influences and ideas around architecture, including displays of models based on his designs, reports Associated Press (AP). On the one hand, Jefferson was a man who sought to create architecture that symbolized "liberty and democracy," but on the other, he used enslaved Americans to construct the very same structures designed to embody these ideals.

"They helped build everything from Virginia's Statehousea precursor to the Capital Building in Washingtonto the University of Virginia and Jefferson's home of Monticello," writes AP, speaking of Jefferson's use of slave labor.

The exhibit opens this Saturday. It "juxtaposes Jefferson's visions with the realities of slavery." The exhibition catalogue,Thomas Jefferson, Architect, includes contributions fromGuido Beltramini,director of the Centro Internazionale di Studi Architettura Andrea Palladio and the Palladio Museum; critic and scholar Barry Bergdoll, and GSAPP professor Mabel O. Wilson.

Read more here:

Slavery and liberty: A new exhibit explores the Thomas Jefferson paradox - Archinect

If you're among the Kiwi travellers who actively avoid flying into LAX, it might come as a relief that Air New Zealand is scrapping Los Angeles-London flights in favour of a new service from Auckland toNew York's Newark Liberty International Airport.

Like all major US international airports, Newark (EWR) gets pretty hectic at times, but it's less busy than Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which was named the fourth busiest passenger airport in the world in 2018 in Airports Council International's recently released world traffic report. More than 87.5 million passengers flew though LAX in 2018, according to the report, while 46 million passed through Newark, making it the eleventh busiest airport in the US.

Located 15 miles (24 kilometres) southwest of Midtown Manhattan, Newark is the second most central of the threeairports serving the New York metropolitan area.LaGuardia, in Queens, is closer, but tends to get a worse rap in terms of facilities and wait times. JFK International, the busiest airport of the three, is slightly further from Midtown Manhattan.

SHUBHAM SHARAN/UNSPLASH

Just across the Hudson from Manhattan, Newark airport is a 30-minute monorail ride from Penn Station.

Opened in 1928, Newark lays claim to multiple airport firsts, including the first paved runway, the first airport weather stationandthe first air traffic control tower in the United States. Like LaGuardia and JFK, it's undergoing major redevelopment andupgrades. These include replacing outmoded Terminal A with the three-concourse, 33-gate Terminal One, a project expected to be completed in 2021.

READ MORE:*Air NZ axes LA-London route*Air New Zealand releases details of new New York flights* Airport review: LAX - Tom Bradley International Terminal, Los Angeles, US* Insider tip: A survivor's guide to LAX* Guide to the world's best and worst airports

Terminal A is one of three terminals at Newark, the others beingTerminal B and Terminal C. United Airlines, with which Air New Zealand has a partnership, occupies all of Terminal C, but operates some flights out of terminals B and C as well.

Passengers can travel between terminals and to the Airport Station, which connects Newark with New Jersey and Amtrak trains,on the AirTrainmonorail, which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is free to ride within the airport.

JARRED WILLIAMSON / FAIRFAX NZ

Air New Zealand's New York service will replace its Los Angeles-London route from October 2020.

Free wi-fi and charging stations are available in all three terminals, along with parent rooms and pet relief areas. There are a decent number of dining options and passengers can use the AtYourGateapp to have meals delivered anywhere in Terminals A and B and in the pre-security are of Terminal C.

Terminal C, which re-opened in 2017 after a US$120 million redesign, is the flashest of the three terminals at present.

David Rockwell, the man behind the bulk of the terminal's dining venues, described them as "part Get Smart, part James Bond, and part theatre technology", telling Bloomberg he also drew inspiration fromNew York's Madison Square Park and European town squares.

NICHOLAS JEHLY/UNSPLASH

Newark Liberty International s the eleventh busiest airport in the US.

The three-concourse, 68-gateterminalhas by far the best choice of the three terminals in terms of dining and shopping - Bloomberg went so far as to call it a "foodie theme park".

The more than 50 dining options range from a gourmet market and Global Bazaar to casual eateries with grab-and-go-options and sit-down restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs serving up everything from gourmet burgersand barbecue to authentic ramen, tacos, dumplings and Italian meatballs. Sliding walls and rotating signage enable venues to change as the day progresses.Even the casual cafes have iPad ordering stations, where you can both request and pay for meals.

If you're thirsty, head to Caps Brewery, which serves up more than 50 local and international brews,Oneo Wine Bar, Proof Whiskey Bar or Tacquila, where you can choose from more than 200 types of tequila.

If that's not enough to relax you or you have an extralong layover, you might want to check out the eco-friendly Departure Spa, where services includemanicures, pedicures, massages, facials and haircuts.

Given the partnership between the two airlines, it's possible that qualifying Air New Zealand passengers may be able to use the United lounges at the airport. The Polaris lounge is particularly well-equppied, with daybeds, a table-service dining area and rainfall shower suites.

Getting to and from the airport

The cheapest way to get to and from Newark is to take the AirTrain monorail, which connects passengers with NJ TRANSIT, PATH and Amtrak services at Newark Liberty International Airport Station. Ittakes about 30 minutes to get to Pennsylvania (Penn) Station in Manhattan, which connects to the New York City subway system.

Taxis, ride-share services such as Uber, an express bus and car hire are also available.

Many of the hotels within the vicinity of the airport, such as the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott, offer free shuttle services.

432 PARK AVENUE

You can catch public transport or a taxi or ride-share service from Newark to Manhattan.

Air NZ's planned service to New York

Air New Zealand is set to launch a new service from Auckland to Newark Liberty International Airport from October 29, 2020.

The national carrier will fly the new route three times a week year-round under its flagship NZ1 southbound and NZ2 northbound flight numbers.

The New York service replaces the Los-Angles-London route, set to end in October 2020.

Read more:

Hate LAX? Why New York's Newark Liberty International Airport is a relative breeze - Stuff.co.nz