Daily Archives: August 5, 2017

The first freedom in the Bill of Rights is the freedom to practice religion without government interference. But it isn't a popular right nowadays. As cases involving religious freedom issues are regularly hammering the state and federal court system constantly challenging that right President Trump has (somewhat) quietly placed two mechanisms in front of the barrage to soften the blow.

Last week, Trump nominated Gov. Sam Brownback to serve in the position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, a position within the U.S. State Department. This immediately inspired anger and assertions that the Kansas governor is opposed to LGBTQ rights. This editorial makes note of the fact that while over 20 senior state department positions remain vacant, Trump thought it important to fill this one. This indicates either a soft-spot or an administration priority, depending on your interpretation.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's nomination as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom has observers wondering about President Donald Trump's priorities. When 27 senior State Department positions remain vacant, and no ambassadors have been appointed to nations such as South Korea, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, what makes filling a position promoting religious freedom such an urgent, core objective of U.S. foreign policy?

The Becket Fund, a non-profit religious liberty law firm praised the choice. Montserrat Alvarado, executive director of Becket, said in a press release,

Gov. Brownback's legacy of promoting and defending religious liberty both in the United States and overseas is strong. As a U.S. Senator, he was one of the [motivating] forces behind the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, key legislation that ensures that the policy of the United States will be to support religious liberty internationally. His robust experience defending religious freedom for people of all faiths makes him uniquely qualified to lead America's international defense of this most sacred and fundamental of human rights, religious freedom.

That's not the only sign Trump is prioritizing religious freedom. He's also quietly appointing conservative judges to various courts. In fact, he's appointed more judges in his short tenure as president than Obama had at this same juncture in 2009. He has sent up nine nominees for appeals court positions and 17 for the district courts. And yes, one Supreme Court justice, but the high court only settles about 75 cases annually, compared to about 50,000 at the appeals level and hundreds of thousands in federal district courts. So, if Trump wants to continue to ensure religious freedom persists, he must continue nominating conservative judges at all levels.

Nominations such as these might help guide a variety of religious freedom cases, such as this unique one in East Boca Raton, Florida regarding land use for a worship center. According to Texas Law & Tax, a sister publication of Christianity Today, new research reveals the number one reason churches end up in court is no longer sexual abuse of children but property disputes. The Chabad would like to build a synagogue to make room for its growing Jewish community, and despite two court victories (Gagliardi v. The City of Boca Raton, Fla.), they are still battling the city for that right. The case was recently appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

The city used a disagreement about zoning to propel a federal lawsuit that could set a terrible precedent to worship-goers in Florida. Time will tell how the case pans out. Becket represents the Chabad, and in their press release explains, "The suit claims that by allowing a single synagogue to be built on private land, the city is establishing the Jewish religion and discriminating against Christians. But the city ordinance they are suing over requires equal treatment for all faiths to build houses of worship."

Just Wednesday, the country's oldest synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel, won a lengthy legal battle to maintain ownership of its building and ancient Jewish artifacts. In Congregation Jeshuat Israel v. Congregation Shearith Israel, the court ruling clarifies that houses of worship can establish and enforce property contracts just like any other.

In the meantime, religious freedom advocates must keep watch on cases like this, Gov. Brownback's nomination, and the slew of conservative justices Trump hopes to continue appointing. Religious freedom was the fundamental issue that brought Pilgrims to America hundreds of years ago and repeated violations could seriously damage the country's core imperatives.

Nicole Russell is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist in Washington, D.C., who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota. She was the 2010 recipient of the American Spectator's Young Journalist Award.

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Trump moves forward with religious freedom priorities - Washington Examiner

The State governments campaign to make the State completely free from waste will begin on August 15, Independence Day.

The Freedom from waste campaign being organised under the aegis of the Haritha Keralam Mission will be led by local self-government institutions in association with the public.

Arrangements on

Arrangements for the campaign are under way.

On August 15, after the district-level Independence Day functions attended by Ministers, an announcement of Freedom from waste will be made.

The announcement will be made at Independence Day programmes organised by the local self-government institutions. Peoples representatives and volunteers will conduct house visits and sensitisation drives on the day and the next.

Sanitation meets

Sanitation meets will be organised at the ward-level on the day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The ground-situation reports from house visits from August 6 to 13 will be compiled and presented.

At 7 p.m., a pledge to make the ward completely garbage-free will be taken. Sanitation lamps will be lit in all houses in the ward simultaneously.

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'Freedom from waste' from Aug 15 - The Hindu

Dozens of ninth and 10th-grade students swarmed Michael Bennett following Fridays practice, eager to get an autograph from or picture with the Seahawks star defensive end.

One teenage boy collected signatures not just on his jersey, but also the back of his cell phone and on a $20 bill he will now never spend. One teenage girl got a signature on her arm, then jokingly began reciting her phone number to Cliff Avril, who also paid the group a visit.

Yet as much as these students, who attend Rainer Beach High School, were excited to meet Bennett, as well as Avril, who joined the group later, Bennett and Avril were equally impressed with the group of kids who are part of Washington Building Leaders of Changes Freedom Schools, a six-week literacy and social justice leadership development program.

Im inspired by you guys, Bennett told the group of students. You guys are the future of this country, the future of your communities.

Later, Bennett further expressed his admiration for a group of students who are dedicating six weeks of their summer to better themselves and their communities.

These are kids who are growing up seeing there are problems in their community making changes, Bennett said. Theyre just out every single day trying to make their communities better. Its super inspiring. Theyre so young, we can learn something from them. They are kids from all over the world, Cambodia, Israel, Palestine, theyre all these different kids working together within one community, doing so much change. For me to be able to support them is super cool. Its just super inspiring to be around kids who have that type of mindset at that age. Those kids are going to be leaders one day because theyre already making change at this age.

Bennetts support includes not only interacting with the kids after a practice and a $5,000 donation, he has also gotten involved in the Seattle community himself in a number of ways, most recently hosting a benefit for the family of Charleena Lyles, a local mother who was killed by police officers who were responding to a call at her apartment.

We connected with Michael, hes got a big passion for social justice as well as literacy, so it has been a great connection, said Laura Wright, a servant leader educator with WA-BLOC. He is very active in our community, so he has been a great model for our scholars.

Our scholars are really hard at work making a difference in their community. every day were having deep conversations about roots of injustice and racism, so to have an athlete as high profile as him thats also in the community doing work, were really proud of Michael for all the advocacy he has been doingthe Charleena Lyles case, thats something weve been talking about. We really appreciate having someone like him. It just affirms them and affirms the message that they can make a difference when they see someone like Michael doing that. And its not just the message, we actually see him in the community, which makes a big difference.

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Seahawks Defensive End Michael Bennett Hosts Local Students From Freedom Schools - Seahawks.com

Tony Vocca gave up three first-inning runs and the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, were forced to play catch-up in an eventual 6-4 loss to the Southern Illinois Miners on Friday at UC Health Stadium.

Southern Illinois (29-41) raced out to an early lead in the top of the first, as Craig Massey led off the game with a double to left-center before coming around to score on a single by Romeo Cortina. Nolan Earley then deposited a Vocca (6-5) breaking ball into the Freedom (44-27) bullpen, pushing the Miners in front, 3-0.

The Freedom pulled within two in the bottom half of the first, as Taylor Oldham singled off Miners starter Chris Washington (2-3) before stealing second and third, and crossed the plate on an Andre Mercurio bunt-single.

Leading 3-1 in the top of the fourth, Southern Illinois used a Ryan Lashley single and a double by Anthony Critelli to set-up a Ryan Sluder sacrifice fly and an RBI-groundout by Massey to extend their lead to 5-1.

Following a pair of singles by Jordan Brower and Keivan Berges in the bottom of the fourth, Garrett Vail laced a double in to the left-center gap, scoring Brower to make the score 5-2. Berges attempted to score from first but was thrown out at the plate to end the frame.

Daniel Fraga made the score 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right field off Miners reliever Kyle Tinius.

One more insurance run would score for the Miners in the top of the ninth on Cortinas second RBI-single of the game. In the bottom half, Fraga drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-out bloop double to shallow left field by Jose Brizuela to bring the tying run to the plate. But Mercurio flew out to center, ending the game.

Brower led the Freedom with three hits, while Berges, Brizuela, Fraga and Mercurio each collected two. Florence, however, left nine runners stranded in the game, including at least one in each of the first five innings.

The Freedom loss handed the Miners their third straight victory, and was Florences fourth consecutive loss of a series opener.

The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium. Jordan Kraus (8-4) will start for the Freedom against a yet-to-be-determined starter for Southern Illinois.

The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY.The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.

Florence Freedom

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Freedom dig early hole they can't climb out of, fall to Miners in series ... - User-generated content (press release) (registration)

Satirists have repeatedly drawn on the similarities between President Donald Trump and Middle Eastern and African dictators, for installing his family in senior advisory positions in the White House as much as hisexcessive self-regardand his respect formilitarytough men.Nowcritics can tick off another point on the autocrat checklist followingAttorney General Jeff Sessions's announcement Friday ofanew crackdown onleakersthat will include a Justice Department (DOJ) review of policies governing how the department deals withmedia outlets that publish leaked information.

Sessions and National Intelligence Director Dan Coats announced at a press conference that more DOJand FBI resources would be directed towards pursuing leakers, particularly those who pass information on to the press and foreign officials.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., July 20, 2017. Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters

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The moves comes after a wave of leaks hit the White House, exposing, among other things, contact between Trump officials and Russian government officials, with alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia the subject of multiple investigations.

Trump allies accused a deep state of security officials of orchestrating the leaks in a bid to unseat the president.Trump has railed against leakers, and placed Sessions under pressure to prosecute more of those who disclose classified information. He has also attacked what he has called the fake news media for publishing illegal leaks.

In an escalation of the administration's campaign against what it claims are hostile branches of the media, Sessions announced that part of the focus of the new anti-leakers crackdown would be the press.

Sessions said Friday the administration had tripled the number of illegal leaks cases over the previous administration, and said that after meeting intelligence officials, the DOJ would review its policies affecting media subpoenas.

We respect the important role the press plays and well give them respect, but its not unlimited, Sessions said. They cannot place lives at risk with impunity. We must balance the press role with protecting our national security and the lives of those who serve in the intelligence community, the Armed Forces and all law-abiding Americans.

The statement did not spell out which aspects of its policies are under review, but currently the DOJ will only compel journalists to disclose confidential sources as a last resort.

He added that the FBI would create a new counterintelligence unit to manage the cases.

It is not the only way the Trump has threatened to muzzlethe press, pledging on the campaign trail to open up libel laws to make it easier to sue publications. Former chief of staff Reince Priebus and press secretary Sean Spicer have also indicated the administration was investigating ways to review the First Amendment laws protecting press freedom.

Experts have also warned that the administration could use the 100 year-old Espionage Act, used to prosecute dissenters in World War I, to prosecute journalists.

However some Democrats joined Republicans in criticizing theWashington Post for publishing transcripts of Trump's conversations with foreign leaders this week.

This is beyond the pale and will have a chilling effect going forward on the ability of the commander in chief to have candid discussions with his counterparts, Ned Price, a former National Security Council official under PresidentBarack Obama, told The Hill.

The Freedom of Press Foundation warned thatthe DOJ crackdown threatened the press' capacity to hold the government to account.

In a statement Friday, director Trevor Timm said, Journalists cannot do their job without sources willing to talk with them sources that often put their livelihoods at risk in order to get information to the public. And the coming leak crackdown has the potential to upend accountability journalism in the Trump era.

Writing in the New York Times, law professorsRonNell Andersen Jones ofthe University of Utah andSonja R. West of the University of Georgia, have warned that First Amendment protections of press freedom are flimsier than some believe.

"We cannot simply sit back and expect that the First Amendment will rush in to preserve the press, and with it our right to know. Like so much of our democracy, the freedom of the press is only as strong as we, the public, demand it to be," they wrote shortly after Trump's inauguration.

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Trump Administration Threatens Freedom of the Press in New Leaks Crackdown - Newsweek