STARNES: Houston now seeks pastor speeches - VIDEO: Houston has "gone too far," pastor says - GREGG JARRETT: The abuse of subpoenas

Five Christian pastors will no longer have to turn their sermons over to attorneys for the city of Houston. Instead, they will be forced to turn over their speeches related to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO).

I don’t mean to point out the obvious here – but what do those attorneys think a sermon is? It’s a speech.

According to an amended motion filed Friday in Harris County, Texas court, the city’s attorneys will no longer demand sermons related to homosexuals, gender identity, or Mayor Annise Parker – Houston’s first openly lesbian mayor.

The amended subpoenas do require the pastors to turn over “all speeches or presentations related to HERO” – along with 17 different categories of information.

I don’t mean to point out the obvious here – but what do those attorneys think a sermon is? It’s a speech.

The Alliance Defending Freedom is a religious liberty law firm that is representing the pastors. Attorney Erik Stanley tells me the amended subpoenas don’t solve anything.

“The city of Houston still doesn’t get it,” he said. “The subpoenas still ask for information that encompasses speeches made by the pastors and private communications with their church members.”

Stanley said the only resolution is for the city to rescind the subpoenas entirely.

“This tramples their First Amendment rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion,” Stanley said. “Any inquiry into what these pastors did in standing against the ordinance passed by the city of Houston and encouraging members to sign the petition is a violation of the First Amendment.”

CLICK HERE TO JOIN TODD ON FACEBOOKFOR CONSERVATIVE CONVERSATION!

The subpoenas were issued in a response to a lawsuit filed related to HERO, also known as the “Bathroom Bill.” Religious groups were opposed to a provision of the law that would allow men who identify as women to use the restrooms of their choice.

The city’s attorney said the pastors were subpoenaed because they were helping to lead opposition to the Bathroom Bill.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Mayor Parker said on Friday, “We don’t need to intrude on matters of faith to have equal rights in Houston, and it was never the intention of the city of Houston to intrude on any matters of faith or to get between a pastor and their parishioners.”

Folks, that’s a load of grade A fertilizer. 

“We don’t want their sermons, we want the instructions on the petition process. That’s always what we wanted and, again, they knew that’s what we wanted because that’s the subject of the lawsuit,” she said.

There’s just one problem, Madam Mayor, the pastors aren’t party to the lawsuit. And if you weren’t looking for their sermons, why did you put that in the subpoena. 

The amended subpoenas are not likely to quell growing national outrage over what many are calling an all-out assault on religious liberty.

Sen. Ted Cruz forcefully denounced the city’s actions during a Thursday rally in support of the pastors in Houston.

“Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit,” Cruz said to a cheering crowd of pastors and supporters. “When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.”

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a blistering letter to the city attorney Wednesday night – demanding they immediately rescind the subpoenas.

He called the subpoenas “aggressive and invasive” and said they show “no regard for the very serious First Amendment considerations at stake.”

“Whether you intend it to be so or not, your action is a direct assault on the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment,” Abbott wrote.

Also on Wednesday, Mayor Parker issued a defiant statement on Twitter – justifying the city’s attack on the ministers.

“If the 5 pastors used pulpits for politics, their sermons are fair game,” Parker tweeted.

Stanley said the mayor’s tweet revealed the city’s true intent.

“I think the mayor’s comment unmasks what the city is really after,” he said. “The city views these pastors and the communications they make with their members, their sermons, and their speeches as fair game.”

He said it was nothing more than a “strong-arm intimidation tactic to silence these pastors.”

“They are sending a message that you better not go up against City Hall on these issues,” Stanley added.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins had a strong reaction to the city of Houston’s latest move. He told me Friday, “this head-fake might fool some, but the reality is, Mayor Parker didn’t need a subpoena to access those sermons in the first place. “They were already public,” he said. 

“In this ‘new’ filing, the mayor still insists on seeing private emails, texts, and other communications related to the mayor’s office and the city’s Bathroom Bill.’ While two words – ‘or sermons’ – are dropped from the ‘revised’ subpoena, the government intrusion into private religious affairs remains.  The ‘revised’ subpoena is a difference without a distinction.”   

Alliance Defending Freedom said they will move forward with a request to quash the subpoenas. Regardless of the outcome, the pastors will not turn over any documents to the city.

As Senator Cruz so eloquently said, Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit.

Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is “God Less America.”

View the original article here

STARNES: Houston now seeks pastor speeches - VIDEO: Houston has "gone too far," pastor says - GREGG JARRETT: The abuse of subpoenas

Bashir seeks to extend 25-year rule

21 October 2014 Last updated at 14:57 Omar al-Bashir first seized power in a coup in 1989 Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir will stand for re-election next year, an aide says, despite previous claims that he would quit after 25 years in power.

He was chosen ahead of four other candidates by the ruling National Congress Party’s (NCP) decision-making council, Ibrahim Ghandour said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicted him for genocide in the Darfur region. He denies the charges.

Critics say Mr Bashir, 70, leads one of Africa’s most repressive regimes.

He seized power in a coup in 1989, and has won three elections since then.

Mr Bashir has a loyal following in Sudan’s ruling party

In 2011, NCP official Rabie Abdelati said he could “confirm, 100%” that Mr Bashir would not contest the 2015 election.

Opposition parties and analysts cast doubts on the statement at the time, saying it was probably aimed at diffusing an uprising similar to that seen against other long-serving Arab rulers in Africa.

Mr Ghandour, the NCP’s vice-president, said Mr Bashir won the party’s nomination with “266 out of 522″ votes at a meeting of its national convention, the AFP news agency reports.

The African Union (AU) has backed Mr Bashir in his rejection of The Hague-based court’s indictment.

It argues that as a serving head of state, he enjoys presidential immunity.

Sudan does not recognise the court.

View the original article here

Bashir seeks to extend 25-year rule

We created Chik-V dance. Group seeks credit for new trend

Contributed

Wayne J

Norman Grindley

Two of the members of Tuff-A-Lie dancers doing the Chikungunya dance.

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

Local dancer, producer and recording artiste Baby Lawd, wants credit for creating the Chikungunya dance move and song.

According to the artiste who hails from Arnett Gardens, St Andrew, he created the dance and song over three weeks ago and because of its popularity online other recording artistes have decided to capitalise on it.

Baby Lawd says he and his dance group Tuff-A-Lie dancers, deserve their credit for starting the Chikungunya dance craze, however their intentions is not to start a rift with any recording artistes or dancers.

“We nuh care if other people wah duh di dance and mek song. But wi just want the people dem know sey a we create it, everywhere wi guh people a tell wi sey dem hear the likkle youth (Wayne J) song. But what we a use and capture the people is that we have the chicken sample in our rhythm. So it come een like the chicken a deejay wid wi and mi nah ask if ours a di best song,” Baby Lawd said.

More connections

He said the other artistes who have released Chikungunya songs have more connections within the music industry, which is causing them to benefit from the concept more than the original creators.

“Dem have producing link so people a guh hear dem song more. But Jamaica a we a di real originator of Chikungunya dance, if you go on YouTube you will see me in the middle of New Kingston a duh the dance and write it up. Mi gone over 100,000 views and on Facebook over 5,000 shares. Mi hear a lot o people with this ‘gunya’ song and mi know how Jamaica people stay suh dem a guh follow. But a we a di real thing and as yu hear our song yu a guh realise sey it a di real thing because ours just different,” Baby Lawd said.

Baby Lawd and The Tuff-A-Lie dancers disclosed that they decided to approach The STAR because they realised that other persons were getting the credit for the creation of the Chikungunya dance and song. A music video will be released for the song in coming weeks and the official single will be distributed by Hapilos on the 15th of October.

“A we build the dance nuhbody cyah run wid it. Tuff-A-Lie dancers from early September,” dance group member Andre Walters concluded. To hear Baby Lawd’s effort music lovers can search for Baby Lawd ChickunGunya on soundcloud.com.

Other artistes who have released songs called Chikungunya in recent times are Wayne J and Beenie Man featuring the Astronauts.

Up-and-coming recording artiste Wayne J was recently featured on a popular television program for his effort also called Chikungunya.

Currently co-signed by Laing of Supreme Promotions, the artiste told the media that they decided to record the single because of the popularity and severity of the Chikungunya virus. Produced by Ikation Records, the single is doing rounds on local radio. Wayne J is a student of Pembroke Hall High School in St Andrew.

View the original article here

We created Chik-V dance. Group seeks credit for new trend

We created Chik-V dance. Group seeks credit for new trend

Contributed

Wayne J

Norman Grindley

Two of the members of Tuff-A-Lie dancers doing the Chikungunya dance.

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

Local dancer, producer and recording artiste Baby Lawd, wants credit for creating the Chikungunya dance move and song.

According to the artiste who hails from Arnett Gardens, St Andrew, he created the dance and song over three weeks ago and because of its popularity online other recording artistes have decided to capitalise on it.

Baby Lawd says he and his dance group Tuff-A-Lie dancers, deserve their credit for starting the Chikungunya dance craze, however their intentions is not to start a rift with any recording artistes or dancers.

“We nuh care if other people wah duh di dance and mek song. But wi just want the people dem know sey a we create it, everywhere wi guh people a tell wi sey dem hear the likkle youth (Wayne J) song. But what we a use and capture the people is that we have the chicken sample in our rhythm. So it come een like the chicken a deejay wid wi and mi nah ask if ours a di best song,” Baby Lawd said.

More connections

He said the other artistes who have released Chikungunya songs have more connections within the music industry, which is causing them to benefit from the concept more than the original creators.

“Dem have producing link so people a guh hear dem song more. But Jamaica a we a di real originator of Chikungunya dance, if you go on YouTube you will see me in the middle of New Kingston a duh the dance and write it up. Mi gone over 100,000 views and on Facebook over 5,000 shares. Mi hear a lot o people with this ‘gunya’ song and mi know how Jamaica people stay suh dem a guh follow. But a we a di real thing and as yu hear our song yu a guh realise sey it a di real thing because ours just different,” Baby Lawd said.

Baby Lawd and The Tuff-A-Lie dancers disclosed that they decided to approach The STAR because they realised that other persons were getting the credit for the creation of the Chikungunya dance and song. A music video will be released for the song in coming weeks and the official single will be distributed by Hapilos on the 15th of October.

“A we build the dance nuhbody cyah run wid it. Tuff-A-Lie dancers from early September,” dance group member Andre Walters concluded. To hear Baby Lawd’s effort music lovers can search for Baby Lawd ChickunGunya on soundcloud.com.

Other artistes who have released songs called Chikungunya in recent times are Wayne J and Beenie Man featuring the Astronauts.

Up-and-coming recording artiste Wayne J was recently featured on a popular television program for his effort also called Chikungunya.

Currently co-signed by Laing of Supreme Promotions, the artiste told the media that they decided to record the single because of the popularity and severity of the Chikungunya virus. Produced by Ikation Records, the single is doing rounds on local radio. Wayne J is a student of Pembroke Hall High School in St Andrew.

View the original article here

We created Chik-V dance. Group seeks credit for new trend

JFJ seeks to clear Osbourne of any involvement with sex ed programme

The Board of the human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), has moved to distance Kay Osbourne, its current executive director, from any involvement with the now controvesial sex education programme that was introduced in six privately run children’s homes.

JFJ, in a statement released late on Friday night, said it had been forced to respond after it became aware of a letter, “issued to the press, which seems to place responsibility for the content of certain questionable modules,” on Ms. Osborne, who assumed the position of executive director on April 2, 2014.

The JFJ Board said while its internal review of the project “Healthy Sexual Growth and Development in Marginalised Youth: Rights, Responsibilities and Life Skills” was not yet complete, it needed to make it clear that in its review to date, “Ms. Osborne had nothing to do with the development, implementation, preparation and/or approval of the content of the modules, nor did she have oversight of any aspect of the project.”
The project was “designed, negotiated, and contracted by Dr. Carolyn Gomes with funding arranged by Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVCC),” the JFJ Board said.

Furthermore, the release affirmed, the implementation of the project began in October 2013, under the direct guidance of Dr. Carolyn Gomes, who was then Executive Director of JFJ.

Dr. Gomes resigned from her post with JFJ on December 20, 2013 to take up a new post as Executive Director of the CVCC.

Following her resignation, Dr. Gomes was reappointed to the Board of JFJ where she continued as a Director until her resignation in June 2014.

“At no point during this period did Dr. Gomes, either in writing or verbally, indicate to Ms. Osborne that JFJ was implementing a project of this nature. It is therefore wholly inaccurate to attribute responsibility to Ms. Osborne for the content of the modules or for her to bring that content to the attention of the Board of JFJ,” the statement concluded.

Public debate

The sex education programme became a matter of significant public debate, after it was revealed that its contents included, among other items, discussions about anal sex and oral sex, widely deemed inappropriate, especially taking into consideration the age of some of the children. It took on greater national significance, in part, because the revelation of its contents coincided with a wider debate concerning whether there should be more tolerance for homosexuals in the Jamaican society.

The matter is under investigation by several agencies of government and the Attorney General has been asked to determine whether legal action could be taken against anyone who was involved.

JFJ has already apologised for the manner in which it went about administering the programme.

View the original article here

JFJ seeks to clear Osbourne of any involvement with sex ed programme

Obama seeks funds to speed deportations following upsurge of illegal migrants

US President Barack Obama wants Congress to provide more than US$2 billion to control the surge of illegal migrant (File photo)

WASHINGTON D.C., United States, July 1, 2014, CMC – After announcing plans earlier this month to detain and deport more illegal immigrants, including Caribbean nationals, US President Barack Obama wants Congress to provide more than US$2 billion to control the surge of illegal migrants entering the country.

On the weekend, White House officials announced that the funds would grant broader powers for immigration officials to expedite deportations of children entering the US without their parents.

But even with the new White House proposal, immigrant rights groups signaled, in more than 40 coordinated protests in 23 states, over the weekend that they were still hopeful for action by Obama to decelerate the pace of deportations.

“This is an urgent humanitarian situation,” said Cecilia Muñoz, the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, as she commented on the surge of illegal immigrants.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

“We are being as aggressive as we can be, on both sides of the border,” she added. “We are dealing with smuggling networks that are exploiting people, and with the humanitarian treatment of migrants, while also applying the law as appropriate.”

Muñoz said the Obama administration plans to detain more illegal immigrants, “and to accelerate their court cases so as to deport them more quickly”.

She disclosed that the president will dispatch a letter on Monday to Congress alerting representatives that he will seek an emergency appropriation for rapidly expanding border enforcement and humanitarian assistance programs to cope with the influx of illegal immigrants, which White House officials say includes unprecedented numbers of unaccompanied minors.

Obama will also ask for tougher penalties for smugglers who bring children and other vulnerable migrants across the border illegally.

Caribbean American Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke, has been among advocates calling for the redesign of the immigration process in the wake of a US Supreme Court ruling that Caribbean and other immigrant children who lost their places in the slow-moving immigration system, because they turned 21 before their parents received their immigrant visa, could not be given priority.

“We need to redesign the process to work efficiently, to eliminate these unnecessary delays,” she told the Caribbean Media Corporation. “It is my hope that Congress will resolve this problem with comprehensive immigration reform.”

The court’s ruling could affect untold numbers of young immigrants across the United States, including the children of New York City teachers recruited to fill classroom vacancies in the late 1990s and early 2000s, who have ‘aged out’ of the immigration system.

View the original article here

Obama seeks funds to speed deportations following upsurge of illegal migrants

Mexico Pacific castaway seeks return

3 February 2014 Last updated at 03:26 ET Jose Ivan steps off a patrol vessel in Majuro with the help of a nurse after a 22-hour boat ride from the isolated Ebon Atoll A Mexican castaway, who says he spent more than a year adrift in the Pacific, has pleaded to be taken home after washing up in the Marshall Islands.

“I want to get back to Mexico,” Jose Ivan reportedly said as he was taken to the islands’ capital, Majuro, for a medical examination.

Mr Ivan said he left Mexico with a friend for a trip in a fibre-glass boat in December 2012.

He was found by people living on the island of Ebon Atoll on Thursday.

‘Bad shape’ Continue reading the main story

When we got there we first found his boat, which was… grown over with shells and other sea animals”

End Quote Ola Fjeldstad Norwegian student on Ebon Atoll Emaciated and wearing only ragged underpants, Mr Ivan washed ashore when his boat floated onto a reef at the small, isolated island.

He apparently survived the 5,000-mile (8,000km) ordeal by catching fish, birds and turtles with his bare hands.

He said his travelling companion died at sea many months ago.

No details have emerged about how the 24ft (7m) boat ran into trouble or how his companion died.

Ola Fjeldstad, a Norwegian anthropology student on Ebon Atoll, told the BBC how the castaway was apparently discovered: “A group of us got into the boat… and went over to meet him.

“And when we got there we first found his boat, which was… grown over with shells and other sea animals. It had a live baby bird, a dead turtle, some turtle shells, and fish leftovers inside.

“He was in really bad shape in terms of strength and in terms of mental health.”

As he boarded a Marshall Islands patrol vessel to Majuro on Sunday, he said: “I feel bad. I am so far away. I don’t know where I am or what happened.”

Mr Ivan, who only speaks Spanish, had been communicating with Ione deBrum, Ebon Atoll’s mayor, by drawing pictures, the AFP news agency reported.

Three Mexican fishermen were rescued off the Marshall Islands in August 2006 after what they said was about nine months drifting across the Pacific Ocean.

They survived on rain water, sea birds and fish.

View the original article here

Mexico Pacific castaway seeks return

JMMB seeks $751m from pref offer

JAMAICA Money Market Brokers (JMMB) aims to raise $751 million from its preference share offer in order to further fund the financial institution’s growth.

The offer of 363 million redeemable preference shares forms part of JMMB’s continuing capital management strategy, stated the group in its prospectus released this week to the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE).“This offer will enable the JMMB group to continue its business line diversification strategies and expansion into new markets locally and regionally. In addition, the group will continue to explore new acquisition targets, thereby building its long-term sustainable shareholder value,” stated the JMMB prospectus.The offer runs from August 21- 30 and the shares will be redeemed in August 2018.The shares will be issued in two tranches, including 313 million cumulative redeemable 7.5 per cent preference shares at $2, and 50 million redeemable 7.25 per cent preference shares at $2.50. JMMB will apply to the Jamaica Stock Exchange to list these preference shares on the exchange.JMMB chairman Dr Noel Lyons indicated mutual benefits for shareholders and JMMB with the planned offer.“We invite you to diversify and grow your portfolio with us by taking advantage of this attractive offer, which was designed based on client demands for low-risk instruments with better returns,” stated Lyons.The JMMB prospectus indicated that over the next three years (2016) the group would:* apply to upgrade its merchant bank licence to a commercial banking licence;* grow its capital markets and unit trust business;* finalise the acquisition of the remaining 50 per cent shares in Trinidad-based IBL Banking Group (which consists of a commercial, bank and a merchant bank; and* complete the acquisitions of Corporacion de Credito America (CCA) and Banco Rio in Dominica Republic.In 2011, JMMB’s issued $2.76 billion worth of preference shares to the market. The funds were used to further strengthen the company’s local and regional presence. The shares were subsequently redeemed in accordance with agreed terms.“The JMMB group continues to grow stronger with steady profitability each year and we want to ensure that all Jamaicans have an opportunity to share in our success and grow with us. Following the immense success of our preference share offer in January 2011, which saw a 33 per cent oversubscription, we are pleased to announce a new preference share offer,” added Lyons.JMMB, with a client base of over 200,000, made record net profit of $3.8 billion on $8.2 billion in revenues for its March year end. It holds capital of $17 billion on $166 billion in total assets.Founded by the late Joan Duncan, JMMB opened in November 1992 as the first Money Market broker and dealer in Jamaica. With the support of Lyons of Jamaica Venture Fund Ltd, Duncan established JMMB with J$16.5 million from four major institutions.

View the original article here

JMMB seeks $751m from pref offer

5-y-o boy suffers stroke; father seeks divine help

Latest News

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporterThursday, July 18, 2013 | 7:43 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the past two weeks, cabinetmaker and father of three Errol Campbell has been faced with a challenge that would send any parent into a tailspin.His once active five-year-old son Kervol was suddenly stricken with what seemed to be a mystery illness. A rush to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) has since left 42-year-old Campbell and his wife Melene constantly on their knees in prayer.“Doctors told me that they found that one side of my son’s brain is bleeding and the other side is swollen,” the obviously distraught father told the Jamaica Observer.Campbell said doctors have performed an emergency surgery on the child in the past few days and are now closely monitoring his progress.“Doctor seh it don’t look like him going make it; but, I am just keeping my fingers crossed,” the Linstead, St Catherine resident said as he disembarked a bus inside the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre, tears rolling down his face.His spouse, too, Melene, has been finding it difficult to come to terms with their young son’s situation.“I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying. This is really a trying time,” she told the Observer from the hospital.On Tuesday, doctors at the UHWI said Kevrol, who has Sickle Cell, had suffered a stroke, which forced the emergency surgery. They said the condition is Subarachnoid haemorrhage — a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain.Despite his pain, Campbell wore a brave face as he rode a Jamaica Urban Transit Bus to Half-Way-Tree on Tuesday, his 15-year-old son by his side.While on the bus, the grieving father made a donation to a travelling preacher, and requested a special prayer for his ailing son.The preacher agreed. Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

View the original article here

5-y-o boy suffers stroke; father seeks divine help