Christopher Vondracek

Confederate memorials removal campaign resonates in Belgium

A longtime campaign to take down statues memorializing the Confederacy, many of which were erected decades after the Civil War, is gaining newfound momentum amid protests over the death of George Floyd.

June 4, 2020

Trump to attend Mount Rushmore fireworks on July 3

Fireworks will sizzle and pop over the stone faces at Mount Rushmore for the first time in over a decade this July 3, says the state's governor.

June 4, 2020

City curfews enable police action, peaceful protests over death of George Floyd

Curfews like those imposed in cities amid rioting over the death of George Floyd last week help in restoring order as well as enabling civil protest, says one criminology professor.

June 3, 2020

Donald Trump signs executive order on international religious freedom

President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that aims to prioritize religious freedom as a foreign policy initiative that includes requiring all civil service employees to undertake "international religious freedom training."

June 2, 2020

Russell Vought, budget director critiqued for religious views, up for Senate confirmation

Religious liberty advocates are voicing support for the White House's acting budget director, who faces confirmation hearings this week in the Senate, where his religious beliefs were criticized three years ago.

June 2, 2020

Project 21, black conservatives group, joins police reform push of liberals

Black conservative leaders are finding common ground with their liberal counterparts on a host of police reform policies in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police officers, including de-escalation tactics, ending civil assets forfeiture and holding bad officers accountable.

June 1, 2020

Last abortion facility in Missouri to stay open

The lone abortion clinic in Missouri will remain licensed after a state administrative commissioner ruled that the St. Louis Planned Parenthood facility has no record of violating the state's health code.

May 29, 2020

Illinois backs off limitations on religious assembly

Illinois officials have lifted a de facto ban on in-person worship, signaling a victory for churches challenging the restrictions.

May 29, 2020

New York bill would ban live animal markets

Legislation in New York aims to ban live animal markets -- where fowl and other animals are sold and butchered -- in hopes of preventing the next coronavirus.

May 28, 2020

DOJ, South Dakota school board reach deal on voting rights lawsuit

The Department of Justice and a South Dakota school board have reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit that entails a new method for electing board members to boost representation by American Indians.

May 28, 2020

Supreme Court orders states to respond to churches’ appeals to reopen

The Supreme Court is ordering the governors of Illinois and California to respond to two separate appeals filed by churches seeking to block enforcement of stay-at-home orders.

May 28, 2020

Online enrollment at Arizona State soars for summer

Arizona State University, one of the nation's largest public colleges with heavy online enrollment, is reporting a nearly 17% boost in attendance for its summer courses.

May 22, 2020

Oklahoma bans healthcare reimbursements based on age, ability

An elderly or disabled person will not be billed extra or be blocked from receiving health care because of high costs in Oklahoma, after passage of anti-discrimination legislation.

May 22, 2020

Michael McKenna, former Trump adviser, writes Washington Times column

Former White House energy adviser Michael McKenna has joined The Washington Times as a columnist.

May 20, 2020

Authorities probe fire at Miss. church fighting stay-at-home order

Authorities in Mississippi are investigating a fire that destroyed a Pentacostal church that is opposing a stay-at-home order in a federal lawsuit.

May 20, 2020

Documentary: ‘Jane Roe,’ of Roe v. Wade, turned pro-life for money

A new documentary purports that "Jane Roe" of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion became an anti-abortion activist in the 1990s only because she was being paid and encouraged by pro-life activists.

May 20, 2020

Churches challenging stay-at-home orders in court

A lawsuit filed by a group of churches in Oregon briefly led to an eight-hour lifting of the governor's stay-at-home order, before the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the lower court ruling and restored the order this week.

May 19, 2020

States cancelling July 4 firework displays out of abundance of caution

With Memorial Day just around the corner, Anita Brown says "it's a scary time" to be a seller of fireworks, as social distancing protocols dampen hopes of summertime pyrotechnic displays across the country.

May 18, 2020

Minnesota AG sues to stop bars from reopening

Minnesota's attorney general filed a lawsuit Sunday evening to block a chain of bars known as Shadys from reopening in defiance of a statewide shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.

May 18, 2020

Parish to say goodbye virtually to historic church due to pandemic

A historic Catholic church in Minnesota is set for "final demolition" next week is unable to formally say goodbye in a worship service because of the coronavirus' social distancing restrictions.

May 15, 2020