2023 Annual See You at the Pole reported as success
The annual See You at the Pole event was deemed a success across the US. The annual event encourages students to take a stand for their faith and pray at the school’s flagpole before the start of the school day. Organizers estimate one million students participated in this year’s event. Students are encouraged to pray for their schools, friends, teachers, the government, and the U.S. Doug Clark, one of the organizers for the event says it’s important to encourage young people concerning their role in the church. According to the organization hundreds of students posted photos of events at their schools online. See you at the Pole celebrated 33 years as an event this year.
Chinese citizens purchasing US farmland at alarming rate
News sources are reporting a growth in the purchase of land by Chinese investors here in the US. According to reports these investors are focused on farmland here in the United States for a different reason. The newly purchased farmland is being used to produce marijuana. Investors are reportedly paying cash and buying up US farmland in large quantities to produce the drug. Most claim it is for medicinal purposes; investigators in Oklahoma are reporting most are paying cash. 80 percent are from China. State officials are also reporting between three thousand and six thousand of these marijuana producing farms are under investigation for illegal activities. Critics report the plants produced on these farms may be fueling the black-market drug sales. The US Department of Agriculture reports the number of farms in the US for food production has decreased from 2.2million in 2007 to just 2 million last year.
Christian family maybe deported
A family from Germany is continuing their fight to be granted permanent asylum here in the US. The Romeike family, says they are being persecuted in their native Germany mainly because of their Christian beliefs. The parents say they decided to homeschool their children in 2006. The children in German public schools at the time were being bullied, involved in fights, and experiencing medical issue due to stress. The family says after praying about the situation they removed the children from public school. German officials later charged the family with criminal violations for homeschooling their children. The penalties included hefty fines and threats of removing the children from their parents’ custody. The Romeikes fled that nation in 2008 for the US. The family has been granted asylum for almost 14 years until recently when they were ordered to obtain German passports and prepare to leave the country. Attorneys for the Romeikes say they have not been given an explanation except that there has been a change of orders. U.S. Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger is currently working on bill that would grant the family permanent asylum and create a path to citizenship. The children, two of whom are adults married to Americans and two more who are US citizens, will be allowed to remain in the US.
SNBC HEALTH report: New research is revealing the benefits of Vitamin D as we age
A recent report from the British Medical Journal, finds vitamin D assists in a variety ways. Researchers with the study followed a large group of adults from ages 60 to 84. The group was studied with one taking vitamin D supplement and the other taking a placebo. The Vitamin D supplement group reported improvements in bone, immunity, and heart health. Those in the supplement group reported less heart health issues compared to the placebo group. Concerning heart health, the research team did advise that eating a healthy diet, exercising, and keeping blood and cholesterol levels under control. Older adults are recommended 600 to 800 IU of Vitamin D daily. This vitamin can be acquired through supplements, or naturally through exposure to the sun, or consuming foods rich in the vitamin such as salmon, eggs, liver, and white mushrooms.