SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY OCTOBER 9th, 2022

Girls Volleyball players banned from team locker room after complaints about transgender student
A girls volleyball team has been banned from their own locker room following a complaint. Members of a high school volleyball team were banned from using their locker room after complaints concerning a transgender teammate. Students on the Randolph High School volleyball team say they were banned following complaints about the student. The girls claim the transgender student, who is a biological male, was watching them change in the locker room and making inappropriate comments. Following complaints from several students the team was banned from the locker room and told to use a single stall restroom to change instead. School officials say they have to obey the laws in the state of Vermont and anyone uncomfortable with the student’s presence has other options to change. One student who was accused of harassment and bullying the student, says she should not be punished for refusing to change in front of a biological male. The parent of the transgender student claims the other members of the volleyball team are the ones that are harassing her child, no inappropriate comments were made, and her family has contacted a lawyer. SNBC NEWS will update you concerning any developments on this story.

Governor of California declares state sanctuary for children seeking “gender affirming treatment”

The governor of California has once again made headlines this week. This time Governor Gavin Newsom has declared that state a sanctuary for children seeking medical treatment. According to the new law, the state of California will now be a sanctuary state for children seeking “gender-altering” surgeries and treatments. Children under the age of 18 would be able to travel to California without parental consent or knowledge and receive these treatments. If parents try to fight the law, officials in California say the child could then become a ward of that state, allowing the treatments to continue. The law will also protect anyone in the medical industry in California who performs any kind of medical procedure on a child. Critics called the new law exploitation. The sponsor of the bill, Scott Weiner says California officials will do everything possible in the law to protect these children who seek sanctuary. Governor Newsom claims the new law is a win for parental choice. He claims parents who maybe seeking these kinds of treatments for their children will no longer be prohibited from doing what they feel is right for their child.

Caretaker Prime Minister of Israel suggests Palestinian state
The tentative Prime Minister of Israel is receiving criticism for recent comments. Yair Lapid recently addressed the UN in late September. Lapid suggested in his speech the possibility of Israel giving up land to a Palestinian state. Lapid in his speech claimed a future Palestinian state could be a peaceful option and the right thing for Israel’s security, economy, and for the future of that nation’s children. He claimed he would support it on the condition that the nation of Israel is acknowledged as a nation and the two sides live in peace. Critics of the comments included former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The former prime minister prior to the speech said on social media there was no place or logic for the idea of a Palestinian state. Critics attacked Lapid’s comments and have claimed not even his own party supports this idea. The current prime minister of Israel did criticize the nation of Iran calling their officials an orchestra of hate; critics say the speech did not go far enough to condemn hate against Israel. Yair Lapid is Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister until elections in that nation on November 1st.

SNBC HEALTH Report: the health benefits of consuming antioxidants through food. Antioxidants assist the body in fighting against various toxins in the environment. It is considered an essential nutrient and is naturally found in the body. There are options to obtain it through food. There are hundreds of antioxidants in food according to health experts. It is mainly found in fruits and vegetables that are blue, purple, and red (ex. Cranberries, grapes, eggplant, beets) are good sources for antioxidants. Vitamin C found in bell peppers, citrus fruits, and berries is an example of an antioxidant. Vitamin E found in leafy greens, zinc found in seafood, and carotenoids found in carrots, squash and yams are examples of foods rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from various illnesses including heart disease, eye disease, and protects the lungs.

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY OCTOBER 2nd, 2022

Stacey Abrams claims heartbeat on ultrasound at six weeks “not real”
Stacey Abrams is receiving criticism and sparking a national debate concerning life in the womb. Abrams made the comments at a recent event in Atlanta. She claimed the fetal heartbeat detected at six weeks during an ultrasound does not exist. Abrams says the sound is a manufactured sound designed for men to have control over a women’s body. These claims sparked fierce debates between pro-life and abortion activists. Experts including doctors pointed out the ultrasound is not a manufactured sound, and it is not political in nature. Several medical organizations including the American Pregnancy association and Johns Hopkins both list on their website that fetal heartbeats are detected between four to seven weeks after conception. Abortion and medical activists who support Abrams’ claims, commented there in still a debate as to when the fetal heartbeat can be detected. Planned Parenthood quietly changed their website following the controversy describing the heartbeat as a part of the embryo beginning to show cardiac activity, but not a fully formed heart. Stacey Abrams is currently the Democratic nominee for Governor in the state of Georgia.

California governor uses scripture to justify abortion care
A second politician is being criticized for his attempts to justify abortions by using the Word of God. Governor Gavin Newsom of California has launched a billboard campaign across the US. The billboards are currently up in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and other states Newsom deems “anti-freedom”. Governor Newsom claims the billboards are to encourage women in those states seeking abortion to come to California where they are easier to obtain. Some of the billboards include the scripture Mark 12:31 which reads, “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The billboards are also expected to be erected in Indiana, South Dakota, and South Carolina. Critics called the advertisements “Satanic and blasphemous”. Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice released a statement calling Newsom’s use of scripture to promote abortion “disgusting.”  Critics tagged Governor Newsom on social media following his attempts to tag the governors of each state where the billboards are located. The governor nor his administration has responded to the criticism.

Canada drops covid travel restrictions into nation
The nation of Canada has announced it will end travel restrictions for entering that nation. These restrictions required travelers entering Canada to have COVID testing as well as proof of the COVID shot. The government has also announced it will lift mandates for its citizens across Canada. The Canadian government received heavy criticism over the past almost three years for its discrimination against those who refused to take the shot. The mandates were used according to critics mainly to persecute churches and pastors across that nation. Four pastors have been imprisoned for various violations according to government officials. Most charges stemmed from the pastors refusing to close their churches during COVID lockdowns. In at least three of the cases the pastors were repeatedly jailed on charges and their church buildings were even padlocked and fenced in to prevent the churches from holding services. There has been no comment from Canadian officials concerning any apologies concerning the persecution of the church in Canada.

SNBC HEALTH Report: the health benefits of kale
Nutritionists are finding more benefits of kale as studies continue concerning this vegetable. It has grown in popularity here in the US due to its versatility and high nutrient content. Kale is a cruciferous vegetable and thrives in winter climates. It is considered a powerhouse vegetable, rich in antioxidants, and cancer fighting properties. Kale is beneficial to eye health and an ally in protecting the heart from heart disease. In addition to the nutrients mentioned, kale is also rich in vitamins A, K, B6, C, manganese, magnesium, copper, potassium, and has more absorbable calcium than a small carton of milk. Kale can be used in various ways: it can be cooked, eaten raw in salads, baked as a healthy potato chip alternative, and blended into a smoothie.

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25th, 2022

Biden Administration changes Title IX to include abortions
The Biden Administration is quietly working to redefine pregnancy. According to a recent report the administration is adding protections to Title IX for women who have an abortion. The new clause would include protection for women who are pregnant, including those who are seeking “pregnancy termination.” Under Title IX these women would be allowed time off from sports activities and school to recover after an abortion procedure. Title IX is a federal protection used to prevent discrimination based on gender in schools and universities. Critics say this additional clause is a way for the Biden administration to pressure schools into promoting abortion. The Biden administration has not commented on the story.

UK teacher fired for stance against LGBT curriculum
A teacher in the UK is suing the Church of England and a school run by the church after being fired. Rev. Dr. Bernard Randall was fired by Trent College an independent day and boarding school for students ages 0 to 18 years old. The teacher believes he was fired in 2019 due to his rejection of the school’s pro-LGBT curriculum. Randall responded to the new lessons by giving a sermon encouraging students to respectfully disagree with the curriculum, and not to accept the agenda of LGBT activists. The sermon was prompted by a student who asked Rev. Randall why these kinds of lessons were being taught at a Christian school. The teacher was later fired by the school, reported to the UK’s terror watch list, and blacklisted by the church for his actions. Randall has now filed a lawsuit over the incident and is being represented by Christian Legal Centre. The case is expected to be argued before an employment tribunal for the next few weeks.

Airforce servicemen receive win in case against Department of the Airforce
A second group of US servicemen has won a legal motion against  COVID shot mandates in the military. A court ruled against US Airforce officials seeking to overturn a mandate rule. The officials wanted to overturn protection for servicemen seeking religious exemptions from the shot. The court has ruled the Airforce cannot take action against the 10-thousand soldiers involved in the case. The justices presiding over the case released a review on their decision noting the soldiers’ requirements for the job were not hindered by their refusal to take the shot. Attorneys with Liberty Counsel are representing the servicemen. They pointed out only a few hundred religious exemptions were accepted by the Airforce, leaving over 8 thousand still up for review. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma has requested an additional investigation into Airforce procedures. The request follows reports of servicemen seeking religious exemptions being forced to live in “deplorable conditions” on military bases.

SNBC HEALTH Report: the health benefits of manuka honey
Honey in general is a substance known for its medicinal properties. Manuka honey is produced from the pollen of tea trees native to Australia and New Zealand. This honey has several health benefits. Manuka honey is known to fight against upper respiratory infections. It is considered aggressive in fighting against lung infections. Manuka honey has antibacterial properties and is effective in healing wounds. According to a study, it is beneficial to oral health. It helps improve digestive issues, sore throats, and helps treat acne. There are four versions of manuka honey so when shopping for this kind of honey, look for high quality products to receive its full nutritional benefits.

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18th, 2022

BLM Chapters sue National organization claiming fraudulent use of funds
The honeymoon is over for Black Lives Matter and its sister chapters. 26 of the organization’s local chapters filed a lawsuit citing theft and financial fraud. The chapters claimed the leader of the group’s Black Lives Matter Global Network stole 10 million dollars in charitable contributions. The accusation includes information that the accused, Shalomyah Bowers, gave himself a 2-million-dollar payday in the form of fees charged to the organization by his consulting firm. Bowers denies the accusations and claims the lawsuit is due to systemic racism. BLM and its leaders have been accused of various fraudulent practices when it comes to the millions of dollars donated to the organization. Some leaders in the national organization have been accused of using donations for personal expenses. According to various reports some leaders have spent organization funds on homes in exclusive areas, including one 6-million-dollar home used to hold parties, and have added their relatives onto the organization’s payroll. These accusations of fraud and misuse of funds have been blamed on racism by the group’s leaders.

TV programs promote pagan and homosexual lifestyles
Two tv programs are gaining a growing number of protestors for their content. The first Peppa Pig, a popular preschool show for children recently introduced a same-sex couple to the show.
The program which caters to viewers ages 1 to 6 years of age recently introduced a character who tells the main character she has two mommies. The show had previously received a petition in 2019 demanding a same-sex couple be featured on the show. The creators of the petition claimed children in same-sex families needed to see representation. They further claimed not introducing this type of family to impressionable young children would cause bullying of children in same-sex families in the future. Critics call introducing homosexuality to young children a form of grooming. Peppa Pig is translated into 40 languages and airs in 180 countries and territories around the world.

‘Little Demon’
A new show has also gained protests for its content. The Disney owned FXX network debuted a show called ‘Little Demon’ in late August. The show features a female character who is a pagan and gets pregnant by Satan. The show follows the mother, Satan, and their 13-year-old daughter who is deemed the Anti-Christ. One of the show’s actresses even praised the show’s attempt to normalize paganism. She revealed in an interview that the mother character on the show is a witch. The group one million moms have started a petition against the show calling for Disney to remove it from its programming lineup. That petition so far has gained over 40-thousand signatures. The protests have already caused one company, T-Mobile to pull advertising from the show. The show is executive produced by several people, including actor Danny DeVito who is also cast as Satan on the show and his daughter Lucy DeVito who plays the 13-year-old Anti-Christ character.  

New York State adoption agency wins case in court
A court has ruled in favor of a Christian adoption agency in New York State. The agency, New Hope Family services, has refused to service unmarried couples living together and same sex couples citing religious beliefs. The state’s office of Children and Family services was attempting to shut down the agency due to its denial of these couples, and for refusing to refer them to different agencies. The case started in 2018 when New York state officials charged the agency with these violations citing discrimination. The agency then sued saying their 1st and 14th amendment rights were violated. The case has since moved through the courts before returning to a district court in 2020.  The agency was represented by Alliance Defending Freedom. Attorneys for the agency released a statement praising the court for its decision. New Hope Family Services has been in operation for 50 years and has placed one thousand children into permanent homes.

SNBC HEALTH Report, the health benefits of eating food during its harvest season
Some nutritionists encourage consumers to purchase foods during their peak season to receive  full nutritional benefits. Autumn or fall is quickly approaching; here are some fruits and vegetables to consider adding to your health regimen during this upcoming season. Butternut squash is rich in beta-carotene which is beneficial to eye, skin, and bone health. Broccoli rabe is not as popular as other cruciferous vegetables here is the US, but it has several benefits including being high in zinc and is beneficial to the immune system. Cranberries promote bladder health and contains nutrients that protect vital organs. Pomegranates are beneficial to heart health, and eggplants are rich in nutrients beneficial to the brain. Harvest season for fall foods ranges from late September to December.

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11th, 2022

Teacher wins settlement in religious discrimination case
A teacher in Kansas has won her case after being fired. According to a recent report the teacher, Pam Ricard was fired for refusing to use a student’s preferred gender pronouns. Ricard was an employee of Fort Riley Middle School located in Geary County, Kansas. The teacher was fired after refusing to refer to a student, who was a female by male pronouns. Ricard was suspended for three days in 2021 for the refusal. She refused citing her religious beliefs. The teacher was later warned for referring to the student as “Miss”. Ricard says she was also forced to conceal the student’s preferred pronouns from the child’s parents. The teacher later sued the district for religious discrimination. Ms. Ricard was awarded 95-thousand dollars in the case and will retire early as part of the settlement. Attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom represented Ms. Ricard. Attorney Joshua Ney, part of Ricard’s defense team, called the school’s attempt to force the teacher to compromise her beliefs and convince her to lie to the student’s parents, “absurdity and deceptive”. He added this ruling will show other school boards that they will pay financially if they attempt to force teachers to be deceptive to their students’ parents.  Another teacher in Ireland was recently suspended for refusing to use a child’s preferred gender pronouns. He was later arrested for attempting to return to work according to reports. Here in the US the Washington Post is reporting 160 teachers have lost their jobs for refusing to teach subjects such as critical race theory or refusing to adhere to liberal and LGBT curriculums mandated by school boards.

 ADF labeled hate group by official at US Justice Department
Alliance Defending Freedom made headlines for different reason this week. The law organization was criticized by a member of the Justice Department. The comments are controversial because according to the US Justice Department’s own conduct clause, employees are not allowed to give their personal opinions on political or cultural issues. Eric P. Bruskin, assistant director of the commercial litigation branch in the Justice Department's Civil Division, commented on the ADF after a fellow colleague posted about the group on social media. In the post, Jason Weida commented on speaking at an event hosted by Alliance Defending Freedom. Bruskin in response referred to the ADF as a hate group and threatened to end his association with Weida. Eric Bruskin has previously worked for the ACLU. The organization along with groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center have labeled conservative groups hate groups for their religious and conservative beliefs. The Justice Department has not commented on Bruskin’s remarks on social media.

South Carolina continues move towards ban of abortions after six weeks
The state of South Carolina is now one step closer to banning all abortions after six weeks in that state. These revisions to the bill when it passed in the South Carolina State House would allow abortions only in cases of medical emergencies, rape, incest, and if the mother’s life is in danger. The bill would allow abortions up to 12 weeks for victims of rape.  The bill passed the State House by a vote of 67-38. The State Senate is expected to pass the bill, but the medical exemptions have so far been removed according to updates from politicians just this week. This move may cause the bill to be defeated, but negotiations are still reportedly in progress among members of South Carolina’s State Senate. About 100 protesters were present at the South Carolina House of Representatives to protest the bill. The current ban for abortions in South Carolina is at 20 weeks of pregnancy, if this bill does not pass. SNBC NEWS will update on this story as it continues. 

SNBC HEALTH Report; the benefits of a good night’s sleep for your heart
According to reports eating right and exercising are a benefit to heart health but getting a good night’s sleep is also one of the essential needs to achieve long term heart health. The American Heart Association is encouraging Americans to get more rest daily to benefit their bodies long-term. According to the organization sleeping at least seven to nine hours a night helps the body repair. The body’s blood pressure drops during deep sleep allowing the heart to decrease its workload compared to daily activities. It also allows the brain to release growth hormones helping the heart to recover from the demands of the day, according to researchers. Cardiologist Dr. Deepak Talerja advises winding down before going to bed which includes turning off electronics. He also advises limiting processed foods, a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, and daily exercise.