The Supreme Court is considering a case that involves prayers at the opening of government meetings.
An anti-Christianist in Greece, New York sued the town because they had opened their meetings with prayers that the resident considered “overtly Christian.” They claimed that the prayers violated their Constitutional right to not hear prayers.
A federal appears court ruled the city was violating the Constitution. Observers at the court noted the questions and tone of the judges indicated the Court would likely not agree with the lower court’s ruling as it stands.
The case has surprised some observers in that along with the usual social and religious conservative groups backing the town’s position what they’re doing is legal, the Obama administration has joined in support of the town.
The potentially decisive vote in the case, analysts believe, could be Justice Anthony Kennedy who seemed dissatisfied with the positions of both the town and the resident.
The case is expected to be decided by June.
The New York City council has taken steps to raise the age for someone to purchase cigarettes to the same level as those wanting to purchase alcohol.
The bill’s sponsor, City Councilman James Gennaro, said that the move by the Council will “save many, many lives.” Gennaro’s father and mother died from tobacco-related illnesses.
Critics of the measure say that teenagers will turn to the black market to get cigarettes.
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has expressed his support of the bill and has 30 days to sign it. The measure would enter into law 180 days after the mayor’s signature.
“We know that tobacco dependence can begin very soon after a young person first tries smoking so it’s critical that we stop young people from smoking before they ever start,” Bloomberg wrote in a statement.
An accused al-Qaeda terrorist Abu Anas al-Liby has been brought to New York to face charges.
Al-Liby, whose real name is Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, was questioned on a Navy ship while being transported to New York. He is facing charges connected to bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Over 220 people were killed in the two terrorist attacks.
Al-Liby has been on the FBI’s Most Wanted List for over a decade and had a $5 million bounty on his head.
U.S. prosecutors have evidence stretching back decades of al-Liby’s work conducting surveillance of terrorist targets and planning attacks on Western targets in Africa.
Al-Liby was captured by U.S. special forces in a raid inside Libya on October 5th.
Police in Brooklyn, New York are searching for a gunman after he shot a one-year-old boy in the face, killing him in front of his parents.
Police say the boy died around 7:20 p.m. Sunday night. Police believe the gunman had initially intended to kill the boy’s father. Continue reading →
Doctors are suspecting a 17-year-old honor roll student who suddenly collapsed and then died was infected with a rare tick-borne illness.
Joseph Elone of Poughkeepsie, New York died shortly after midnight on August 5th according to NBC New York. The honor roll student who was hoping to become an environmental engineer collapsed in his front yard in the evening of August 4th. Continue reading →
Two New York men appeared in court facing charges related to providing support to terrorists.
Glendon Scott Crawford and Eric Feight claimed they could build an X-ray weapon that would be mounted on the back of a truck and “kill Israel’s enemies while they slept.” Continue reading →
The New York City Department of Health has launched an app for smartphones that tells teenagers exactly where to go to obtain an abortion.
The app also reminds the teens they don’t need parental permission for “sexual health services.” Continue reading →
A weekend storm brought parts of northern New York to a standstill.
A ski mountain near the Vermont border received over three feet of snow that caused the shutdown of the Veteran’s Memorial Highway on Whiteface Mountain. Continue reading →
The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up a case regarding prayers before a town meeting and whether or not it violates the First Amendment.
The town of Greece, New York allowed prayers before town meetings and two residents complained about the process. They filed suit in federal court when he city refused to give in to their demands to stop. Continue reading →
Pro-life groups are organizing against legislation that would greatly expand abortions in New York. The Reproductive Health Act would remove restrictions on abortion such as parental notification for underage girls and a 24-hour waiting period. Continue reading →
