Sessions Calls On Birmingham To Reinstate Agreements With Church Of The Highlands
Former Attorney General and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Sessions on Wednesday urged the Birmingham Board of Education and the Birmingham Housing Authority to reverse their decisions to sever ties with the Church of the Highlands after its head pastor liked social media posts from the leader of a conservative organization.
The church had rented space for worship services at Birmingham’s Woodlawn and Parker high schools. The housing authority had partnered with the church to offer mentoring and social services in nine public housing communities. The boards ended the agreements earlier this month in a move that Sessions called “unconstitutional discrimination.”
“The First Amendment means that the government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter or its content,” Session said at a press conference held across the street from Woodlawn High School. “Those individual viewpoints cannot be required to be suppressed, silenced before somebody can rent a building with the school board.”
Church of the Highlands Pastor Chris Hodges apologized for liking social media posts by Charlie Kirk, the president of the conservative group Turning Point USA. Hodges said in a sermon those posts, which some considered racist, “is not what I believe.”
Sessions said he sent letters to the school board and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin asking for the decisions to be reversed. Representatives of the school system and the mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from WBHM.
Memphis and Portland, Ore. brace for troops. Why Chicago might be next
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said the Department of Homeland Security has requested for 100 military personnel to help protect ICE agents and facilities in his state.
5 takeaways from the U.S. ceasefire proposal for Israel and Hamas
The leaders of the U.S. and Israel say they have agreed to a broad plan that could end Israel's war in Gaza. But substantial uncertainties remain.
As sports betting explodes, should states set more limits to stop gambling addiction?
With concerns about addiction rising, some advocates and lawmakers call for federal regulations on the gambling industry — but would settle for more state laws to help curb excessive betting.
Government to shut down after midnight barring last minute breakthrough in Congress
Democrats and Republicans have been unable to resolve an impasse over federal healthcare spending. The government will shutdown at the end of the day on Tuesday barring a last-minute breakthrough.
EV sales surge in the U.S. ahead of Sept. 30 tax credit deadline
A $7,500 tax credit is available for the lease or purchase of many electric vehicles — but only if contracts are inked by midnight on Sept. 30. The result: The market for EVs is a little distorted.
Trump, Hegseth to headline a highly unusual gathering of top military officials
It is highly unusual to bring in military leaders from across the globe to one central location. The president said the meeting would discuss "esprit de corps."
