July 30, 2008

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Evangelicals warn against Romney on ticket
Ralph Z. Hallow/Washington Times (07/29/2008)
Prominent evangelical leaders are warning Sen. John McCain against picking former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as his running mate, saying their troops will abandon the Republican ticket on Election Day if that happens.

ABORTION
Federal appeals court to review Va. abortion ban
Frank Green/Times-Dispatch (07/28/2008)
The full 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will rehear a challenge to Virginia’s ban on a late-term abortion procedure. On two occasions a three-judge panel of the same court ruled 2-1 that the challenge was successful — that the Virginia ban on what opponents call "partial-birth abortion" was unconstitutional.

SPORTS
Devout Heisman winner declines spot in 'Playboy' lineup
Tim Murphy/Religion News Service (07/30/2008: usatoday.com)
One year after winning college football's highest honor, University of Florida star Tim Tebow was pulled from consideration for Playboy's pre-season All-American team because the magazine conflicts with his Christian beliefs, a school official confirmed.

ARTS AND MEDIA
Newhouse News Service to close
Associated Press (07/29/2008: ap.google.com)
WASHINGTON— Newhouse News Service, which has provided Washington and national news to newspapers for nearly half a century, will close on Nov. 7, after the election. The news service, founded in 1961, is also the Washington bureau of Advance Publications Inc. of New York, which owns 26 daily newspapers, including The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J; The Oregonian in Portland, Ore.; The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. The news service is also the parent company of Religion News Service, which will continue as an independent company.