Latest news with #House
USA Today
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Key vote moves Texas closer to displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools
Key vote moves Texas closer to displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools Show Caption Hide Caption Texas school board approves Bible-infused curriculum The vote in Texas to allow Bible stories in public school course materials is part of a trend across the region sometimes dubbed the Bible Belt. The Texas House of Representatives advanced a bill requiring all public schools in the state to display the Ten Commandments in the classroom, the latest effort by conservative-led states to integrate religion into public education. The Republican-controlled House voted 82-46 to approve a version of Senate Bill 10 on May 25 after about a week of debate and several attempts by Democratic lawmakers to amend the bill to require other religious texts from Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism be posted in classrooms. Those amendments were rejected. The bill was passed with an amendment to clarify that the state, instead of schools or school districts, will defend and pay for any legal challenges to the law. The legislation likely faces legal action as critics have raised concerns over its potential violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits public schools from providing religious instruction" in a devotional manner or prescribing "prayers to be recited by students or by school authorities." Supporters of the bill have argued that the Ten Commandments are a foundational aspect of U.S. history, according to The Texas Tribune. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign the measure, which would take effect in September. The state Senate passed the bill in March with a 20-11 vote. The bill would require all public classrooms to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that is at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall. No school would be exempt from the bill, and schools that do not post the Christian doctrine would be required to "accept any offer of a privately donated poster or framed copy." Related: What to know about charter schools after the latest Supreme Court ruling Republican-led states push for religion in public schools Conservative lawmakers across the country have been leading an effort to spread religious teachings to public school classrooms, including introducing the Bible into reading lessons and requiring classrooms to post the Ten Commandments. In states where evangelical Christians make up a sizable portion of constituents, incorporating Bible teachings into the curriculum has gained traction, Ira C. Lupu, a professor at George Washington University School of Law who has written on religion in the First Amendment, previously told USA TODAY. In Louisiana, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a law in June 2024 directing every public classroom to display the Ten Commandments. The law was later blocked by a federal judge who declared it unconstitutional, and was also challenged by parents and several civil rights groups. A similar law was recently passed in Arkansas, Little Rock Public Radio reported in April. In November 2024, Texas officials proposed a curriculum incorporating teachings from the Bible in schools. In July 2024, Oklahoma's top education official ordered public schools to teach the Bible, which large state school districts have largely ignored. Despite the state's Republican-controlled Legislature's rejection of his $3 million request to fund the effort, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters has insisted that classrooms would all have Bibles by fall 2025. School administrators and civil rights advocates have been pushing back, saying these mandates violate students' rights. 'Courts have repeatedly ruled that it is unconstitutional for public schools to coerce anyone to support or participate in religion or its exercise," Megan Lambert, legal director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, said in a statement in response to Walters' directive last year. Contributing: Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY; Murray Evans, The Oklahoman
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Carney tells MPs to brace for 'very, very busy' few weeks as Parliament reopens
Prime Minister Mark Carney told his caucus to brace for a "very, very" busy few weeks and months as Parliament reopens, promising to implement his vision for the country with "urgency and determination." In an address to caucus — which media cameras were invited in to shoot — Carney teased that his Liberal minority government will introduce several pieces of legislation "about making life more affordable immediately," including the promised tax cut. Speaking in French, the prime minister also said his ministers will introduce legislation to fast-track infrastructure projects deemed to be in the national interest. "We are going to be very, very busy in the next few weeks, but we are going to be very, very busy in the next few months," Carney told the room. "We are going to be very, very busy in the next few years." Carney has already made clear his top priorities include the negotiation of a new economic and security relationship with the United States, and strengthening ties with reliable trading allies while building up what he calls "one Canadian economy." WATCH | PM Carney addresses Liberal caucus: To that end, Carney has also promised to lower interprovincial trade barriers and bring in an income-tax cut by Canada Day. "In every one of our actions, we will be guided by a new fiscal discipline," he said in French. Speaking with Rosemary Barton Live in an interview that aired Sunday morning, House Leader Steven MacKinnon said Carney's made it clear he wants to get things done at breakneck speed. "It's very refreshing," he said. "We're going to get at it." Reform Act voted down Leading up to caucus, there had been some speculation about whether Liberals would adopt the Reform Act, which would have given them more power to oust their newly-elected leader down the line. However, newly elected caucus chair James Maloney told reporters it was voted down. The MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore was tight-lipped about the discussions about the act, citing caucus confidentiality. Liberals have never used the decade-old law, but some MPs floated the idea of adopting it, pointing to the frustrations they felt when former prime minister Justin Trudeau ignored calls to resign for months last year. Championed by Conservative MP Michael Chong, it's meant to provide more checks and balances between caucus and party leaders, including the ability to vote out an unpopular leader. The Conservatives used the act to push former leader Erin O'Toole out the door in 2022. If it had been adopted, 20 per cent of caucus members could have moved to trigger a leadership review. A majority of the caucus would then need to vote in a secret ballot to boot the leader. Parliament returns Monday after a nearly six-month hiatus, with the first order of business being the election of the Speaker of the House. On Tuesday, King Charles will deliver the speech from the throne, which lays out the government's priorities, marking the new session of Parliament. It's just the third time the monarch has delivered the speech since Confederation. Mandate letter lays out priorities Outside of the comings and doings in the House of Commons, there are two major international events on the calendar as Canada enters a new era of foreign relations. Canada is hosting the G7, a massive undertaking, which will see the leaders of the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Japan travel to Alberta mid-June. The annual NATO summit is being held later in the month in the Netherlands. Canada's commitment to meeting the NATO spending benchmark of two per cent of GDP will likely be in the spotlight at both gatherings, just as U.S. President Donald Trump pressures members to start paying five per cent of their national income. The Liberal platform includes a pledge to increase existing defence spending by $18 billion in order to meet the two per cent spending target. In a mandate letter sent to his cabinet last week and made public, Carney laid out other broad priorities including attracting top talent, cutting government costs and "reinforcing law enforcement." Parliament is scheduled to rise on June 20 for the summer break. Carney has promised to table a budget in the fall.
Borneo Post
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sagah: Sarawak's Free Tertiary Education Scheme to benefit 10,000 next year
Sagah speaks in the august House during the State Legislative Assembly today. – Sarawak Public Communications Unit photo KUCHING (May 26): Around 10,000 Sarawakian students will benefit from the upcoming Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) which will be implemented starting next year, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn. The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said the scheme, which was approved by the Sarawak government in March this year, is projected to cost approximately RM300 million in its first year. 'FTES will first focus on undergraduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields, law, medicine, accounting, finance and psychology. 'This scheme is only for Sarawakians and will apply to four higher-learning Sarawak-owned institutions namely Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University of Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak, and i-CATS University College,' he said when winding up his ministerial speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here today. He also said that under the scheme, a stipend of RM15,000 per year is also included to students from households with a per capita income of RM1,500 or below per month. 'However, there are also other financial assistance in the form of scholarship or loan, provided by Yayasan Sarawak to cater for any other courses, so nobody is being left out,' he said. During the winding-up, Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) has sought for clarification from Sagah querying why not all the courses were provided free to the Sarawakian students. 'According to my research on the revenues of these universities, their total revenue for a year comes up to RM150 million. These include revenue or tuition fees paid by foreign students who I believe are not entitled to the free education benefits. 'All in all, it is less than RM150 million to give the free education to all Sarawakian students studying at these higher learning institutions so why are there only certain courses provided?' he asked. To this, Sagah said FTES is only at its first stage upon its implementation in 2026. 'This is only the beginning, and we must also spend wisely. We are also looking at the talents we need and what kind of talents would be required by the state in the next few years. 'It doesn't mean that we are now offering these courses and we will stop at that,' he said. 2026 Free Tertiary Education Scheme lead Sarawakian students
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wichita Falls dispensary reacts to potential hemp ban
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — As bills continue to make their way through the Texas legislature, a couple of them may disrupt the THC industry in Texas. Senate Bill 3 would ban the Texas hemp industry. However, this bill doesn't affect the state's compassionate use program. Meanwhile, another bill looks to expand the program, which allows people with certain medical conditions to get THC products at lower doses than what is sold at most dispensaries. SB 3 was introduced to the Texas legislature and was aimed at regulating hemp THC products. However, a last-minute amendment in the House changed the proposed regulations to a total ban. The potential total ban leaves dispensaries in limbo. 'We have about four employees here, so pretty much their positions will be done,' Texas Cannabis Co. Owner Carlos Lopez said. 'We wouldn't be able to sustain the business with, you know, 90% of our inventory being illegal after September.' Lt. Governor Dan Patrick began his push for the ban in 2024.. He cited abuse of the agriculture law and the sale of high-THC products to minors. Lopez believes heavier regulation of cannabis products is a better avenue than a total ban, as his dispensary only sells to people 21 and older. 'Everybody that we dealt with, like here, the metroplex, like wholesale suppliers there, they were avoiding that just to keep from even having this problem.' Without ready access to hemp THC products, Lopez fears the lower dosages through the Texas Compassionate Use Program might not satisfy the needs of the consumer. 'If they can't get the compassionate use right away, like, you know, maybe they might go and put themselves in a risky situation where they're trying to get stuff off the black market,' Lopez said. Lopez hopes the revenue generated by the cannabis industry might be enough to sway lawmakers at the last minute. 'I don't know. We'll just see whenever we get there if it happens or maybe Greg Abbott steps in and vetoes it, and you know he realizes the economic implications of it,' Lopez said. 'That's the main part I'm worried about because we're really losing a lot of money.' Regardless of Abbott's decision, by May 28, Texas dispensaries will know the final outcome of SB 3. Last year, a similar bill in Florida was vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and lawmakers instead chose to adopt more regulatory measures, which allow for the sale of hemp THC products statewide. Although the THC ban has passed the House, another bill, House Bill 46, looks to expand the Compassionate Use Program. It was originally intended to get low THC products to people with certain conditions, such as epilepsy. However, HB 46 would also make products available to people with conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, or traumatic brain injuries. Honorably discharged veterans would also be included, with the state acknowledging that veterans may have particular treatment needs. The bill would also issue dispensing licenses to at least one location in each of the state's public health regions while providing the flexibility for each licensed location to establish satellite locations to cover more ground. As of publication, HB 46 has already passed in the House, and it is now awaiting a decision in the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why NC Helene funding bill could be stalled in General Assembly
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — More than $450 million in Helene relief funding could be held up in the North Carolina General Assembly if Senators decide to incorporate it in the budget instead of passing it as a separate bill. House members passed the $464 million relief measure as a standalone bill on Thursday, meaning it could just go on to the Senate, be passed, and then immediately head to the Governor's desk. But top Senators may negotiate the funding as part of the overall budget instead. Those negotiations can take weeks, meaning the funding could be stalled. 'However they decide to do it, we just need to get it done. We don't know what's going to happen with federal support and we just need to get those resources to the people of western North Carolina,' said Senator Natalie Murdock. Top Representatives say they're hopeful negotiations on the budget will go smoothly with the Senate. 'As in the past, there will be a give or take on certain areas, areas that are priorities for each of the chambers, so you know in order to get anything done in here especially a budget with so much in it, you have to compromise on each side,' Representative Destin Hall said. But some Senate Democrats are less optimistic and say the Helene funding shouldn't be caught in the crossfire. 'I think it should be a separate bill since it looks like the budget is more controversial than maybe any of us would've wanted it to be,' Senator Julie Mayfield said. Lawmakers won't be back in Raleigh until the first week of June to start those negotiations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
