Top Stories
Hobby Lobby Braces for Big Fines
Attorneys for Hobby Lobby say the craft chain has found a
way to delay the 1.3-million dollars per day for refusing to provide
contraception and abortion drugs in their company insurance policy. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has
been handling their appeals of the US Health and Human Services Administration
mandate contained in the Affordable Care Act, and says Hobby Lobby can shift
the fiscal year for its insurance plan, which will effectively postpone any
penalties they’ll have to pay. That may
provide more time for the appeals process to work itself out in the courts.
Armstrong Admits he Doped
After years of staunchly denying it, Lance Armstrong has
finally come clean and admitted he used performance-enhancing drugs while
cycling in the Tour de France. That
confession reportedly came in a taped interview with Oprah Winfrey which is
scheduled to air on Thursday. Before
taping he apologized to all of the staff at the Livestrong cancer charity he
founded. Now, he says he’ll testify
against officials from the International Cycling Union about their involvement
in doping.
President Pleas for Debt Ceiling Raise
President Obama yesterday held his first press conference of
the New Year, making his latest pitch to raise the debt ceiling. Mr. Obama
argued, “raising
the debt ceiling does not authorize more spending it simply allows the country
to pay for spending Congress has already committed to.” Republicans are
pushing for more spending cuts as a trade off to raising the debt ceiling,
saying America
has to learn to live within its means.
President Bush “41” Home form Hospital
Former President George H.W. Bush is home from the hospital
after almost two months. He was being
treated for bronchitis and a bacterial infection.
Britain’s
Royal Bundle Due in July
The newest member of the Royal family will make his, or her,
debut this summer. Prince William and
his wife Kate officially announced this week that they’re expecting in
July. Everybody already knew that though
because Kate was hospitalized last month with a nasty case of morning
sickness. Their baby will be third in
line to the throne.
Church Around the World
Tales of Two Iranian Pastors
There’s mixed news for a couple more pastors in Iran. First, 60 yr old Vruir Avanessian was
released from prison this week after spending more than two weeks behind
bars. He was arrested during a Christmas
service at a house church and released because of health issues. It’s unclear how long they’ll allow him to
remain out of prison. At the same time
another pastor is facing death. Aseed
Abedini is an American citizen being held in one of the most notorious prisons
in Iran. The American Center
for Law and Justice says he wrote to his family, telling them he is being
physically abused and threatened with execution since being arrested while
working on an orphanage project.
Family & Relationships
Have the Winter Blues?
Do you find yourself getting the blues more during the
winter? That does not necessarily mean
“Seasonal Affective Disorder.” A doctor
with the National Institute of Health says winter blues are more general and
usually come and go. Seasonal Affective
Disorder is a clinical diagnosis and has to do more with the shorter daylight
hours in the winter. Folks in the
northern parts of Family Life Nation would be much more likely to have S.A.D.
than would those in the “Sun Belt” states of Family Life Nation: Georgia, Florida,
Arizona, Texas,
New Mexico and California.
Keeping Fido Fit
As America’s
waistline has expanded, so have our pets. FLR’s Amy Phillips reports on what to
do when it’s time to cut back on kitty’s kibble: “If Fido wants to be fit for the New Year,
Justin Gallick from Pima Animal Care Center (Tucson) says give him carrots
instead of calorie laden treats. He advises, ‘getting them out for regular
exercise is the most beneficial… that’s from a mental stimulation standpoint as
well as the health benefits.’ If you can’t have a dog where you live, shelters
are always looking for volunteers to help walk dogs. That might help you too if
your New Year’s Resolution is the same as Fido’s. To help Snowball slim down
play laser tag with her. I’m AP reporting for FLR.”
Work
Happiest Cities for Work
If you’re looking for work that’ll make you happier in 2013,
start researching Dayton, Ohio.
www.CareerBliss.com is out
with their list of the Happiest and Unhappiest
Cities to Work In, and Dayton, Ohio
tops their list this year. It’s based on
10 factors, including the relationship with the boss and co-workers,
compensation, growth opportunities, and company culture. The rest of the Top 5 are Knoxville,
Tennessee; Honolulu,
Hawaii; Memphis,
Tennessee; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Unhappiest City To Work In: Boulder,
Colorado.
Finances & Economy
Money Mom: Save on Cleaning Costs
If 2013 is the year you’ve promised to get your finances in
order and live on a budget, you’re probably going to have to find ways to pinch
some pennies. There are obvious ones
like cutting the cable TV or eating out less, but Money Saving Mom Crystal
Paine says there’s one area you can save a bundle that most people don’t think
of: cleaning supplies. Crystal
says if you will use natural ingredients you have around the house, such as
lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar. Use those kinds of things to clean and
your saving can add up, especially if you typically use disposable cleaning
products. More tips up on her website, www.moneysavingmom.com.
Health
Just Like Mom Said: Wash Your Hands
Health experts say the #1 thing you can do to keep the flu
at bay is wash your hands. A new survey
suggests that 75-percent of us don’t wash long enough. The Bradley Corporation’s fourth annual
Healthy Hand Washing Survey found that 57-percent of us wash our hands between
5-15 seconds. The CDC recommends at
least 20 seconds, and suggests we sing “Happy Birthday” at least twice to kill
all the germs. And 30-percent of us
don’t always wash our hands when we leave a public restroom.
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