United by the Cross

"No one has suffered more than our Lord Jesus Christ," observed a visibly emotional Franklin Graham in the opening session of the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians , hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association last week in Washington, D.C. As persecution of Christians around the world reaches record levels, this first-of-its-kind event brought together over 600 Christians from over 130 countries, many of whom have firsthand experienced persecution for their faith. I attended the summit as a Special Advisor on religious freedom and heard unbelievable firsthand accounts of stonings, beatings, and torture for Christ.

GOP candidate for FBI says no special counsel for inquiry

In this March 21, 2017, file photo, Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump is considering nearly a dozen candidates to succeed ousted FBI Director James Comey, choosing from a group that includes several lawmakers, attorneys and law enforcement officials.

A bipartisan bill to address actual vote fraud

Here's something folks rarely see in Austin, or other statehouses, in these politically prickly times: a bipartisan effort to crack down on voter fraud. In the waning days of the 85th Texas Legislative Session, a group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers - backed by party leaders - are pushing to tighten oversight of absentee ballots cast at nursing homes, which experts have long called vulnerable to abuse.

So who might run for Cornyn’s Senate seat?

The short answer is "pretty much anyone", but there are several names that are on top of everyone's list of imagined candidates. At least three members of the U.S. House are mulling a run for a possible U.S. Senate vacancy, should President Donald Trump appoint U.S. Sen. John Cornyn as the new FBI director .

Sister says weakened ‘Sandra Bland Act’ in Texas ‘gut-wrenching’

In this July 21, 2015 photo, Jeanette Williams places a bouquet of roses at a memorial for Sandra Bland near Prairie View A&M University, in Prairie View, Texas. The sister of Sandra Bland, a black woman found dead in a Texas jail following a confrontational traffic stop with a white state trooper, says it is "gut-wrenching" that lawmakers stripped police reforms from a bill named after her sibling and are now pushing a weakened compromise that "painfully misses the mark."

Tunnel containing nuclear waste collapses in Washington

Federal officials said there was no sign that any radioactive material had leaked after crews discovered that a 20-foot section of a 100-foot long tunnel - containing rail cars filled with nuclear waste - had caved in . Henderson said all non-essential employees north of the site's Wye Barricade and outside the 200 East Area were asked to stay home Wednesday.

Trump considering numerous candidates for FBI director

In this Jan. 3, 2006, file photo, then-Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Alice Fisher briefs reporters at the Justice Department in Washington. President Donald Trump is considering nearly a dozen candidates to succeed ousted FBI Director James Comey, choosing from a group that includes several lawmakers, attorneys and law enforcement officials.

Sister: Weakened ‘Sandra Bland Act’ in Texas ‘gut-wrenching’

The sister of Sandra Bland, a black woman found dead in a Texas jail following a confrontational traffic stop with a white state trooper, says it is "gut-wrenching" that lawmakers stripped police reforms from a bill named after her sibling and are now pushing a weakened compromise that "painfully misses the mark." Bland's death in 2015 was a national flashpoint in the Black Lives Matter movement - the 28-year-old Chicago woman was stopped near Houston for not signaling a lane change, forcibly pulled from her car and found dead in jail days later.

Why Texas ban on ‘sanctuary cities’ divides local law enforcement

From his 844-square mile territory of Texas cordgrass marshes and mesquite prairies, Jackson County Sheriff Andy Louderback responded to a ban on "sanctuary cities" in his state with a virtual tip of the Stetson. A number of Texas sheriffs and most major city police chiefs opposed the groundbreaking law signed on Sunday by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Road to passage for Texas ‘bathroom bill’ getting far harder

The path for Texas to enact its version of a North Carolina-style bathroom bill is poised to get far tougher as the Republican-controlled state House closes in on a key midnight Thursday deadline to approve legislation. A proposal mandating transgender Texans to use public restrooms according to their birth certificate gender sailed through the Texas Senate weeks ago, but a similar measure that bans schools and local communities from passing ordinances to protect LGBT rights has been bottled up in the House.

Saudis paid for US veteran trips against 9/11 lawsuit law

A Saudi-funded lobbying campaign involving U.S. military veterans that targeted a new law allowing Sept. 11 victims' families to sue the Middle Eastern country in U.S. courts saw some organizers disclose their activities late or vaguely, stymieing public knowledge of the scale of foreign influence in the campaign.

Leading Off: Mattingly on ejection streak, K-Rod loses job

A look at key moments in tenure of FBI Director James Comey and the decision by President Donald Trump to abruptly fire him. State-funded adoption agencies backing Texas legislation that would sanction the rejection of prospective parents on religious grounds already routinely deny non-Christian, gay, and unmarried applicants.

Why Is Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Holding the Texting-While-Driving Bill Hostage?

I'm not going to begin to pretend I understand the finer points of Texas Legislature procedure and nomenclature, but I'm scratching my head as to why a proposed statewide ban of texting-while-driving that has bi-partisan support and has already passed the state house may not get a vote in this year's legislature. According to the Austin-American Statesman , the reason the bill may die is because Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is sitting on it, apparently because of a political formality.

Study: Side effects emerge after approval for many US drugs

Almost one-third of new drugs approved by FDA from 2001-2010, including Humira, ended up years later with warnings about unexpected, ... State-funded adoption agencies backing Texas legislation that would sanction the rejection of prospective parents on religious grounds already routinely deny non-Christian, gay, and unmarried applicants. Almost one-third of new U.S. prescription drugs later get safety warnings about unexpected and sometimes serious side effects.

US seeks evidence of Haitian crimes as it weighs their stay

The Trump administration is taking the unusual step of hunting for evidence of crimes committed by Ha... . FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2010, file photo, Haitian police use sticks to try and keep the crowd in order at a food distribution point in the Cite Soleil neighborhood in the aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Port-au-P... .

Trump in-laws promote thorny visa-for-sale program in China

Texas has charged to the forefront of national debate over immigration as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a so-called "sanctuary cities" ban that lets police ask during routine stops whether someone is in the... Texas has charged to the forefront of national debate over immigration as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a so-called "sanctuary cities" ban that lets police ask during routine stops whether someone is in the U.S. legally. The most prominent domestic violence hotline in the U.S. says there's been a sharp increase in calls from abuse victims struggling with issues related to their immigration status.

Mexico and police chief slam Texas’ new ‘sanctuary city’ ban

Abbott tweeted the word "Boom" in celebration of the Texas Legislature approving a call for a "conv... Texas has charged to the forefront of national debate over immigration as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a so-called "sanctuary cities" ban that lets police ask during routine stops whether someone is in the... Texas has charged to the forefront of national debate over immigration as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a so-called "sanctuary cities" ban that lets police ask during routine stops whether someone is in the U.S. legally. The most prominent domestic violence hotline in the U.S. says there's been a sharp increase in calls from abuse victims struggling with issues related to their immigration status.