BILLY GRAHAM STATUE
NC evangelist Graham could be immortalized inside US Capitol
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β The North Carolina House has decided that it wants the Rev. Billy Graham to be honored with a statue on Capitol Hill in Washington.
The chamber approved a bill Thursday officially asking a congressional committee to approve placing a statue of the Charlotte-born evangelist inside the U.S. Capitol.
Each state has two statues in the Capitol building. Billy Graham’s likeness would replace the statue of former Gov. Charles Aycock, whose legacy has been tarnished by ties to North Carolina’s white supremacy movement.
The 96-year-old Graham, who now lives in western North Carolina, has been near the top of national popularity lists for decades.
The measure passed 71-28, with all of the negative votes cast by Democrats. Several were unhappy that the bill was brought to the floor without committee debate.
Sound:
264-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with state Rep. Charles Jeter, R-N.C.)–The North Carolina House has decided that it wants the Rev. Billy Graham to be honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (16 Apr 2015)
< 259-a-15-(State Rep. Verla Insko, D-N.C., in floor debate)-“regard. I do”-Democratic North Carolina state Representative Verla Insko says she’s voting against the measure because it didn’t go through committee. (16 Apr 2015) < 256-a-14-(State Rep. John Blust, R-N.C., in floor debate)-“you could name”-Republican North Carolina state Representative John Blust says the Rev. Billy Graham’s statue should represent North Carolina in the U.S. Capitol. (16 Apr 2015) < 255-a-12-(State Rep. John Blust, R-N.C., in floor debate)-“in the world”-Republican North Carolina state Representative John Blust says the Rev. Billy Graham’s statue should be in the U.S. Capitol building. (16 Apr 2015) < 257-a-07-(State Rep. Charles Jeter, R-N.C., in floor debate)-“to President Obama”-Republican North Carolina state Representative Charles Jeter says the Rev. Billy Graham is unique among natives of North Carolina. (16 Apr 2015) < 258-a-13-(State Rep. Becky Carney, D-N.C., in floor debate)-“is a process”-Democratic North Carolina state Representative Becky Carney says she’s voting against the resolution because it should have been brought up in committee first. (16 Apr 2015) < BIBLE-OFFICIAL BOOK Tennessee plan to make Bible ‘official’ book derailed NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β Legislation to make the Bible the official state book of Tennessee has been derailed in the state Senate. Citing constitutional concerns, Republican Majority Leader Mark Norris has sent the House-passed bill back to the Senate Judiciary Committee, effectively killing it this year. The bill has divided Republicans in conservative Tennessee. Some say the Bible is too sacred to be a state symbol. Others argue it’s an integral part of the state’s history. Tennessee’s attorney general warned in a legal opinion earlier this week that the bill would violate separation of church and state provisions of both the federal and state constitutions. 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(16 Apr 2015) < 145-c-09-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“do with it”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports that the takeoever by the Vatican was supposed to last another couple of years, and experts think the pope may have intervened. (16 Apr 2015) < 146-c-07-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“and they’re overjoyed”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports that the nuns’ group is understandably relieved and happy that the scrutiny has ended. (16 Apr 2015) < 144-c-18-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“publications were cleared”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports that the Vatican had accused the Leadership Conference of Women Religious of taking positions that undermine Catholic teaching. (16 Apr 2015) < VATICAN-BENEDICT’S BIRTHDAY Pope Benedict XVI celebrates 88th birthday with party, pint VATICAN CITY (AP) β Retired Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating his 88th birthday with a party and a pint of beer. 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