SEVERE WEATHER
Search continues for missing in Central Texas flood
WIMBERLEY, Texas (AP) β The families of eight people feared dead after the flooded Blanco River smashed through Wimberley, Texas, say the help they’re receiving in the search for their loved ones has strengthened their “faith in God and in humanity.”
Local volunteers have been meeting each morning at the First Baptist Church of Wimberley to coordinate search efforts through miles of tangled flood debris.
At a news conference in Wimberley, a spokeswoman for the families said their hearts are broken, but they believe their “loved ones who have passed are in a better place.”
Still, a minister prayed that God would help the search parties find the missing “to bring to certainty this time filled with the unknown.”
The storms that caused extensive flooding in Texas and Oklahoma have been blamed for 24 deaths.
Sound:
268-a-13-(Kelly Burke, spokeswoman for families of the missing, at news conference)-“hearts are broken”-Kelly Burke, a spokeswoman for families of the missing, says they’re keeping faith as the search continues. (28 May 2015)
< 270-a-08-(The Rev. Jay Burkhart of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Corpus Christi, praying at news conference)-“with the unknown”-The Rev. Jay Burkhart of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Corpus Christi, asks God to guide the search parties. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (28 May 2015) < 269-a-04-(Kelly Burke, spokeswoman for families of the missing, at news conference)-“and in humanity”-Kelly Burke, a spokeswoman for families of the missing, says volunteers have been gathering daily to help with the search. (28 May 2015) < 267-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Kelly Burke, spokeswoman for families of the missing, and the Rev. Jay Burkhart of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Corpus Christi)–The families of eight people feared dead after the flooded Blanco River smashed through Wimberley, Texas, say the help they’re receiving in the search for their loved ones has strengthened their “faith in God and in humanity.” AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (28 May 2015) < 239-a-07-(Chief Nim Kidd, director, Texas Division of Emergency Management, at news conference)-“down the road”-Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd says he’s concerned about additional flooding if there is more rain in some parts of the state. (28 May 2015) < 238-a-08-(Chief Nim Kidd, director, Texas Division of Emergency Management, at news conference)-“the rain stops”-Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd says it’s going to take some time for all the water to recede. (28 May 2015) < 237-q-09-(Chief Nim Kidd, director, Texas Division of Emergency Management, at news conference)-“parts of Texas”-Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd is asked whether the worst of the flooding is over. (28 May 2015) < 232-a-15-(Brian Harmon, resident, in AP interview)-“it’s very stressful”-Houston resident Brian Harmon says the flooding is cutting into his livlihood. (28 May 2015) < 230-a-08-(Joy Rizzi, resident, in AP interview)-“to get trapped”-Houston resident Joy Rizzi says she’s torn between leaving her home or staying as the the San Jacinto River rises closer and closer to her home. (Jacinto is pronounced: juh-SIN’-toh) (28 May 2015) < 231-a-08-(Brian Harmon, resident, in AP interview)-“else out here”-Houston resident Brian Harmon says he and his family returned to get more items from their home before the rising San Jacinto River floods the neighborhood.(Jacinto is pronounced: juh-SIN’-toh) (28 May 2015) < 202-a-08-(Kharley (KAHR’-lee) Smith, coordinator, Hays County Emergency Management, at news conference)-“is pending identification”-Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator Kharley Smith says there are still a number of people missing from flooding near the town of Wimberley, Texas. ((watch for dating)) (28 May 2015) < 207-a-06-(Jaret Rogers, meteorologist, National Weather Service storm prediction center, in AP interview)-“a few tornadoes”-Meteorologist Jaret Rogers says severe thunderstorms are possible from central Nebraska south through western Texas. (28 May 2015) < METRO-ISSUE ADS DC transit officials suspend issue-oriented ads after Muhammad submission WASHINGTON (AP) β Transit officials in Washington D.C. who were asked to post an ad featuring a cartoon of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad have suspended all issue-oriented advertisements on the region’s rail and bus system. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s board of directors voted Thursday to suspend issue-oriented ads until the end of the year. They didn’t say why. But Pamela Geller, whose group sponsored this month’s Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas, says she submitted an ad featuring the winning cartoon to Metro about two weeks ago. She says it depicts Muhammad raising a sword and saying “you can’t draw me” over a caption that says “support free speech.” Two would-be terrorists ambushed officers outside the Texas event and were killed. But Geller calls the transit officials “cowards” for not being willing to run the ad and said “rewarding terror with submission is defeat.” Sound: 279-c-18-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“submission is defeat”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that Metro’s suspension of issue-oriented ads is being criticized by the woman whose group sponsored this month’s Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas. (28 May 2015) < 278-v-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–Transit officials in Washington D.C. who were asked to post an ad featuring a cartoon of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad have suspended all issue-oriented advertisements on the region’s rail and bus system. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (28 May 2015) < POPE-PHILADELPHIA-MURAL Pope joining cast of characters on Philadelphia buildings PHILADELPHIA (AP) β Pope Francis is joining a colorful cast of characters painted on the outside of buildings across Philadelphia. Officials announced Thursday that hundreds of residents and visitors will help create the mural honoring the pontiff and families. Francis is due to visit the city in September for the World Meeting of Families. Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program already has created more than 3,000 murals depicting a range of themes and faces β from neighborhood grandmothers to basketball star Julius Erving. Pope Francis will take up only a small portion of the mural, a portrait of families that will cover more than 4,000 square feet over three sections of a multistory building. Community members will paint portions of the image on cloth. Artists will then use adhesive to assemble the mural on walls of the future St. Malachy (MAL’-ah-kee) School. Sound: 243-a-07-(Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families, at news conference)-“to be huge”-Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families, says the mural will cover more than 4,200 square feet. (28 May 2015) < 245-a-08-(Cesar Viveros, lead artist of the mural depicting Pope Francis with families, in AP interview)-“in the mural”-Cesar Viveros, lead artist of the mural depicting Pope Francis with families, says it’s a special project. (28 May 2015) < 244-a-09-(Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families, at news conference)-“this front wall”-Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families, says the mural will be huge. (28 May 2015) < GAY MARRIAGE McCrory vetoes NC religious objection bill on gay marriage RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has vetoed a religious exemption bill that would allow some court officials to avoid gay marriage duties. The Republican governor announced his decision Thursday β hours after lawmakers gave their final approval to the measure. His office says he vetoed it shortly after the announcement. The legislature must decide whether to override that veto. The bill gives magistrates and some register of deeds workers the ability to avoid duties for all marriages if they have a “sincerely held religious objection.” McCrory says he believes public officials who swear to support and defend the Constitution and to carry out their duties shouldn’t be exempt from upholding their oath. The House and Senate both have passed the bill by margins above the threshold needed to override a veto. NIRELAND-GAY CAKE Bakery owners to appeal ‘gay cake’ discrimination verdict LONDON (AP) β The owners of a Northern Ireland bakery that refused to bake a cake supporting gay marriage say they will appeal their conviction for discrimination. The Christian owners of Ashers Baking Company were convicted last week after refusing an order from gay rights activist Gareth Lee. He asked for a cake featuring Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie and the words “Support Gay Marriage.” Belfast Judge Isobel Brownlie ruled that the bakery discriminated against Lee’s sexual orientation and political beliefs and ordered it to pay 500 pounds ($765) in damages. Members the McArthur family, the bakery’s owners, said Thursday they would appeal. They said “we have done nothing wrong as we have discriminated against no individual but rather acted according to what the Bible teaches regarding marriage.” BRITAIN-METHODISTS-ABUSE UK Methodist Church apologizes for past sexual abuse cases LONDON (AP) β Britain’s Methodist Church says there were almost 2,000 reports of physical and sexual abuse within the denomination over more than half a century, and has apologized for failing to protect the victims. Martyn Atkins, general secretary of the Methodist Conference, made an “unreserved apology” Thursday. He said the abuse “inflicted by some Methodists on children, young people and adults is and will remain a deep source of grief and shame to the church.” The report, published after three years of research, found 1,885 cases of sexual, physical, emotional and domestic abuse going back to 1950. In 26 percent of the cases, church ministers or lay employees were identified as the alleged perpetrators. There are about 200,000 Methodist Church members in Britain, where Anglicanism is the major Protestant denomination. OBAMA-CUBAN SHRINE Obama visits shrine to honor Cuban Americans MIAMI (AP) β President Barack Obama has visited a shrine in Miami to honor Cuban Americans. The White House says Obama stopped at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity on Thursday to honor the sacrifices Cuban Americans have made in pursuit of liberty and recognizing their contributions to the U.S. The president greeted worshippers as he arrived, and got a tour of the church. The U.S. and Cuba are close to resolving issues that would allow both countries to re-open embassies for the first time since the U.S. severed diplomatic relations in 1961. The president’s visit came one day before a 45-day period expires for Congress to challenge Obama’s decision to take Cuba off a list of state sponsors of terrorism. CONTROVERSIAL STATUE RELOCATED Missouri school moves contentious statue of Native Americans ST. LOUIS (AP) β A statue now viewed as controversial has been relocated by Saint Louis University after faculty and students complained that it symbolizes white supremacy. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the sculpture titled “Where the Rivers Meet” has been moved from outside a residence hall to inside the Saint Louis University Museum of Art. The sculpture depicts Jesuit missionary Pierre-Jean De Smet on an elevated platform above two Native Americans while holding a cross above his head. Last month, the school’s student-run newspaper published an op-ed stating the statue seems to say to Native Americans that they are not welcome unless they submit to a culture and religion. University spokesman Clayton Berry said the statue, which was created in the 1800s, will now be a part of the museum’s “Collection of the Western Jesuit Missions.” JOPLIN SCHOOLS-RELIGIOUS LAWSUIT Southern Missouri school officials face religious lawsuit JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) β Joplin school officials are being sued over claims that they violated the U.S. Constitution by allowing students to go on a field trip to a Christian ministry. The Joplin Globe reports that the lawsuit was filed by the American Humanist Association. Roy Speckhardt, the group’s executive director, says, “Proselytizing to kids on a field trip disrespects the rights of students of minority faiths and of no faith.” The suit says a permission slip sent home to parents for the May 8 field trip said that they would “allow their child to participate in worship services, Bible studies or any other activities that may pertain to the Christian faith.” Joplin School District spokeswoman Kelli Price said students selected the location at Victory Ministry and Sports Complex and that “no religious exercises or proselytizing took place on the field trip.” ISRAEL-CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Christian schools in Israel say budget cuts hurt community RAMLE, Israel (AP) β Private Christian schools are among Israel’s highest ranked educational institutions, established by churches in the Holy Land centuries ago β long before modern Israel’s own creation. But Christian school administrators are now accusing Israel of slashing their funding as a pressure tactic to get them join the Israeli public school system β a move they say would interfere with the schools’ Christian values and high academic achievements. They’re also complaining of discrimination, since as Israel moves to cut money to Christian schools it continues to fully fund private school networks for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Some 30,000 Arab students β about half of them Muslim and half of them Christian β study in about 50 church-run schools in Israel.
