Judge gives green light to California’s sanctuary laws

(Worthy News) – A federal judge upheld the bulk of California’s sanctuary laws Thursday, delivering a major victory to immigrant rights advocates and blazing a path for states and localities to consider as they seek ways to resist President Trump’s immigration policy.

The Trump administration had sued to block three California laws, saying they hindered the federal government’s duty to police the borders and oust illegal immigrants. But Judge John A. Mendez, a George W. Bush appointee, said the government cannot force states to enlist in immigration enforcement.

He upheld a state law that ordered local police not to work on investigations with federal immigration authorities and to keep them from deporting criminals found in state and local prisons and jails. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

The post Judge gives green light to California's sanctuary laws appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

US job growth was likely solid in June despite trade risks

(Worthy News) – Employers in the United States are thought to have kept up their brisk pace of hiring in June, reflecting the durability of the second-longest U.S. economic expansion on record even in the face of a trade war with China.

Economists have estimated that 195,000 jobs were added last month and that the unemployment rate remained at an 18-year low of 3.8 percent, according to data provider FactSet. If, though, the unemployment rate reached 3.7 percent or less in June, it would mark its lowest level since December 1969, when it was 3.5 percent.

The Labor Department’s monthly jobs report will be released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Friday. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

The post US job growth was likely solid in June despite trade risks appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

California Senate Stalls Vote on Controversial LGBT Bill

(Worthy News) – CBN News has learned that the controversial bill AB 2943 did not come up on the Senate floor for a vote before the California Legislature begins its month-long vacation recess.

AB 2943 states that “advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual” is illegal under state’s consumer fraud law.

This means the bill would make it illegal to distribute resources, sell books, offer counseling services, or direct someone to a biblically based model for getting help with gender confusion and homosexuality.

If passed, the law could ultimately threaten free speech and freedom of religion for Christians. [ Source: CBN News (Read More…) ]

The post California Senate Stalls Vote on Controversial LGBT Bill appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

Northern Israel experiences yet another earthquake

(Worthy News) – A 3.2 tremor was felt a little after 1pm on Thursday in the north of the country, the Geophysical Institute of Israel said.

It followed a 4.1 earthquake felt at 4:50am Wednesday morning in northern Israel and several weaker aftershocks: a 3.2 earthquake was felt at around 4:58am, a 2.1 earthquake at 6:41am and a 3.8 at 6:52am and a 4.5 earthquake at 10:46pm.

Dr. Ran Nof, a seismologist in the Geological Survey of Israel, told Ynet that earthquakes are actually not a rare phenomenon. [ Source: Ynet News (Read More…) ]

The post Northern Israel experiences yet another earthquake appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

Iran says Europe’s offer to save nuclear deal insufficient

(Worthy News) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday that a European offer of economic measures to counter the effects of the United States abandoning the nuclear deal does not go far enough, reported state news agency IRNA.

Rouhani told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a phone call that the package “does not meet all our demands,” reported the news agency on the eve of ministerial talks in Vienna.

The Iranian leader said he hoped the matter could be addressed at the meeting which comes two months after US President Donald Trump walked away from the landmark 2015 agreement. [ Source: Ynet News (Read More…) ]

The post Iran says Europe's offer to save nuclear deal insufficient appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

California must consider earlier parole for sex offenders, judge rules

(Worthy News) – California must consider earlier parole for potentially thousands of sex offenders, maybe even those convicted of pimping children, a state judge said Friday.

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Allen Sumner preliminarily ordered prison officials to rewrite part of the regulations for Proposition 57. The 2016 ballot measure allows consideration of earlier parole for most state prison inmates, but Gov. Jerry Brown promised voters all sex offenders would be excluded.

That goes too far, Sumner said in rejecting Deputy Atty. Gen. Maria Chan’s argument that the ballot measure gave state officials broad discretion to exclude any class of offenders whose release might harm public safety. [ Source: LA Times (Read More…) ]

The post California must consider earlier parole for sex offenders, judge rules appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

Israel successfully tests missile defense systems

(Worthy News) – The Defense Ministry on Thursday said Israel’s missile defense systems had successfully completed a series of tests designed to “counter emerging threats in the region.”

In a statement, the ministry said the tests were carried out by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in conjunction with the army and defense firms Israel Aerospace Industries and mPrest Systems.

“Within the framework of the tests, various types of threats were launched, which simulate the developing threats in the region,” the Defense Ministry said. “The Homa [missile defense] directorate will continue to develop the Iron Dome system to “counter the emerging threats in the region.” [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

The post Israel successfully tests missile defense systems appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

IDF reportedly boosts Iron Dome deployment in Gaza vicinity

(Worthy News) – The IDF has boosted deployment of Iron Dome missile defense batteries around the Gaza Strip, according to a report Thursday night.

The Haaretz newspaper said the decision was made following a security assessment by the army’s Southern Command.

Also Thursday the Defense Ministry said Israel’s missile defense systems, including Iron Dome, had successfully completed a series of tests designed to “counter emerging threats in the region.” [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

The post IDF reportedly boosts Iron Dome deployment in Gaza vicinity appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

Russia blocks Security Council statement on Syria

(Worthy News) – Russia on Thursday blocked the UN Security Council from adopting a statement on the situation in southwestern Syria, where rebels are under intense bombardment, diplomats said after an urgent meeting requested by Sweden and Kuwait.

Russia on Thursday blocked the UN Security Council from adopting a statement on the situation in southwestern Syria, where rebels are under intense bombardment, diplomats said after an urgent meeting requested by Sweden and Kuwait.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier that the Russia-backed offensive by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime was having a “devastating impact on civilians.” [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

The post Russia blocks Security Council statement on Syria appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

Mueller Taps More Prosecutors to Help With Growing Trump Probe

(Worthy News) – Special Counsel Robert Mueller is tapping additional Justice Department resources for help with new legal battles as his year-old investigation of Russian interference with the 2016 election continues to expand.

As Mueller pursues his probe, he’s making more use of career prosecutors from the offices of U.S. attorneys and from Justice Department headquarters, as well as FBI agents — a sign that he may be laying the groundwork to hand off parts of his investigation eventually, several current and former U.S. officials said.

Mueller and his team of 17 federal prosecutors are coping with a higher-than-expected volume of court challenges that has added complexity in recent months, but there’s no political appetite at this time to increase the size of his staff, the officials said. [ Source: Bloomberg (Read More…) ]

The post Mueller Taps More Prosecutors to Help With Growing Trump Probe appeared first on Worthy Christian News.