Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Carrie Underwood praised for quick action on hot-car rescue of her baby and dogs
Superstar singer Carrie Underwood is praised for her fast reaction -- and her word-to-the-wise tweet -- about the rescue of her baby who became locked in her vehicle. Published July 13, 2015
Condom giveaway aims to prevent human births, save animal species
Condoms aimed at preventing human births to save animal species will be distributed by a nonprofit group on Saturday in honor of World Population Day. Published July 10, 2015
House bill a sneak attack on comprehensive sex education, Democrats say
The battle over teen sex education is firing up again: Congressional committees are boosting funds to abstinence-education programs while cutting other anti-pregnancy approaches. Also, the House's newly passed education bill prohibits federal funding of materials or programs that "normalize teen sexual activity as an expected behavior." The bill's language is being criticized by Democrats as a sneak attack on comprehensive sex education. Published July 9, 2015
Lawmakers take aim at Hyde amendment, want Medicaid, gov’t insurance to pay for abortions
Abortion rights supporters in Congress are taking aim at an federal amendment that has long blocked taxpayer-funded federal health programs from paying for abortions. Published July 8, 2015
Heroin usage rates jump in last decade: CDC
Heroin use in the United States is growing, with more than 500,000 people estimated to be addicted to the dangerous narcotic, the federal government said Tuesday. Published July 7, 2015
Barry Lynn and allies to push back on religious liberty efforts
A group that seeks separation of church and state said Tuesday it will work to counter the use religious liberty rights as a way to discriminate against sexual minorities and reproductive services. Published July 7, 2015
States rebel against Supreme Court gay marriage ruling
Resistance may look futile, but U.S. lawmakers and state workers are not done rebelling against the Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage. Published July 6, 2015
Texas clerk vows not to issue licenses to gay couples
A Texas clerk said Monday she will not issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples because the Supreme Court's ruling is "lawless." Published July 6, 2015
Nathan Collier, ‘Sister Wives’ polygamist, cites gay marriage ruling in legal fight
Just five days after the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage a right, a Montana polygamist who has appeared on reality TV is threatening to file a lawsuit to strike down a state marriage law that limits marriage to two people, so he can marry a second woman. Published July 1, 2015
Visa, MasterCard dump Backpage.com, won’t process adult advertising transactions
Visa announced Wednesday it will no longer process transactions related to adult advertising from Backpage.com. The move follows a similar decision from MasterCard on Tuesday. Published July 1, 2015
Pope Francis’ U.S. itinerary: White House, Congress, cathedrals, charities — and a Philly prison
"Yes, a Popemobile is coming -- and all of us who want to see him are going to have a chance to see him." Published June 30, 2015
Texas abortion law blocked by Supreme Court pending appeal by clinics that can’t comply
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to block enforcement of parts of a Texas abortion law set to go into effect Wednesday. Published June 29, 2015
Gay marriage: Religious leaders reject ruling as legal battles loom
In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision declaring same-sex marriage a constitutional right, the battleground is shifting to religious freedom and whether religious people and/or churches can be compelled to sanction behavior contrary to their religious beliefs. Published June 28, 2015
Gay marriage fight may be over, but new battlegrounds opening up
The dust didn't settle on the Supreme Court's landmark gay marriage ruling before advocates began announcing their next agenda items in the fight for equality. Published June 26, 2015
Supreme Court legalizes gay marriage in all 50 states in stunning 5-4 decision
By a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court Friday struck down four state marriage laws, paving the way for gay marriage to be legal in all 50 states. Published June 26, 2015
Supreme Court gay marriage ruling expected as early as Friday
The decadeslong guessing game of what the Supreme Court will do about gay marriage will end either Friday morning or early next week. Published June 25, 2015
Millennials eclipse baby boomers: Census
America's 75 million baby boomers are officially outnumbered by the far larger younger generation born between 1982 and 2000, the Census Bureau said Thursday. Published June 25, 2015
Gays win consumer fraud case against Jewish therapy group
A jury Thursday convicted a Jewish nonprofit organization of consumer fraud for telling gay men that their counselors could help them that become heterosexual. Published June 25, 2015
Trail Life USA, American Heritage Girls announce formal alliance
The leaders of Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls announced Thursday they have entered into a formal alliance. Published June 25, 2015
Louisiana abortion law challenged at federal level
A federal judge Monday heard testimony in a trial challenging Louisiana's abortion law, while pro-choice advocates continued their wait on the Supreme Court to weigh in on a related legal fight in Texas. Published June 22, 2015