[link removed]
Dear Jack,
Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.
We would be very grateful if you could make a donation of $100, $50, $25, or $10 today ([link removed]) towards our work producing these Friday Fives and fighting for your values on the public square!
make a donation ([link removed])
[link removed]
** 1. CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY: Nearly 70 Planned Parenthood Centers Have Closed Nationwide in 2025
------------------------------------------------------------
“Nearly 70 Planned Parenthood centers have closed this year due to Medicaid and Title X funding cuts, according to a recent Planned Parenthood report.
Planned Parenthood has closed 20 facilities since federal defunding earlier this year following a round of nearly 50 other closures.
President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act prevented federal taxpayer dollars from being used to subsidize abortion providers for one year, meaning abortion providers don’t currently qualify for federal Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements."
Read more: [link removed]
[link removed]
** 2. FOX NEWS: Epstein Files to Go Public as Trump Says He Signed Law Authorizing Release of Records
------------------------------------------------------------
"The Epstein Files Transparency Act specifically directs the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and investigative materials related to Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell, as well as files related to individuals who were referenced in Epstein previous legal cases, details surrounding trafficking allegations, internal DOJ communications as they relate to Epstein and any details surrounding the investigation into his death.
Files that include victims' names, child sex abuse materials, classified materials or other materials that could threaten an active investigation may be withheld or redacted by the DOJ.
Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters Wednesday that she would comply with the law after it was signed, which directs the Justice Department to release the files online in a searchable format within 30 days. "
Read more: [link removed]
[link removed]
** 3. NC NEWSLINE: NC Alerts Sex-Ed Teaching Partners to Curriculum Changes Required by Federal Directive
------------------------------------------------------------
"North Carolina health officials say they have begun issuing updated curriculum requirements to the organizations that run the state’s federally funded sex-education programs.
The move follows an Aug. 26 letter from the Administration for Children and Families —which is under the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services— instructing North Carolina to remove all references to what the agency calls ‘gender ideology’ from materials used in the Personal Responsibility Education Program, or PREP. The program funds evidence-based sex education for adolescents.
North Carolina was one of 46 states and territories to receive the directive, which is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to eliminate what it terms ‘gender ideology’ from federally funded educational and health programs."
Read more: [link removed]
[link removed]
** 4. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Federal Shift Could Give NC More Control Over K-12 Education
------------------------------------------------------------
"Major federal policy shift is underway as the US Department of Education transfers administration of dozens of K-12 grant programs to the Department of Labor. According to a joint fact sheet from both agencies, the move is intended to ‘return authority over education to the States and local communities’ while improving alignment between K-12 schools and the workforce pipeline.
For North Carolina, where lawmakers have steadily expanded parental choice over the last decade, and more parents taking advantage of educational innovation, the change presents an opportunity — IF it is done with an eye toward reducing federal government strings and influence."
Read more: [link removed]
[link removed]
** 5. CAROLINA JOURNAL: High Point Councilwoman Selected to Replace Brockman in NC House
------------------------------------------------------------
"The Guilford County Democratic Party’s House District 60 executive committee met virtually on Saturday, Nov. 15, voting to nominate High Point City Councilmember Amanda Cook to fill the vacant House seat previously held by former Rep. Cecil Brockman.
Brockman resigned on Oct. 31 after being charged with having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy. House District 60 includes most of High Point, as well as parts of Jamestown and southwestern Greensboro. His term runs through Jan. 1, 2027. "
Read more: [link removed]
[link removed]
** Weekly Prayer: Family
------------------------------------------------------------
LORD, we cry out to you as Father. You are a model of the love, mercy, and authority of the perfect parent. We thank you for modeling for us what every parent should strive for, and for creating this wonderful institution called family.
LORD, we thank you for creating us with a basic nature designed to not be alone. You made us to desire the intimacy of relationships, and it is here where we experience joys indescribable: the joys of marriage, the joys of having children; the joys of seeing our children have children. What a blessing and mercy you gave us in the family! In it we find our first teachers, our first guardians, and our first authorities.
LORD, we recognize how deeply you love your children, and how deeply it pains you when they go astray. Alongside our adoration and thanksgiving, we pray in confession—as individuals and as members of larger communities—over any sins we may have committed that undermine your beloved institution. Forgive us when we endanger your institution through selfishness and arrogance. Forgive our communities and nation for attempting to redefine some of the most basic and deepest parts of being human—being made male and female, having lifelong marriage vows and responsibilities, and having parental rights over educating one’s children.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17)
Amen
Sincerely,
Tami & Team
NC Values
Disclaimer: Paid for by the NC Values Coalition. Not paid for by any candidate or any candidate’s committee. Financial information about NC Values Coalition and a copy of its #SL006654 license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at (919) 807-2214 (tel:(919) 807-2214) . The license is not an endorsement by the State. Donations to NC Values Coalition and NC Values Coalition PAC are not tax-deductible.
View email in browser ([link removed])
North Carolina Values Institute . 9650 Strickland Rd Ste 103-226 . Raleigh, NC 27615-1902 . USA
update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])
