Stained glass is about to get a lot more expensive for churches

Three 18-foot holes stare out from the massive concrete structure that will become St. Stephen Catholic Church's new sanctuary in Riverview.

They were meant to hold images of the Eucharist, an elaborately decorated cross and St. Stephen clasping his hands in prayer as he readies himself to be stoned to death.

The church has never had stained glass windows before, and these were perfectly positioned to follow the trajectory of the sun as it rises and sets.

But now church officials don't know when, or if, they'll ever be filled with stained-glass depictions of those sacred images.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/stained-glass-is-about-to-get-a-lot-more-expensive-for-churches/2281025

Virgin Islands News - 6/10/2016

Puerto Rico News - 6/10/2016

South Carolina News - 6/10/2016

State and feds say Carolinas HealthCare drove up costs by curbing competition

Patients in the Charlotte region face higher health care costs and fewer choices because of efforts by the state’s largest hospital chain to prevent competition, the U.S. Justice Department and the N.C. Attorney General’s office contend in a newly filed lawsuit.

The federal antitrust lawsuit against Carolinas HealthCare System alleges the chain illegally reduces competition in the local health care market.

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Based in Charlotte, Carolinas HealthCare operates Carolinas Medical Center and nine other hospitals in the Charlotte area. It is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems.

CHS is the dominant hospital system in the Charlotte area, controlling about 50 percent of the market. It had more than $9 billion in net operating revenue last year.

Read more: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9162/state-carolinas-healthcare-drove-costs

McCrory calls on legislature to restore funding for Durham-Chapel Hill light rail

Gov. Pat McCrory said Wednesday that he wants to see funding restored for the Durham-Chapel Hill light rail line as legislators negotiate a final budget.

McCrory was asked about his priorities for the legislature’s current short session during a question-and-answer session with the N.C. League of Municipalities. Budget negotiations will begin soon after the House voted 112-0 Wednesday to reject the Senate’s budget bill. Legislative leaders hope to pass a budget and end the session by early July.

While both the House and Senate lift a $500,000 cap on funding for light rail projects, the Senate wants to impose another cap that would limit state funding to 10 percent of the total cost for light rail, commuter rail or intercity rail projects.

Read more: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9159/mccrory-legislature-restore-funding-durham

The article continues with discussion about the governor's comments about state employee pay raises.

North Carolina ‘superdelegate’ Pat Cotham endorses Sanders for Democratic nomination

Now that Hillary Clinton has become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, North Carolina “superdelegate” Pat Cotham has decided to endorse ... Bernie Sanders.

Cotham, a Mecklenburg County commissioner and a member of the Democratic National Committee, said she and her fellow Democrats have underestimated Donald Trump, the Republicans’ presumptive nominee. And in most polls, Cotham said, Clinton “is not as strong” against Trump as Sanders is.

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Cotham joins DNC member Jake Quinn of Asheville as the state’s only superdelegates who have endorsed Sanders.

“Yes, (Clinton) did carry North Carolina,” Cotham said, “but there should be a nod to all the people (in the state) who voted for Sanders.”

Read more: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9158/carolina-superdelegate-cotham-endorses-sanders

Virginia News - 6/9/2016

West Virginia News - 6/9/2016

New York News - 6/9/2016