Obama Raised $52 Million last month

Democrat Barack Obama raised $52 million last month for his presidential campaign, more than twice as much as Republican rival John McCain in a significant boost to his financial cache for the fall contest. The Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee ended June with a combined total of $92.3 million in the bank. The figure represents a notable fundraising jump, especially for the DNC. Obama reported $72 million cash on hand and the DNC $20.3 million. But the Democrats still lag Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign and the Republican Party. Last week, McCain reported raising more than $22 million in June, which was his best month of the year. Together, the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee began July with about $95 million in the bank.

The reason for the discrepancy, greater fundraising by Obama and the DNC but less money in the bank than McCain and the GOP, is because until now the DNC had spent much of its money, leaving little cash on hand.

New Strategies Reshape Public Policy

You probably haven’t heard the name Tim Gill, and that’s just the way he wants it. Carrie Earll, Senior Director of Issues Analysis for Focus on the Family explains, “Tim Gill is stealth. He’s under the radar. When he goes after a candidate he doesn’t make homosexuality the issue. He picks something else because he knows the issue of homosexuality is still risky among the electorate.” A Colorado native, Gill still calls Denver home. He made his millions in the 80s and 90s as the founder of the publishing software giant Quark, but in 2000, he moved to full-time philanthropy. Gill favors giving to main-stream charities like the Denver Aquarium. He ties the money to so-called “non-discrimination” policies and establishes himself as a community pillar. But it’s in the area of politics where his giving is starting to get the most attention.

The Loss of Secret files

More than 100 USB memory sticks, some containing secret information, have been lost or stolen from the Ministry of Defence since 2004, it has emerged. The department also admitted that more than 650 laptops had been stolen over the past four years – nearly double the figure previously claimed. The Liberal Democrats condemned the latest security breaches as evidence of”shocking incompetence”. But the MoD insisted its policies were “generally fit for purpose”. Previously the MoD had confirmed that 347 laptops were stolen between 2004 and 2007. The Mod said it has no idea on when, where and how the memory sticks were lost. Defence Secretary Des Browne issued revised figures after “anomalies in the reporting process” were discovered.

The official total is now 658 laptops stolen, with another 89 lost. Just 32 have been recovered. In a separate response, ministers said 121 of the department’s USB memory sticks had been taken or misplaced since 2004.

Some 26 of those went this year – including three which contained information classified as “secret” and 19 which were “restricted”.

The Man who tortured and killed

A man who killed his wife’s dog and threatened to kill her has been sentenced to six months in jail. William David Streeter, 29, of Cloyfin Park, Coleraine, was convicted of seven counts of animal cruelty and one of making threats to kill. The judge said it was one of the worst cases he had seen involving animals. Streeter hanged golden retriever Mac by his collar, kicked him with steel toe-capped boots and hit him with a boulder in October 2006. North Antrim Magistrates’ Court heard that he threatened to kill his wife two days after the dog’s death. The one-year-old pedigree dog died after Streeter put a choke chain around its neck and hanged it from a rafter in his garage. The dog suffered severe bruising and swelling to his back and head as well as two broken ribs. There was also evidence of bleeding on his brain and lungs.

A New Hallelujah, worship album

On June 20, 2008 in Houston, Texas, along with more than 12,000 in attendance, Michael W. Smith recorded his third worship album, A New Hallelujah, which will be available everywhere October 28, 2008 (Reunion Records). A choir of 250, along with special guests, The African Children’s Choir and worship leaders Israel Houghton and Coalo Zamorano, led a two-hour worship event, yielding A New Hallelujah. The upcoming record, Smith’s 21st, will offer a unique, moving worship experience through songs like “Mighty to Save,” “Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone” and “I Surrender All,” (song list subject to change) along with several new songs that Michael wrote especially for the project. The title track was penned by Smith, his wife Debbie and friend Paul Baloche, and the album was arranged and produced by Smith.

McCain Meets Billy Graham

Republican presidential nominee John McCain had the chance to pray with an old acquaintance of his family on Sunday. He met privately with Billy Graham and his son Franklin at Graham’s home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The three men met for almost an hour. It was McCain’s first time to meet the evangelist. The elder Graham had prayed with McCain’s parents twice while John was being held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi during the Vietnam War. Franklin Graham said his father “expressed gratitude for the senator’s long and brave service” to the country. McCain has been trying to court the religious and conservative vote, but he insists the meeting wasn’t a political one. “They have known my family and me for many years, and the great leaders of this nation,” McCain said. “I appreciate the opportunity to visit with him and am very grateful for the time they spent with me.”

The Governors Seek Energy

TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. – Governors from several Western states voted Sunday to form a council that will study ways to protect wildlife habitat in the face of ever-increasing demand for energy development in their region. The governors were attending the first day of the annual Western Governors’ Association conference, held this year in the valley of Jackson Hole in Wyoming’s northwestern corner. The task of the Western Wildlife Habitat Council will be to identify key wildlife corridors and habitats for animals such as pronghorn antelope, sage grouse and bear. It is also considering the potential impact of energy development, both in the form of oil and gas drilling and new construction of solar and wind generation plants, as well as the matter of infrastructure for the rising population in the region and the effects of climate change.

U.S. Ship Arrives in N Korea

SEOUL, South Korea – A U.S. ship carrying thousands of tons of food aid has arrived in North Korea, after the communist nation agreed to expanded international assistance for its impoverished people, the U.N. food agency said Monday. The World Food Program said the American ship that arrived Sunday carried 37,000 tons of wheat, the first installment of 500,000 tons in promised U.S. aid that will be distributed by the United Nations. The aid was not directly related to the ongoing nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, as the U.S. says it does not use food as a means of diplomatic coercion. However, the shipment came just days after the North handed over its delayed atomic declaration and blew up the cooling tower at its main reactor site. In exchange, Washington has removed some economic sanctions against the North and said it would remove the country from a U.S. State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Obama Praises “Valiant” Clinton

Democratic hopeful Barack Obama has paid tribute to Hillary Clinton for her campaign to become the party nominee for US president.

He said his former rival had “shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere”.

The praise came after Mrs Clinton formally abandoned her bid for the nomination at a rally in Washington.

She said Mr Obama had proved his “grace and grit”, and she urged her supporters to put their energy into electing him.

Mr Obama is expected to face the Republican presumptive nominee, John McCain, in November’s presidential election.

Michael W. Smith To Record Live

Recently honored by the Gospel Music Association during this year’s GMA Dove Awards, Michael W. Smith is busy preparing for his next project; a live worship CD to be recorded June 20 at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the free event will start promptly at 7:30 PM. Lakewood Church is located at 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027. Respected as a pop artist, composer, author and worship leader, Smith’s first two worship projects, Worship and Worship Again, garnered fans in the millions, worldwide.

The upcoming album, Smith’s 21st, will be recorded with the African Children’s Choir as he leads worship for a group that is expected to exceed 15,000 in attendance.