Editorials

By CHARLES HAYDEN
First Amendment Center
Millions of kids return to school this week — and, contrary to culture-war rhetoric, most of won’t leave their faith at the schoolhouse door.

As classes get under way, public school students across America will form religious clubs, pray together in their free time, distribute religious literature to classmates, share their religious convictions in class discussions and in many other ways belie the myth of the “godless public schools.”

By KEN PAULSON    
First Amendment Center
Fame doesn’t always inspire the best legislation.

In striving to carve out protection for celebrities, lawmakers can sometimes overlook the impact on those who don’t get cameras pointed their way.

Case in point is a California law that prohibits reckless driving in the pursuit of “commercial” photos.

Roane County businessman William Edward “Eddie” Lee, who recently pleaded guilty to more than $280,000 in sales tax evasion, should step down from Rockwood Water, Sewer and Natural Gas Board,

Rockwood Mayor James Watts described Lee, the owner of a few convenience stores and tobacco shops, as a fine fellow.

Watts said he did not know how Lee’s plea would affect his seat on the board.

All we know is Lee was keeping hundreds of thousands of dollars that should have gone to the government for himself.

By GENE POLICINSKI    
First Amendment Center
When courts withhold public access to certain police or other records before trials — particularly high-profile ones — the reasoning generally reflects a desire to preserve the suspect’s right to a fair trial.

No quarrel here with a fair trial.