This rule highlights this Administration’s continued invasive role in designing the health care benefits available to Americans and underscores one of the numerous concerns Americans have with the Affordable Care Act. That the definition of a preventative benefit services has morphed into a requirement to force Americans to buy a product that violates their conscience demonstrates the dramatic overreach of the law into Americans’ personal freedoms and liberties. This burdensome and morally dubious regulation stands against more than 200 years of our nation’s proud history of religious and individual liberty.

It’s still clear that President Obama does not understand this isn’t about cost – it’s about who controls the religious views of faith-based institutions. President Obama believes that he should have that control. Our Constitution states otherwise.

Just because you can come up with an accounting gimmick and pretend like religious institutions do not have to pay for the mandate, does not mean that you’ve satisfied the fundamental constitutional freedoms that all Americans are guaranteed.

I’ll continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that we reverse this unconstitutional mandate in its entirety.

They crowded around the third-floor bar at Natty Greene’s tonight, nearly 90 people attending the first meeting of the new Downtown Residents Association of Greensboro.

"I’m one of you. I live on the 9th floor" at Center Pointe, said Mayor Robbie Perkins, who was the guest speaker.

The meeting was to let the crowd know what the goals of the organization -- they use the acronym DRAG -- are. Among them two over-arching goals: forming a sense of community downtown and advocating for safety.

Dianne Ziegler, one of the organizers, said they also are looking for volunteers to help at upcoming downtown events.

Following the organizational details, Mayor Perkins trumpeted the proposal to build a performing arts center downtown, saying, "I’m fired up about this performing arts center. We’ve got to make this happen," he said to strong applause. And he disagreed with those arguing that now is not the time to push for a $30 million bond referendum to help pay for it. "Now is the perfect time to pursue the project," he said.

On another topic, the mayor said he believes the controversy over loud noise from nightclubs can be resolved. The city is considering an ordinance to limit noise levels downtown and throughout the city.

Incidentally, the mayor said that, contrary to some reports, he’s not bothered personally by the noise from his two-bedroom condo at Center Pointe.

The turnout for the night was almost a who’s who of downtowners. Longtime South Elm residents Judy and Dave Hill, Mack and Mack co-owner John Davis, George Scheer of the Elsewhere Artists Collaborative, Ruth and Charlie Jones of Greensboro Grub, Agnes Brame, co-owner of Jules Antiques, Bob Bates of Momentum Developers, Donovan McKnight of Face-to-Face, marketing consultant Meryl Mullane, city council members Zack Matheny, Jim Kee and Nancy Hoffmann, along with Jeff Yetter of Iron Hill Investments, Also, Lea Frederick of Southside and downtown supporters Carol Brown and Emma Keith Olson.

Next month’s meeting will be on Tuesday, March 20, at Bin 33 restaurant.

Santorum -- "The Late Contender"

Romney -- "The Long Distance Runner"

Gingrich -- "The determined Challenger"

Paul -- "The Delegate Hunter"

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That's because for every dollar you spend in buying points to play in the auctions, you can choose a prepaid gift card of equal value, even if you lost the bid.

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Romney wants to persuade pro-lifers that the pro-choice position he took in 1994 was based on ignorance. Had he known the reality of abortion firsthand, he would have stood for life. But Romney did know the reality of abortion. He knew it from Sandy Catalano, Carrel Sheldon, and possibly other women he had counseled. And he knew it from Ann Keenan.

Looking at the 1994 and 2007 videos, it’s hard to know which Romney to believe. The transformation they convey is more than a change of mind. It’s a rewriting of emotional experience, or at least what was advertised as emotional experience. Was Romney telling the truth in 1994 when he described how Ann Keenan’s death had shaken his family? Or was he telling the truth in 2007 when he told Tim Russert that abortion was only theoretical to him until he became governor? How can you forget or minimize something you portrayed as so wrenching? How can one man be real unless the other is acting?

That isn’t the only thing Romney blacked out between 1994 and 2007. On June 12, 1994, he and his wife, Ann, attended a Planned Parenthood fundraiser at the home of a Republican activist in Massachusetts. In May 2007, somebody outed the Romneys for having written a $150 check to Planned Parenthood, presumably for attending the event. The check, signed by Ann, was from their joint account. At this point, only the check was public. Reporters hadn’t yet learned about the event. Mitt Romney responded by attributing the check to Ann: "Her contributions are for her and not for me, and her positions I do not think are terribly relevant to my campaign." ...Six months later, a photo of Mitt at the event turned up. Did he not remember being there? Or was it just easier to pin the check on his wife and hope nobody found out more?

Nothing in Romney’s evolving autobiography is more misleading than his claim that he never called himself pro-choice...

...He’s also a gifted salesman. He learns your language and puts you at ease. He gives you the version of his record, position, or motive that will please you most. When he comes down on your side, it’s intentional. When he doesn’t, it’s inadvertent. He focuses not on communicating his beliefs but on formulating, framing, or withholding them for political effect. He tells moving stories of personal experience to show you his sincerity. Then, if necessary, he erases those stories from his playbook and his memory.

...Romney will always be what he needs to be. Count on it.

After significant Tea Party-fueled gains in 2010, for all practical purposes, the establishment GOP has ignored and even tried to mitigate that force with little more than lip service as repayment for their support. Now, they want to kick out the Christian asses that sit in their phone banks and the Christian soldiers that do the grunt work for their campaigns.

The City Council tonight gave the go-ahead for developers to build both a 180-car parking lot off of South Elm and an adjacent restaurant to be called Dos Papayas Cantina, featuring Mexican cuisine.

Momentum Development Partners asked the council for a $200,000 loan for the project. The council agreed and voted 8-to-1 to make the loan. Council member Trudy Wade voted against.

The loan will come from the city’s federally funded Community Development Block Grant funds to be used for economic development. In return for the loan, the developers agree to create 12 new full-time and 20 part-time jobs at the restaurant and parking lot.

Technically, the loan was sought from the Greensboro Parking Group, owned by Jim Budd and Nick Piornack. Both also are the owners of Momentum Development.

The parking lot and restaurant development carry a $2.2 million price tag. In addition to the $200,000 city loan, the developers already have a commitment of $1.4 million from a local bank and will add $422,000 in their own funds.

The parking lot is projected to be open by May of this year and the restaurant by early 2013.

The cantina will be next to The WORX, which Momentum Developers have said should open this May, featuring comfort food as well as specialties like gourmet hot dogs and sausages.

Both restaurants will be on Barnhardt Street, which runs off of South Elm just south of the railroad tracks. Barnhardt is directly across Elm from the intersection with Martin Luther King Drive. That corner is the location of the monthly Indie Market on First Fridays.

Everything at Sylvia’s Outlet in Greensboro (4654 U.S. 29; 621-6466) is currently 15 percent off.

All pants also are $8, including plus sizes.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The store is north of Hicone Road and south of Reedy Fork Parkway.

Oddly enough, a decade ago was when I got my first cell phone that was used on a regular basis. It was something like this....

2. What is the first children’s book you remember being read to you?

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

3. What was your first car? Did you love it or hate it?

My first car was a 1994 Geo Prizm. The official color was 'Gulfstream Teal.' My parents bought it when I was 14 and it became mine when I turned 16 (though I didn't get my license until 7 months later). I loved that car. It made high transportation to high school so much simpler. It went through college with me. It spent 2 years working at summer camp. And during one of those summers, it suffered from alternator failure and lots of ensuing drama. But it early 2003, a lady ran a stoplight, hit me, and pushed the poor lil' Geo to her death in a ditch. I cried and was a bit traumatized.

4. Who was your hero growing up?

I don't know if I had a hero. Or maybe I just don't have a good memory....

5. Think back to your first kiss. Was it everything you dreamed of?

It was at a Halloween party at a friend's house during 7th grade. We played 'spin the bottle' (who ever thought that was a good idea?). But rather than kissing the person it pointed to as it happened, we somehow all paired off with the idea that if each pair kissed at the same time it would be less weird. So, imagine a line of about half a dozen, awkward, 7th grade girls standing across from a line of awkward, 7th grade boys. And then we all kissed the person across from us at the same time. And immediately moved forward with the evening like nothing had just happened. So mature!!

But I did at least like the boy I kissed, so I guess I've got that going for me.

6. What was your first BAD hairstyle choice?

I had a mullet. I don't think it was purposeful. I have thick hair. It's partially curly, but some of it is quite straight. Circa 1987, I'm not sure the lady who cut my hair knew what to do with that. And thus, I ended up with a mullet. (If only I had a picture to share....)

7. What was your first realistic dream?

I'm not sure. I often have really vivid dreams. And while they make sense during 'dream time,' they don't make the least bit of sense once I'm awake.

8. What was the first phobia you remember developing?

Fire. My mom has always been nervous about candles starting house fires. When I was in elementary school, I awoke one morning to a chimney fire occurring my grandparent's house (which was right behind ours). And at the age of 16, I watched my great-grandmother's house (which was also right behind ours) burn to the ground after a lightening strike. I don't think of myself as a fearful person, but I definitely have a definite respect for fire, water, & lightening.

9. Which character on Sesame Street do you most identify with?

I reached my adult height by 4th grade. Therefore, when I was of an appropriate age to watch Sesame Street regularly, I identified with Big Bird because he was taller than all his buddies.

Rep. Larry Womble announced today that he will not be running for office. Womble currently represents House District 71. Previously, Womble had planned to run for Senate District 32.

Forsyth County Commissioner Everette Witherspoon filed to run for House District 71 today to replace Womble, running against former Winston-Salem city councilwoman Evelyn Terry who already filed.

Rep. Earline Parmon announced today at the Forsyth Board of Elections that she will run for Senate District 32. Parmon currently represents House District 72. Jimmie Bonham has filed to run for the district, replacing Parmon. Walter Marshall told YES! Weekly that he also plans to file for House District 72 on Thursday.

Read here for more background. Reported by Jordan Green.

"32 percent above the three year average"

"Homicides rose by 32% compared to a three year average."

1. In both cases, this blogger brought the errors to the attention of the GPD. Neither was acknowledged or corrected. It is troubling that the GPD makes these kinds of math errors to begin with, it is even more concerning when they fail to correct them.
2. The media has a duty to fact check the pronouncements people make, doubly so those made by governmental entities. WFMY has a horrendous history of fabrications, errors and plagiarism—the distinction of the worst far and away among local media—with which they seem completely unconcerned or unwilling to address.

How many EU officials does it take to change a light bulb? None. There's nothing wrong with the bulb; its condition is improving every day

In an effort to do so, and in a serious lapse of my own and professional judgment and ethics, I solicited and received additional materials directly from the Heartland Institute under someone else's name. The materials the Heartland Institute sent to me confirmed many of the facts in the original document, including especially their 2012 fundraising strategy and budget. I forwarded, anonymously, the documents I had received to a set of journalists and experts working on climate issues.

It may not be the equivalent of the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979-81 or the subsequent seizures of American citizens in Lebanon, but the Obama administration has a hostage crisis of sorts on its hands, and how it handles it will be of considerable importance not only to the president’s standing but the country’s.

This crisis has come about because the transitional regime in Egypt has decided to put on trial 19 Americans and two dozen others who are guilty of the apparent crime of trying to develop civil society and democracy. Seven of those defendants, who will go on trial on Friday, are actually in Egypt and unable to leave as long as the proceedings go on. Several have sought refuge at the U.S. embassy, like Cardinal Mindszenty, who lived in the U.S. embassy in Budapest for 15 years to escape Communist persecution. Those held hostage include Sam LaHood, son of a cabinet member, who is head of the International Republican Institute’s Cairo office.

• NBC -- Nothing

• CBS -- A local story of two hostages released titled "Bay Area Women Taken Hostage In Egypt Recount Ordeal"

• ABC -- Nothing

• CNN -- Nothing

• CNBC -- Nothing

I'm not sure where Zack Matheny's thinking is here.

But  from a PR standpoint, economic development bonds for (downtown) (Zack just called; he says the bonds are not for downtown; they're for the whole city; I misread the story) Greensboro on top of possible bonds for a performing arts center will almost certainly turn off skeptical voters.

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