Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Clippers furor leads to focus on new owners to target
Is Orlando Magic owner Richard DeVos "the next" one? After the public firestorm over Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racist comments, liberals in social media and journalism have targeted the devout Christian and wealthy co-founder of Amway for his support for the traditional definition of marriage. Published May 1, 2014
Love of history spurred rap mogul Bayer L. Mack to make Micheaux documentary
The Kentucky marketing mogul behind a new documentary on pioneering black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux has his own entertainment world back story. Published April 30, 2014
Black side of silver screen: Filmmaker Oscar Micheaux paved his own path to Hollywood
America's first black feature-film maker spent his life opposing the idea that there was "no opportunity for the Negro." Now, 63 years after his death, a group of kindred spirits is making sure the "uplifting" story of Oscar Micheaux is presented to a new generation. Published April 30, 2014
1986 abortion case ends with $63k award to pro-life group
With the words, "at last it is over," a panel of federal judges have ruled that a national feminist group must pay a pro-life leader and his allies for costs associated with a court battle that began in 1986. Published April 30, 2014
Legislation may reveal adoptees’ birth mothers
A decades-long legislative battle over New Jersey adoption records appears to be coming to an end. On Monday, Republican Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a bill to permit adult adoptees to get their original birth certificates, but his instructions on how to fix the bill are likely to be accepted by lawmakers, advocates said. Published April 28, 2014
Divided court strikes down big porn award
Victims of child pornography should be awarded restitution from persons convicted of having or viewing their images — but the amount of payment has to fit the scale of the offense, a divided Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. Published April 23, 2014
10 million new babies? China’s hope for boom likely to become policy bust
It was announced with great fanfare as a momentous shift in China's 35-year-old population control policy: The long-awaited "adjustment" in the country's one-child policy has raised hopes that 10 million "extra" babies will be born in the next five years. Published April 20, 2014
Judge voids N. Dakota’s ‘heartbeat’ abortion law
The nation’s first law to ban most abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be heard — possibly six weeks into the pregnancy — has been overturned by a federal judge. Published April 16, 2014
Family, agency in custody battle over sick daughter
A traditional-values law firm is stepping up its efforts to assist a Connecticut family that has been embroiled in a public battle over custody of their sick teenage daughter. Published April 8, 2014
Values group wins court round over use of gay marriage photo
A Virginia traditional-values advocacy group has won a round in its legal battle over the unauthorized use of a photo of two men kissing in two political mailers. Published April 8, 2014
Gay-photo lawsuit partially dismissed
A Virginia traditional-values advocacy group has won a partial court victory in a lawsuit over the unauthorized use of a photo of two men kissing in two political mailers. Published April 8, 2014
Some gay activists fear same-sex supporters are becoming intolerant
The resignation of a Silicon Valley executive who opposed gay marriage and refused to recant has sparked an online fight among gays about whether proponents of same-sex marriage are now going too far in trying to marginalize their opponents socially and economically. Published April 6, 2014
Perry: Restrictions, deadline make federal anti-rape prison act unworkable for Texas
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is balking — apparently alone — at a "mess" of federal rules aimed at ensuring states eliminate rape in their prisons. Published April 2, 2014
Georgia split highlights discord in ranks of pro-life movement
Ending abortion may unite the pro-life movement, but a rift between the nation's oldest and largest organization and a state affiliate shows there is still a raging battle over how to do it. Published April 1, 2014
Boy Scouts fire 1st gay leader since policy fight
The Boy Scouts of America this week revoked the registration of a Seattle scoutmaster after he disclosed his sexual orientation to a reporter for a news story. Published April 1, 2014
Some lawmakers warn of unintended consequences as Maryland OKs transgender equity bill
Maryland's legislature on Thursday passed a transgender equality bill that will ban discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations, one of the first of such statutes in the nation. Published March 27, 2014
Michigan gay marriage battle focuses on kids
State gay marriage laws are under attack in courts across the land, but the legal battle over gay marriage in Michigan has broken new ground as a federal court has weighed — and rejected — research questioning the impact of same-sex unions on children. Published March 25, 2014
Court grants injunction in Michigan gay marriage ruling
A federal judge's decision to overturn Michigan's traditional-marriage amendment, opening the door to Michigan becoming the 22nd state with legal gay marriage, was put on hold over the weekend by federal appeals court and the state governor. Published March 21, 2014
Despite ‘tweaks,’ abortion foes condemn Wisconsin buffer plan
City officials in Madison, Wisconsin have "tweaked" a far-reaching new buffer-zone law designed to keep demonstrators far away from health care facilities, but abortion opponents vow to proceed with their lawsuit to block the law. Published March 19, 2014
Officials in three states bank on states’ rights argument to stop gay marriage spread
ANALYSIS: With a clean sweep in more than a dozen battles in state courts in less than a year, some see the movement to legalize same-sex marriage as an unstoppable juggernaut. Published March 16, 2014