Sarah Palin Steps Down as Alaska Governor, May Have 2012 Pro-Life Prez Bid
Juneau, AK (LifeNews.com) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin surprised even some of her closest friends and family on Friday when she announced that she would step down as the state's governor. With political foes trying to make an issue of her trips across the country to continue the national profile she earned as the vice-presidential candidate last year, Palin freed herself up to stay in the national spotlight. Her decision could put her in position to run for president in 2012 against pro-abortion President Barack Obama and she provided some evidence of a future political run on her Facebook page on Saturday. "I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values," she said. Palin's spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, confirmed the governor wrote the entry. Palin's statement said she wasn't surprised by the negative media reaction to her decision. "How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country," she wrote. "And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make." In fact, Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein on Saturday warned that legal action could be taken against some media outlets that suggested Palin resigned because of false claims that she is in legal trouble. "This is to provide notice to [such media outlets as] Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law."

Trial Using Adult Stem Cells Could Result in Cure for Type 1, Juvenile, Diabetes
Lexington, KY (LifeNews.com) -- A national trial involving adult stem cells could lead to a cure, or at least a treatment for Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes. Last week, 21-year-old Jeff Spindler, who deals with the effects of the condition, received his third and final injection of what could be adult stem cells at the University of Kentucky Hospital. He is a participant in a national trial sponsored by Osiris Therapeutics, a company based in Maryland. Researchers are trying to determine whether injected adult stem cells can repair tissue damage and help the body produce insulin. Spindler won't find out for two years whether the injections he has been receiving contain stem cells or placebos. The study is double-blind, so even Spindler's physicians don't know which he's getting. The trial tests a substance called Prochymal, which contains donated adult stem cells, not embryonic stem cells. The Prochymal injections contain mesenchymal stem cells, bone-marrow cells that repair tissue damage, Karounos told the Herald Leader newspaper. Now that Spindler has received his last injection, Karounos and other researchers will continue to monitor his health closely for the next two years. Spindler said he hasn't felt much different after the treatments, but he is hopeful the outcome will be good. "I wanted to help them out and help find a cure if possible," Spindler said.

Pro-Life Teachers, Educators and Students Protest Abortion at NEA Convention
San Diego, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Dozens of teachers, educators and students participated in a protest at the national convention of the National Education Association to make it clear that the group's pro-abortion stance is wrongheaded. "A coalition of teachers, including NEA members, parents, taxpayers, students, children, and clergy staged a series of two-hour prayer-&-picket demonstration today at the National Education Association's convention in San Diego and several NEA state affiliate office across America," pro-life teacher Bob Pawson told LifeNews.com. "At least 120 pro-lifers supported the event at the NEA Convention, including 70 students from Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust." Dozens of pro-life advocates joined their colleagues in protesting state and regional conventions in cities ranging from Trenton and Denver to Columbus and Lincoln, Nebraska. Pro-Life leaders such as Rev. Walter Hoye, Marie Tasy of New Jersey Right to Life, and others participated in the events. "Our goal is to make the NEA national and state leadership render our union truly neutral on abortion," the NEA-New Jersey teacher added. NEA's leaders must totally disengage the NEA from abortion advocacy. The NEA's official position on abortion should be 'No Position' at all." Pawson concluded, "Abortion is an economic disaster for America in general and teachers in particular. It seems like the NEA leadership is using our collective names and finances to support an act which actually destroys our profession."

Pregnancy Center Saves American Soldier's Unborn Child From Abortion
Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) -- The following is written by Christy Ripperger, director of church partnerships at Life Centers, a network of pregnancy centers in central Indiana: "This Monday, as I was praying with volunteers outside of Planned Parenthood, we had the opportunity to meet two ladies who had come there for appointments and invite them to our Life Centers Northwest Women's Center, just a few blocks away. Shortly after I led the first young woman to our Northwest Women's Center for counseling, a second young lady was driving out of the parking lot of Planned Parenthood, where she had just received counsel to have an abortion. She rolled down her window and spoke with one of our counselors. This young woman told me she is a newlywed of six months, and her husband is serving in Iraq. She is dealing with severe morning sickness, she feels all alone and is overwhelmed with the thought of going through a pregnancy by herself. She attends church and is a Christian. Her husband is thrilled at the thought of having his firstborn child and wants his baby. She showed me photos of her handsome husband who is serving our country. As we discussed the miracle and gift of life, we discussed development stages of their pre-born 10-week-old child. I showed her the fetal model that is the size her baby currently is. She said she did not receive this type of eye-opening counsel at Planned Parenthood. The Holy Spirit then led us to talk about the love and loyalty that her husband has demonstrated through his life choices. We talked about his service and how her husband is defending us on foreign soil and standing for freedom for other sons and daughters. The question came immediately in the midst of the counseling. . .who is 'defending' his son/daughter? We both broke down in tears as we considered her husband's love for others, which he is demonstrating by risking his life in the military, while here in the United States his firstborn child's life was in jeopardy. This young bride prayed a tear-filled and sincere prayer telling God she would give life to her unborn child and give Him all of her fears."

Wisconsin U's Madison Surgery Center May Compel Staff to Do Abortions
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- A letter to UW officials has been sent by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) on behalf of various Madison Surgery Center (MSC) staff to seek assurances that no staff member will be compelled to participate in late-term abortions at the facility which are expected to begin in September. The letter was sent to Cheryl Wilson, Administrative Director of the Madison Surgery Center, Jeffrey Grossman, President and CEO of the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation and Robert Pierce, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Writing on behalf of five named MSC staff members as well as other employees, ADF attorney Matt Bowman told the officials, "We write to ask for clarification and assurance from MSC, Meriter Hospital, the UWMF, the UWHC and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Anesthesiology, that our clients will not be compelled to participate in, provide assistance to, aid, recommend or perform any procedures for abortion at MSC." A recent letter from Peter Christman to MSC employees stated that employees who are at work while abortions are being performed would be expected to assist in "emergencies resulting from" late-term abortions. Christman compared complications in late-term abortions to emergency room cases resulting from drunk driving. He then declared that "health care professionals of course administer treatment despite their personal views of the reason for the injury." The letter says forcing the participation of staff in abortions would violate state and federal laws. Bowman requested a response by July 15.

Texas Man Charged With Assisted Suicide in 81-Year-Old Mother's Death
El Paso, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The man who allegedly helped his 81-year-old mother kill herself at the family ranch has been indicted on the rare charge of assisted suicide. Travis Bob Kirchner, 56, is accused of helping his mother, Patricia Janice Kirchner, asphyxiate herself in her garage on Sept. 17. Police initially arrested him on suspicion of murder, but prosecutors sought the lesser charge of assisted suicide. "I know that the El Paso Police Department wanted him charged with murder, but I'm happy that the district attorney and the grand jury rejected that notion," Dolph Quijano, Travis Kirchner's attorney, told the El Paso Times. Officer Chris Mears, a police spokesman, responded, "We're one cog in the criminal justice wheel, so we don't take it personally when a grand jury decides not to indict someone on the original charge." Renee Railey, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Jaime Esparza, said aiding suicide is an uncommon charge in El Paso County. If convicted, Kirchner would face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A murder conviction could have carried a life sentence. An arrest affidavit stated that Travis Kirchner told police he and his mother agreed to commit suicide at her home by sitting in an idling car in a sealed garage. Travis Kirchner told police that he gave his mother two sleeping pills to relax her. After she fell asleep while watching television, Kirchner dragged her by her armpits to the garage, put her inside the car and turned it on, the police affidavit stated.

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