SUNDAY EDITION

WH: President Donald J. Trump’s Weekly Address (posted on the White House page 10/ 13/ 17)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/10/13/president-donald-j-trumps-weekly-address

Transcript:

My fellow Americans,

Every Fourth of July, we celebrate the day America declared its independence. But this month, let us also remember the day our country won its independence. Next Thursday, October 19, marks the 236th anniversary of the day that George Washington’s Continental Army defeated the British at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
When our young American flag waved that day over the British surrender, it marked more than a victory of American arms. It represented the emergence of Stars and Stripes as a beacon of freedom around the world.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress resolved that our flag shall consist of 13 alternating red and white stripes, and a blue field of 13 white stars representing the American colonies.
Congress ultimately decided that a star would be added to our flag’s “constellation” on the Fourth of July upon the admission of each new State to the union, but that the flag would always keep its 13 stripes as a tribute to the original colonies that declared and won their Independence together.
In 1942, Congress passed the United States Flag Code, creating official standards for how we treat our beloved flag. From this code, we teach each new American generation to always show our flag the respect it deserves.
America’s men and women in uniform have carried our flag into battle and given their lives to protect it. Our Star Spangled Banner flew above Fort McHenry in the “Dawn’s Early Light.” Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders carried it to victory at the Battle of San Juan Hill. And our heroic Marines raised it over Iwo Jima.
Every day millions of American citizens raise it, salute it, and honor it on the home front. American workers hang Old Glory above factory floors where they proudly stamp their products “Made in the USA” and more and more products are being so stamped because our economy is starting to boom. We are doing really well. Companies are moving back into the United States and far fewer will be moving out. Believe me. And it’s already happened. American schoolchildren put their hands on their hearts as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Before watching a football game, you want to see those players be proud of their country. Respect our country. Respect our flag. And respect our national anthem and we think they will. We certainly hope they will.
We honor the flag, we pay tribute to the men and women who have given everything for its defense. We renew the bonds of love and loyalty we owe to our fellow citizens—to every American who looks to the Stars and Stripes and sees woven into its fabric their past, their future, and their place in our great American family.
So this month, as we remember the patriots who fought to win our glorious Independence, let us renew our commitment to love our country, protect our citizens, and ensure that this will ALWAYS BE the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.




FROM THE GOVERNOR'S BLOG PAGE: Inslee joins Washington Tribes for 28th-Annual Centennial Accord
Gathering re-affirms partnership between state government and tribal governments
Posted on 10/ 10/ 17
https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-joins-washington-tribes-for-28th-annual-centennial-accord-91fec3ca217b

Gov. Jay Inslee and chairs and councilmembers from Washington tribes came together today for the 28th-Annual Centennial Accord, a policy and discussion meeting held each year between 25 state agencies and more than two dozen tribal governments.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community hosted this year’s Centennial Accord at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge in Anacortes. Inslee delivered opening remarks at the gathering.
“It is an honor to attend the annual Centennial Accord this year to re-affirm Washington’s commitment to this sovereign-to-sovereign relationship,” Inslee said. “Our state is grateful for its partnership with tribal governments on the challenges we all face. Washington state has a deep respect for tribal culture and heritage — it is an important part of who we are as a state.”
Today’s discussions, as well as work sessions that took place on Monday, touched on a wide range of topics, including education and early learning, health care, the opioid epidemic, natural resources, broadband services, social services, and the state’s new Department of Children, Youth & Families.
“We are honored to gather for the past 28 years for the Nation’s most progressive government-to-government commitment between a State and federally recognized tribes. We have made a difference,” said Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby, noting the profound impact of the Accord. “We continue to strive to accomplish our shared goals, and the commitment to be unified has resulted in a solid foundation for us all to make balanced decisions that impact all who call this great state home.”
On Monday evening, Inslee also attended a ceremony in the Swinomish Smokehouse with youth from the tribal community.
“Our governments share a commitment to ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for all Washington children,” Inslee said. “Being able to witness the restoration and the preservation of language, songs and culture of the Swinomish Tribe was an incredibly uplifting experience.”



Cantwell Joins Colleagues to File Amicus Brief in Support of Planned Parenthood; Stand Up for Women’s Health & Rights in Texas
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 13/ 17 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 24 Senate Democrats in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Family Planning and Preventive Health Services, Inc. et al v. Charles Smith et al.
In 2016, Texas revoked Planned Parenthood’s status as a qualified medical provider for Texans on Medicaid. While the move was blocked by a federal judge, the state appealed the injunction and their arguments will soon be heard by the 5th Circuit Court. If the decision is reversed, Texas could be allowed to once again discriminate against Planned Parenthood and its patients, and threaten one of the only affordable providers of family planning, women’s healthcare, and cancer screenings in Texas.
“Congress intended to offer Medicaid patients their choice of medically qualified health care providers—particularly for family planning services,” wrote the senators in their brief. “The statute explicitly prevents a state from interfering with a Medicaid patient’s selection of provider, as long as the provider is ‘qualified to perform the service or services required.’”  
In their amicus brief, the Democrats called on the court to stop Texas leaders from imposing their ideological preferences on patients and interfering with a Medicaid patient’s selection of provider.
“In violation of that unambiguous directive, Texas terminated the Medicaid provider agreements of three Planned Parenthood organizations for reasons unrelated to its medical or professional qualifications. Texas thereby threatened to withhold from low-income patients one of their highest quality family planning options (and sometimes their only such option),” continued the senators. “Its action contravenes Congress’s intent to increase the availability of quality family planning options and provide patients with meaningful choices.”

OUR HEALTH REPORT

FDA clears new robotically-assisted surgical device for adult patients (press release issued 10/ 13/ 17)
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the Senhance System, a new robotically-assisted surgical device (RASD) that can help facilitate minimally invasive surgery.
“Minimally invasive surgery helps reduce pain, scarring and recovery time after surgery,” said Binita Ashar, M.D., director of the Division of Surgical Devices in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “RASD technology is a specialized innovation in minimally invasive surgery designed to enhance the surgeon’s access and visualization within confined operative sites.”
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm580452.htm

FDA PRESS RELEASE: California dietary supplement maker, Custompax prohibited from manufacturing
(press release dated 10/ 13/ 17)
A California dietary supplement manufacturer recently was ordered by a federal court to stop selling its products until the company comes into compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s dietary supplement manufacturing regulations and other requirements listed in a consent decree.
Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California entered a consent decree of permanent injunction between the United States and Custompax Inc. of Freemont, California, and its Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and owner Cedric Ling.
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm580369.htm

Statement by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. on Baxter manufacturing recovery in Puerto Rico (press release issued 10/ 13/ 17)
Since Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, the FDA has been working closely with Baxter and other companies to reduce the risk of shortages of critically important drugs and to minimize impact on any existing shortages. In particular, Baxter and the FDA have closely monitored and identified ways to prevent a significant shortfall of production of Baxter’s sodium chloride 0.9% injection bags from its Puerto Rico facility. Also known as mini bags, this product is used to provide fluids and medicines to patients across the U.S. While these products have been in shortage industry wide since 2014 and other manufacturers exist, the agency and Baxter recognized that further shortage of this product could potentially put U.S healthcare at risk. The FDA has worked closely with Baxter to find solutions to prevent additional shortages.
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm580290.htm

ON THE STATE LEVEL..
DOH: Sexually transmitted disease rates continue to rise in WA
OLYMPIA – Department of Health recently released its 2016 STD data, and rising rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have prompted health officials to encourage sexually active individuals to get tested and treated.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/2017NewsReleases/17143STDRates_WA_NewsRelease

State revokes, suspends licenses, certifications, registrations of health care providers
OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of health care providers in our state. The department has also immediately suspended the credentials of people who have been prohibited from practicing in other states.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/2017NewsReleases/17145SuspensionM1745NewsRelease

WORLD AND NATIONAL HEADLINES FROM REUTERS

North Korea not ready to hold talks with South Korea in Russia: agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Politicians from North and South Korea will not hold direct talks in Russia on Monday about Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile program despite attending the same event, Russian news agencies said on Sunday.

Afghan Taliban deny former hostage's claims of murder, rape
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A Taliban spokesman denied on Sunday accusations by a Canadian man that one of his children had been murdered and his wife raped while they were being held captive by militants who kidnapped them in Afghanistan in 2012.

House Speaker Ryan says 'more to come' for Puerto Rico aid
(Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Friday that the federal government would provide more funding for Puerto Rico’s long-term rebuilding, although he did not say when that funding would be approved.

Five arrested in Georgia, including two law enforcement officers, over 1983 murder
(Reuters) - A decades-old investigation in the U.S. state of Georgia into the murder of a black man in 1983 culminated in the arrest of five white people on Friday, including two law enforcement officers charged with hindering the probe, officials said.





THIS WEEK'S BIBLE STUDY
Gospel Way: The Seed of the Kingdom:
The Existence of Jesus' Church Today
The Bible plainly predicts: "For the time will come when [men] will not endure sound doctrine…" but "they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:3,4). This prophecy has been fulfilled, resulting in many man-made denominations nowhere mentioned in the Bible. Since this is true, we ask whether it is possible for the church to exist today as it did in the New Testament; and if so, how?
https://www.gospelway.com/topics/church/church-existence.php