Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.

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1. NORTH STATE JOURNAL: Josh Stein Sworn in as Governor

“North Carolina has a new governor. Josh Stein (D-N.C.) was sworn in as North Carolina’s 76th governor at 11am Wednesday in the Old Senate Chambers of the N.C. Capitol. Stein succeeds two-term Governor Roy Cooper (D-N.C.). Notably, Stein also succeeded Cooper in 2016 when he was elected as the state’s attorney general, following Cooper’s move to the governorship.”

Read more: https://nsjonline.com/article/2025/01/josh-stein-sworn-in-as-governor/

2. DAILY SIGNAL: Biden Admin Quietly Withdraws Title IX Rule Forcing Schools to Let Boys Compete in Girls’ Sports

“The Biden administration withdrew a rule that would have forced schools receiving federal funds to allow boys to compete in girls’ and women’s sports, if they claim to identify as girls.

The withdrawal comes one month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and in the context of multiple lawsuits against a previous rule change that went into effect on August 1.

In that previous rule, the Department of Education reinterpreted Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a law that bars discrimination on the basis of sex in education. The changes force gender ideology on Americans in the name of prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Read more: https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/12/24/biden-admin-quietly-withdraws-title-ix-rule-forcing-schools-let-boys-compete-girls-sports/

Also check out this story from the Christian Post about some other controversial rule change proposals being withdrawn ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

3. CAROLINA JOURNAL: A Year of Civic Engagement in North Carolina

“The year 2024 was marked by significant developments across politics, the economy, education, and energy in North Carolina. As one of the nation’s most dynamic and closely watched states, it played a pivotal role in shaping regional and national conversations. In the November 2024 election, almost 74% of North Carolina’s 7.7 million registered voters cast a ballot. In a Carolina Journal poll taken just a few weeks later, 48% of North Carolinians believed that the nation is headed in the right direction as a result of the election.”

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/2024-in-review-a-year-of-civic-engagement-in-nc/

4. CAROLINA JOURNAL: The Balance of Power Headed into 2025

“Here is the big picture at the local, state, and national level as those elected in 2024 are set to govern in 2025. For 2020 and 2022, I provided a similar scorecard.

Before the election, Republicans controlled 67 of 100 North Carolina county commissions. The GOP now controls 71 county commissions. Republicans flipped Martin, Perquimans, Scotland, and Watauga counties. Democrats control 24 counties, five have no majority. Democrats control commissions with greater county populations, so the population of counties controlled by the parties is about 50/50.”

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/opinion/the-balance-of-power-headed-into-2025/

5. DAILY CALLER: ‘Value-Destroying And Costly’: Is Corporate America’s Love Affair With DEI Finally Coming To An End?

“Several of America’s biggest brands backpedaled on their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and programs in 2024 amid intense public scrutiny and fierce consumer backlash.

The Biden-Harris administration has led a massive push for increased DEI initiatives in the government, including President Joe Biden signing an executive order in June 2021 that established ‘a government-wide initiative to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ in the federal workforce. Some major companies have begun scaling back on DEI practices this year amid growing backlash, including Walmart, Boeing, Lowe’s and Ford Motors.”

Read more: https://dailycaller.com/2025/01/01/value-destroying-and-costly-is-corporate-americas-love-affair-with-dei-finally-coming-to-an-end/

WEEKLY PRAYER: Life

LORD, we recognize that you are Sovereign over all creation. We recognize you made man from the dust, and in your mercy, you crowned creation with man and woman made in your image. What a wonder it is that you would bestow upon us this blessing and responsibility!

LORD, may we not take this blessing for granted. We pray that this great responsibility and dignity may motivate us to love You, our neighbors, and our families more. LORD, may we as a culture truly see and believe that children are a blessing from the LORD—born or unborn; able or disabled. All children should have an opportunity to experience the liberty of life. LORD, make us your vehicle to change our culture into one that cherishes and protects life. Keep at the forefront of our minds our responsibilities to respect, cherish, and serve the youngest and oldest in our society.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.’” (Matthew 18:1-6)

Sincerely,

Tami & Team

NC Values