Today’s News at a Glance:

1. A closer look at the Trump Indictment.

2. There’s a war being waged in Washington over the meat industry.

3. We pay tribute to a father who tragically drowned after saving his children

This week has been wrought with controversy, but we know one thing that remains true: God’s grace. When we mess up or fall short, we can trust that God’s grace will lift us up and keep us on course. We cling to that today as we navigate the news.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

Dear Lord,
Grant us the courage to act justly, stand up for what is right, and be fair and compassionate in our dealings with others. Fill our hearts with love for mercy, reflecting Your boundless grace by forgiving others and extending kindness even when it's undeserved. Most of all, teach us to walk humbly with You, recognizing our need for Your guidance, submitting our will to Yours, and seeking a closer and more intimate relationship with You each day. May these principles not just be words to us, but actions that define us. Shape us into people who mirror Your justice, mercy, and humility. We thank You for Your patience and love as we strive to live in a way that pleases You. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Guide, we pray. Amen.

Smaller Bites

Here’s today’s news: cut short and sweet with a prayer…

1. A Closer Look Into Trump’s Indictment.

Former President Donald Trump was indicted on several charges related to alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including conspiracy to defraud the United States. The indictment, referencing evidence from call logs and White House records, faces challenges, particularly in proving Trump's intent, and has spurred suspicions of bias among some on the right. The ongoing legal battles, including state charges in New York and Florida, have consumed more than $40 million in legal fees, with Judge Tanya Chutkan, known for her strong stance on the Jan. 6 attack, presiding over the case, and the situation reflecting a wider ideological divide and potential pitfalls in the nation.

Lord, in these times of division and turmoil, we look to You for guidance, truth, and wisdom. May we, as a nation, seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with You. Help us rise above the discord, focusing on Your principles and love, and may Your truth shine light on the complexities of our culture. In Jesus' name, Amen.

2. “Game of T-Bones” The Meat Wars in Washington.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Agriculture Department (USDA) are locked in a power struggle over the right to regulate genetically modified meat and fish, including disease-resistant pigs, hornless cattle, and faster-growing salmon. The meat industry favors USDA oversight for speed and cost-effectiveness, while consumer and environmental groups advocate for FDA control, citing scientific expertise and caution. The Biden administration seems to lean toward the USDA, proposing funds to develop expertise to regulate gene-edited animals amid broader concerns of monopolistic tendencies, unethical practices in importation, and stewardship of the earth.

Lord, we pray for wisdom and integrity in the regulation of our food industry. May those in power act justly and in the best interest of the public, considering both the need for innovation and caution in technological advances. Help us be mindful stewards of Your creation, always seeking fairness, righteousness, and concern for our shared environment. In Jesus' name, Amen.

3. A Tribute to Fatherly Love: NJ Father Drowns Saving His Children

Rolando Camarillo-Cholula, a 42-year-old father from New Jersey, tragically drowned while saving his three children, ages 13, 11, and 8, who were struggling in the Millstone River. He managed to pull them to safety but lost his balance and drowned, marking the third reported fatal drowning in the area in recent months. Camarillo-Cholula's selfless act of love has deeply touched the community. It serves as a solemn reminder of the risks associated with water, as well as a testament to the profound love and sacrifice inherent in parental care.

Heavenly Father, we lift up the family of Rolando Camarillo-Cholula in prayer, seeking comfort and strength for his children and loved ones. May his courageous sacrifice be a lasting symbol of selfless love, inspiring us all to reflect Your divine love in our daily lives. Grant us the wisdom to recognize the sacredness of every life and guide us to care for one another with compassion and understanding. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

A Closer Look Into Trump’s Indictment

Former President Donald Trump was indicted Tuesday on several charges and appeared in court Thursday at 4pm ET. We offered a brief breaking news report Wednesday morning. Here are some updates and key details to know:

Charges and Allegations
The indictment against Trump consists of four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiring against people's right to have their votes counted. The charges stem from Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, with the indictment detailing various ways Trump allegedly lied about mass voter fraud and sought to change the results.

Key Issue: Intent
Central to the case is whether Trump knew his claims were false. The indictment asserts that Trump knew his claims were lies, but proving this intent may be challenging in a court of law. Some believe that the case hinges on a "metaphysical question" of whether Trump could even believe that he lost the election. Trump's defense is likely to argue that he genuinely believed the election was stolen, making the question of intent a potentially unanswerable and complex issue.

Evidence and Witnesses
The indictment references call logs, White House records, and other evidence that was previously accessed by the House Jan. 6 select committee. Witnesses have been questioned about whether they heard Trump admit he lost and what evidence he was shown. Some advisers insist that Trump still believes the voter fraud claims, complicating the prosecution's task of proving intent.

Other Legal Challenges
Trump also faces state charges in New York and is being prosecuted in Florida on other charges. The indictment refers to six unindicted co-conspirators, potentially adding pressure on them to cooperate. Trump’s campaign finance disclosures revealed that his team has spent more than $40 million in legal fees. This means most of the money from his campaign donors has gone to fighting all these legal battles.

Judge Tanya Chutkan
Judge Chutkan, an Obama appointee, previously ruled that the House Jan. 6 select committee could access Trump's White House files. She has a history as a public defender and was confirmed as a federal trial judge in 2014. Chutkan has delivered some of the harshest sentences to Jan. 6 defendants and made her views on the attack clear. She has avoided direct criticisms of Trump but has expressed concern about the lack of accountability for those who orchestrated the attack. Chutkan's previous rulings and strong stance on Jan. 6 may influence her approach to Trump's case. Her focus on accountability and rejection of false equivalences between different protests may provide insight into her judicial philosophy.

Possible Pitfalls
The perception among some on the right is that the indictment against Trump is a weaponization of the government and an example of election interference. They argue that it looks like a targeted attack against Trump, especially when considering that there's no special counsel investigating Joe Biden for alleged influence peddling.

The timeline of this indictment is also in question. The timing of certain events, such as the FBI releasing documents and subsequent indictments, is seen as suspicious and indicative of bias. The Department of Justice sat on some of this information for two years. Why now, when Trump is the frontrunner in the election, is this indictment coming forward?

The constant media attention and prosecutions against Trump have only strengthened his support among his base. There’s a strange phenomenon occurring where Trump is becoming an avatar for people who also feel like they’ve been slighted by big government.

Reflection
If you’re looking for a weigh-in on whether Trump is guilty or innocent, you’ve come to the wrong place. Instead, we want to take this moment to reflect on our relationship with truth and humility.

A pillar scripture of PrayNews is Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” This verse speaks to God’s heart for a culture to be built on truth, love, justice, and kindness. It’s frustrating to see the ideological divide in our country. In many ways, we are seeing that play out in the Federal Courts with Trump’s indictment and investigations into the Biden family. The divide between power-hungry and partisan elites is seeping into the way Americans treat one another. As believers, let’s rise above that! Let’s rise above hateful discourse, party-first loyalty, and division. Instead, let’s pursue what we know is good: justice, kindness, and humility.

We will continue to report on this news because it’s important to be informed citizens. However, may we at PrayNews never slip into party-first politics. We are devoted to Christ, the gospel, and his truth shining light on the darkness of our culture.

“Game of T-Bones”
The Meat Wars in Washington

Ladies and gentlemen, gather round the grill, because the stakes (or should we say steaks?) have never been higher. The future of your prime rib, your bacon, and even your salmon is currently being fought over in the political gladiator arena that is Washington D.C. It's a surf and turf war, a veritable "Game of Thrones" with genetically modified meat and fish as the Iron Throne.

The contenders? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Agriculture Department (USDA). The prize? The right to regulate disease-resistant pigs, hornless cattle, and faster-growing salmon. The spectators? Food companies, pork producers, consumer and environmental groups, and, of course, us, the humble consumers, waiting with bated breath and empty plates.

The meat industry has been pushing for USDA oversight, claiming that the agency would be faster and less expensive to deal with than the FDA. Because, you know, who needs thorough scientific expertise when we can have speed and cost-effectiveness? After all, it's only our food we're talking about here.

Consumer and environmental groups, on the other hand, are rooting for the FDA, arguing that the USDA might be a little too chummy with the industry. They believe the FDA brings the scientific expertise demanded by such a technical area, especially with the growing possibility of lab-grown meat on the horizon. And let's face it, when it comes to genetically modifying our food, we might want to err on the side of caution.

The genetically engineered animal market was a cool $4.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow to $6.4 billion by 2027. That's a lot of bacon. And who's going to regulate all that? The FDA has approved five products and deemed another 45 genetically modified animals as low-risk enough to not require approval. But the industry thinks the FDA is too slow. After all, it took them nearly 20 years to approve AquAdvantage Salmon, a faster-growing version of the fish.

But let's not forget the hornless cattle engineered by Minnesota-based company Recombinetics. The company hailed the cattle as a breakthrough advance for animal welfare, but FDA scientists found the engineered cows had genes that made the animals resistant to certain antibiotics. Oops.

The FDA has been trying to speed things up, writing new guidelines for the sector, but they've been parked at the White House, awaiting approval for more than a year. Meanwhile, the USDA is sitting in the corner, flexing its regulatory muscles and reminding everyone that it's a strong regulator in meat and poultry plants and has clear authority in food safety.

The USDA and FDA have been at odds before, splitting duties regulating cell-cultured meat in 2019. The USDA even came close to winning the gene-edited animal argument during the Trump administration, but the FDA commissioner at the time refused to sign the memorandum of understanding.

The USDA has been throwing money around like a rancher at a cattle auction. They've invested a whopping $115 million to increase processing capacity for meat and poultry. Five grants totaling $38 million here, another $77 million there, and even $800,000 for loans to small and medium-sized meat processors in the Midwest. Oh, and let's not forget $4.5 million earmarked for post-secondary education projects. It's like Oprah's giving away meat processing grants: "You get a grant! And you get a grant!"

But wait, there's more! The Biden Administration has announced the Agriculture Competition Partnership, focusing on those pesky anticompetitive market structures and practices within agriculture. USDA Secretary Vilsack is all about robust competition, but the administration seems to have turned a deaf ear to the outcries of every major cattle organization in the country. They're calling for a halt to the importation of Brazilian beef, citing concerns ranging from illegal deforestation practices to bribery and corruption in Brazil's meatpacking space. Montana rancher Leo McDonnell put it bluntly, saying, "Brazil is a bad actor in the global marketplace."

Now, the Biden administration's most recent budget proposal suggests it's leaning toward picking the USDA, including nearly $5 million and 25 new full-time employees for USDA to develop the expertise to regulate gene-edited animals.

Reflection
The meat industry has been wrought with monopolistic tendencies for decades. In the past ten years, we have watched small farms become absorbed by bigger corporations. The regulation and opening up of the market for the meat industry could potentially help small businesses and family farms. The Biden Administration's focus on anticompetitive market structures and the concerns over monopolies in the packing industry resonate with the call for justice and fairness in business practices. The outcry against the importation of Brazilian beef due to bribery and corruption also aligns with a desire for integrity and righteousness in the marketplace. Proverbs 11:1 reminds us that, "The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him."

Lastly, we are stewards of this earth (Genesis 2:15). The meat industry, and how it affects land, climate, and cattle is important to us as the ones charged with tending to God’s creation.

A Tribute to Fatherly Love:
NJ Father Drowns Saving His Children

In a tragic event that unfolded on Wednesday, Rolando Camarillo-Cholula, a loving 42-year-old father from New Jersey, drowned while courageously rescuing his three children, ages 13, 11, and 8, who became distressed while swimming in the Millstone River.

According to the Franklin Township Police, the children were swimming in a 39-mile-long tributary of the Raritan River when they found themselves in trouble. Camarillo-Cholula immediately waded into the waters to help, managing to pull them to safety in shallow waters. However, in the process, he lost his balance and tragically drowned. An urgent call was made to the police around 2:15 p.m., reporting "a man in the water, with three children on shore." Divers recovered Camarillo-Cholula's body just before 5:30 p.m., while emergency medical personnel treated the children at the scene.

This incident marks at least the third reported fatal drowning in New Jersey in recent months. In response, Franklin Township authorities have urged locals to recognize the dangers that may lurk in "causeways, lakes, and all waterways," such as hidden currents and sudden depths.

Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, with men making up nearly 80% of those who die from drownings. New Jersey's unintentional drowning death rate is relatively low, at 0.77 per 100,000 people, but this incident stands as a sobering reminder of the risks.

Camarillo-Cholula's sacrifice has deeply touched the community and those who hear his story. A father's love knows no bounds, and his actions serve as a poignant testament to the selflessness and courage inherent in parental love. As an investigation continues into what led to this heartbreaking event, we pause to pray for his family and the children he left behind.

The story of Rolando Camarillo-Cholula resonates with the words of Jesus in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." In this context, the father's love for his children mirrors the highest form of love that our Savior calls us to emulate. As we mourn the loss of a devoted father, we can find solace in the understanding that his sacrifice reflects the essence of Christ's love for humanity. Let this love inspire us to care for one another, recognizing the sacredness of every life and the profound connections that bind us as family and community. May the memory of Rolando Camarillo-Cholula's love and courage be a lasting legacy that inspires us all to live with greater selflessness and gratitude for our Heavenly Father’s love for us.

Disclaimer: These articles are based on available information as of the publication date. Please follow our publication for future updates and developments regarding this ongoing stor

All Reporting Fact Checked by:https://editor.factiverse.ai/home

Thank you for joining us today on PrayNews. It is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today you will proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a force for good.