NCR Today

I imagine most NCR readers are dismayed that Congress reinstated the hours of air traffic controllers facing furloughs while refusing to end housing voucher cuts and Head Start reductions. But if we want to roll up our sleeves and work to restore assistance to the poor, the best source I've found is the Coalition for Human Needs.

I read with fascination Joshua J. McElwee's story about Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, the prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and his talk to the International Union of Superiors General in Rome. And in it, I saw some glimmers of hope.

From The Associated Press: 

Maryland has become the first state south of the Mason-Dixon line to abolish the death penalty.

Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the measure at a crowded ceremony on Thursday. Attending was one-time Maryland death row inmate Kirk Bloodsworth. He is the first person in the U.S. freed because of DNA evidence after being convicted in a death penalty case.