: News

Filed Under:

Loudoun County Committee Seeks To End Christmas Display

December 1, 2009
Play associated audio
comments

By Elliott Francis

A decision has been rendered on whether to end the holiday display in front of the Loudoun county courthouse in Leesburg, Virginia.

The 7 to 1 vote by the Loudoun County board of supervisors effectively overturns an the earlier decision by the facilities and grounds committee of Loudoun County Courthouse.

Committee Chairman Ben Lawrence admits the board has the last word. "We serve at the discretion of the board. They have the final say, so that's it," says Lawrence.

Dissenting board member Jim Burton argued against the inclusive display, saying it could attract unpopular messages, possibly from hate groups.

The majority of board members said the holiday display should continue as an expression of religious freedom, and first amendment rights for all faiths.

Arts & Culture

NPR

China Builds Museums ... But Will The Visitors Come?

China is on a spree to build world-class museums and has opened about 100 of them annually in recent years. Two of the biggest opened on the same day last fall on opposite banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River. But filling these museums — with both art and visitors — is proving more challenging.

Food

NPR

African Cities Test The Limits Of Living With Livestock

Hipsters may just be discovering the joys of backyard chickens, but in African megacities, people have been bringing their animals into the slums with them for decades. That's creating a new ecosystem of animals and huge numbers of people living closely together like never before.

Politics

NPR

Oklahoma's GOP Senators Find Themselves In Tornado Aid Bind

Sens. Tom Coburn and James Inhofe have become the faces of pushback on federal emergency spending. Now the deadly and devastating tornado in their home state has put them in an awkward position.

Technology

NPR

Microsoft Reveals New Xbox One Game System

Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.