Clean Super Bowl

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 19 — In the wake of last year’s Super Bowl, which enraged millions with its infamous halftime show and crass commercials, this year’s event will be a cleaner affair than those seen in recent years.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney will headline “Building Bridges,” a halftime show that breaks the recent NFL trend to feature raunchy, crotch-grabbing rap and pop artists, which had begun when Viacom-owned MTV began producing the halftime show.

In reference to commercials that will air throughout the game, one sports-marketing executive said, “This is going to be a big ‘G for general’ Super Bowl.”

Marriage Amendment Upheld

ASSOCIATED PRESS, Jan. 20 — The Louisiana Supreme Court has unanimously reinstated the traditional-marriage amendment to the state constitution that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in September.

The high court reversed a state district judge’s ruling in October striking down the amendment on grounds that it violated a provision of the state constitution requiring that an amendment cover only one subject.

“Each provision of the amendment is germane to the single object of defense of marriage and constitutes an element of the plan advanced to achieve this object,” the high court said.

Teens Abstaining

CWNEWS.COM, Jan. 21— A study commissioned by NBC News and People magazine reveals that the majority of American teens are not sexually active and that they are making this decision based on their values, faith, parents and concern for their health and future. The study was set to be the subject of an extensive NBC report to be hosted by Katie Couric.

According to the report, 87% of teens aged 13 to 16 have not had sexual intercourse. Most (73%) have not been sexually intimate at all. And 74% say they have not had sex because they made a conscious decision not to.

As for the role of religion, 42% say they have not had sex because of religious or moral beliefs.

Good Problem

LIFESITENEWS.COM, Jan. 20 — Success stories about promising adult stem-cell treatments — distinguished from those derived from embryos — “are coming in so fast,” reported the pro-life Internet news service, that it is “having trouble keeping up.”

“Three stories have appeared only today that show where the real hope lies in stem-cell research,” reported Lifesite Jan. 20. They involved new treatment advances regarding spinal-cord injury, and the potential of using umbilical-cord blood from different donors for transplantation into leukemia patients.

And researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that the spleen may be a source of potential adult stem cells that contain a protein called Hox11, which is associated with embryonic development and limb regeneration.