Anita Bryant, a former Miss Oklahoma and popular singer who became known over the second half of her life for her outspoken opposition to gay rights, has died.

Jimmy Carter already had drawn months of media scrutiny as a devout Southern Baptist running for president.

Mike Johnson does not typically mention one aspect of his work before being elected to Congress.

“All men are created equal.”.

A former spokesperson for Liberty University is suing the evangelical Virginia school after being fired.

Liberty University is suing Jerry Falwell Jr. The school is seeking millions in damages after an acrimonious breakup with its former leader last year.

FILE - "Hustler" Magazine publisher Larry Flynt signs a copy of "The People Vs. Larry Flynt" in his downtown Cincinnati "Hustler" store on April 30, 1998. Flynt, who turned "Hustler" magazine into an adult entertainment empire while championing First Amendment rights, has died at age 78. His nephew, Jimmy Flynt Jr., told The Associated Press that Flynt died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, of heart failure at his Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles. In an effort to drum up business, he published a newsletter that became Hustler magazine. He and his fourth wife, Althea, moved to Los Angeles and spent most of their time behind their mansion’s 5,000-pound steel door.

RICHMOND, Va. – Jerry Falwell Jr. has sued Liberty University, alleging the evangelical school founded by his late pastor father damaged his reputation after he resigned as president and chancellor in August amid a series of scandals. This action seeks redress for the damage Liberty has caused to the reputation of Mr. Falwell and his family,” the lawsuit says. Liberty spokesman Scott Lamb said the school would have a formal statement in response to the lawsuit later Thursday. Falwell left Liberty in August after a series of scandals roiled the evangelical school founded by his father. Although the Falwells have acknowledged that Granda and Becki Falwell had an affair, Jerry Falwell has denied any participation.

RICHMOND, Va. – Liberty University said it paid its recently resigned president, Jerry Falwell Jr., the two years' base salary owed under his employment contract Tuesday. “By his pre-existing contract, Mr. Falwell is entitled to two years’ base salary as severance,” the statement said. These accrued retirement payments reflect reasonable terms after 30 years of service to Liberty, with 13 as university president." Liberty's statement also said there was no severance or retirement negotiated in exchange for Falwell's resignation last month. Although the Falwells have acknowledged a sexual relationship between Becki Falwell and Granda, Jerry Falwell has said he had no role in the affair.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 file photo, Jerry Falwell Jr., right, answers a student's question, accompanied by his wife, Becki, during a town hall meeting on the opioid crisis at a convocation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. On Aug. 7, 2020, Falwell stepped down, at least temporarily, from his role as the president of the school. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

(AP Photo/Steve Helber)RICHMOND, Va. Jerry Falwell Jr. said Tuesday that he has submitted his resignation as head of evangelical Liberty University. Falwell confirmed his departure in an interview with The Associated Press a day after the school said he had submitted, then rescinded his resignation. Falwell stepped down amid conflicting claims about a sexual relationship Falwells his wife had with a younger business partner. Falwell is the son of university founder the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. SCOTTISH LEADER WINNING PRAISE Nicola Sturgeons calm and sober response to the coronavirus pandemic is standing in contrast to the sometimes-chaotic approach of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. WE HAVE NO WAY TO FORCE THEM OUT Beiruts massive explosion has fueled widespread anger at Lebanons ruling elite, whose corruption and negligence many blame for the disaster. LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SAGA PERSISTS The evangelical school said Jerry Falwell Jr., embroiled in a sex scandal, had offered his resignation as president but then reversed course.

FILE -This Wednesday Nov. 28, 2018 file photo shows Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr., right, and his wife, Becky during after a town hall at a convocation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Falwell Jr. says he is seeking help for the "emotional toll" from an affair his wife had with a man who he says later threatened his family. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Jerry Falwell Jr., right, and his wife, Becky during after a town hall at a convocation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Falwell Jr. says he is seeking help for the "emotional toll" from an affair his wife had with a man who he says later threatened his family. Falwell has said the photo was taken at a costume party during a family vacation. In his statement, Falwell said he and his wife met the man she had an affair with during a vacation over eight years ago. In that statement, the board said that the decision on whether or not to retain Falwell had not yet been made. Falwell said he was seeking mental health counseling amid the trauma" of the situation and that he remains fully devoted to his wife.

(AP Photo/Steve Helber)RICHMOND, Va. Jerry Falwell Jr. has been toppled, at least temporarily, from the presidency of evangelical Liberty University, but whether he will break permanently with the Christian institution that is synonymous with his family name is another matter. Jerry Falwell Sr. into the ministry, took over as president following his fathers death in 2007. The vision laid out by Falwells father rests in part on athletic success, which has improved under his son, who has outfitted the Liberty Flames with top-notch facilities. Adam Laats, a professor at Binghamton University in New York who studies American education, predicted that Falwell would return to Liberty not as president but in another capacity. Harkening back to a sentiment expressed by the elder Falwell, Carson observed: Its not Jerry Jr.s university.

It was a rare rebuke for Trump from his fellow Republicans but one that might not last. Reeves said he opposes any plan to change the election date: I dont personally think a delay in the election at this point in time is necessary." Trump cannot change the election date without the approval of Congress, and policymakers in both parties made clear they would oppose such a move. Trump's ultimate goal, however, may have less to do with the election date than undermining the results of the election if he loses. The Republican president did not deny that he was trying to cast doubt about the election results when asked directly during Thursday's press briefing.

While Trump avoids wearing a mask in public, McConnell said facial coverings are really important until a vaccine is found. 3 Republican in the House, tweeted a picture of her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, wearing a mask with the hashtag #realmenwearmasks. At the same time, Trump has been criticized by some Republicans for inconsistent leadership during the sweeping national protests against police brutality. Jerry Falwell Jr., a Trump confidant and the president of Liberty University, conceded that the president has not been clear enough about his plans. To be sure, Trumps White House has set records for turnover, but efforts to prepare for life after the administration have been taken up in earnest in some corners of the White House complex.

FILE - In this July 21, 2016, file photo, Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)RICHMOND, Va. As the nation wrestles with how to do more for racial equality, Liberty University a school whose leadership has said it doesn't have a problem is facing its own tough questions. Indeed, McLaurin and other disheartened Black alumni have limited power to force change. But Libertys reckoning over race comes as its share of on-campus Black students has declined in recent years. Internal documents obtained by AP show Black students made up 13% of Libertys resident undergraduates in 2007 and just 5% last year.

LYNCHBURG, Va. Three football players at Liberty University say they have entered the transfer portal, with two of them citing racial insensitivity by the university's leadership or similar reasons for their decisions. Kei'Trel Clark and Tayvion Land, both sophomore defensive backs, and senior linebacker Waylen Cozad all announced their intentions on Twitter. Clark and Land, who are Black, cited racial or cultural concerns with the leadership at the evangelical school. In it, he praised the coaches and players he worked with, but said his decision was bigger than football.Land specifically cited racial insensitivity displayed by leadership at Liberty. Women's basketball player Asia Todd announced about two weeks ago that racial insensitivity that did not align with my moral compass or personal convictions caused her to leave.

WASHINGTON Democrats flooded Twitter and email inboxes this week with praise for the watershed Supreme Court decision shielding gay, lesbian and transgender people from job discrimination. The Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that the Constitution ensures a right for same-sex couples to marry. Kavanaugh voted against this weeks court ruling. The Supreme Court is always a hugely important issue to conservatives, Severino said Tuesday. If the courts ruling wasnt painful enough for Republicans, the opinion was written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trumps first Supreme Court appointee.

RICHMOND, Va. RICHMOND, Va.Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. apologized Monday for a tweet that included a racist photo that appeared on Gov. Falwell, a stalwart backer of President Donald Trump and the son of the late evangelist the Rev. Organizers of last week's alumni letter responded to Falwell's apology with a note of thanks, adding that they are hopeful that healing and reconciliation can" result from it. In late May, Falwell tweeted his opposition to a mask mandate from Gov. Whether Falwell's apology quells what had become a growing tide of criticism of his leadership style and occasionally inflammatory comments remains an open question.

NEW YORK Nearly three dozen black alumni of Liberty University denounced school President Jerry Falwell Jr. on Monday, suggesting he step down after he mocked Virginias mask-wearing requirement by invoking the blackface scandal that engulfed the states governor last year. Jerry Falwell, whose legacy the alumni invoked in imploring the younger Falwell to stop this infantile behavior.In response, Falwell said his comment about the blackface scandal was made in defense of Liberty students, including minorities, who would be affected by tuition assistance cuts proposed by Gov. In recent weeks, Falwell has jabbed repeatedly at Northam while downplaying the public health risks of the coronavirus. While your tweet may have been in jest about Virginias Governor, it made light of our nations painful history of slavery and racism, the alumni wrote to Falwell. The rebuke came after an online instructor for Liberty, a black pastor who also teaches at Ithaca College, announced his resignation online in response to the tweet.