There are a couple of things that grab your attention about this latest story of crime against the Amish (more below). From wearegreenbay.com: WAUSHARA COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – A 17-year-old boy from Wisconsin has reached a plea agreement after allegedly burglarizing two Amish-owned businesses, including one location that was targeted twice. According to the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office, the first incident occurred on November 6,…
There’s a new deep-dive story providing more layers to the Amos Miller raw milk saga, by Bethany Rodgers of USA Today. There are a lot of interesting insights here – and views from “both sides” of the issue. I recommend reading the whole thing (link at bottom). Here are some highlights, along with my comments. The Power of Amos Miller’s Products About people’s passion for…
A federal appeals court has upheld a decision requiring Amish school children to be vaccinated in New York. These are not Amish children who attend public schools. These are Amish children attending Amish-owned and operated schools. Religious objections do not work here, according to the Second Circuit court ruling. From Courthouse News: MANHATTAN (CN) — A New York State law requiring Amish students to receive…
I covered the recent Amos Miller case update in a video which has gotten close to 100,000 views at this point. A lot of comments on that video challenged the idea that anyone ever fell ill from Amos Miller’s products. Some seemed to suggest that there was no issue with Miller’s products whatsoever. That surprised me. But was that actually the case? So I take…
This past week brought news that a decades-long dispute over sewer grid connections in northwest Pennsylvania is ending – with a victory for the Amish. The US Department of Justice has intervened to prevent Sugar Grove Township from forcing Amish families to use electricity to connect to the local sewer grid. It’s being seen as a win for religious freedom. Via the Warren, PA Times-Observer:…
It’s been awhile since we’ve had news on the Rebekah Byler homicide case. We last got an update in early October, when the trial of the accused, Shawn C. Cranston of Corry, PA, was moved for the second time. At that time a continuance was granted to the defense, as more time was needed to process the “large amounts” of evidence. Now, word that a…
Amos Miller will be permitted to continue selling his raw milk products beyond Pennsylvania’s borders, according to a recent ruling. From Lancaster Online: A state appeals court ruling earlier this month affirmed farmer Amos Miller can continue selling his raw milk outside of Pennsylvania while a state agriculture department’s lawsuit against him proceeds. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court agreed with Miller’s attorneys that he would face…
I should put the (?) in bold in the headline. This person is described as wearing Amish woman’s clothing. And that looks to be the case (see below). But is she actually Amish? The “track record” of the Amish, who on the whole are not known to steal or rob, would suggest otherwise. But individuals are individuals. And the clothing and overall appearance do look…
I chipped in ideas for a recent USA Today article challenging some of the wilder health claims you see out there about the Amish. This is the social media post they were responding to: I’m not sure why this particular post was chosen, as these sorts of claims are pretty commonplace. I imagine because it manages to put so many of the more common misbeliefs…
The Columbus Dispatch reports that Amish in Ohio are suing over a law requiring flashing lights on buggies: The Swartzentruber Amish are suing to overturn Ohio’s new traffic law that requires animal-drawn buggies to have yellow flashing lights, saying the law conflicts with the First Amendment protecting their religious expression. The Swartzentruber order, which enlisted legal help from Harvard University Law School’s Religious Freedom Clinic,…