The ACLU and the street preacher

For all those out there who firmly believe the ACLU is dedicated to stamping out Christianity ... open your eyes.

PORTALES, NM -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today [04 Aug 2005] announced that it has succeeded in freeing street preacher Shawn Miller from the Roosevelt County jail.

“Mr. Miller has a guaranteed right to stand on a street corner and proclaim his faith in God to all who pass by,” said ACLU of New Mexico Executive Director Peter Simonson.  “He wasn’t harassing or intimidating anyone.  He certainly should not have spent time under lock and key for such a minor incident.”

New Orleans

From channel 4 in New Orleans (they're broadcasting from a temporary studio at their transmission tower):

6:41 P.M. [central time, about 30 minutes ago] - Efforts to stop the levee break at the 17th Street Canal have ended unsuccessfully and the water is expected to soon overwhelm the pumps in that area, allowing water to pour into the east bank of Metairie and Orleans to an expected height of 12-15 feet.

As the Jefferson Parish Sheriff said on national TV - "Haul ass and get out of town."

EDIT (reproduced as it appears, typos and all) :

7:59 P.M. [about ten minutes ago]- Mayor Nagin: Pumps at 17th street canal has failed and water will continue pouring into the city. Nine feet of water is expected on St. Charles Avenue that will be nine feet high. Water is expected to spread throughout the east bank of Orleans and possibly Jefferson Parish.

Lake Pontchartrain is presently at 6' above sea level; this is where all the water pouring into New Orleans is coming from. Most of the city is lower than this, some areas quite a bit lower.

EDIT (31 AUG) - 12:11 P.M. - Army Corps: Water has become level with the Lake in the city so no more water should flow into the city, except at high tide.

Also, go here and click on the "I-10 bridge over lake flyover" link on the right sidebar. Nobody's going to be using I-10 east out of New Orleans for quite a while.