Nov 30, -0001Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has died at the age of 99. His case of death has been reported as complications from a stroke suffered a few days earlier. Stevens served on the Supreme Court of the United States until he retired in 2010, at the age of 90. Please pray for his family and friends during this difficult time.
Nov 30, -0001At a anime studio in Kyoto, Japan, at least 33 individuals were killed, and 36 others injured, after a man allegedly started a fire in the building. Witnesses report that the man was not an employee of the animation studio. The man who started the fire has been arrested. The reason for the fire is unclear at this time. Please pray for the families of the deceased. Please pray for healing for the injured.
Jul 15, 2019Heavy rains and flash flooding has resulted in the deaths of at least 47 individuals, with dozens of others missing and injured. The heavy rainfall has also caused landslides and the destruction of roads, bridges, and homes. Over 10,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Please pray for the families of the deceased. Please pray for all affected.
Jul 15, 2019A 7.3 magnitude earthquake caused panic and damages in Moluccas Islands in Indonesia. This earthquake came a week after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi, west of the most recent earthquake. There are no indications that the earthquakes have caused tsunamis, nor are there any reports of deaths. Please pray for the safety of those affected by the earthquakes and aftershocks.
Jul 15, 2019Heavy rains have caused floods and landslides resulting in deaths and several people missing. More rain is expected in the continuing monsoon season. Please pray for the safety of all affected.
Jul 15, 2019A plane carrying skydivers crashed shortly after taking off in northern Sweden. The cause of the crash is under investigation, however, witnesses described hearing strange noises and the plane appeared to be out of control. Please pray for the families of the deceased.
Jul 15, 2019Following the annual Bastille Day military paraded, police clashed with yellow-vest protesters near the Champs-Elysees. Earlier, protesters booed French President Emmanuel Macron. Please pray for peace.
Jul 15, 2019A hotel siege in Kismayo, Somalia by extremist militants ended with the death of 26 individuals including two Americans. Fifty-six other individuals were injured in the attack. All attackers, which have been linked to al-Qaeda linked Islamic terrorist group al Shabab, were killed by Somali troops. Please pray for the families of the deceased. Please pray for healing for the injured. Please pray for peace.
Jul 15, 2019Hurricane Barry, which has been reduced to a tropical storm, made landfall over Louisiana, with Mississippi and Arkansas also receiving heavy rain. While the rainfall has been less than expected, more rain is expected. The storm has resulted in flooding and power outages. Please pray for the all affected.
Updated: Monday, November 13, 2017 11:15 am EDT
Junius Burno's execution was scheduled to occur at 7 pm EDT, on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the State Correction Institute Rockview in Rockview, Pennsylvania. Junius’ execution has been stayed. Junius was convicted of murdering 45-year-old Carlos Juarbe and 35-year-old Oscar Rosado III, on April 13, 2003, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Junius has seen the last 10 years of his life on Pennsylvania’s death row.
Junius’ execution has been stayed by the US District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania. It was likely stayed in order to allow Junius to complete his appeals.
On April 13, 2003, Mary Meixell called the police saying that she had heard gunshots from next door. Police arrived at the address provided to discover blood on the front steps and the front door ajar. The responding officer entered and discovered Carlos Juarbe, the lessee of the residence, lying in the bedroom doorway. His friend, Oscar Rosado, was lying in the back of the bedroom, curled in the fetal position.
Evidence gathered by the police pointed to Terrence Betha as the suspect. He was arrested on September 12, 2003, and charged him with murder. Betha gave a voluntary statement to police which also incriminated Junius Burno. Betha also alleged that he and Burno were shot at as they fled the apartment.
Betha’s wife confirmed to police that on April 13, 2003, Betha and Burno arrived at the house, with Betha having been shot. Both men refused to provide her with any more information. Betha was taken to a hospital in Philadelphia, where Betha provided false information to the police.
Burno was arrested shortly after Betha’s statement. Burno gave several conflicting reports to the police regarding the murders. He initial claimed that he was innocent, before confessing to the crime. A jailhouse informant, who earned a plea bargain for his information, testified against Burno, claiming that Burno confessed to him while in prison.
Burno was sentenced to death on March 6, 2007.
Junius Burno’s notice of execution was issued by Department of Corrections Secretary John Wentzel, as Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has refused to sign any execution warrants. If the Governor does not sign an execution notice within a specified time frame, state law requires the corrections secretary to issue the execution notice.
On Friday, February 13, 2015, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced a moratorium on executions in the state, until he receives and reviews a report on capital punishment in the state, a report which was ordered in 2011. In his announcement, he called the death penalty in Pennsylvania a "flawed system," "ineffective," "unjust," and "expensive." Read more about the announcement here.
Please pray for peace and healing for the families of Carlos Juarbe and Oscar Rosado. Please pray for strength for the family of Junius. Please pray that Junius may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if he has not already.
02 Dec 0001
