A ‘SILVER’ BULLET Attorneys General Stand Firm Against Snake Oil
Jim Bakker dominated headlines in the late 1980s with his legal troubles, and now the televangelist is facing a new lawsuit in 2020. The original story of Bakker’s fall begins on a TV set. Bakker and his wife at the time, Tammy Faye Messner, hosted the popular evangelical talk show“The PTL Club” from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. However, their reign came crashing down when Bakker resigned after being accused of offering money to church secretary Jessica Hahn to cover up rape allegations. Bakker was later convicted of scamming thousands of viewers out of millions of dollars, and he spent several years in prison. Today, Bakker hosts “The Jim Bakker Show” and leads Morningside Church in Missouri. While freedom of religion is protected in the U.S., a recent promotion on Bakker’s show caught the attention of attorneys nationwide.
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic found its way to the U.S., many people stocked up on emergency medical supplies. For some, this meant purchasing colloidal silver “cures” that were promised to kill the virus. Supplements, pills, and oils with no scientific evidence of their efficacy were sold to consumers until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent cease-and-desist orders to seven manufacturers in March 2020. One such product involved was Sherrill Sellman’s Silver Solution. Sellman, a self- described naturopathic doctor and mind- body psychologist who appeared on Bakker’s show on Feb. 12, proclaimed Silver Solution is a cure for the coronavirus. Bakker promoted the product and later sold it through his website. The Missouri and New York attorneys general caught wind of this scheme and immediately filed cease-and-desist orders, and even a
lawsuit, against Bakker. NPR explains that Bakker and his church are in violation of state laws by “falsely promising consumers that Silver Solution can cure, eliminate, kill, or deactivate coronavirus.” Bakker stopped selling Silver Solution in mid- March 2020. Even as the lawsuit continues to move through the court system, the message is clear: The justice system is cracking down on the sale of snake oil.
BRINGTHEWATER PARKTOYOUR FAMILY! 3 Ways to Have Fun in the Sun at Home
Summer is finally here, and if you have kids at home, then that means their constant needling about a trip to the pool or water park probably started already! Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune on the water park to have a great time cooling down this month — you can bring the water park to you! Design a homemade water slide. If you have a big plastic tarp, a garden hose, stakes, and dish soap, then you have the makings of a great water slide. Simply spread out the tarp (on an incline if possible), secure it with the stakes, then arrange the hose at the top of the “slide” so water pours down. Add some soap
for bubbles and extra slipperiness, then you’re good to go — just encourage the kids to take a running start. If you want an option that requires less assembly, purchase a Slip ‘N Slide kit at pretty much any big-box store or Amazon. Host a water balloon challenge. Huge packs of water balloons are easy to find online or at your local dollar store and can supply hours of fun for a few bucks. If your family is big enough for a full-scale water balloon fight, fill as many balloons as you can get your hands on and plan out a full list of games, like duck, duck, splash (the “goose” gets a wet head); capture the water balloon (instead of pulling flags, get soaked); or a water balloon spoon race (the first person to cross the finish line with an intact balloon wins). Check out KaseyTrenum.com or LocalFunforKids.com for more ideas or keep it simple and host a water balloon dodgeball free-for-all. Whip up some park treats. Are your kids big fans of funnel cakes, Dippin’ Dots, or that signature water park burger or pizza? If favorite treats are integral to the water park experience, then try turning your kitchen into a snack kiosk! Stock up on popsicles and burger fixings or attempt The Gracious Pantry’s healthy homemade Dippin’ Dots or Live Well Bake Often’s homemade funnel cakes.
2 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
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