Source: The Boston Globe

On June 18, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on the arrival of Brooklyn-born Hasidic Jews and immigrants from Russia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Nigeria and Mexico to Postville, Iowa. "At first, the Iowans smiled stretched out their hands. But over time, they resented what they saw as the newcomers' unfriendly ways...[Some] say Postville, which has become a real-life model of diversity, immigration, and demographic shifts, proves Iowa is not [psychologically and socially] ready for a mass immigration...Of all the newcomers...the Hasidic Jews...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On June 17, 2001, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Bush's faith-based initiative "is about to be debated in Congress. But the outlook is stormy, and one key Republican has warned the White House that the bill faces serious constitutional and political problems...The White House and its allies are launching a major effort to mobilize political support."

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On June 17, 2001, St. Petersburg Times reported on Dr. Kiran Patel, "a champion of Indian culture in Tampa." One of the Indian traditions that he espouses is "for Indian fathers to help arrange the marriages of their daughters to worthy Indians," but his 27-year-old daughter decided to marry an American Methodist from New Jersey. Dr. Patel opposed the marriage at first, but eventually relented.

Source: Newsday

On June 17, 2001, Newsday reported on Frank "White Eagle" Schaefer, a registered member of the Onondaga nation and holy man. "He is...deeply steeped in his culture and works to educate others of the ways of his people. Schaefer is a much revered elder among those following the Keetowah faith, which teaches reverence for family and nature and [has been] practiced in diverse forms by American Indian tribes" for centuries. Schaefer is also devoted to Catholocism. He "weaves American Indian headbands out of 12 colorful pieces of yarn,...

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

On June 17, 2001, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Linda Hauber, 29, who has become an observant Muslim. "Her rejection of Catholocism; the head scarf; her avoidance of church weddings and funerals...Christmas and Easter gatherings -- all have distanced her from family and old friends...The lingering estrangement arose not simply because [of] her conversion, but also because of her devout observances of Islamic convention."

Source: The New York Times

On June 17, 2001, The New York Times reported on Rabbi Geisinsky, who "directs Chabad of Great Neck, the local branch of a Hasidic Jewish group that focuses on outreach and education." To meet the huge turnout of worshippers, Chabad of Great Neck bought a waterfront property in Kings Point, New York, to build a synagogue on. "But then a group of neighbors who opposed the plan got organized, and...became the Peninsula Environmental Conservancy. They hired a legal team, a traffic analyst, an environmental consultant and a public...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On June 16, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported on Jesse Miranda, a Southern California Pentecostal minister. "President Bush's faith-based initiatives proposal and the rise of Latino Protestantism have pushed Miranda into the national spotlight...Miranda, 63...is winning respect for his ability to turn isolated Latino churches into a social force ...Latino Protestantism is attracting a growing number of members from Catholicism."

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On June 16, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported that "as the water from Tropical Storm Allison began to recede...a flood of donations and volunteers rushed into the fellowship hall of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church [in Houston] to help a trained troupe of parishioners activate a shelter for the American Red Cross...This 'miracle' was repeated throughout the Houston area last week as houses of worship became sanctuaries for residents fleeing the floods...Organizations such as churches, mosques and synagogues are...

Source: Newsday

On June 16, 2001, Newsday reported on an interfaith marriage panel, "which brought together four interfaith couples and four clergy members earlier this month at Huntington Congregational Church in Centerport [New York]." Among other things, the panelists discussed wedding ceremonies, raising children, cultural differences, and all that interfaith marriages can teach a couple.

Source: India Abroad

On June 15, 2001, India Abroad reported that "a 15,000-square-foot high-domed Dradha Krishna temple...has been built...in Spanish Fork, Utah, by the Utah chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness...Among the guests invited for the celebration [of its opening] are...local members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (LDS)...In 1999 the LDS Foundation donated $25,000 toward construction and more than 800 local Mormons voluntered their time in the construction at various times."

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On June 15, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "Yoruba is the name of a major ethnic group in Nigeria and its religion." Queen Mother Yeyefini Efunbolade, the founder and director of the International Institute of Afrikan Studies...

Source: The Record

On June 15, 2001, The Record published an opinion piece about statements made by opponents of the construction of an eruv in Tenafly, New Jersey. Eruvin are symbolic walls that allow the Orthodox to carry things out of their homes on the Sabbath. "The comments are...us-versus-them comments...The comments are cloaked in code words: about how these 'other people' are so different, and about what their moving in might do to schools, property values, and the town's identity...Getting to know people makes all the difference. It does away...

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On June 15, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the wedding ceremony of an Indian-American Hindu bride and groom. "The bride says her wedding day was perfect because it combined her Indian background and her American upbringing into one beautifully unique ceremony."

Source: The State Journal-Register

On June 14, 2001, The State Journal-Register reported that "a decades-old law that prohibits anyone from being paid to tell fortunes was reaffirmed by unanimous vote of Hillsboro [Illinois] City Council. The issue came up...when [the Coven of the] Mystic Moon [asked to] hold a fund-raising festival on city property at Lake Hillsboro. Among the games and activities to be offered would be readings of Tarot cards and fortune-telling...The practice of divination, or fortune-telling, is part of their religion, [a member of the...

Source: The Associated Press State & Local Wire

On June 13, 2001, the Associated Press State & Local Wire reported on a three-day Hinduism conference at the Vivekananda Monastery and Retreat in Ganges, Michigan. "Vedanta in the Third Millennium," is expected to attract about 500 people. The leader of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago said that "the idea of doing this conference is to make the people aware of their spiritual identity."