Source: The Fayetteville Observer

Source: The Denver Rocky Mountain News

On December 23, 1999, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that the brightest moon in 133 years on the night of December 22nd, which was also the day of the winter solstice, was a reason for Pagans to celebrate. Members of the Earth Spirit Pagans gathered at the West Center in Colorado Springs, CO for a full moon ritual. The full moon on December 22nd was 15 percent brighter than a normal full moon and 30 percent brighter than the faintest full moon because it fell on the winter solstice, which is when the Earth...

Source: The Boston Globe

On December 21, 1999, The Boston Globe published an article on the full moon and Pagan solstice celebrations. Pagans celebrate the winter solstice as 'Yule', the rebirth of the Sun. Karen Thorne of Lincoln, Massachusetts, a professional astrologer, stated: "The moon mythically represents our unconsciousness, and a full moon on the solstice at the end of the century is significant...I don't think that there will be any one dramatic occurrence, but there could be profound changes in our collective unconsciousness that will bring new...

Source: The Times-Picayune

On October 31, 1999, The Times-Picayune published an article on the growth of Wicca in the United States.

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On October 30, 1999, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution published an article on the Atlanta Pagan community and the national Pagan ecumenism that resulted from the criticisms of U.S. Rep. Bob Barr (R-Georgia.). Despite the efforts by Barr to ban witchcraft from military bases, Pagans united to counter his efforts. One result of this unity is the Wiccan Pagan Educational Association, an Atlanta-based group that watches legislation that could have an impact on Pagan worship. Ginger Wages of Atlanta operates...

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On October 29, 1999, The San Francisco Chronicle published an article on the Wiccan community of Contra Costa County in California.

Source: USA TODAY

On October 27, 1999, USA Today published an article on the use of the Internet by Pagan groups. Fritz Jung of The Witches' Voice (www.witchvox.com) stated: "We were clearly one of the few religious groups to embrace the Internet with a passion from the beginning." Jung added that before the Internet, Pagans were "very fragmented with no national communication. The Net blew this spiritual path wide open." the Internet has about 3,000 witch, Wiccan, and pagan sites, which are mostly found on the page of...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On October 25, 1999, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an article on the rising interest of young women in witchcraft. With television shows such as "Charmed" and Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and a popular new book entitled, Teen Witch: Wicca for a New Generation, Hollywood and book publishers have noted the interest in witchcraft of those between the ages of 11 and 23. Vicki Just, who dispenses tea and tarot cards at the Village Tea House in Bay View, Wisconsin, stated: "Older women and young women both are...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On September 24, 1999, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the public school board in Roswell, New Mexico voted 4-1 to lift a ban on students wearing pentagrams, a Wiccan symbol. The school district had a ban on any "attire associated with gothic, satanic or occult-type activities such as pentagrams, etc.," but the pentagram has been excluded from this group because the district faced legal action from Kathryn King, a local minister of Wicca who says she knows approximately a dozen students in the district who...

Source: Morning Star

On August 23, 1999 Morning Star reported that "Members of the Coven of the Dragon Warriors say they have been encouraged and threatened since going public about their hope to worship at Fort Bragg. Laurie MacNeill, the group's high priestess, said she would not withdraw plans to apply. 'We want soldiers to feel safe enough and free enough to worship without being harassed for their beliefs,' said Ms. MacNeill, a former Army sergeant. Lt. Col. Sam Boone, Fort Bragg's garrison chaplain, said he met last week with Ms. MacNeill to discuss...

Source: The New York Times

On August 22, 1999, The New York Times published an article on how The Blair Witch Project continues the trend of negative bias against witches. Selena Fox, who helped found one of the oldest Wiccan nature preserves in the country, the Circle Sanctuary in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, considers it one long slur against witches: "If the film had been called 'The Blair Cherokee Project,' people would recognize the negative stereotypes."

Source: The Herald-Sun

On August 8, 1999 The Associated Press reported that "Soldiers who believe in the Wiccan religion want Fort Bragg to allow their worship services and study groups on the post. The Wiccans say they are good soldiers and patriotic Americans. 'But we change 'God bless America' to 'goddess bless America,' said Laurie MacNeill, a former Army sergeant and the high priestess in the Coven of the Dragon Warriors. There are about 10,000 pagans in the military and an estimated 200 to 400 at Fort Bragg, according to the Military Pagan Network,...

Source: The Plain Dealer

On July 24, 1999, The Plain Dealer published an article on the presence of Wicca on college campuses. Practitioners and scholars agree that college is a gateway for many into Paganism because of the "usual willingness of the young to experiment with the new and unfamiliar." College students are attracted by Paganism's reverence for the Earth and nature and its flexibility and individuality. "I like it because it's a very self-styled religion...There's not very much dogma," said Andee Brown, a computer science major at Smith College...

Source: Pagan Educational Network

On July 4, 1999, a press release was issued from the Pagan Educational Network entitled, "Pagan Leaders Champion Religious Freedom in Military."

Source: ABCNEWS.com

http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/CloserLook/wnt990623_wehmeyer_story.html

On June 23, 1999, ABCNEWS.com reported on the Fort Hood Witches in Texas, "a group that includes active and retired Army personnel who are devotees of Wicca...Some local pastors, who consider witchcraft part of satanic worship, are outraged the Army is making room for witches. And conservative Christian groups are telling young men and women not to join the Army...