Source: The Columbian

On June 29, 2001, The Columbian reported that "at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church [in Vancouver, Washington]...a certified Qigong instructor teaches the ancient practice of movement and meditation once a week." Qigong was created in China more than 4,000 years ago.

Source: Detroit Free Press

On June 29, 2001, the Detroit Free Press reported that "a White House effort to reach out to Muslim Americans ended in hard feelings...when Secret Service agents mistakenly evicted one guest and the other participants walked out in protest." The evicted student "is also the nephew of Mazen al-Najjar, a Palestinian who was jailed for three years after the government alleged he used an Islamic think tank at the University of South Florida as a front for terrorism."

Source: The Associated Press State & Local Wire

On June 29, 2001, the Associated Press State & Local Wire reported that "the state House [in Delaware]...passed legislation that its sponsor said will remove some of the barriers faced by religious organizations providing charitable work in their communities." The representative sponsoring it says "the bill brings Delaware in line with federal 'charitable choice' guidelines."

Source: Associated Press

On June 29, 2001, the Associated Press reported that "a group of Muslim leaders walked out of a White House meeting..., angered when a Secret Service officer ordered one of them out of the building." The evicted student "is the nephew of Mazen Al-Najjar, a Palestinian who was jailed in Florida for three years after the government alleged he used an Islamic think tank...as a front for terrorism. He was released last December after a panel of judges and Attorney General Janet Reno agreed there was no reason to keep him behind bars...

Source: Knight Ridder Newspapers

On June 29, 2001, Knight Ridder Newspapers reported that "about two dozen representatives from various Muslim organizations filed out of a meeting with White House officials after Abdullah Al-Arian, a congressional intern and an outspoken critic of Israel, was asked to leave. A Secret Service spokesman said the eviction was a mistake... The security mix-up added a new strain to Bush's already difficult relations with the Muslim community and Arab Americans. After supporting Bush in the November election, members of both...

Source: Reuters English News Service

On June 28, 2001, Reuters English News Service reported that "a group of American Muslims walked out of a White House meeting in anger...after one member was asked to leave by the Secret Service."

Source: The New York Times

On June 28, 2001, The New York Times reported that "the White House and Congressional Republicans have agreed on changes to a bill that would expand federal financing of religious groups' charitable work. The accord allows the bill to proceed in the House this week." A White House spokesman "described the changes as guarantees of church-state separation that 'bring the bill in line with the Constitution.'...But Republicans have so far failed to enlist the support of many Democrats, largely because of constitutional issues."

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On June 28, 2001, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that "Protestant pastors and a Jewish rabbi gathered at the state Capitol...to demand change in a school funding system they view as unjust, immoral and outrageous. They promised to organize their congregations and communities into a grass-roots campaign to 'target' lawmakers in the next election...They lamented the disparity between rich and poor school districts."

Source: The Navajo Times

http://www.thenavajotimes.com/National/national.html

On June 28, 2001, The Navajo Times reported that it is only possible to have a Navajo in the U.S. Congress and to have Navajos and Hopis working together "if the Navajo Nation is put into a single congressional and legislative voting district, area citizens told the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. As part of a statewide effort to solicit public...

Source: The Washington Post

On June 28, 2001, The Washington Post published an editorial by George Will in which he wrote about John Street, who, "as mayor,...has made Philadelphia the foremost laboratory for what President Bush calls 'faith-based initiatives.'... Every day approximately 20,000 students...are unexcused absentees from among Philadelphia's 214,000 public school students. So the plan is for every absent student's household to receive a taped call from the mayor -- his voice -- noting the child's absence, and for volunteers from faith-...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On June 28, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "legislation mirroring President Bush's faith-based initiative moves forward today after the White House and lawmakers reached an agreement on constitutional concerns. The full House Judiciary Committee will vote on whether to recommend" the bill. "The legislation...has been altered to strengthen the wall between church and state."

Source: The American Muslim Council

On June 28, 2001, the American Muslim Council issued a press release reporting that, "Following...the unexpected removal of Abdallah Al-Arian, a 20-year-old college senior and intern...from a...meeting to brief the American Muslim leadership on the President's Faith and Community Based Initiative, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer reported that: 'The President is very concerned that an action was taken that was wrong, inappropriate and the President apologizes for it on behalf of the White House.' Although we...

Source: Star Tribune

On June 28, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that "more than 3,000 visitors assemble in Minneapolis... for the National Conference on Community Volunteering and National Service...Much discussion during their conference will focus on the role of religion in the nonprofit sector." The topic has been much discussed since Bush introduced his faith-based initiative.

Source: Pew Charitable Trusts

Source: The Times Union

On June 28, 2001, The Times Union reported on the Grafton Peace Pagoda in Albany, New York. The pagoda is a "monument to peace developed after the horrors of war...[It] is a symbol of nonviolence that dates as far back as 2,000 years ago...There are two peace pagodas in the United States...A Japanese Buddhist nun, Jun Yasuda, is the reason the Grafton Peace Pagoda was built."