Source: WCNC.com

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-ad-1_23_06-prayer.3144c8ab.html

On January 23, 2006 WCNC.com reported, "The York County Council will discuss the issue of referring to God in prayers at the start of public meetings. This comes months after the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a case involving prayer at public meetings and the battle over keeping those prayers continues. Ironically, Monday night...

Source: Grand Forks Herald

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/13561066.htm

On January 6, 2006 the Grand Forks Herald reported, "A lawsuit against a UND [University of North Dakota] law clinic brought by a Fargo Christian activist trying to remove a 'pagan' statue from atop the Grand Forks County courthouse should not have been dismissed so quickly, an appeals court ruled Thursday.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit reversed a district court...

Source: Austin-American Statesman

http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/other/12/31interfaith.html

On December 31, 2005 the Austin-American Statesman ran a feature article on the beleifs of Wiccans. Ellen C. Friedman, an Elder priestess with Live Oak Local Council, Covenant of the Goddess, and a participants in the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, provides her conception of Wicca: "Like other nature-based religious paths,...

Source: Bangor Daily News

http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=125338

On December 17, 2005 the Bangor Daily News reported, "Ever feel tempted to consult a shaman? Or learn how to be a shaman? Interested in finding out about solstice celebrations conducted by local pagans? Wondering what Swedenborgianism is all about? Curious about the much-persecuted Baha'i Faith? Looking to find a compatible meditation group? Information on these topics and many, many more can...

Source: Local6.com

http://www.local6.com/news/5480755/detail.html

On December 7, 2005 Local6.com reported, "Authorities in Flagler County, Fla., are investigating an apparent religious hate crime after a rock with a threatening note written in an ancient theological language was thrown into a self-proclaimed witch's home... Jill Pagan, who practices paganism and calls herself a witch, said she was in her home when she heard a loud sound. She found that a large rock was...

Source: Daily Vanguard

http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/11/437481fba7d67

On November 11, 2005 the Daily Vanguard reported, "Pagans are not atheists — they just show reverence in different ways from other religions, members of a small but dedicated Student Pagan Association said at an event Tuesday night. The association presented a 'Paganism 101' program in Smith Memorial Student Union. The program by association co-...

Source: The Kansas City Star

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/13137514.htm

On November 11, 2005 The Kansas City Star reported, "[Reverend Wallace Hartsfield], a longtime area Baptist minister, looked out from a podium Thursday at the more than 600 people who gathered for the [Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council's] inaugural luncheon at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Represented were American Indian spirituality, Bahai, Buddhism,...

Source: ABC News

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1256677

On October 31, 2005 ABC News reported, "When Tracey Johnson first moved to Petal, Miss. and opened The Circle of the Green Faery, she didn't receive the warmest of welcomes. It seems not everyone in the small, rural southern Mississippi community was willing to accept a witch who sold supplies for pagan lifestyles.

But ever since Hurricane Katrina, Johnson's shop has been bustling.

'The divination...

Source: Yahoo! News

Wire Service: AP

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051030/ap_on_fe_st/netherlands_witch_s_tax_break

On October 30, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Dutch witches were guaranteed a financial treat when the Leeuwarden District Court reaffirmed their legal right to write off the costs of schooling — including in witchcraft — against their tax bills. Those costs run to thousands of euros. The case...

Source: The New Haven Register

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-1829195,00.html

On October 17, 2005 The Times reported, "Pagan priests will be allowed to use wine and wands during ceremonies in jails under instructions issued to every prison governor. Inmates practising paganism will be allowed a hoodless robe, incense and a piece of religious jewellery among their personal possessions. They will also be allowed to have Tarot cards but are forbidden from...

Source: The Herald

http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/5258727p-4773941c.html

On October 16, 2005 The Herald reported, "With the deadline to appeal set to expire, Great Falls officials have made no move to pay the legal bills of a Wiccan high priestess who successfully sued the town to remove the name of Jesus Christ from pre-meeting prayers. Federal Judge Cameron Currie last month ordered the town to pay about $53,000 in legal bills that Darla Wynne...

Source: The Age

On October 16, 2005 The Age reported, "[Caroline] Tully [a witch in Melbourne] is part of an Australian trend in which witches and charismatic Christians are leading religious growth. Many women are turning to witchcraft or paganism as a reaction to the patriarchal nature of traditional Christianity. Academic Dr Philip Hughes, of the Christian Research Association, told a Melbourne seminar on spirituality that 'nature' religions rose by 140 per cent between 1996 and 2001. Agnostics are on the rise, too. For many, the nature religions were...

Source: The Washington Post

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/11/AR2005101100637.html

On October 11, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "The Supreme Court rejected an appeal on Tuesday from a Wiccan priestess angry that local leaders would not let her open their sessions with a prayer. Instead, clergy from more traditional religions were invited to pray at...

Source: The Telegraph