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Why have thousands of United Methodist churches in the US quit the denomination?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

The United Methodist Church has been undergoing a major upheaval as more than 7,000 congregations across the country, one quarter of the total, decided whether to leave the denomination or remain United Methodist. This splintering resulted from a long-simmering debate over theological differences and the role of LGBTQ people in the church.WHY IS THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SPLINTERING?For decades, the denomination has been mired in intractable debates over theology and the role of LGBTQ people in the church. The UMC bans same-sex marriage and openly LGBTQ clergy.But amid increased defiance of those bans in many U.S. churches, several conservatives decided to launch the separate Global Methodist Church. Progressives who remain in the UMC are expected to advocate for removing the bans at the denomination’s next General Conference, in the spring of 2024.WHEN DID CONGREGATIONS START LEAVING? The departures began in 2019 but ramped up during this year’s just-completed round of regular an...

US national security adviser says a negotiated outcome is the best way to end Lebanon-Israel tension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday that he has discussed with Israeli officials the volatile situation along the Lebanon-Israel border, adding that a “negotiated outcome” is the best way to reassure residents of northern Israel.Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, Sullivan said that Washington won’t tolerate threats by Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group, which has been attacking Israeli military posts along the border since a day after the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7.Over the past two months, Israel has evacuated more than 20,000 of its citizens from towns and villages along the border with Lebanon, some of whom have expressed concerns that they have no plans to return home as long as Hezbollah fighters are deployed on the Lebanese side of the border.“We need to send a clear message that we will not tolerate the kinds of threats and terrorist activity that we have seen from Hezbollah and from the territory of Lebanon,” Sullivan told repo...

One fourth of United Methodist churches in US have left in schism over LGBTQ ban. What happens now?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

A quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church have received permission to leave the denomination during a five-year window, closing this month, that authorized departures for congregations over disputes involving the church’s LGBTQ-related policies.This year alone, 5,641 congregations received permission from their regional conferences to leave the denomination as of Thursday, according to an unofficial tally by United Methodist News. In total, 7,658 have received permission since 2019. Thursday marked the last scheduled regional vote, according to the news service, when the Texas Annual Conference authorized four congregations’ departures.The vast major are conservative-leaning churches responding to what they see as the United Methodists’ failure to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ persons.The new year is expected to bring more changes.The first denomination-wide legislative gathering in eight years, slated for spring...

Suriname’s ex-dictator faces final verdict in 1982 killings of political opponents. Some fear unrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — Suriname’s former dictator will face a final verdict this month in the years-long judicial process over the 1982 killings of 15 political opponents that deeply scarred the South American country.Desi Bouterse and two dozen others were accused of rounding up well-known people including lawyers, journalists and a university professor and executing them in a colonial fortress in the capital, Paramaribo.Bouterse, who remains chair of the National Democratic Party, is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 20 along with four other suspects. The 78-year-old former leader is the main suspect, having been convicted twice in the killings. He has accepted “political responsibility” for them but insists he was not present for them.The relatives of those killed and Surinamese who remember what are known as the “December murders” say they want those responsible to be held accountable.“It is a wound in the community. You can’t get away from it,” said Sanjai Debipersad, a...

The reason why you have that lingering cough

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

(WGN Radio/NEXSTAR) – It's that season again when the flu and other respiratory viruses are spreading rapidly, leaving some people wondering why they just can't kick that cough.Dr. Konstantinos Papadopoulos, family medicine specialist at Northwestern Medicine Wheaton, spoke to WGN Radio's Lisa Dent to explain why some people who test negative for COVID-19 are experiencing a lingering cough that could last for weeks. If you have a persistent cough, Papadopoulos says that one of more than 200 viruses that can cause respiratory infections is likely the cause."One of the most common ones is rhinovirus, which we don't necessarily test for during the upper respiratory infection," Papadopoulos said. This winter’s El Niño could be one of the strongest in 70 years. What does it mean for you? Rhinoviruses are the most frequent cause of the common cold, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts estimate that an adult gets one a year on average, and a child two.Papadopolous said ...

Tow truck driver shot multiple times on Eisenhower

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A tow truck driver was shot multiple times Thursday night on the inbound Eisenhower.At around 10:55 p.m., officers responded to the report of an expressway shooting in the inbound lanes of the Eisenhower near California Avenue.At the scene, officers found a tow truck parked on the right shoulder. The driver was shot multiple times and was transported with life-threatening injuries. Body found in trunk of burning vehicle on South Side Lanes were reopened at around 12:55 a.m.

How closely did you follow the local news this week? Take our quiz and find out.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

The Morning Report, our weekday newsletter, quizzes readers about our local news coverage on Fridays.Answer these five questions and check your answers at the end of the article.Sign up for the Morning Report or our other free newsletters at twincities.com/newsletters.SundayCatalytic converter thefts are down in St. Paul. Police say reasons include:A. New, dedicated alarms protect the converters.B. The increased use of vehicle and home/business surveillance cameras act as deterrents.C.  New restrictions on the sale and transportation of detached catalytic converters are helping.MondayA philanthropist donated $2.5 million to the Battered Women’s Justice Project and $2 million to the Hmong American Partnership, both in St. Paul, it was announced on Monday. That donor is:A. Mackenzie ScottB. Jeff BezosC. Taylor SwiftTuesdayA popular St. Paul marketplace is looking to expand into the suburbs.A. The European Christmas Market at Lowertown.B. Frogtown’s HmongTown Marketplace on Como Avenue...

Pittsfield to honor SSGT. Jacob Galliher

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- The City of Pittsfield will honor SSGT. Jacob "Jake" Galliher on Friday at approximately 3:15 p.m. SSGT. Galliher was involved in the tragic crash of an Osprey while serving in the United States Air Force-Japan. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! SSGT. Galliher was a graduate of Taconic High School in 2017. According to the City, SSGT. Galliher's procession will begin at Westover Air Force Base, then travel on the Massachusetts Turnpike to downtown Lee, then through downtown Lenox, via Walker Street. The route will continue to Pittsfield via Route 7 (South Street) to Park Square where they will turn left onto West Street to Taconic High School. After Taconic, the procession will return to North Street, turn left down North Street, and end at Dery Funeral Home on Bradford Street.Flags are available to the public and can be picked up, after noon today, at the following locations:City Hall, 70 Allen StreetDepart...

Last call for artists to enter 120th anniversary Grant's Farm mural competition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Last call for artists! In celebration of its 120th anniversary, Grant's Farm is looking for someone to design and paint a permanent mural that celebrates the legendary aspects of the St. Louis property.The call for artists was announced earlier this year, but the deadline has arrived.  The deadline for all mural design submissions is tonight at midnight. Asian elephant ‘Raja’ leaving St. Louis Zoo The winner will receive $5,000 in cash. Grant's Farm will also pay for all the materials necessary to install the mural.Two runners-up will receive $1,000 in cash each. For more information about how you can submit your idea, click here.

Crews responding to building fires in Madison, Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:00 GMT

MADISON, Ill. - Emergency crews are responding to building fires in Madison, Illinois.Our Nissan Rogue Runner reporter, Nic Lopez, captured footage of the scene located on the 1500 block of Market Street, where firefighters are still dousing the two buildings with water. One of the buildings was a former mechanic shop. Two St. Louis-area highways among ‘America’s most loathed,’ report says Smoke can still be seen shooting from the buildings. So far, the cause of the fire has not been reported. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.