Ancient Synagogue Found

One of the world's oldest synagogues in Northern Israel has been uncovered at a construction site near the Sea of Galilee. The synagague may date back about 2000 years between 50BCE to 100CE. A stone carved menorah engraving has also been unearthed near the find. It's the first of its kind to be discovered from this period.

Runaway Convert

CNN reports on the media frenzy around a Muslim teen who converted to Christianity.

The Airport Chaplain

NPR offers a look at the ministry of Atlanta airport chaplain Chester Cook, who wanders the terminals looking for people who are in need of help.

Anti-Abortion Activist Killed

Police are holding a suspect in the killing of an anti-abortion activist near Flint, Michigan. The shooting took place at Owosso High School about 40 miles west of Flint. Officials put the school on immediate lockdown, although no students were involved in the conflict. 63-year-old Jim Pouillon often publically displayed signs showing aborted fetuses. Another man, Mike Fuoss, was shot and killed just miles away at a gravel pit business. Police say the 33-year-old suspect is believed to be responsible for both murders.

Pepsi Boycott

A Florida megachurch is boycotting Pepsi products. Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon has had all Pepsi vending machines were removed. The church has been negotiating with the company for months but talks are at a standstill. Bell Shoals objects to the soft drink company sponsoring gay pride parades and opposing California's same-sex marriage ban. Some 50 area churches are joining the boycott.

Pastor Calls for Vengence

A Florida pastor asked God to avenge him during his sentencing for mortgage fraud yesterday. Rodney McGill of New Hope Outreach Center reportedly turned his back on the judge and said, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, for every witness called against me, I pray cancer in their lives, lupus, brain tumor, pancreatic cancer." The judge sentenced him to a 20-year prison term for his part in falsely obtaining a million dollars in real estate loans. McGill vigorously maintaines his innocence.

Tolkien Settlement

A settlement has been reached between the heirs of J.R.R. Tolkien and Warner Brothers. The trustees of Tolkien's Estate sued Warner's New Line Cinema movie studio over who owns the rights to the late author's work, claiming the studio failed to pay what had been agreed. The settlement allows filming of The Hobbit to go forward. It's a prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Shooting begins next year. The first films in the series made about $2.9 billion worldwide. The third installment The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won an Oscar for Best Picture in 2004.

Ball Players to Church

Some parents of children attending a Kentucky public high school are upset the football coach took his team to a church revival. Coach Scott Mooney of Breckinridge County High School in Harned, Kentucky (about 50 miles south of Loiusville) used one of the school's buses to bring 20 players to his church. He told them there would be a motivational speaker and free steak dinner at Franklin Crossroads Baptist Church. Nearly half of them were baptized. Although Mooney did not ask for their parents’ permission, the school superintendent says the trip was all right because attendance was not required and another coach paid for the gas. She is a member of Franklin Crossroads as well. The state's ACLU disagrees, saying the trip probably violated church and state separation.

Lust Map

The number of STD cases reported per capita by Kansas State University Geography. Green is lower, red is higher.