Source: The Ottawa Citizen

On January 31, 2000, The Ottawa Citizen reported that Ruhiyyih Rabbani, known to five million Baha'is around the world as Ruhiyyih Khanum ("great spiritual lady"), died on January 19th in Haifa, Israel at the age of 89. She was the only daughter of Canada's first Baha'i family and married the world leader of the faith, "Guardian" Shoghi Effendi, in 1937. When her husband died in 1957, she became the Baha'is preeminent leader, spending much of her life traveling to 185 countries as an ambassador of the Baha'i faith. Though she...

Source: The Times-Picayune

On January 29, 2000, The Times-Picayune reported that a memorial service will be held at the New Orleans Baha'i Center for Ruhi ih Rabbani, the widow of Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, on Sunday, January 30th. Born Mary Maxwell, Rabbani married the great-grandson of Bahaullah, the founder of the Baha'i faith, and was the last living link to the founding family.

Source: The Tampa Tribune

On November 27, 1999, The Tampa Tribune reported that the Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is of Pinellas County opened up on Novembers 5th, 1999. Beverly Azizi, chairwoman of the new center, stated: "Our community has 80 adult members; we outgrew meeting in homes." Before the opening of the new center, the Baha'i community in Pinellas County met in different homes for nearly 30 years.

Source: The Courier-Journal

On November 15, 1999, The Courier-Journal reported that the Greater Louisville Baha'i community dedicated a new worship center in Buechel, Kentucky to serve more than 175 members. The money for the center took more than a decade to raise, since Baha'is don't accept money from people who are not Baha'i. The new center, which is a converted house, contains classrooms and a large meeting room.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On March 19, 1999, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the celebration of the Baha'i New Year, or Naw-Ruz, which takes place on the vernal equinox (Saturday, March 20th) and is a religious holiday in the Baha'i faith. For the 19 days before Naw-Ruz, Baha'is between the ages of 15 and 70 refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. Lorelei McClure, spokeswoman for the Baha'i National Center in Evanston, Illinois, stated: "It is a time to deny oneself material comforts. Fasting is an outward sign of the inward cleansing."...

Source: The Seattle Times

On March 18, 1999, The Seattle Times reported on the celebration set for the Persian New Year, or No-Ruz, on Saturday, March 20th in Seattle. The Zoroastrian calendar that the Persians use is in conjunction with the Islamic calendar, so it is about to be the year 1378. No-Ruz is celebrated by all Persians, regardless of religion, and takes place every year on the vernal equinox. The main celebration in Seattle will take place at Seattle University's Campion Tower Ballroom, with 600-700 people expected.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

The St. Petersburg Times reported that the Interfaith Council and Baha'is of Citrus County, Florida are sponsoring a World Religion Day program on January 17, 1999. World Religion Day was begun in 1950 by the national administrative body of the Baha'i faith, the Spiritual Assembly, in the United States in order to promote religious unity. The subject for this year's event, which will include speakers representing Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Baha'i faiths, is "Life After Death."

Source: Record

On July 6, 1998, the Record, of Bergen County, NJ, ran an Associated Press article entitled "Tibetans Rally For Dialogue With China."

Source: Anchorage Daily News

On March 21, 1998, the Anchorage Daily News reported that "The faces in the room varied. Native, black, white, Hispanic and Middle Eastern Baha'is gathered last month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of the Anchorage Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is."