Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On May 24, 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "Plans to open a mosque in Palos Heights have upset residents and prompted some City Council members to consider derailing the plan by condemning the property the mosque wants to purchase." The Al Salam Mosque Foundation wanted to buy "the Reformed Church of Palos Heights' building." Residents say they fear increased traffic and would like to use the building for a new recreation center. "But a less vocal group in the south suburb also has expressed fears about the people...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On May 24, 2000, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on the Planning Commission meeting that addressed opposition to the temple based on its proximity to homes. "Hare Krishna officials counter that argument with a survey they conducted: Of Escondido's 65 churches, they say, 45 are near homes." The Planning Commission approved the plans.

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On May 23, 2000, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an article entitled, "Krishnas Find Their Mecca: Leaders Say Escondido Site is 'Perfect' for Temple; Neighbors Disagree." In order to meet traditional Hindu guidelines the site must be "high in the south, sloped in the north, have hills to the east and be open to the west. It must have a single road on the north, and water flowing through it. The soil must be light-colored and the land sweet-smelling." And this site in Escondito, CA is less than a 20 minute...

Source: The New York Times

On May 20, 2000, The New York Times published an article on the issues for Arab-American Muslims surrounding organ donation, which is said to be forbidden for Muslims because they are supposed to return to God in Heaven in the same body. Najah Bazzy, a 40-year-old Lebanese nurse, is spearheading an initiative to include in Islamic wills a section for organ donation: "There is a saying in Islam: He who saves a life saves humanity...Why are we so eager to take our organs with us and give up the opportunity to save a life? How do I...

Source: The Detroit News

On May 20, 2000, The Detroit News published an article entitled, "Muslims Say It's OK to Keep Christian Quote as Ohio State Motto."

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 19, 2000, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "The Koran calls for both Muslim women and men to dress modestly in public. Although Islam doesn't specify a style or form of dress, Suzanne Haneef writes in her book What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims that a woman is required to 'be completely covered except for her hands and face and that her dress should conceal her form, be loose and nontransparent, and not of a kind to attract attention by its beauty. Many non-Muslim women might think of such dress...

Source: The New York Times

On May 19, 2000, The New York Times reported that 33 Sunni Muslim police officers settled a federal lawsuit against the New Jersey State Department of Corrections in regard to banned beards. The officers claimed they were being discriminated against because the Department required that a religious leader certify that an officer's beard was being grown out of religious obligation. The Department of Corrections decided to eliminate the third-party certification.

Source: Star Tribune

On May 18, 2000, the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis will be hosting a daylong meeting entitled, "Homeownership 2000: Meeting the Needs of New Communities" which will include a cooperative model for Islamic financing that is working in Toronto, New York City, Houston, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Minnesota's Muslim population has doubled over the past five years, mostly due to a large number of African Muslim immigrants. The Minneapolis branch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has recognized the challenges...

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On May 10, 2000, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that imam Waheed Rana was awarded the Norman A. Stack award by the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis for his work building bridges between the Muslim and Jewish communities. Rana is a founder of the Islamic Center in St. Louis and serves as the imam at the Daar-ul-Islam Masjid in St. Louis. Rana, accepting the award, stated: "We need each other...We are all the children of Abraham."

Source: The Detroit News

On May 3, 2000, The Detroit News published an article entitled, "Work Starts on Massive Muslim Site: Islamic Center Due to be Largest in North America."

Source: The Detroit News

On April 23, 2000, The Detroit News published an article entitled, "Arabs Call for Boycott of Hit Movie: 'Rules of Engagement' Depicts Muslims as Dangerous, Groups Say."

Source: The Denver Rocky Mountain News

On April 22, 2000, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that Colorado Arabs and Muslims are claiming that the new Hollywood film, 'Rules of Engagement', is racist for its portrayal of the people of Yemen. Husni S. Sayed, who was among dozens of demonstrators outside the Carmike 10 Theatre in Colorado, stated: "We are tired of being bashed, and we're not going to take it anymore...This movie...portrays all people of Yemen as liars and cheaters. It basically portrayed Yemen as fertile ground for breeding terrorists,...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 21, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that it is removing controversial advertisements for the newspaper depicting bikini-clad women and chador-covered Islamic women. James Helin, the chief marketing officer for the Los Angeles Times, said the advertisements were being removed because they "have had their life": "People have seen it and had very strong reactions to it. We're not going to get much more mileage from it." The advertisements were protested by Muslim and feminist organizations and over 200 people on the Los...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 15, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Feminist Majority Foundation and the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have demanded that the Los Angeles Times pull parts of an advertising campaign that the groups claim are offensive. A $15-million advertising campaign in print and on television by the Los Angeles Times, tied with the slogan "Connecting Us to The Times," contains juxtaposed images of Southern California life with scenes representing Muslim societies in some of their ads....

Source: The Boston Globe

On April 8, 2000, The Boston Globe published an article on Yusuf Islam, the popular singer/songwriter who used to be known as Cat Stevens, and his speaking tour around the United States about his life-long spiritual journey and his conversion to Islam. In a recent appearance at Harvard University, Yusuf Islam spoke of his flirting with Buddhism, astrology, and Pythagorean numerology in his quest for truth. He was introduced to Islam when his brother gave him a copy of the Koran. When he read the Koran, Islam stated: "I found my...