Father's 'honor killing' trial is set to begin in Arizona

It has been about 13 months since Noor Almaleki, 20, was allegedly struck and killed by a Jeep Laredo reportedly driven by her father, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 50, in Phoenix, Arizona. In what is being claimed by prosecutors to be a case of an "honor killing" because his daughter was becoming too Westernized and defying Mulsim traditions, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, an Iraqi immigrant, faces life in prison, if convicted for his daughter's murder.

Though honor killings have been noted the world over, in countries such as Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, among others, officials say it is a relatively rare occurrence to see one happen in the United States. Nevertheless, it is being reported that Noor Almaleki had refused an arranged marriage by her family in favor of living with a boyfriend of her own choosing.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Homeless pancake breakfast averts court

A case where a pancake breakfast goes to court was averted recently, when CrossRoads United Methodist Church, in Phoenix, Ariz., reached an agreement with the city regarding the church's Saturday pancake breakfast for the homeless.

One part of the agreement between the two formerly feuding factions involved feeding homeless people in the church, as opposed to outside of it on the grounds.