California

After deliberating for nearly 10 hours, the jury in the Michael Jackson involuntary manslaughter trial involving Dr. Conrad Murray delivered a guilty verdict Monday. 

Judge Micael Pastor could give Murray up to four years in prison and take away his medical license, when he returns to court on Nov. 29 for sentencing. 

Murray was removed from the courtroom in handcuffs and taken to jail where he will await sentencing.  more >>

After deliberating for nearly 10 hours Monday, the jury in the Michael Jackson involuntary manslaughter trial involving Dr. Conrad Murray is expected to deliver its verdict at 4 p.m. ET.

The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, is scheduled to announce its decision on whether Murray is guilty or not guilty in the death of the late pop star.

Jackson, 50, died at his Los Angeles mansion on June 25, 2009, from a fatal dose of propofol, a very powerful anesthetic said to normally be administered in hospitals. more >>

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County might still be eying the property of the landmark but bankrupt Crystal Cathedral church in California, but Oklahoma-based retail chain Hobby Lobby has given up its bid after the church agreed to sell the campus to Chapman University.

Hobby Lobby, a chain of Christian-based arts and crafts retail outlets across the United States and one of the several bidders for the 40-acre Crystal Cathedral campus, has bowed out after the church recently agreed to a bid by Chapman University, The Oklahoman reported this weekend.

Last Monday, creditors officially designated Chapman University as the preferred buyer of the Crystal Cathedral property in court, but the bid is set for court approval Nov. 14. The university agreed to pay $51.5 million – $1.5 million more than the amount agreed upon earlier. The university’s plan provides for the church to lease and in due course buy back its core buildings, which gives hope to church leaders. more >>

Some members of the Garden Grove, Calif., Crystal Cathedral congregation are outraged after receiving an email asking them to deliver meals for the sick wife of the cathedral’s wealthy founder, the Rev. Robert H. Schuller.

The email, sent to Bible study groups and church elders by administrators, requested that meals be dropped off at the cathedral's Tower of Hope where the Schullers' limo drivers would be waiting to pick them up, the Orange County Register reported Thursday.

The Rev. Schuller's wife, Arvella, has reportedly fallen ill with pneumonia. more >>

Family Radio has commented on the allegations about its founder and president Harold Camping retiring since The Christian Post reported on Oct. 24 that the 90-year-old doomsday prophet had told a young church member he was "retired."

At the time, CP was not able to confirm that information directly with Camping or any official at Family Radio. However, the young man, also a documentarian, said he had recordings supporting his claims.

Susan Espinoza, Camping's daughter and manager of the international department at Family Radio, has denied that her father has retired completely. more >>

"Family Guy," Fox network's satirical animated comedy show, is known for pushing things to the edge. But its Sunday episode depicting domestic violence, "Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q," has evoked genuine outrage from viewers.

The episode features a woman named Brenda (Quagmire’s little sister) who is in denial about the fact that her boyfriend, Jeff, is abusing her.

"Jeff's sweet, you don't see how gentle and softly he hits me when we’re alone," Brenda says to Lois in one of the lines that producers apparently intended to be funny, but that many viewers perceived as sad and generally in bad taste. more >>