Missouri

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing a library in rural Missouri for constitutional violations after a community member complained to the rights group that she was denied access to witchcraft and astrology websites on the library’s Internet.

Anaka Hunter says she was denied access to the websites by the director of the Salem Public Library in the town of Ozark in Salem, Mo. The ACLU claims public libraries are constitutionally obligated to provide access to all content that has not been deemed pornographic.

Hunter requested to view a Wicca (or witchcraft), website and Wikipedia page, as well as Astrology.com and the Encyclopedia of Death and Dying – a website that seeks to objectively detail all faiths’ teachings on death. more >>

The Christmas spirit is alive in Joplin, Mo. Residents of the tornado damaged town have seen their share of hardships this year, but it didn’t stop them from participating in Operation Christmas Child. They more than doubled the number of shoe box donations for the organization that sends gift filled shoe boxes to third world countries every Christmas.

OCC Collection Center Coordinator Della Bergen told The Christian Post that the damage from the tornado didn’t stop people from donating. People who had lost everything still came out and donated boxes because OCC is a yearly tradition for them. She said they told her they’re “not going to miss it this year just because of the tornado.”

In total, the town raised 12,520 shoe boxes, compared with last year’s 5,664. Bergen said one of the reasons for the jump in donations stems from the fact that many tornado victims had people they didn’t even know give them things to survive. In turn, this gave them a deeper understanding of what Operation Christmas Child is all about. more >>

A Christian ice cream shop owner is thankful for being forgiven by atheists whom he had temporarily banned from his store.

In his most recent public response this week, Gelato Mio owner Andy Drennen revealed on Wednesday that it's been "an emotional rollercoaster ride" for him and his family over the last few days but that he has received "positive, forgiving, and understanding responses."

Drennen had received backlash for a sign he posted last weekend, stating, "Skepticon is NOT welcomed to my Christian Business." more >>

A retired Kansas City police officer familiar with the investigation for missing baby Lisa Irwin says there is little chance the toddler is still alive.

Dave Bernard, a former sergeant in the police department's homicide unit, said he hopes Lisa is found alive but his instincts tell him it is not likely.

"You know, at this stage, I don't know. I doubt it. I doubt that she's still alive," he told KMBC News. more >>

The neighbor of missing baby Lisa Irwin said he has met with authorities multiple times and passed a polygraph test they administered to him.

The spouse of Samantha Brando was interviewed by CNN on Wednesday. He is a close friend with baby Lisa's mother, Deborah Bradley, and was with Bradley the evening of Oct. 3 drinking and smoking cigarettes.

A representative for the Kansas City Police said that the neighbor has been cleared of any part in the vanishing of Lisa. more >>

As the police becomes more eager to gain access and to further interrogate the parents of 11-month-old Lisa Irwin, the defense team representing the missing girl's parents has begun to be more critical of investigators.

On Tuesday, Kansas City police Capt. Steve Young said that he is not in disagreement with the family's attorney, Joe Tacopina, who stated that the family had cooperated and answered questions asked by investigators. Young felt, however, that the answers Lisa's parents have provide so far have not been sufficient.

The police captain announced that investigators needed to interview Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin, the parents of the little girl separately. more >>