A city in Michigan has issued a formal apology to a group of Christian evangelists who were arrested during the 2010 Arab International Festival under the charge of breaching the peace.

The City of Dearborn agreed to a settlement Monday that involved a public apology and an undisclosed amount of compensation to members of the group Acts 17 Apologetics Ministries.

"The City of Dearborn regrets and apologizes for the decisions to arrest and prosecute David Wood, Nabeel Qureshi, and Paul Rezkalla and the hardship caused to everyone involved," reads the official apology. more >>

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized a star-studded lineup of top Christian music artists at their 35th annual Christian award show in downtown Franklin, Tenn., on Monday night. Among those honored at the historic Franklin Theatre were guitarist extraordinaire Phil Keaggy, singer-songwriter Matthew West and songwriter Ben Glover.

ASCAP's Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan, who co-head the group's Nashville membership office, presented the most performed song awards to the writers and publishers on the stage of the newly renovated theater and in front of some of the industry's most notable performers and executives. The list of honored songs included "Carry Me to the Cross" by Kutless, "Trust in Jesus" and "I Need a Miracle" by Third Day, "The Hurt and the Healer" by MercyMe, "The Light in Me" by Brandon Heath, "Good To Be Alive" by Jason Gray, "Love Come to Life," and "Redeemed" by Big Daddy Weave.

Earning song of the year was "10,000 Reasons," a song that won two Grammy Awards this year and was written and recorded by Matt Redman, who drew inspiration from Psalm 103. Redman was traveling and unable to attend the ceremony, but accepting on his behalf were representatives from publishers Sixsteps Music, Thankyou Music and Worshiptogether.com. more >>

No cemeteries in Massachusetts will bury Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev's body, according to Peter Stefan of Graham Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors of Worcester, Mass.

Tsarnaev's body was released by the medical examiner on Thursday. It's been 17 days since he died after a shoot-out with police in Watertown, Mass., on April 19.

The Associated Press reported that Stefan might ask the city of Cambridge to bury him there, but according to a statement the Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy gave on Sunday, there has been no formal application for a burial permit or purchase of a cemetery plot. Healy urged Stefan not to request a burial permit for the city-owned Cambridge Cemetery, saying that the city "would be adversely impacted by the turmoil, protests, and wide spread media presence at such an interment." more >>

Correction Apended

A Florida Pastor who recently left the United Methodist Church has started up a new congregation at a beach bar so as to reach out to those uncomfortable with the traditional church setting.

Pastor Jack Kale oversaw the first prayer service for Central Waterside Church at Bimini Beach Bar in Hemingway on Sunday. The congregation is part of a megachurch based in Las Vegas. more >>

A nonpartisan organization that advocates for well-enforced decency standards for entertainment media is holding a week for awareness of possible changes in television and radio decency standards.

The Parents Television Council has announced that this week is "#NoIndecencyFCC Week," which is part of their effort to convince the Federal Communications Commission to keep their current decency standards.

Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council, told The Christian Post that "#NoIndecencyFCC Week" is based on the belief that the FCC's proposal on changing its decency standards is "extremely troublesome." more >>

Massive riots in Dhaka and other Bangladesh cities have left at least 36 people dead and 60 injured after tens of thousands of Islamists clashed with police demanding stricter penalties for atheist bloggers.

The demonstrators "were very aggressive, some people were throwing stones and the situation quickly become violent ... the police had no option but to respond," one eyewitness told BBC News.

"Rioters vandalized markets and set fire to bookshops where the Holy Koran is sold. Thousands of Koran and religious books burned. They also attacked the ruling party's political office and national mosque," the man added. more >>