The Supreme Court will review a Nebraska law this spring that bans partial-birth abortion. Thirty states have such bans, but at least 14 have been ruled unconstitutional (CT, Dec, 6, 1999, p. 21). In a related case, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in January on a Colorado law that prohibits protesting, counseling, or the distribution of leaflets within eight feet of another person outside an abortion clinic and within a 100-foot zone around the building.

Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Evanston, Illinois, has refiled a suit challenging the city's denials to rezone the church's building, which is located in an office district, for religious use. The permit allows the church to hold "cultural" events, such as a Christmas pageant, in the building, but not a Christmas Eve service. The church continues to hold Sunday services in a local high school at a cost of about $100,000 per year (CT, Oct. 26, 1998, p. 23).

The relatives of Larry Gene Ashbrook gave $10,000 from the sale of Ashbrook's property to Wedgwood Baptist Church in Ft. Worth. Last September, Ashbrook killed seven teenagers and adults and injured seven others at the church before killing himself (CT, Oct. 25, 1999, p. 14). Aaron Ashbrook, the gunman's brother, presented the check to Wedgwood pastor Al Meredith.