French teacher's killer paid students to name him, prosecutors say

Two teens among seven people under investigation for their alleged involvement in the beheading of a teacher outside Paris.

Church bell tolls for every COVID death in U.S.

Forged in 1866, the bell began ringing on Oct. 18 and will go off once every six seconds until All Saints' Day on Nov. 1. 

Religious groups push back on COVID restrictions in NYC

Critics of New York City's latest COVID crackdown protested Thursday, calling the measures unfair to the Jewish community.

Germany to give $662M to Holocaust survivors during pandemic

Germany has agreed to provide more than a half-billion euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic.

Activist Harold Tischler faces charges in connection with Brooklyn protests

Harold Tischler was taken into custody Sunday night and arraigned on Monday.  He also faces unlawful imprisonment, menacing, and harassment charges.

Black churches mobilizing voters despite pandemic

Voter mobilization in Black church communities will look much different in 2020, due in large part to the coronavirus pandemic.

NYC churches upset at COVID hot zone capacity limits

Churches in several areas designated as “red zones” in New York City were left empty and quiet on Sunday as officials continue the fight against coronavirus.

Capacity limited on religious gatherings in NYC hot zones
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The decision to severely limit the number of people allowed to attend religious services inside NYC's coronavirus hot zones has left many worshippers angry.

Judge upholds religious gathering limit as NY hospitalizations rise

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the number of New Yorkers hospitalized with coronavirus is rising as authorities focus on limiting gatherings in COVID-19 hotspots.

Amid protests, Orthodox Jews urge new virus-era dialogue

In the view of many Orthodox Jews in New York whose areas were hit hard and early by the pandemic, city and state officials stoked tension with their handling of new restrictions. 

Second wave?  New Jersey COVID-19 cases spike

The health commissioner said most of the positive cases in Ocean County stem from Lakewood, predominantly among white men ages 19-49 and could be related to religious services or celebrations that occurred in late September.

Are you in a NY COVID cluster zone? Find out here and what the rules are

The areas of New York where there are spikes of COVID-19 resulting in newly imposed restrictions have been color-coded by the governor's office on maps.

Hundreds protest in Brooklyn over new COVID restrictions

Hundreds of members of the Jewish Orthodox community took to the streets of Brooklyn late Tuesday in a protest against new COVID-19 restrictions announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier in the day.

Cuomo takes aim at houses of worship, mass gatherings in hot spots

Cuomo said the severity of shutdowns would vary by proximity to hot spots. The rules will take effect no later than Friday in parts of Brooklyn and Queens, sections of Orange and Rockland counties north of the city, and an area within Binghamton near the Pennsylvania border. 

John Hagee, prominent megachurch pastor, diagnosed with COVID-19

The 80-year-old pastor received the diagnosis Friday and was recovering after the illness was detected early, Matt Hagee said during Sunday morning services at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio.