NEW YORK (AP) — Anita Bryant, a former Miss Oklahoma, Grammy-nominated singer, and prominent booster of orange juice and other products who became known over the second half of her life for her outspoken opposition to gay rights, has died. She was 84.

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday to no punishment in his historic hush money case, a judgment that lets him return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.

Delta Air Lines topped profit and revenue expectations in the fourth quarter on strong demand during the crucial holiday period.

DALLAS—Leaders from the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the North American Mission Board agreed in principle to a clear path forward for providing church-starting resources and support for BGCT churches desiring access to NAMB resources during a two-hour meeting hosted at the BGCT’s Dallas office on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

BURBANK, Calif. (BP) — Jared Osselaer isn’t sure how many people will need a generator or place to stay as fires continue to spread across Los Angeles County, but Story City Church will be ready.

While people in central Illinois dug out from heavy snowfall, the state’s southernmost counties were covered in ice and fallen trees causing power losses, leaving many without shelter. That’s when local churches came to the rescue.

NASHVILLE (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has announced the hiring of three new staff members to begin 2025. New hires include Daniel Darling as church engagement strategist and RaShan Frost as director of research. Lindsay Nicolet, who previously served as ERLC editorial director, has been named director of communications.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jimmy Carter was celebrated Thursday in a funeral at Washington National Cathedral featuring the kind of pageantry the 39th U.S. president typically eschewed. It was followed by an intimate hometown funeral near where he was born a century ago.

DALLAS (AP) — A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow and icy conditions to parts of the U.S. South on Thursday, forcing officials to close schools, cancel flights and warn residents in some of the worst-hit areas to stay off roads as it lumbered eastward through Oklahoma and Texas.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area this week burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings, and other structures, officials said Thursday as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration’s Title IX rules have been struck down nationwide after a federal judge in Kentucky found they overstepped the president’s authority.

COHUTTA, Ga. (AP) — A fire killed three young children and two adults as it tore through a home before dawn Wednesday near the Georgia-Tennessee line, authorities said.

ROSWELL, Ga. — Dustin Schadt, lead pastor of Northside Church in Roswell, has a message for believers. To share the gospel, we need to truly see those we are sharing with. In his book, Who Did You See Today? The Power of Outrageous Kindness , he encourages Christians to engage with those around them by taking the time to get to know them and respond to their needs.

Baptists arriving in colonial Georgia came for many reasons. Most were looking for a fresh start to provide a better life for their families. Some were spurred because of religious persecution; others were compelled by economic circumstances, seeking virgin farmland, to escape poverty beyond their control; some had no choice, arriving in the bonds of slavery.

PEARL, Miss. — The commencement service for the graduating class of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College was held at the Mississippi Correctional Institute for Women on Monday, Dec. 16, at the prison in Rankin County. Twelve women graduated with either an Associate of Arts in Christian Service or a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Service.

ASHLAND, Ky. (KT) – Kentucky's 45th, 46th, 47th, and 48th Safe Haven Baby Boxes are available for use in Jefferson County, Madisonville, Hodgenville, and Ashland.

Missions begins with vision and strategy. Missions is also continually fueled through a carefully planned mechanism for outreach. But for many local churches, the idea of a systemic plan for yearlong missions efforts is nonexistent.

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Flames and pillars of smoke rose from both sides of the road and a woman yelled in panic as firefighters ushered a crowd of fleeing residents along. Aaron Samson positioned his 83-year-old father-in-law behind his blue walker, and they began shuffling down the sidewalk.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced the closure of some state offices on Friday ahead of freezing rain and snow forecast for much of the Southern U.S. as another burst of plunging temperatures and winter storms threatened to snarl travel. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said city offices would be closed, with employees working remotely.

As we begin a new calendar year, it is a great time to think through one’s leadership priorities for the next 12 months. Every leader in Christian ministry, whether a local church pastor or an organizational leader, must care well for people, address emerging problems and advance the mission of their church or organization. 

Over Christmas break, I took two of my granddaughters to get their nails done. They had received money and gift cards for Christmas and were anxious to use them. Honestly, they were ready to spend all of their money and gift cards on Christmas night but thankfully nothing was open.

It was pitch dark. Darker than usual. Something was different. And there was a nip in the air. Chillier than usual. That’s when we realized the power was off.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wildfires that ravaged some of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area continued to grow Wednesday as fire crews battled three major out-of-control blazes that killed at least five people.

WINDER, Ga. (AP) — A 14-year-old student has been arrested after bringing a gun on Wednesday to Apalachee High School, the same Georgia high school where a student killed two teachers and two students and wounded others in September.

PASADENA, Calif. (BP) — California Baptist Disaster Relief is prepared to help in the recovery effort as three wildfires burn across Los Angeles County, a state spokesperson shared with Baptist Press on Wednesday.