Southern Baptist congregations saw growth in baptisms, worship attendance and small group participation in 2023, while membership decline slowed compared to recent years, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by Lifeway Christian Resources. The 2023 ACP, a statistical census of Southern Baptist congregations that included responses from about 7 in 10 churches in the denomination, found that membership dropped for the 17th consecutive year, dipping below 13 million for the first time since the 1970s. However, the 1.8% decline was smaller than in previous years.

A former roommate of two of the University of Idaho students killed in an ambush attack in November 2022 has broken her silence in a local news interview as she pushes for campus safety for other undergrads around the country.Suspected killer Bryan Kohberger, who was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at the neighboring Washington State University, is being held without bail in a jail down the street awaiting trial on murder and burglary charges.A 4 a.m. home invasion ambush at 1122 King Road, steps off the campus in Moscow,...

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by The Daily Signal.] Wisconsin is one of the most fiercely contested battleground states in this election cycle, but it lacks federal transparency requirements for voter registration imposed on most states, according to a lawsuit by an election watchdog. Minnesota, generally a solidly blue state although it saw a razor-thin margin in the results of the 2016 presidential race, also doesn’t make its voter rolls available to the public, the lawsuit contends.

Following an investigation of a racist slur directed at the Utah women’s basketball team in Idaho ahead of the NCAA tournament, the Coeur d’Alene prosecutor’s office opted not to file charges related to the incident. Chief deputy city attorney Ryan Hunter said in a written decision, which is dated May 3, that there would be no criminal prosecution because of “insufficient evidence to establish probable cause as to every element of any of the potential offense(s) without reliance on First Amendment protected speech.” According to the complaint review written by...

A restaurant with a passion for local sourcing is coming to downtown Boise soon. Terroir Bistro, a brick-and-mortar expansion of Terroir food trailer, plans to take over the former Little Pearl Oyster Bar space at 160 N. 8th St. Little Pearl recently consolidated operations next door. The hope is to open Terroir Bistro in early June, co-owner and chef Nathan Whitley said. Other than repainting the dining room and adding furniture, the new restaurant will hit the ground running. Established in 2021 by culinary duo Whitley and Remi Courcenet, Terroir...