The latest news on Mid-Atlantic Blizzard, Food Stamps, Immigration, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Select Op-Eds.

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Quote of the Day. "I just didn't meet people from all over the world like I do now doing this. I've had great discussions with doctors and nurses from India and Jamaica, from all over, about their work and their homes. It's fascinating." Matthew Tabor, Arlington, VA, who spent Wednesday picking up staff of Washington Adventist hospital and taking them to work through the blizzard in his four-wheel-drive Jeep. (Washington Post)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Faith Leaders: Immigration System Tears Families Apart "Faith leaders ranging from evangelical to Jewish came together Wednesday to launch a nationwide mobilization of people of faith to call for immigration reform that does not tear families apart."

Saints win, but Colts are winners for children in need in Haiti "The Colts did not emerge victoriously at the Super Bowl, but their loss is a gain for children and families left with few possessions after Haiti's catastrophic earthquake. World Vision, the humanitarian organization which annually receives all donated, post-season apparel from the NFL and its partners, will this year send Super Bowl game-day clothing to Haiti, followed by larger quantities in the coming months."

Evangelicals ask Obama to help missionaries jailed in Haiti "The 10 Idaho missionaries facing kidnapping charges in Haiti testified Wednesday before an examining judge but their anticipated release did not happen. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, called on Obama to intervene now and arrange for the missionaries' release."

Chicago-area pastor co-founds aid group to help houses of worship "As humanitarian agencies mobilize to rebuild schools, hospitals and houses destroyed by the January earthquake in Haiti, a north suburban pastor has set out to restore the nation's spiritual homes as well."

NEWS AT HOME

Mid-Atlantic Blizzard. Washington region blasted by winds, record-breaking snow "The fiercest storm yet in the worst winter in local history howled across the region Wednesday, locking virtually everything in a shroud of new snow that will take days to escape. And there might be more on the way." Snow forces federal government to close Thursday "Federal agencies across the nation's capital will close Thursday for a fourth straight day after closing early on Friday -- taking the shutdown into uncharted territory." As Storm Passes, East Coast Struggles Through Aftermath "By early Thursday, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington had announced new annual snow records, and more than a foot of snow lay across parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island." Climate Fight Is Heating Up in Deep Freeze "As millions of people along the East Coast hole up in their snowbound homes, the two sides in the climate-change debate are seizing on the mounting drifts to bolster their arguments."

Food Stamps. Once Stigmatized, Food Stamps Find Acceptance "After a U-turn in the politics of poverty, food stamps, a program once scorned as 'welfare,' enjoys broad new support. Following deep cuts in the 1990s, Congress reversed course to expand eligibility, cut red tape and burnish the program's image, with a special effort to enroll the working poor."

African Americans and Economy. President Obama and civil rights leaders discuss economy and black Americans "President Obama hosted a rare Oval Office meeting with civil rights leaders Wednesday to discuss his plans for improving the dire economic conditions gripping much of black America." Black leaders urge Obama to focus job creation on their communities "Amid signs that black Americans are not sharing in the nation's fledgling economic recovery, President Obama on Wednesday met at the White House with African American leaders, who urged him to adopt a new approach more tightly focused on chronically depressed communities."

Immigration. Illegal immigrant numbers plunge "A new report that the nation's illegal immigrant population has declined by nearly 1 million has sharpened the debate over whether to legalize those remaining or allow their numbers to shrink through attrition."

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Mandela Freedom Anniversary. Mandela's 1990 release marked "Celebrations are being held to mark 20 years since the release from prison of Nelson Mandela, a key step towards ending apartheid in South Africa." Mandela's steps to freedom retraced "Arm-in-arm and shouting 'Viva Mandela!', veterans of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle today retraced Nelson Mandela's final steps as a political prisoner exactly 20 years ago."

Haiti. Confusion over Haiti death toll "Haiti has declared Friday a day of mourning to mark one month since a massive earthquake devastated much of the capital Port-au-Prince, amid conflicting death tolls by the government." Haiti faces money, labor problems reconstructing buildings wrecked by earthquake "The Rev. Celestin Jean Robert tried a brave smile as he went from one room to the next and heard the news about his church and school: The prognosis for Assembly of God was mostly bad."

Iran. Iran's Leader Shifts Spotlight From Protests to Nuclear Step "President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran confronted opponents at home and abroad on Thursday, one of the most momentous days of his country's political calendar, sending security forces onto the streets to break up opposition protests and taunting Western adversaries by claiming advances in Tehran's nuclear capacity." Iran opposition leaders attacked as regime floods streets "Iran's regime sought to thwart another massive opposition protest today by turning out its own supporters in huge numbers, imposing draconian restrictions on the media and making the headline-grabbing announcement that the Islamic Republic was now a 'nuclear state.'" Iran 'blocks opposition protests' "Tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets of Tehran to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution amid heavy security to prevent opposition protests." Iranian opposition facing a choice: Moderation or new, radical course "As Iran's opposition movement takes to the streets Thursday, it does so having made little concrete progress despite eight months of protests, and it must now choose between the relatively cautious path set by its leaders and the radical course advocated by some members."

Afghanistan. Afghan government in tentative talks with insurgent leader "Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, one of Afghanistan's most brutal Islamist warlords, is holding tentative peace talks with the government of Afghanistan that could cause a split in the Taliban-led insurgency, Afghan politicians in Kabul said Wednesday."

Yemen. Yemen's alliance with radical Sunnis in internal war poses complication for U.S. "Even as it fights a U.S.-supported war against al-Qaeda militants here, the Yemeni government is engaging Islamist extremists who share an ideology similar to Osama bin Laden's in its own civil war, adding new complications to efforts to fight terrorism."

OPINION

Get people back to work (Charles Schumer and Orrin Hatch, USA Today) "The nation's unemployment rate is the most important issue facing American families, small businesses and policymakers in Washington. While there are positive signs that the economy may be turning around, employers still aren't hiring. But a number of economists, both liberal and conservative, tell us that a well-designed jobs incentive could directly confront that problem."

Hungry in America (Editorial, New York Times) "More Americans are going hungry in hard times and are increasingly dependent on private charity, according to a new study by Feeding America, a national network of food banks. The study found that 37 million people -- roughly one in eight Americans -- had sought emergency food assistance from the network last year, a 46 percent increase from 2006."

What fuels the grass-roots rage (E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) "The ferocity of its opposition to President Obama is mystifying to political progressives. Most of the left simply doesn't see him as especially liberal, let alone 'socialist.' So what exactly is the Tea Party movement and why has it risen up?"

Sojourners' Daily Digest is a compilation of the top news related to our commitments of life and peace, economic and racial justice, and care of creation, with a special focus on news of the engagement of faith in public life.