NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) New reports on the extent of surveillance of Muslim groups by the New York Police Department revealed the NYPD had been operating well outside its jurisdiction, cataloging Muslim communities on Long Island, New Jersey and campuses across the region. By David Giambusso and James Queally.

(RNS) Many African-American atheists say that the act of "coming out" as nonbelievers in their community is to risk everything -- friends, family, business ties -- even their racial and cultural identity. By Kimberly Winston.

Why is Martin Luther King, a Christian, remembered by so many for his contributions to the civil rights movement while A. Philip Randolph, an atheist, is honored by so few? That is a question many black nonbelievers are asking this Black History Month. By Kimberly Winston.

(RNS) The FBI said it was willing to consider a proposal from a coalition of Muslim and interfaith groups to establish a committee of experts tasked with reviewing literature and videos used anti-terrorism training, but it had not yet received a plan to consider.

(RNS) Until 1978, African-Americans were denied full membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has refused to say whether he thinks his church's racial policies before then were misguided. Daniel Burke explores Mormons' troubled history with race.