Arson Blamed for Church Fire

The Globe reports that arson is suspected in a Springfield church fire that happened early Wednesday morning following Barack Obama's victory in the presidential election. Macedonia Church of God in Christ had been under construction and about 75% complete. The predominantly black congregation has pledged to rebuild, although neighbors had protested the initial construction of the church in a residential area. Bishop Bryant J. Robinson Jr., who heads the church, suspects the fire might have been a hate crime.