By JOHN ROGERS

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Artist Kearine Muizz draws her greatest inspiration from places many people spend their lives trying to avoid — cemeteries. For more than two years, Muizz has wandered through graveyards, searching for the spark that will guide her to complete her most challenging work: nearly two dozen impressionist paintings based on the statues she saw at Paris' storied Pere-Lachaise cemetery. The project was inspired by the slaying of a close friend.

I apologize for being absent from Taph for so long. I have over 3000 post-worthy articles to post, some of them dating as far back as November. I also have dozens of submissions from members, which I greatly appreciate! Remember that news articles post in order of publication date, not posting date. Browse through the articles using the pagination feature ( Prev-1-2-3-4-Next) at the bottom of the page to look for newly posted articles. After all, if you haven't read it,, it's still news!!

DG

YANGON, Myanmar: A group of armed men on Wednesday stole the body of one of Myanmar's most revered Buddhist monks, whose corpse has been preserved in a glass coffin since he died more than four years ago. Officials said the coffin containing the body of Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vinaya, better known as Thamanya Sayadaw, was stolen from the monastery in eastern Myanmar where he had preached.

By Savannah Morning News

Georgia - The effort to reform the death services industry in Georgia is a year behind schedule, but House leaders should continue the initiative. When a family entrusts the body of a deceased loved one to a representative of the funeral, cemetery or cremation industry, they should get a minimum level of professionalism and respect. Anything less is unacceptable.

Vatican - The remains of Pope John Paul II would be moved from the grotto of St. Peter's basilica to a more prominent location if and when the Polish Pope is beatified, according to the archpriest of the Vatican basilica. Cardinal Angelo Comastri told the Italian daily La Stampa that it was possible the body of John Paul II would be placed in a more prominent location on the main floor of the basilica.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Al Copeland's white Bentley, his white Rolls-Royce and a dozen gleaming white limousines led the funeral procession that escorted the body of the flamboyant fast-food millionaire from a majestic church on historic St. Charles Avenue to a mausoleum surrounded by his race cars, motorcycles and a sleek speedboat. The send-off drew roughly a thousand people, some in expensive suits others in everyday work garb, to Holy Name of Jesus Church, where they lined up to pay final respects to Copeland, who was 64 when he died March 23.