Free Republic

MIAMI - A weather system in the Atlantic Ocean morphed into Tropical Storm Arlene Thursday becoming the first named storm of the year, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, but last year two storms formed before the official start of the season. Forecasters say tropical storms are rare in April and Arlene is only the second one observed in the month since weather satellites went into use. The system is expected to dissipate Friday and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect. Arlene is moving at 25 mph with...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The latest ruling from the 8th Circuit Court has postponed Lee's execution -- originally scheduled for 7 p.m. -- to 8:15 p.m. There are no other legal barriers at this time hindering his execution from moving forward. Thursday afternoon, the Arkansas Supreme Court denied Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's request for reconsideration on the stay that was granted for Stacey Johnson. Johnson's stay will not be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, meaning his scheduled execution will not happen.

For the International Church of Cannabis in Denver, there were three reasons to celebrate on Thursday. First, it was opening day. The church, a more than century-old building recently adorned with brightly colored paintings by the artists Kenny Scharf and Okuda San Miguel, welcomed the public early in the afternoon, at which time no cannabis consumption was allowed inside. “It seemed to be a nice steady flow of people,” said Lee Molloy, a founder of the church and a member, who estimated that a couple of hundred people had come by.

DANVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A Chinese company that makes food for pets has announced plans to open in Arkansas and bring 70 jobs to the state. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission announced Monday that Pet Won Pet Products will locate in Danville in a plant formerly occupied by Petit Jean Poultry....

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. FReeper Canteen Just Hangin' Come on in, we're open Need a place just to hang out? This is it. We serve coffee, tea, conversation and music. Our AWESOME military, our AWESOME allies, and their families are welcomed and honored here. No worries in the FReeper Canteen Just Hangin' Cafe. Grab a cup or a glass, and start a conversation.You never know who you might meet in the Cafe. Glad you...

Scientists and academics in Connecticut and across the country will head out of the labs and into the streets on Saturday — Earth Day — to confront what one organizer described as a lack of respect for science among some members of Congress and President Donald Trump."The scientific method is not a partisan issue, it's not something that should be divisive," said Harrison Hayward, a fourth-year UConn medical student organizing a Hartford rally, which will begin at noon at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. Diane Krause, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine, is heading up a New Haven event, which...

As a massive hunger strike among Palestinian prisoners in Israel reached its fourth day, right-wing Israeli activists held a barbecue outside the Ofer Prison in an attempt to break their willpower. Thursday’s event was organized by the National Union political party youth group, which hoped that the smell of the food would entice the 1,187 hunger strikers to eat. The strike was launched by 57-year-old imprisoned Palestinian activist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five consecutive life sentences for murder. His strike was announced in a controversial op-ed for the New York Times, where he accused Israel of torture. “Having spent...

The Wyoming, Minn., Police Department is at it again with its comical tweets. In just a few hours, the quick-witted officers received thousands of retweets and “likes” on their Twitter message on marijuana’s high holiday, 4/20.   “Undercover #420 operations are in place,” the department tweeted around 4 a.m. Thursday. “Discreet traps have been set up throughout the city today. #Happy420.” The "traps" are Doritos, Cheetos, Mountain Dew, White Castle and video games such as "Grand Theft Auto." Also pictured is a squad car and police officer standing by with a net.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Thousands of new jobs are coming to every industry in Florida and it's all because of drones. “I can have fun and I can get paid wooh!” Shawn Morse typically gets that reaction when he sells drones to customers from his TB Drones and Hobby Store on Ulmerton Road. St. Petersburg College professors typically get that reaction too when they introduce students to careers with drones. Nearly every industry from emergency workers to realtors are turning to the high flying contraptions. “The industry is just going to blow up,” explained Program Coordinator Fred Tucker, who coordinates the...

President Trump predicted Thursday that Congress will avert a government shutdown next week and that the House will also pass a revised bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. “I want to get both,” Mr. Trump said at a White House press conference. “I think we’ll get both.” Of the new health care bill being negotiated by House Republican leaders, the president said, “This is a great bill. This is a great plan. It’s evolving. We have a good chance of getting it soon — whether it’s next week or shortly thereafter.” {..snip..}

Can someone please help me find information, or convey information concerning the true story behind Donald Trump and eminent domain as it concerns the grandma in Georgia and her property. A Christian friend, way too influenced by the main stream media, was trying to convince me that DT is an evil, uncaring man with the story about the grandma's property. I was trying to help him understand that DT is a compassionate and caring person. I remember reading something on FR about the true story, which wasn't anti Trump at all. I told my friend that I would try to...

On Wednesday, former NYPD sergeant, Alberto Randazzo, was sentenced to nearly three decades in prison for sexual exploitation and child pornography. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender; upon his release from jail, he is mandated to be supervised for up to eight years. This news came as a shock to many New Yorkians who undoubtedly viewed Randazzo as a model citizen and a wholesome pillar of their community. His sentencing was held at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York.

Keith Olbermann on Thursday slammed President Trump for hosting the “trailer park trash trio” of Sarah Palin, Kid Rock and Ted Nugent at the White House. Olbermann, who currently hosts a political web series for GQ but is best known for his work on ESPN and MSNBC, made the remark in a post on Twitter. (TWEET-AT-LINK) Palin, a former GOP vice presidential nominee; and musicians Kid Rock and Nugent were photographed with Trump late Wednesday in the Oval Office. Nugent’s wife, Shemane Deziel; and Audrey Berry, Kid Rock’s financee, also appeared in one of the photos taken at the White...

The GOP’s first shot at fixing Obamacare was an absolute dumpster fire. Paul Ryan never bothered to get conservatives involved and it cost him big time. He couldn’t even get his Obamacare lite bill to the floor for a vote. Now, it looks like Mike Pence got involved in the negotiations and an agreement was made. "#BREAKING Sources tell me @mike_pence, @SpeakerRyan, @RepMarkMeadows and @RepTomMacArthur negotiated a possible amendment to the #AHCA." — Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbFBN) April 20, 2017 "#BREAKING The possible amendment is titled the "MacArthur Amendment" and sources tell me it could bring up to 15-20 new @freedomcaucus...

I don’t make it a practice to comment on potential legislation before reading it. Speculation takes too much bias and rumors into account which tends to sway the reader (and author) in directions before the truth is even known. I’m making this exception because if reports that Vice President Mike Pence has negotiated a deal with the Freedom Caucus turn out to be true, it could be the best move made by the administration on health care since taking office. Then again, it might be a big nothingburger. The good news: limited waivers for the states. This means states have...

Allows states to roll back Obamacare rules if they choose! An emerging House GOP compromise on health care would allow states to waive certain Obamacare protections with an eye toward driving down premiums for healthier customers and subsidizing sick people who would end up paying more through separate funding pools. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan recently said negotiators were putting the “finishing touches” on an effort to bridge the gap between archconservatives who want to tear down the Affordable Care Act’s rules on insurers and centrists who’ve pledged to defend popular protections in the program. The GOP tug-of-war tanked Republicans’...

Russia’s security services have detained Akram Azimov, the elder brother of the suspected St. Petersburg Metro bombing organizer, saying he transferred money that helped fund the terrorist attack that killed 14 people. VIDEO

Being a celebrity is often associated with having a certain lifestyle. Fame often brings fortune, privileges, and opportunities—whether they are career-related or not. Celebrities are thought to have an “easier” life, in which they get special treatment wherever they go—well, except for celebrities in Turkey who are Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, Jewish, or members of any other ethnic or religious minority. Sometimes, even being associated with them is considered unacceptable.Ayhan Işık, for example, was the most beloved Turkish leading actor in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He was also a movie producer, director, script writer, singer, and painter. He was nicknamed by...

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). You have a part to play in becoming pure in heart. Purifying a heart is the gracious and miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, but there are some things we must do in response to His prompting. First, we must admit we can't purify our own hearts. Proverbs 20:9 says, "Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?'" The implied answer: no one! Next, we must put our faith in Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross is the basis for...

“And many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him” (Matthew 27:55). The women who supported Jesus’ ministry all the way to the cross are fine examples of compassionate loyalty. Caring, consistent loyalty is a wonderful characteristic of godly women. This trait is probably more evident in them than it is in godly men. The women by the cross were the main group of believing eyewitnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion. They also showed incredible loyalty in the face of ridicule and danger. This courage contrasted with the disciples who, except for John,...