Free Republic

Two Republican senators are asking the Obama administration how many of the people arrested in the United States on terrorism-related charges entered the country legally or illegally. “We have identified at least 72 individuals in the United States who, over the last year: have engaged in or attempted to engage in acts of terrorism; conspired or attempted to conspire to provide material support to a terrorist organization; engaged in criminal conduct inspired by terrorist ideology; or who have been sentenced for any of the foregoing,” Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Senator Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.) wrote in a Wednesday...

Three more states—Alabama, Louisiana, and New Hampshire—have cut off state funding to Planned Parenthood (PP) in the wake of recent videos released by the Center for Medical Progress that appear to show PP officials negotiating over the sale of aborted baby organs and tissue. The three are the latest states to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker ended state funding of abortion-performing facilities, including Planned Parenthood, in 2011. According to LifeSiteNews, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas also prohibit state funds from going to any facility that performs abortions. …

Wow — what a week! I’m writing from in between stops on the #CruzCountry Bus Tour as we continue our #CruzToVictory through southern states that will play a huge part in making Ted our Republican nominee for President of the United States.As you likely know, the Republican candidates met in Cleveland, Ohio, for the first debate of the 2016 season on Thursday. And it was a great night for Ted — but don’t just take it from me:Frank Luntz declared the debate “great news for Ted Cruz.”Charles Krauthammer named Ted Cruz a “winner of the night.”The Press Enterprise wrote “Cruz...

A traffic stop turned violent in Alabama when it is alleged Janard Shamar Cunningham attacked the officer who pulled him over, pistol-whipping him unconscious before fleeing the scene. Cunningham, who has a long rap sheet with six convictions dating back to 1999, was later arrested and charged in the crime. But the real story here is the social media reaction.After the officer, a detective, was beaten unconscious, a picture of him laying face down on the group was posted to Facebook. The caption read, “Pistol whipped his ass to sleep” with several emoticons of laughing to tears and skulls, presumably...

In a series of tweets Thursday, Alabama's Republican Governor Robert Bentley made his state the third one to cut state funds from Planned Parenthood this week, as the fallout continues from the recent release of five controversial videos describing the harvesting and marketing of aborted babies' organs for financial reward. "The deplorable practices at Planned Parenthood have been exposed to Americans. I've terminated any association with the organization in AL," noted Bentley, a medical doctor, on his Twitter account. "As a doctor and Alabama's governor, the issue of human life, from conception to birth and beyond, is extremely important to...

Some parents dropping kids off for their first day of school at the Academy for Academics and Arts in Huntsville were met with anti-abortion protesters outside the nearby Alabama Women's Center, which offers gynecological and birth control health care, and also provides abortions. The center is almost directly across Sparkman Drive from the school, which opened this year in the former Ed White Middle School building. Some concerned parents posted on social media about their frustration with anti-abortion protesters that were outside the Women's Center from about 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. in full view of the parents and children headed to...

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) Thursday terminated the state’s Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood after the legitimacy of using any taxpayer dollars to fund the abortion provider was once again called into question following the release of several videos describing its harvest and sale of aborted baby organs and body parts. “The deplorable practices at Planned Parenthood have been exposed to Americans, and I have decided to stop any association with the organization in Alabama,” said Governor Bentley. “As a doctor and Alabama’s Governor, the issue of human life, from conception to birth and beyond, is extremely...

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Nine people reportedly are being monitored for possible Ebola exposure in Alabama. AL.com reports that a patient at University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital was "exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms" Tuesday night. Hospital officials called the patient "low-risk" but are testing the person for Ebola. >> Read more trending stories Eight other people – including six rescue workers and two family members of the patient – also are being monitored after having contact with the patient, according to the AL.com report. Two of the rescue workers are under quarantine at the hospital, four emergency...

United States Senator and presidential candidate Ted Cruz will make a stop in Huntsville during his multi-state bus tour.Cruz will make guest appearances in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia and South Carolina. The ice cream town hall with Cruz and Congressman Mo Brooks is Saturday, August 8th. The event is set to begin at 6:30 pm at the Jackson Center, located at 6001 Moquin Drive in Huntsville. To register for the event, click here.

Before World War II, red-brick textile mills that processed cotton and wove it into cloth were all over the southern United States, dotting the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama. But in the last 50 years, automation, free trade agreements and competition from countries like China whittled down the historic industry until it was almost gone. Now some textile jobs are coming back, but on much different terms. As the New York Times reported Sunday, some Chinese manufacturers are setting up shop in the United States, after finding it cheaper to produce their goods in the American South than in China.

On December 23, 2011, in Huntsville, Alabama, black cop Brett Russell brutally yanked a restrained white man from the back of a police cruiser, and instantly unleashed brutal beating upon his helpless ass, while repeatedly yelling the fix all police brutality phrase bleated ad nauseum for recording purposes: “Stop resisting!” Gary Wayne Hopkins had been arrested after a domestic violence call. He was beaten so badly, the correctional officers were unable to accept him, and sent him straight to a hospital. In the police report, all present officers reported that Hopkins was combative, and that Russell who beat him to...

The U.S. Navy is denying reports that it will file charges against a naval officer who used a weapon to return fire against Chattanooga gunman Muhammad Abdulazeez during last month's deadly attack.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Pro-life groups are calling for a state investigation into Planned Parenthood affiliates in Alabama. There’s also a push to de-fund the organization, and protesters are taking that message to the streets. A large group of people gathered at noon Tuesday outside the Planned Parenthood office in Birmingham.

Sixteen different Republicans are running for their party’s presidential nomination. One of these is US Senator Ted Cruz from Texas. Ted Cruz’s campaign has announced that the outspoken Senator and presidential contender will be in Huntsville on Sunday, August 9.Cruz will join US Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) as well as supporters and conservative activists for an ice cream social at the Jackson Center, 600 Genome Way in Huntsville. Other campaign stops in Alabama are planned.The Cruz campaign wrote: “Attention Alabama Supporters - Ted is coming your way! In a field that now numbers 16 Republican presidential candidates, Ted Cruz said...

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, seeking the Republican nomination for president, has scheduled a town hall meeting in Huntsville.Cruz will visit the Rocket City on Aug. 9 and the town hall meeting will take place at the Jackson Center in Cummings Research Park at 7 p.m.The event will be free and open to the public, according to Madison County GOP officials.Cruz will be accompanied by U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, who has voiced support of Cruz's candidacy.Cruz said last week he was planning an Alabama swing on Aug. 9 that will also include stops in Hoover and Montgomery. He also has...

Gov. Robert Bentley late Friday ordered workers to remove “no weapons beyond this point” signs at all state rest areas. The governor’s move came following a back and forth between Alabama Department of Transportation and state lawmakers over the legality of banning guns at rest areas for all those other than law enforcement.

WASHINGTON — Alabama’s U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions on Wednesday signed a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell urging her agency to cooperate with upcoming investigations into Planned Parenthood and warning DHS not to delete any relevant records. Planned Parenthood annually receives more than $500 million in funding from the federal government, mostly through Medicaid and Department of Health and Human Services grants. The organization is the largest abortion provider in the country, performing over 300,000 abortions every year. It has been thrust into the national spotlight recently as a result of two...

It turns out the rumors of Donald Trump's demise in the wake of comments about former prisoner of war John McCain were greatly exaggerated. A new Economist/YouGov poll shows the bombastic billionaire remains on top of the GOP presidential poll. Trump has 28 percent support, followed Jeb Bush at 14 percent, Scott Walker at 13 percent, Ben Carson at 7 percent and Rand Paul at 5 percent. *snip* So what's the takeaway? Here's what YouGov said: "There is clearly a core group of registered voters who identify as Republicans that has coalesced around Trump's tough talk and proposals. He is...

Victims, gunman identified in Grand 16 shooting The victims who died in last night's shooting at The Grand 16 have been identified as 21-year-old Mayci Breaux of Franklin and 33-year-old Jillian Johnson of Lafayette. The shooter, who shot himself in the theater, has been identified as 58-year-old John Houser of Alabama. Police say he was a "drifter" who had been in the Lafayette area since early July. He fired 13 rounds into the theater during the 7 p.m. showing of "Trainwreck." One of the victims and the gunman died at the scene. A second victim died at an area hospital....

Some disturbingly anti-gun news has recently come out of a typically pro-gun conservative southern state. The Alabama Department of Transportation announced that they are banning the possession and carrying of firearms at rest stops along the state’s interstates and highways. Ignoring the fact that both concealed and open carry are legal in the state, all rest stops will now have a sign reading “no weapons beyond this point.” Although many are questioning whether ALDOT has the legal authority to do this, the department cited Alabama Code Section 25-1-59(c) as giving them the power to “prescribe any reasonable rules and regulations...