Free Republic

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants are flooding into U.S. hospitals for treatment and leaving billions in uncompensated health care costs in their wake. The House Committee on Homeland Security recently released a report illustrating that from the estimated $451 billion in annual costs stemming from the U.S. border crisis, a significant portion is going to health care for illegal immigrants.With the majority of the illegal immigrant population lacking any kind of medical insurance, hospitals and government welfare programs such as Medicaid are feeling the weight of these unanticipated costs.Apprehensions of illegal immigrants at the U.S. border have jumped 48...

Starting this month, 145,000 Wyoming ratepayers will make a down payment on what's projected to add up to billions of dollars in additional costs. Regulators recently approved Black Hills Energy's new $1.1 million surcharge on utility bills to research the viability of adding controversial carbon capture technologies to coal-fired power plants. Rob Joyce, acting director of the Wyoming Chapter of the Sierra Club, said the rate increases are due to the state's mandate for utilities to continue burning coal. "The people who benefit from these kinds of policies are the legislators who are connected to legacy fossil fuel companies, utilities...

California governor Gavin Newsom is standing by the state’s soon-to-be-implemented "equitable" policy to base electricity bills on income, rather than usage, even as public and political opposition to the idea builds in the Democratic coalition. A spokesman for the governor said on Tuesday that Newsom is looking forward to seeing a final proposal from the state's utilities commission "that is consistent with" the 2022 law that required the agency to devise an income-based billing system.

Taylor Swift, Jerrod Carmichael, Cara Delevingne and a shirtless Jason Kelce were in good company on Sunday. CBS‘ broadcast of the NFL Divisional Playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills averaged 39.3 million total viewers from 7 to 10 pm ET on Sunday evening. The very close contest, which the Chiefs wound up winning by a score of 27-24, also averaged a 9.9 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The total Chiefs/Bills audience cited above marks a 14% gain in viewership versus the comparable year-ago match-up between the Cowboys and 49ers (San Francisco bested Dallas 19-12),...

The Kansas City Chiefs’ hard-fought win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday night was decided by just three points. In Patrick Mahomes’ first-ever road playoff game, the Chiefs marched into Buffalo with a chip on their shoulders and delivered a remarkable performance to beat the Bills against seemingly all odds. Not all was well after their victory, though, as players from both sides of the ball had complaints about a lack of hot water in the locker room and fan behavior at Highmark Stadium after the game.

Snow so heavy that it could bury the field. Temperatures so low that beer will freeze. These are just some of the conditions expected during "the worst weather we've ever seen on the opening weekend of the playoffs." Extreme weather could crash multiple tailgating parties and football games as the playoffs get underway, including some of the most highly-anticipated matchups of the weekend. "There is going to be some of the worst weather we've ever seen on the opening weekend of playoffs," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. Coldest game in Miami, Kansas City history possible Saturday Arctic air will...

A Buffalo Bills fan was shot and killed outside of Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday following an altercation after Buffalo's 21-14 win over the Miami Dolphins, South Florida police said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). Dylan Brody Isaacs, 30, was shot and killed after getting into an argument with a driver of another vehicle while walking back to his car with his friends following Buffalo's AFC East-clinching victory. Isaacs died at the scene. The suspect fled the scene in a Honda Accord, which was located by police in Palm Beach County on Monday. Police have identified a suspect, but...

The New York City Council pushed through two controversial bills Wednesday that will see a ban on solitary confinement in Big Apple jails and force cops to file reports for every street stop they carry out — even the low-level ones. The two bills, which were vehemently opposed by Mayor Eric Adams along with police and jail guard unions, passed with a veto-proof majority — meaning the legislation will likely not be quashed by Hizzoner and will become law. “The New York City Council has taken action today that, if implemented, will unquestionably make our city less safe,” the mayor...

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) decided late Monday night to withdraw two FISA bills from consideration as House Republicans try to reauthorize and potentially reform a controversial deep state surveillance law. Johnson, according to Punchbowl News, continues to face the “predominant” criticism of his speakership, that he is “either unwilling, unable, or disinterested in making big decisions:” Johnson flip-flopped for a few weeks when it came to extending FISA, especially the controversial Section 702 provision. Johnson first said he would extend FISA authority as part of the NDAA — but only until February. Then Johnson said he wouldn’t. And then finally,...

Stacy Davis Gates owes more than $5,500, but makes more than $289,000 ... The progressive president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) owes thousands in unpaid utility bills despite making an eye-popping salary ... Stacy Davis Gates owes the city of Chicago $5,579 in unpaid water, sewer and trash bills as of Nov. 7, 2023, despite bringing home "at least" $289,000 a year. Documents uncovered by the group show Davis Gates started a payment plan for the amount in July 2023, but quickly defaulted. ... This latest revelation adds to the mounting evidence of her hypocrisy. She spurns responsibility and...

Several recent vetoes seem out of character, even at the national level for Dems. Free condoms for high school kids. Housing bill that would have declared it a human right. Decriminalize psychedelics. Custody courts must consider gender affirming. Ban caste discrimination.

Blue state taxpayers were hit with the highest residential electricity rates in June, outpacing most Republican-controlled states, according to data recently published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Of the 20 states with the highest residential electricity rates in June, 16 of them have Democratic governors, according to the EIA data. The most expensive residential rates of the continental 48 states in June were Connecticut, California, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and Vermont, all of which President Joe Biden won in 2020, according to the EIA data. The least expensive states in the contiguous 48 were...

Hunter Biden reportedly racked up at least $10 million in legal bills over the past five years, as he potentially spends millions more defending himself from an impeachment inquiry and three gun charges. The legal bills are a combination of fees incurred from the Justice Department’s probe, his divorce, disputed paternity agreement, along with his multitude of lawsuits against his critics, people familiar with the figure told CNN. Legal experts told Breitbart News in December that Hunter Biden’s high-powered legal defense could cost him more than $100,000 per month.

Hunter Biden’s legal bills could be costing him $1 million a month, legal experts said. The first son — and his fleet of top-shelf attorneys — have launched at least four lawsuits in addition to their ongoing fight against special counsel David Weiss. “Today the top, top lawyers in New York and Washington bill at around $2,000 an hour for the main counsel and between $1,000 and $1,800 for other partners and the high hundreds … for young associates,” said famed litigator Alan Dershowitz. Hunter’s lead attorney, Winston and Strawn Partner Abbe Lowell, would likely command top billing, Dershowitz, 85,...

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers' 2023 season is over before it ever really got started. After the quarterback was injured on his fourth play of the Jets' opening game, head coach Robert Saleh told reporters following the Jets' 22-16 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills that they feared that the four-time NFL MVP tore his Achilles tendon. That is what was ultimately discovered following an MRI on Tuesday, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones reports. "It's not good," Saleh said. The injury will be season-ending. On the Jets' first drive Monday night, Rodgers was injured and helped off the...

Energy charge: All the costs, other than fuel, involved in producing and distributing electricity. Fuel charge: This includes the actual cost of fuel used to produce electricity. The company's two largest fuel sources are natural gas and coal.Then they say they are passing the fuel costs on to the consumer without making a profit on them. Only in Florida could a statement like that to consumers of the product you manufacture not be construed as patronizing, condescending, and blatantly dishonest. Why would you need to make a profit on your fuel expenses when the consumer is paying the entire fuel...

An older brother passed up a chance at getting the signature of Josh Allen, instead asking the all-star Bills quarterback to give his sister a hug. Allen did just that as the sister was in tears. Fans shouted as Allen signed autographs at St. John Fisher University on Wednesday during the first day Buffalo Bills training camp. Before Allen began signing autographs, the brother calls to him saying “I have a question.” The quarterback walks over and the brother leans into his ear, asking him to hug his sister in the bucket hat whose already crying. In between signing hats,...

House Republicans aim to pass two appropriations bills as part of a greater strategy to pressure President Joe Biden to adopt more spending cuts. The House hopes to pass the fiscal year 2024 Agriculture and MilCon-VA [Military Construction, Veterans Affairs] appropriations bills and two Congressional Review Act (CRA) disapproval resolutions. The MilCon-VA bill would boost Veterans Affairs Department funding as Biden and congressional Democrats have said that Republicans would use a debt ceiling deal to cut veterans’ care.

DENVER — Xcel Energy customers are sweating the possibility of another rate hike. They're making their opposition known to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) as the agency considers a $45 million electric rate increase. “They make more than enough money. They don’t need to gouge their customers any further,” said Loren Meaux, an Xcel customer, in a public comment hearing Tuesday. Xcel originally filed for a $312 million increase to pay for investments in transmission projects and its commitment to meet Colorado greenhouse gas emissions goals. After negotiations with state regulators and consumer advocates, the company dropped the increase to...

New problems undermine the country’s old playbook as manufacturing powerhouse.. Europe’s largest nation and its main growth engine has become the biggest drag on its economy. ... In past economic crises, Germany could rely on its factories to pull it out of any recession by tapping the world’s insatiable demand for made-in-Germany products. But a mixture of short-term and structural problems means this is no longer the case. ... A sharp rise in energy prices last year made producing goods more expensive. And with inflation and interest rates up around the world, foreign consumers can’t always afford the higher price...