Free Republic

Dan Brewington is among the latest casualties in a war against fathers that is tearing our nation apart, family by family. The Ripley and Dearborn County (Indiana) court system recently stripped him of his parental rights without reason or cause. He is no longer able to see his daughters despite his history of loving care for them and their strong bond with him. Mr. Brewington has neither a criminal history nor a Social Services history. He is loved by his children whom he has taken excellent care of their entire lives. He has also demonstrated his ability to successfully parent...

CHICAGO (STNG) - A man filed a lawsuit against a handgun holster company Wednesday, claiming a defective holster caused him to shoot himself at the Markham Courthouse in 2007.

Thank you Dr. Moseley for your gracious introduction and your dedicated leadership to Franklin College. I am grateful to the College for extending to me this extraordinary opportunity to share in the celebration of the school’s 175th anniversary. This is truly a signal milestone and one in which all of us gathered this evening and all who have contributed to the rich history of this great institution take enormous pride.

Regulators close subsidiaries of Irwin Financial Corporation in Kentucky and Indiana at a cost of $850 million to the FDIC. BY BEN ROONEY NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Regulators closed subsidiaries of Irwin Financial Corporation in Kentucky and Indiana Friday, bringing the total number of bank failures this year to 94, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

I just recieved an email about a petition drive in the Notre Dame pro life activist arrest. The peolpe at TFP are asking that all who can, sign their pettion to Father Jenkins (President of Notre Dame) asking him to drop the charges on the peaceful activists. They made a peaceful march on Notre Dame protesting President Obama's speech there. This not only goes against the priciple of life and aid for the unborn that the Catholic Church holds as a main teaching. But it also borders on violation of the First Ammendment's protect of free speech and free gathering.

ACTION ALERT: WHAT: Bill Ayers Protest WHERE: Lawson building, corner of 3rd and University St., Purdue campus WHEN: Thursday, Sept.24 5pm until he leaves the building WHY: Because his visit impugns the integrity and good name of Purdue University Please forward this to as many as you can, also print the attached flyer and share with friends, family and co-workers. Fox News should be here, we need a large turnout. Thank You, XXXX XXXXX Citizens in Action See Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=purdue+lawson+building&vps=1&jsv=175c&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.963048,66.796875&ie=UTF8&ei=LeSvStz_DouEyAS729XFBg&sig2=jW4-M_UYveUWnXdn24DdBw&cd=1&usq=purdue+lawson+building&geocode=FQzhaAIdicDR-g&cid=7146432642078006542&li=lmd

Indiana State University students and faculty clustered around as three ISU theater majors dressed in colonial costumes and ringing bells recited the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. The event in front of the university’s Cunningham Memorial Library was part of Indiana State’s celebration of Constitution Day. Students, faculty and others followed theater majors Amanda Allen, Paige Biggs and Jordan Carpenter into the library to sign copies of the Constitution.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled that Indiana's voter identification law is unconstitutional. 6News is looking through the 29-page ruling now and will provide details from it as soon as possible. The decision comes after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the state's voter ID law in 2008, a week before the presidential primary, in a splintered 6-3 ruling. Backers of the law, which requires a voter to present a photo identification to cast a ballot, said it curbs voter fraud. Those against the law contend that it keeps poor, older and minority voters from casting ballots. The...

The Indianapolis company said it will reduce its work force to 35,000 by the end of 2011. It has about 40,500 now. The new total excludes hirings in high-growth emerging markets and Japan.

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana court has ruled that a pizza shop must pay for a 340-pound employee's weight-loss surgery to ensure the success of another operation for a back injury he suffered at work -- raising concern among businesses bracing for more such claims. The Indiana Court of Appeals decision, coupled with a recent Oregon court ruling, could make employers think twice before hiring workers with health conditions that might cost their companies thousands of dollars at a shot down the road. "This kind of situation will happen again ... and employers are undoubtedly worried about that," said Lewis Maltby,...

FISHERS, Ind. -- A dispute over the grading scale in the Hamilton Southeastern school district has parents concerned that their children's chances of getting into college will be hurt. Parent Lisa Woolsey said her son wanted to go to Indiana University but couldn't because it takes a 95 percent score to get an A, 6News' Dan Spehler reported. "His grades are good, they're just not on this scale; they don't look as good as they really are," Woolsey said. "We have an awesome school district, but the grading scale we're asking our children to live up to is hurting them...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Heroism and forgiveness -- a murder victim exhibited the former and his family was generous with the latter. The teen responsible for killing Mario Gonzalez, 72, was sentenced to 80 years in prison Wednesday in Marion Superior Court, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported. Gonzalez was recognized as a hero for what he did at 11 p.m. on June 30, 2008 -- an act of courage and kindness that led to his untimely demise. Gonzalez came to the aid of a woman who was being robbed at gunpoint as she went to her car outside Mr. Gyros restaurant on West...

NDIANAPOLIS | The city of Gary is more than $4 million overdrawn and the effect of Indiana's property tax caps "raises substantial doubt about the city's ability to continue as a going concern," according to a new state audit. At the same time, auditors found Gary paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable food, travel and personal expenses for city officials in 2008, even as those officials begged the state to allow the city to impose higher property taxes. Riverboat gambling revenue is keeping the city afloat, with more than $12 million in state gaming taxes going to pay...

A congressman from the Indiana 9th district named Baron Hill had a major league arrogant temper tantrum on camera last Saturday which has become a big hit in the blogosphere with over 100,000 viewers on YouTube. So one would figure that the local Bloomington newspaper, the Herald Times, would cover it, right? Wrong. Amazingly the most interesting thing that has happened in Bloomington in at least a year has been studiously avoided by that newspaper. Here is the scene as described by the American Thinker:It is not just the career safe seat members of Congress and the Senate who are...

NDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita pitched a plan Tuesday that would make it illegal for lawmakers to consider political data when redrawing congressional and legislative district maps. Rokita wants districts to follow county or township lines as much as possible so they are not divided. He said the plan would result in more fairly drawn, competitive districts. His proposal has drawn praise from Gov. Mitch Daniels, a fellow Republican, but two top GOP lawmakers said it is not Rokita's job to interfere with a process that belongs in the hands of the General Assembly. Indiana lawmakers are...

That's what Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN), the policy leader of the conservative/moderate Blue Dog coalition, explained to a journalism student at a town-hall meeting Wednesday night who asked why she wasn't allowed to videotape the event for a school project. "This is my town hall meeting, and I set the rules, and I've had these rules," Hill responded, in an authoritative tone. "Let me repeat that one more time. This is my town hall meeting for you. And you're not going to tell me how to run my congressional office. Now, the reason why I don't allow filming is that...

Just got back from the tea party and had a great time. I would guess we had about 2 to 3,000 people. I finally met jim rob at the end. Overall it was peaceful and not the angry mobs that people think of us. I have never been to anything like this before and had a wonderful time. If anything it was just nice to be around like minded people who share the same beliefs and values. I dont have any pics of myself, but if anyone was there I was the young jewish kid walking around with the american...

Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood of Indiana says it will close five of its 34 centers across the state due to changes in the way the federal government allocates family planning funds. The decision to close the centers comes after an expose' found two of them hiding instances of possible statutory rape.In Indianapolis, the abortion business is closing its center near Michigan Road and 86th Street.According to a press statement, Planned Parenthood will also close facilities in Anderson, Kokomo, Franklin and Shelbyville.The centers are closing despite the record amount of money the abortion business received from the federal government...

The Tea Party Express will be rallying in Joliet, Illinois this morning at 10:00 am, South Bend/Mishawaka, Illinois at 4:30 pm and Battle Creek, Michigan at 7:30 pm tonight!! Next rally stop: Jackson, Michigan tomorrow morning!! Woo hoo!! Thirty-five cities, thirty-five tea parties in sixteen days!! Be sure to check the tour schedule and join us when we get to a city near you: TeaPartyExpress.org!! And if you are going to DC for the big March on Washington and National Tea Party on 9/12, you won't want to miss our National Freeper Convention!! Click here to order your tickets today!!...

The Tea Party Express will be rallying in Bloomington, Indiana this morning at 11:00 am and in Bloomington, Illinois at 5:00 pm tonight!! Next rally stop: Joliet, IL tomorrow morning!! Woo hoo!! Thirty-five cities, thirty-five tea parties in sixteen days!! Be sure to check the tour schedule and join us when we get to a city near you: TeaPartyExpress.org!! And if you are going to DC for the big March on Washington and National Tea Party on 9/12, you won't want to miss our National Freeper Convention!! Click here to order your tickets today!! If you can't go to DC...

President Obama should demand the resignation of White House "green jobs czar" Van Jones, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said Friday. Pence argued that Jones, who has been embroiled in two national controversies this week, should lose his job, and said that Congress should have more say over the dozens of "czars" installed by Obama since taking office. "Given recent revelations concerning the associations and statements of the president's green jobs czar, Van Jones should resign his position and if he is unwilling to do so, the president should demand his resignation," Pence said in a statement. "His...

State government finances are a wreck. The drop in tax receipts is the worst in a half century. Fewer than 10 states ended the last fiscal year with significant reserves, and three-fourths have deficits exceeding 10% of their budgets. Only an emergency infusion of printed federal funny money is keeping most state boats afloat right now. Most governors I've talked to are so busy bailing that they haven't checked the long-range forecast. What the radar tells me is that we ain't seen nothin' yet. What we are being hit by isn't a tropical storm that will come and go, with...

This video is unbelieveable! What an absolute arrogant jerk!!

In I Chronicles 13: 1-3 we read, "And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we...

Gunmen open fire on paramedics in Gary Thursday, 03 September 2009 7:16AM GARY, Ind. (STNG) -- Two men shot at two paramedics Tuesday night after the medics dropped off a patient in Gary, Ind., police said. Gary police Cpl. Gabrielle King said one medic was standing at the rear of the ambulance in the 5100 block of West 4th Avenue with the doors open, and the other was standing at its front at 5:50 p.m. Suddenly, she said, two males drove around the ambulance in a red two-door Geo Tracker and and fired four shots. Next, she said, the men...

Karen Inbody has just about three weeks to figure out Plan B. The 58-year-old divorcee has been getting by on unemployment compensation since her layoff in early 2008, but she’s nearly reached the end of her benefits. And even though she's applied for dozens of jobs, the former rental property manager has come up empty.

BAINBRIDGE, Ind. -- Republican Mitch Daniels has repeatedly insisted that his 2008 run for a second term as Indiana's governor was his last election and that he's not interested in the "savagery" of a national campaign. But like it or not, Daniels' name is being dropped in conservative GOP circles as someone to watch in 2012. Many say Daniels is just what the battered GOP needs, a blend of conservative values, cool demeanor and fiscal discipline. "Mitch has been steady to the cause, he's stayed principled," said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee. "The nation is going to...

BAINBRIDGE, Ind. — Republican Mitch Daniels has repeatedly insisted that his 2008 run for a second term as Indiana's governor was his last election and that he's not interested in the "savagery" of a national campaign. But like it or not, Daniels' name is being dropped in conservative GOP circles as someone to watch in 2012. Many say Daniels is just what the battered GOP needs, a blend of conservative values, cool demeanor and fiscal discipline. "Mitch has been steady to the cause, he's stayed principled," said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee. "The nation is going to...

Whirlpool Corp. announced Friday that it will close its manufacturing plant in Evansville, Ind., eliminating about 1,100 full-time jobs by mid-2010.

Baron Hill, a Blue Dog Democrat from Indiana, just announced he will be holding a Town Hall meeting on Healthcare at Indiana University Southeast on Monday 8/31. It will take place in the Hooiser Room at 6:30. Lets get a big FReeper contingent there to greet him.

DANVILLE, Ind. (WLFI) - About 1000 people came to Danville, Indiana, for a town hall meeting on health care. Fourth Congressional District Congressman Steve Buyer said he does not support the health care bill as it stands, and a majority of people at Tuesday's town hall meeting agreed with him. Only a small portion of the group were for the health care bill. And while the majority of the meeting was relatively tame, there were some angry outbursts. As one man spoke out against President Obama saying he was a socialist, people yelled out 'stick to the issues!" Some booed...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The union representing newsroom and other employees at The Indianapolis Star has ratified a two-year contract that includes a 10 percent pay cut. The Newspaper Guild Local 34070 said its members voted 56-45 on Tuesday in favor of the contract, which runs through August 2011 and suspends all merit pay increases. The contract covers 170 editorial and building services employees. Company officials have said the pay cut is necessary because of the recession. Guild members in June voted overwhelmingly to reject a contract offer from the Gannett Co.-owned Star that called for 12 percent pay cuts. The Star...

U.S. Rep. Baron Hill will have an hour-long "tele-town hall" about health care reform at 6:40 p.m. today with AARP members in the 9th District who are called, answer their telephone and choose to participate. Using a Virginia company, Citizen Dialog, AARP will call about 25,000 of its 97,000 members in Hill's district at the same time, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported today. Numbers called will get a recorded message inviting them to participate. Indiana AARP expects about 4,000 9th District AARP members to participate, but only about two dozen of them to get a chance to ask questions, according to...

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) will host a town hall meeting on the evening of Tuesday, August 25, 2009, to hear from the constituents of Indiana’s fourth congressional district. The town hall will be held at the Hendricks County 4-H Conference Center in Danville from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Congressman Buyer will use this forum to collect feedback from Hoosiers on matters before the Congress. The issues at the forefront of those recently contacting the Congressman include: the significant level of spending in this session of Congress, energy legislation and health care. However, the “open mike” forum will allow residents...

Time was, Baron Hill was best known for his jump shot and tenacious defense when he was starting at guard in the heartland of basketball mania, the Hoosier state. He was successful in parlaying that notoriety, a good persona and “Blue Dog” political philosophy into a multi-term stint in the Congress, representing his home district, the 9th.... Hill lost his seat 5 years ago to a conservative patriot named Mike Sodrel, a truck driver-turned transportation magnate, but got his seat back the next election (2006). And something happened in the interim. Gone were the old Midwestern values and all that...

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Marion County Sheriff's deputies arrested one of their own after an undercover operation. Now, a deputy who worked as a guard at the jail, is himself behind bars. "You know there is 775 deputy sheriff's in this department full time police officers and when one gets out of line the other 774 don't care for it," Col. John Layton with the Marion Co. Sheriff's Department said, When women complained about that one sheriff's deputy, Paul Wagner, fellow deputies began a month long investigation. Wagner worked part-time security at a Speedway gas station on the city's east side....

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind., Aug. 20, 2009 – Many programs help military members’ families during a deployment, but what about their four-legged friends? Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, a nonprofit volunteer group, arranges foster care for the pets of deploying servicemembers. U.S. Army photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Guardian Angels for Soldiers' Pet, a nonprofit organization made up of all volunteers, locates foster homes for the pets of servicemembers who are deployed, training or experiencing an emergency or financial hardship. Linda Spurlin-Dominik, the group’s chief executive officer, said the group was formed in January 2005...

Dawn Johnsen is making a tentative return to the classroom after seven months of waiting for the Senate to confirm her to one of the most politically sensitive posts in the Justice Department. Johnsen, nominated in January to head the Office of Legal Counsel, will teach a seminar this fall at Indiana University's Maurer School of Law. She will commute weekly from Washington, D.C., to Bloomington, Ind., while she continues to wait for confirmation, said Debbie O'Leary, a spokeswoman for the law school. The seminar will focus on sexuality and the law, so it will likely touch on one of...

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new state law gives teachers who feel threatened in their classrooms more rights when it comes to maintaining order. The law gives teachers qualified immunity from lawsuits when they take reasonable actions to discipline students, 6News' Renee Jameson reported. The measure was a key point in the reelection campaign for Gov. Mitch Daniels', who introduced the plan last August. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is visiting school districts this week to remind teachers and administrators about the new protections. "Teachers will be protected the same way that police and firemen are," he said. "You really can't bring...

Indianapolis - The Indiana Manufacturers Association announced today strong concerns with climate change legislation under consideration in Washington D.C. The United States Senate is poised to take up discussions on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, authored by Congressmen Waxman of California and Markey of Massachusetts. The concern is based on a report issued last week by the National Association of Manufacturers predicting significant increases in the cost of energy and a general decline of economic conditions under the act. The report reveals that Indiana could be impacted as follows: * Employment losses of up to 59,260...

A 13-state tour on the health care reform issue begins a three-day sweep of Indiana Monday, Aug. 17 Titled the Patient’s First Hand of my Health Care Tour, speakers will visit 11 Indiana cities, including a Wednesday morning stop at the Terre Haute International Airport.

WHITELAND, Ind. (Daily Journal) - A Columbus resident is accused of trying to break into a rural Whiteland home. Patrick F. Ianni, 33, 4440 Post-horn Court, Columbus, was arrested on charges of residential entry and public intoxication. At about 1:40 a.m. Thursday, Ianni kicked the door of a rural Whiteland home and broke the door jam but walked away after the owner threatened to shoot him if he entered the home, according to a police report. "The only smart decision he made was not to enter that home," Johnson County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Doug Cox said. "He's alive today...

Congressman: Town hall protesters committing 'political terrorism' @ 2:22 pm by Michael O'Brien Protesters who have interrupted town hall meetings are guilty of committing "political terrorism," one Democratic lawmaker said Wednesday. Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.), a centrist Democrat, said that he can tolerate political differences, those who have shouted down congressmen and senators at town hall meetings across the country in recent weeks have taken things to a different level. "I don't mind people disagreeing with you, but just to blow up a meeting is an act of political terrorism," Hill told the Louisville Courier-Journal. "They have only one purpose...

Indiana Congressman Mike Pence (R-6th) will deliver the keynote address to the Indiana Leadership Forum's annual luncheon. Hoosier Access will livestream the speech live starting at 11:30 AM ET Click Here for the webstream on Hoosier Access

SOUTH BEND — The West Side Democratic Club in South Bend is cleaning up after someone vandalized the building. Police say someone spray-painted gang signs on the side of the building. They also vandalized a picture of President Obama. Local leaders don't want to dismiss this latest case as kids being kids. They say this isn't the first time they've had someone vandalize the building, but they want to make it the last. “This is a war,” said Councilman Oliver Davis. “They're coming at us and we have to have something to respond back to them. And I think by...

Well, the long-awaited commencement chez Notre Madame is past, God be thanked, with the father of the college and the father of our country fairly falling into one another’s arms in an ecstasy of mutual admiration and relief. I’ll leave it to the right people to express their feelings of betrayal—I mean the Catholics who have spent many years praying in front of abortuaries, passing out literature on abortion to their students in Catholic schools, donating time and goods and money to homes for unwed mothers, and fighting the patient and frustrating political fight one fence-sitting politician at a time....

INDIANAPOLIS -- State leaders on both side of the aisle Friday agreed that a tax increase isn't an option to make up a shocking drop of revenue, but more budget cuts could be on the way. July figures released Thursday showed state tax collections were down $76.5 million from a revised revenue forecast issued in May. That forecast already projected that revenues through June 2011 would be about $1.1 billion less than a forecast issued in April. The sales tax, the state's biggest money maker, was 11 percent less than a year ago, while the income tax was down 35...

Indiana 1 Of 3 States With Public School Textbook Rental Fees INDIANAPOLIS -- In the midst of back-to-school season, expenses for clothing, supplies, backpacks, lunchboxes and the like are expected, but some costs catch parents off guard -- such as rental fees for textbooks. Indiana is one of just three states in which parents of public school students pay textbook rental fees, which typically run from about $100 to $400 each year, depending on the school district, 6News' Dan Spehler reported. The additional expense is something that people who move into the area may not be prepared for. Many parents...

Note: The following text is a quote: THE BRIEFING ROOM THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ----------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release August 5, 2009 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Monaco Coach, Wakarusa, Indiana 11:55 AM. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Well, it is wonderful to be in Wakarusa. Thank you so much for the wonderful welcome. Herman, thanks for the great introduction. It is great to be back in Indiana. (Applause.) This is as close as I've gotten to home in a while. (Laughter.) And I flew out here with somebody who I think the...

President Promotes Stimulus, Says America's Future Will Be 'Fought and Won' in Places Like Elkhart WAKARUSA, Ind. (CBS) ― President Barack Obama speaks on economy at the Monaco Recreational Vehicle plant in Wakarusa, Indiana, on August 5, 2009. Trumpeting a "made in America" message, President Barack Obama on Wednesday unveiled a national investment in electric cars as the latest effort to rebuild an economy that keeps shedding jobs. "We know that, even in the hardest times, against the toughest odds, we have never surrendered. We don't give up," Obama told employees on the steamy factory floor of an RV...