Free Republic

Among Democrats, fighting is breaking out all over. The Senate’s third-ranking Democrat, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), is hurling criticisms toward the White House over Barack Obama’s handling of the recession and his myopic and politically ruinous obsession with reforming the nation’s health care system amid that economic downturn.In response, the White House took what Reuters called the “unusual step” of publicly pledging to veto an overdue plan to reform the nation’s tax code which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has been in the process of negotiating with House Republicans. When Obama announced his intention to extend legal status to...

Meet Adam, the Dog Who Is Allergic to Humans • The adorable black Labrador confounded Lucky Dog Retreat Rescue in Indianapolis when he showed up with a mysterious inflammatory skin condition When Adam, a frail black Labrador, first arrived at Lucky Dog Retreat Rescue in Indianapolis, he was a mess. His fur was coming out in clumps, revealing dry, cracked skin underneath, and the dog’s pained gnawing only exacerbated his condition. Robin Herman and the staff at the center tried their best to ease his mystery inflammatory disease by starting a regimen of steroids, medical baths and premium food. And...

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis Metro Police are searching for a pair of thieves who pulled a gun on a greeter at a local Walmart store. Surveillance cameras got a good look at the people responsible and investigators hope that leads to a break in the case. Police say the two thieves stole from a Walmart and threatened employees with a gun. The store near 73rd and Keystone does have surveillance and cameras captured images of the suspects. "So that's the two that did it?" asked shopper Tajuanea Dobbins. "That's scary to hear, yeah. That is scary to hear something like that."...

The Senate narrowly rejected legislation to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline on Tuesday, handing a defeat to the oil industry and dealing a major blow to Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu, who staked her political career on the outcome. The Senate voted 59-41 for the legislation, falling one vote shy of the 60 needed for passage under the deal bringing it to the floor. But Keystone supporters insisted the defeat would be short-lived. Republican leaders are vowing to try again after they take over the chamber in January — when they will have more than enough votes to get a measure...

<p>This is perhaps the most elaborate and graphic of all the murder videos posted online by IS.</p> <p>Much of it is taken up with a recent history lesson on Iraq and Syria as seen through the eyes of the jihadists. But the latter part shows a mass beheading of Syrian prisoners in revolting, lingering detail.</p>

Next spring, thousands could be cut from Indiana’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [Food Stamps]. Indiana has previously waived the federal requirement that SNAP recipients are either employed, actively seeking employment or in training for future employment.But now the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has announced that, as of 2015, the federal requirement will be enforced and as a result, approximately 65,000 people will be cut from the program.According to Fox 59 in Indianapolis, Indiana’s new requirement mandates that “any able-bodied Indiana adult without children will need to be working at least 20 hours a week, be in job training,...

In December of 2012, in the aftermath of Michigan’s Republican Legislature passing a right-to-work law, thousands of union members from around the state participated in a teleconference where their leaders promised “retribution” against the GOP. One union member wondered if Democrats took control of the Legislature, “Could we shove it right down their throats?” Al Garrett, president of Michigan AFSCME Council 25, shot back: “If we were to change the composition of both houses, where we were the majority and had the governor, no question we would be able to get rid of it right away. … In November of...

GARY — The Internal Revenue Service is seeking $6.78 million in unpaid payroll taxes from Gary Community School Corp. The IRS has filed two liens in the Lake County Recorder’s Office against the school district. One lien, filed Sept. 3, seeks payment of $5,270,467 for payroll taxes in 2013. The other lien, filed June 24, says the district owes $1,514,529 for part of 2012 and 2013. IRS spokesman Luis Garcia said the agency doesn’t comment on specific taxpayers. “The public document has to speak for itself,” he said. The documents state the IRS is giving notice that taxes, including interest...

Police: Alleged serial killer tied to 7 slayings ‘basking in the glory’ Posted: Oct 21, 2014 6:05 AM CST Updated: Oct 21, 2014 9:41 AM CST GARY, Ind. (Sun-Times Media Wire) - Darren D. Vann led Gary police on a bloody scavenger hunt this weekend. He pointed them to seven bodies of his alleged victims scattered in basements and empty, run-down buildings all over northwest Indiana's Steel City, authorities said. To the body of Anith Jones, 35, of Merrillville. And Teaira Batey, 28, of Gary. And others whose identities are still unknown. The Mayor of Gary Indiana said Tuesday morning...

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments against the availability of exchange subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Today’s order from the Court granted review in King v. Burwell, one of several cases challenging IRS regulations extending tax-credit subsidies to the states with federal exchanges. Briefings will be submitted over the next few months, and a ruling is not expected until June.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) project designed to track “misinformation” on Twitter has removed portions of its website that monitored political users, including conservatives who used the “tcot” hashtag. “Truthy,” the nearly $1 million research project being conducted by the University of Indiana, has redesigned its website following the Washington Free Beacon’s initial report on the study. Truthy Removes Part of Website That Monitored Conservative Hashtags Free Beacon prohibited from asking further questions about project The service is intended to monitor “suspicious memes” and “false and misleading ideas,” with a major focus on political activity online. Truthy has received increased...

The Internet is moving to a shopping center near you. In Fort Wayne, Ind., a vacated Target store is about to be home to rows of computer servers, network routers and Ethernet cables courtesy of a local data-center operator. In Jackson, Miss., a former McRae’s department store will get the same treatment next year. And one quadrant of the Marley Station Mall south of Baltimore is already occupied by a data-center company that last year offered to buy out the rest of the building. As America’s retailers struggle to keep up with online shopping, the Internet is starting to settle...

Democrats may be making their last stand in Arkansas. At the beginning of the cycle, Democrats touted a dream ticket that could help rally the party back to relevance after a series of stinging losses in the state. They cheered Sen. Mark Pryor’s (D) centrist profile and strong family name. In the governor’s race, they hoped former Rep. Mike Ross’s long string of successes in conservative southwest Arkansas would boost him. But months later, Pryor has trailed freshman Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) for much of the summer in the Razorback State and former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) has had a...

INDIANAPOLIS - An outbreak of a virus at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control has been a death sentence for dozens of cats at the city's shelter, and critics say it didn't have to get to this point. The virus has a big name: panleukopenia. Shelter employees say it's highly contagious - similar to the parvovirus in dogs - and almost always deadly. That's why the city shelter is closing its doors to any more cats for the next two weeks. "Everybody who's been exposed is a potential risk, and the only way we're going to get it controlled is if...

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected gay-marriage appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin, in essence allowing lower courts to legalize same-sex couples. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an institution that has vigorously opposed gay marriage for some time now, conceded that the political battle over marriage is over. “As far as the civil law is concerned,” the Mormon church admitted, “the courts have spoken.” Actually, nothing is over until God says it’s over. At least, this is my understanding of how religion operates. So though I don’t want to accuse Mormons of being a...

There is no mistaking you are at the right place: A large sign in the window of HealthKick Nutrition Center, 10174 Maysville Road, lets you know "We Have Ebola Suits." Step in and on a table just inside the door is a stack of boxes with white Tyvek suits, sizes small, medium, large and extra large. David Morris, owner of the store, said he had already sold 35 of the suits by noon Thursday. A tall blond enters the store, and Morris helps her determine her size. She buys two suits. One for her and one for her husband. The...

The Tippecanoe County Health Department told News 18 that an individual was taken to IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette with possible Ebola-like symptoms. Health Officer Dr. Jeremy Adler with the county health department said a person was taken to Indiana University Health Arnett with possible symptoms consistent with Ebola. Adler said that evaluation is underway and it could take several hours before results are determined. Adler said there has been no confirmation of Ebola. He does not know anything about this individual — where they came from or what time they were admitted. According to Adler, the only people...

There’s no wavering from Indiana Rep. Tim Wesco, a strong proponent of traditional marriage. He lobbied for the proposed state constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 3 (HJR-3), to define marriage in Indiana as a heterosexual union. And following the U.S. Supreme Court decision that paved the way for same-sex marriage here, he isn’t backtracking in his views. In fact, he’s warning that the move could potentially create an in for legalized polygamy. “I personally can never change my view on that,” said Wesco, a Republican from Osceola who represents District 21, which covers much of western and southern Elkhart. “I’m...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The first case of Ebola transmitted between patients in America has experts across the country reviewing safety protocols. At Purdue University, Dr. David Sanders has been studying the virus since 2003 – specifically how this particular Zaire strain of Ebola enters human cells. While the virus has thus far only been shown to be transferred via bodily fluids, Sanders argues that it could become airborne. "It can enter the lung from the airway side," Sanders said. "So this argues that Ebola is primed to have respiratory transmission. "We need to be taking this into consideration," he...

Viral Infection Blamed As More Than 120 Students At Schererville School Stay Home Sick October 8, 2014 10:04 PM Health, Peifer Elementary School, Schereville, schools, sick Brad Edwards Latest News Headlines: (CBS) — A viral infection is being blamed for more than a hundred sick kids at a school in Schererville, Ind. CBS 2’s Brad Edwards reports, with the sterility of operation room precision, from Hoosier Hall to nurse Schmidt’s office, it’s a scrub down at Peifer Elementary School. “It’s a little alarming just because that’s a lot of kids,” said Jennifer Howard, a parent of two kids at the...