Free Republic

For the first time, liquor store owner Cliff Cormier has said publicly he was the one who shot two would-be robbers in his store on Oct. 19. And Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor said Monday he is drafting a "clearance letter" to send to the Topeka Police Department saying no charges would be filed in connection with the shootings. On Oct. 19, Rickie Loyd, 21, was shot and killed by someone inside Cormier Liquor, 2611 S.E. California, during a robbery attempt. Until Monday nobody associated with the incident — not Clff or Janice Cormier, not law enforcement — would...

Kansas will consider abolishing the death penalty next year as death sentences are declining across the United States. Fewer people were sentenced to death this year than any other year since 1976, according to a report released Friday by the Death Penalty Information Center...Sen. Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, has scheduled four days of hearings beginning Jan. 19 on a new bill that would eliminate the death penalty in Kansas... But Kansas' top prosecutor said this week he wants to see the death penalty continue. "I think it's a just punishment for what those folks did," Attorney General Steve Six told...

18 states allow for recall votes on US Senators. The 18 states allowing for recall are as follows: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin. The Senate oath of office is: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well...

U.S. Bank is providing early holiday cheer to local job seekers, announcing this morning it plans to open a service center in Overland Park and hire 1,100 new workers. Mark Jorgenson, regional president and CEO, said the new U.S. Bank Service Center would be one of the largest operated by the bank, and has been in the works for more than two years. “I can’t think of a better time to make the announcement than over the holiday season,” Jorgenson said. “It’s a stimulus package of the best kind, being a private one. It’s also a positive statement for U.S....

Hawker Beechcraft announced Monday that fractional ownership company NetJets has canceled a "significant" number of aircraft it had on order. The cancellations will reduce Hawker Beechcraft's backlog by $2.6 billion and represent 90 percent of the aircraft that NetJets has on order with Hawker Beechcraft. The planes were to have been delivered over several years beginning in 2011. So far this year, NetJets has canceled 12 aircraft it had on order and deferred delivery of all jets it was scheduled to receive this year and next until the end of 2010. Hawker Beechcraft has said that NetJets wasn't expected to...

Three U.S. banks in Florida, Arizona and Kansas failed on Friday, bringing the year's tally to 133 and taking a $250 million bite out of the federal deposit-insurance fund as the credit crunch claims more victims. Miami-based Republic Federal Bank was closed by regulators, and Boca Raton, Fla.-based 1st United Bank agreed to assume its deposits. Republic Federal Bank had $433 million in assets and $352.7 million in deposits as of Sept. 30, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Its failure will cost the deposit-insurance fund $122.6 million. The bank failure is the 13th in the Sunshine State this...

Regulators have shut down banks in Florida, Arizona and Kansas, bringing to 133 the number of U.S. banks that have failed to hold up this year against the struggling economy and a cascade of loan defaults. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Friday it took over Miami-based Republic Federal Bank, with $433 million in assets and $352.7 million in deposits. A bank based in Boca Raton, Fla., 1st United Bank, agreed to assume all the deposits and $267.1 million of the assets of the failed bank. The FDIC will retain the rest for eventual sale. In addition, the FDIC and...

Tuesday December 8, 2009 Report: Over Two-Thirds of All Abortion Clinics Have Closed Since 1991 WICHITA, KS, December 8, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Operation Rescue has just released the results of an extensive research project into the abortion industry showing that the number of abortion facilities continues to dwindle as Americans become more pro-life."We now have an accurate listing of every open abortion clinic in the country," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "In 1991, it was estimated that there were nearly 2,200 abortion clinics in the country, today there are just 713. The pro-life movement has made significant strides exposing and...

Like most Americans, I am grateful for Sen. John McCain's heroic service as a fighter pilot, a prisoner of war and, for nearly a generation, a member of the House and the Senate. But I am troubled by reports in recent weeks that Mr. McCain has been, as Politico put it, "working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image" and has "emerged as a political godfather" to moderate candidates, including my opponent in the race for the Republican Senate nomination in Kansas. In that spirit, I would like to make Mr. McCain an offer he shouldn't...

WICHITA, KS, December 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- Operation Rescue has confirmed that abortionist LeRoy Cahart will not open a late-term abortion facility to replace the one that closed in Wichita after abortionist George Tiller's death. "I'm thinking we may not go ahead and develop that down there" Carhart told a source connected with Operation Rescue. "I think we are just going to stay in Nebraska for now." Carhart, who does abortions out of Bellevue, Nebraska, had announced that he would do late-term abortions at the Wichita Women's Health Care Services after Tiller was murdered, but Tiller's family instead decided to...

FORT RILEY, Kan., Nov. 24, 2009 – A former soldier who spent about 16 months in the warrior transition battalion here now looks forward to a rewarding career as an Army civilian. Erik Stewart discusses preparations for an upcoming higher-headquarters assessment with Ward Philips at Fort Riley, Kan., Nov. 6, 2009. Stewart was a soldier in Fort Riley's warrior transition battalion who transitioned to a civilian career with the Fort Riley garrison. U.S. Army photo by Alison Kohler  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Former Army Capt. Erik Stewart advises other warriors in transition not to rush the process. "Make...

Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) is set to announce Monday that he will not seek reelection next year, sources confirmed to The Hill. Moore’s exit will pave the way for a tough open seat defense for Democrats, as the six-term incumbent has resolutely held on to a conservative-leaning district that has often frustrated Republicans. Moore, 64, won the seat from one-term Rep. Vince Snowbarger (R-Kan.) in 1998 and has been a target ever since. Despite his perseverance, Republicans believed they had an opening again with Democrats pushing proposals that could be unpopular in the deep red state.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat who confounded the GOP by winning six consecutive elections in a heavily Republican district, will not seek re-election next year, key Democrats said Sunday.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat who confounded the GOP by winning six consecutive elections in a heavily Republican district, will not seek re-election next year, key Democrats said Sunday. Moore, who represented Johnson, Wyandotte and a portion of Douglas counties, will issue a statement today explaining his decision and outlining his plans. Moore, 64, is expected to finish out his term, which ends in January 2011.

Former ambassador and presidential candidate Alan Keyes blasted President Obama and his policies in a speech to a Wichita audience Saturday night. "It looks like nothing any rational person would do if he was hoping for a positive outcome," Keyes said. Keyes spoke to about 200 people at the Beech Activity Center, 9710 E. Central, in support of Republican congressional candidate Jim Anderson. Keyes criticized Obama for both his foreign and domestic policy decisions. He said Obama was fiscally irresponsible for the federal bailout of financial institutions and the auto industry, saying it has saddled future generations with huge debt....

<p>Contact your Senators and let them know what you think!</p> <p>U.S. veterans or subsidies for United Nations (U.N.) bureaucracy.</p>

He says he killed a human being on his 27th birthday. His words are louder than the clatter of customers on this Veterans Day at Panera Bread in Oak Park Mall. But the 29-year-old Army veteran from Lenexa, with baby-face cheeks and crinkly eyes, tells it so matter-of-factly, so dead on bluntly, it sounds normal. He was pulling night-time guard duty in Iraq. A bullet whizzed past his head. Through the scope on his M-16, he found the shooter on top of a building nearly a mile away. Watched as the shooter popped his head above the railing and swung...

Congressional candidate Rob Wasinger, R-Cottonwood Falls, gained the endorsement of U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the GOP's presidential nominee in 2008. "Rob Wasinger has the right experience, vision, and values to lead Kansas into an era of economic growth and prosperity. He is an exemplary public servant we can trust," McCain was quoted saying in a news release from the Wasinger campaign. "I am humbled to be supported by Sen. John McCain, an American hero who has served our country with honor and integrity both in uniform and in Congress," Wasinger said in the same release. Wasinger is the former...

WICHITA | Scott Roeder has confessed to the shooting of a Kansas abortion provider. The 51-year-old Kansas City man told The Associated Press in a telephone call from jail Monday that he plans to use the so-called necessity defense at his trial. Roeder contends the killing of George Tiller in May at a Wichita church was justified to protect the lives of unborn children. His confession comes as abortion opponents across the nation release a new “Defensive Action Statement” arguing for the same force to protect the unborn as is justified to protect born children. The 21 signers want jurors...

"Because of the fact preborn children's lives were in imminent danger this was the action I chose. ... I want to make sure that the focus is, of course, obviously on the preborn children and the necessity to defend them," Roeder said. ... "Defending innocent life — that is what prompted me. It is pretty simple," he said. ... "No, I don't have any regrets because I have been told so far at least four women have changed their minds, that I know of, and have chosen to have the baby," Roeder said. "So even if one changed her mind...

Inscription on gravestone: Went to school with Lincoln's, Brother to Arron Grigsby who married Abe Lincoln's oldest sister. Visited in White House. Through this inscription I wish to enter my dying protest against what is called the Democratic party I have watched it closely since the days of Jackson and know that all the misfortunes of our nation has come to it through this so called party therefore beware of this party of treason. Put on in fullfillment of promise to Deceased.

Tickets sales have been extraordinary for Governor Palin's February trip to Kansas to deliver the keynote address to the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. In fact, according to the Salina Journal, ticket sales have been suspended, at least temporarily, so they can sort through the systemic overload caused by the unprecedented demand: Because of an overwhelming number of requests, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce has suspended the sale of tickets to its annual dinner, which will feature former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. "At this point, I am not saying that we're sold out," Chamber president and CEO Dennis Lauver...

While roaming the grounds of the US Capitol yesterday, Kristinn Taylor obtained a list of possible democrat defectors of the now infamous “Healthcare” bill. Kristinn was asked to post this list of wobbly democrats on FreeRepublic in an effort to mobilize our forces and overwhelm these members with phone calls and e-mails asking them to vote NO on the socialization of our healthcare. We also learned that Nancy Pelosi had just scheduled the vote for tomorrow; Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 6:00 PM. For all those who were unable to answer the call to surround the Capitol yesterday, here is...

Blue skies, warm weather and a crowd estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 people greeted the "Tea Party Express" bus tour in the parking lot of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium this afternoon. Members of the tour, titled "Countdown to Judgment Day," entertained the crowd with songs and speeches calling for change in Washington D.C., less government spending, less government intrusion, and an end to bailouts and President Obama's health care reform plans.The fourth tea party in Wichita lasted about two hours.Most in the crowd held signs proclaiming sentiments such as "We Want Our Country Back," "Wake Up America" and "Nobama Death Care."Fifteen people...

I support a phased withdrawal of U.S. and allied troops from Afghanistan, starting Jan. 1 and ending no later than Dec. 31, 2012. The Afghan people have suffered enough and the U.S. government should promote a negotiated settlement to the war. Afghanistan has been at war almost continually since 1979. We’ve been over there since 2001. At the end of 2012 we’ll have been there 11 years. That’s more than long enough to achieve our mission. And 32 years of war is too long for the Afghans. Afghanistan is an impoverished country. Sixty-eight percent of its population has never known...

DENVER - After pounding Colorado's Front Range and metropolitan Denver for more than two days with snow, a powerful Winter Storm pushed into eastern Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas Thursday evening. The snow and wind created blizzard conditions and forced the closure of several major highways, including Interstate 70 which was shut down from Aurora to the Kansas state line. Also closed were I-76 from Brighton to Neb., US 34 from Brush to Neb., CO 71 from Neb. to Ordway, CO 61 from Sterling to Otis, and CO 59 between I-76 and Yuma.

An eBay auction planned by abortion opponents to raise money for the man accused of killing Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller will not be permitted, company officials said Tuesday. “Based on the details we know about the anticipated listings, we believe these would violate our policy regarding offensive material,” the company said in a statement to The Kansas City Star. “EBay will not permit the items in question to be posted to the eBay site, and they will be removed if they are posted.” The announcement came the same day that Tiller’s family implored eBay to prevent the auction. “These...

Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson just issued an apology for hurling a gay slur at reporters yesterday -- but it was too late ... the team has already sidelined him from team activities. Here's Johnson's apology: First of all, I want to apologize to the fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and the rest of the NFL, Commissioner Goodell, the Chiefs organization, Coach Todd Haley, his staff, and my teammates for the words I used yesterday" "I regret my actions. The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate. I did not intend to...

Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is in hot water with GLAAD -- after the former NFL Pro-Bowler reportedly dropped the homophobic f-bomb twice in the last 24 hours. President of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Jarrett Barrio is calling for the NFL to take action against Johnson, saying "All too often this is the word that is used to ridicule and harass young gay and transgender athletes on local sports fields across America. Professional athletes who use this word need to be held accountable for feeding a climate of intolerance toward our community. NFL officials need...

I am afraid to report that when I compared Thomas Frank's book, which I believe was a cheap hatchet job on the majority of the people of Kansas, and the 2009 Cohen/Winston documentary of the same name, I found that the apple does not fall very far from the tree. A few fundamental themes ran through the film. The first theme is that when Christians and their values are mixed with politics it is the recipe for political doom. The liberal crowd on viewing night seemed quite joyful as the pro-lifer, Phill Kline, is defeated by Paul Morrison for Kansas...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT THURSDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. SNOWFALL REPORTS OF 4 TO 5 INCHES WERE RECEIVED WEDNESDAY EVENING WEST OF VONA ACROSS KIT CARSON COUNTY AND NEAR KIRK IN SOUTHWEST YUMA COUNTY. SNOW, HEAVY AT TIMES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS BEFORE DIMINISHING WITH ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THURSDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 6 TO 8 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ACROSS WESTERN KIT CARSON...

A stop livestock movement exercise is taking place on the Oklahoma/Kansas border on Oct. 22. The goal is to practice stopping animal movement across borders during times of contagious animal disease. Traffic will be screened at two border locations; one three miles north of Turpin on Highway 83 and the other at the intersection of Highways 160 and 183 near Sitka, Kansas.

Eastern Jackson County, MO —      Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders says his $1.03 billion commuter rail proposal is a uniquely Kansas City solution for Kansas City’s unique situation. “It has the potential to transform the greater Kansas City area in the span of two years,” he says. Our fair metro is often described as the second busiest rail hub in the country. That means we have lots of trains using lots of tracks – but there are also many miles of unused or underused tracks.      Jim Terry, who worked for the Union Pacific for 32 years and has...

TOPEKA, Kan. – A video featuring a Kansas legislator criticizing President Barack Obama's policies while wearing a hat describing opossum as "the other dark meat" was removed Thursday from YouTube, where the lawmaker had posted it last month. Republican Rep. Bill Otto said he didn't remove the video, titled "RedNeck Rap," and didn't know why it had been taken down. Google Inc., YouTube's owner, could offer no explanation. Otto said criticism of the video was unfounded. He said the hat's saying, which he repeats at the end of the short video, refers to redneck stereotypes, not Obama. The White House...

TOPEKA, Kan. — A Kansas priest already under consideration for sainthood has won the endorsement of the Army's top civilian leader to receive the Medal of Honor.

Speaking to a respected Hispanic leader in KCK, Dennis Moore reportedly called decorated and disabled Marine Veteran and Congressional Opponent "White Trash" in a recent (recorded) telephone conversation. The KCK leader, who has formally supported the incumbent congressman, is supporting Daniel Gilyeat's candidacy for the Kansas 3rd District Congressional seat. Dennis Moore called the KCK man after hearing the Hispanic community leader's support had changed. Dennis Moore said he had $7 million for the campaign and could not believe the naturalized citizen was supporting "White Trash" over Moore.

YWCA Misinforms Raped Inmate About Adoption, Pays for Abortion Topeka, KS -- The case of a raped inmate in Kansas who was coerced into an abortion and taken to a Planned Parenthood center is generating criticism of Kansas corrections officials. But it is also implicating the YWCA, which appears to have misled the woman and arranged her abortion. http://www.LifeNews.com/state4479.html

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Oct. 2, 2009 – The Kansas National Guard agribusiness development team here, along with local and provincial officials, participated in a ceremony to introduce a profitable crop to area farmers at the Laghman Agricultural Research and Development Center in Mehtar Lam district, Sept. 29. Mohammad Ismail Dowlatizai, director of agriculture for Afghanistan’s Laghman province, speaks to local farmers and provincial representatives about the benefits of growing saffron, Sept. 29, 2009. An agribusiness development team from the Kansas National Guard is working with farmers in Laghman province, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Saffron,...

This Sunday on the circuit, it's Kansas City, Kansas and Race #3 in the Chase for the Cup. Sprint Cup and Nationwide run this week-end, no Trucks racing.

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Aug. 11, 2009) — In the event of a terrorist attack at Kansas Motor Speedway, the Missouri National Guard’s 7th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team would likely be called to assist first responders. The unit spent a week recently training at the speedway alongside civil support teams from Kansas and Nebraska for Operation Rolling Thunder. “It was three days of very valuable joint training,” said Lt. Col. Raymond White, unit commander. “We worked in concert with the other teams and learned a lot.” After the field training began on the second day, the Missouri...

In case you'd been losing sleep wondering just who would get Sen. John McCain's support in the race for Sen. Sam Brownback's seat in Kansas when he steps down in 2010, the answer is in: U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran. He, of course, just nipped Rep. Todd Tiahrt to it, and just in time, too. In case you'd forgotten, the presidential election cycle ended a full, well, not quite full, 11 months ago. It's back to politics time, baby. Now, exactly why Sen. McCain, the GOP presidential candidate in 2008 (in case you'd forgotten, it was so long ago) would get...

Wichita Suffers From Bizjet Downturn AVIATION WEEK Joseph C. Anselmo janselmo@aviationweek.com William Garvey william_garvey@aviationweek.com Wichita, Kan. A severe downturn in the aviation industry has led to the loss of 30,000 jobs in Wichita as the impact from mass layoffs at companies such as Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft and Bombardier Learjet has rippled through small suppliers and the economy, according to Mayor Carl Brewer. Unemployment in this aviation-dependent city of 364,000 has hit 9.7% as business jet and general aviation manufacturers have throttled back on production after mass cancellations of existing orders and a dramatic reduction in new orders. "That type of...

U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran's campaign for a Senate seat says it has scored an endorsement from Sen. John McCain — of Arizona and the GOP's unsuccessful nominee for president last year. “I’m proud to endorse my friend Jerry Moran in his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Moran has a proven record of fiscal responsibility. He has stood up to irresponsible spending on both sides of the aisle and is not afraid to oppose wasteful earmarks that cheat the American taxpayer,” McCain said in a statement released by Moran's campaign. “With government spending levels reaching record highs and trust in Washington, D.C.,...

The Alliance for Worker Freedom sent out the following press release: Kansas Gov. Parkinson Refuses to Provide Financial & Email Records between SEIUParkinson’s Departments Use Taxpayer Money to Collect Names for UnionWashington, D.C. — Last week, the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) called on Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) to release financial documents and correspondence surrounding his Departments using taxpayer money and state resources to collect healthcare provider names and addresses for the Service Employee International Union (SEIU)....

A diverse crowd of more than 150 people gathered in Forum Hall Wednesday evening to hear the opinions of two law professors as they debated the ever-present topic of gun control in relation to the language of the U.S. Constitution. The audience sat intently as the debate-style information session titled “Guns on Campus? The New Understanding of the Right to Bear Arms” brought two perspectives on the future of the courts’ interpretation of the Second Amendment through the research and experience of Raymond T. Diamond, law professor at Louisiana State University, and William Merkel, law professor at Washburn University.

Steve Rose, the longtime publisher of the Johnson County Sun and well-known civic leader, said Wednesday that he’s running for Congress. Rose, 61, said he would campaign as a Republican in Kansas’ 3rd District. If he wins the GOP nomination, he presumably would face six-term Democratic incumbent Dennis Moore. Rose acknowledged that he had endorsed Moore repeatedly over the years in his Sun column. But Rose said Moore had changed. “I think that under the current administration it’s a much further left government,” Rose said. “And Dennis Moore is voting with them. I think he’s left the mainstream of his...

In this epsiode of the Conscience of Kansas radio program I interview Mike Yost, candidate for U.S. House of Reptesentatives. We play some of the lecture of Bob Basso as Thomas Paine at Kansas State University. We also talk to Kristinn Taylor, co-founder of the Wasington D.C. branch of the FreeRepublic on the resignation of green czar Van jones. We invite you to listen and comment.

Back to web version Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 Posted on Wed, Sep. 09, 2009 Big beer, big movies: Both fall flat By ROBERT W. BUTLERThe Kansas City Star The other day I watched the new documentary “Beer Wars” because … well, because it has the word “beer” in the title.But Anat Baron’s film (she was one of the founders of Boston Beer Co., makers of the Sam Adams line) ended up making me think about movies.Bear with me. (I almost wrote “beer with me,” but I retain a smidgen of self-respect.)“Beer Wars” (you can pick up a DVD at...