Free Republic

Inflation is crippling rural America and driving some people to consider moving closer to cities in an effort to ease the financial stress, according to the latest analysis from one expert. Iowa State University professor Dave Peters has been studying the effect of inflation on people in rural communities as part of the school's Small Town Project. He found that this year alone, expenses for rural Americans had increased by 9.2%, but their earnings only increased by 2.6%. And Peters has pinpointed where it's hurting most. "Mainly, fuel prices, particularly among the farmer and agricultural community," he said. "They really...

Police said up to 70 people were injured when a truck carrying flammable cargo exploded after a traffic accident in Borgo Panigale, located on the outskirts of Bologna. Officials did not immediately know what kind of explosives were in the tanker, but the news agency ANSA said liquefied petroleum gas was in the truck when it collided with another tanker truck just before 2 p.m., reports said. Fireball-like flames and thick black smoke were seen near the Bologna airport. Flames from the overhead highway fell to the lower level, setting the vehicles below on fire and causing a second explosion.