Free Republic

Denmark continued its position as one of the few success stories in an era in which global media freedom is coming increasingly under threat, says a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). For the second year running, Denmark took fourth place on the RSF index, despite it being a year in which the global situation relating to press freedoms has worsened in nearly two thirds of the 180 countries in the Index. The authors of the index cited an article in Denmark’s 1849 constitution which guarantees freedom of speech and says that “censorship and other preventive measures can never...

TWO young Australian backpackers have told their horror account of being kidnapped, assaulted and robbed at gunpoint while travelling through Guatemala. Jayson Peter Kelly, 25, and Kirsten Smith, 25, from Cairns, Queensland were just eight weeks into their nine-month backpacking adventure — a trip they had planned for two years — when what was supposed to be a trip of lifetime turned into a living nightmare. Speaking to news.com.au from Costa Rica, a shaken Mr Kelly recounted the terrifying experience to warn other Australian tourists visiting the Central American country. The couple were on a shuttle bus, organised through a...

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-WE DON’T mean to ruin your next holiday but there could be something lurking in your hotel room. Apparently vermin love staying in hotels too. That’s right, we’re talking mice scurrying down the halls, roaches snacking at the continental breakfast and ants climbing on the kitchenette. According to a study conducted by Amerisleep, which looked at 8,000 reports from inspectors from over 3,400 hotels, motels and inns in Florida in 2015 and 2016, more than one in ten (12 per cent) of hotels, motels, and inns have had a vermin problem, the New York Post reports. Vermin violations make up...

FULL TITLE: Amber Alert teacher, 50, 'ADMITTED to his wife he slept with student, 15,' after he was caught and has repeatedly begged for forgiveness The wife of the Tennessee teacher who went on the run with his 15-year-old student claims he admitted he's slept with the teen and begged her forgiveness after he was caught. Jill Cummins, who filed for divorce from Tad Cummins after he ran off with Elizabeth Thomas five weeks ago, said her husband made the confession during a phone call from jail. Mrs Cummins told Inside Edition she had asked him straight out; 'did you...

If you found money on the ground, would you keep it or turn it in? Fox 13 viewer Becky Squire shared video of her boys, Eli and Bronx, doing the right thing. Squire said her boys found cash outside a neighbor's house. Jennifer Arismendi captured their adorable discussion about what to do with their recent windfall. Eli: "Do you want to do the right thing to do or keep it?" Bronx: "Do the right thing to do." Eli: "Uh huh, it's best to ask someone." The brothers knocked on the door to check with Arismendi, who said the money did...

An email sent by the Marble Falls High School principal to senior students inadvertently included student identification numbers, which could possibly be used to learn a student’s school-issued Google account and lunch account password, the school said...The spreadsheet included information as to why some seniors were ineligible to go on the trip...Segovia, his name was on the list because he is failing a class. “It is quite embarrassing

I believe AP is link only. If not I apologize.

Tennessee residents Tommy Hill and Christie Burnett are both charged with Armed Carjacking and Kidnapping. An elderly Pascagoula man is recovering after being carjacked and kidnapped from his own driveway early Tuesday morning. Pascagoula police say the man was returning to his home on Parsley Ave. around 7:30am when a couple from Tennessee approached him with what appeared to be a revolver. The victim said he was forced back into his car. The man held the gun on him while the woman drove. The suspects then dropped the man off at the corner of Pascagoula St. and Beach Blvd. A...

BLANCHESTER, OH (FOX19) - A crying woman was found captive in a pit dug in her neighbor's backyard shed early Wednesday, police say. Dennis Dunn, 45, was arrested and charged with her kidnapping. Officers first responded to the Blanchester neighborhood at 1:30 a.m. after a woman reported her daughter, Jennifer Elliott, missing from a Central Avenue home, according to Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt. A neighbor called to report hearing cries from a backyard shed around 4 a.m. The first officer who arrived also heard the cries, which led him to the shed. *****VIDEO ON LINK*****

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains violent descriptions of alleged child abuse. Reader discretion is advised. BLACKFOOT — Court documents unsealed Tuesday detail the horrific events investigators say happened when an 18-month-old was “viciously attacked” – receiving injuries that led to his untimely death, according to court documents. Jesus Adan Castillo, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Zachary Tendoy, the son of Castillo’s girlfriend. On March 23, around 4 a.m., the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call that a child was not breathing at a home on the 1600 block of Camas Street....

The door opens to the Amal Women’s Center, a transitional home for women and children operated by the Muslim social services organization, ICNA Relief. Opened this week, it marks the first Muslim-operated transitional housing shelter in Massachusetts, according to Malika MacDonald-Rushdan, ICNA Relief’s state field office director. Amal means “hope” in Arabic, MacDonald-Rushdan explained. The door’s vibrant purple color signifies that feeling.

This entire situation is becoming tiring. The right decisions are not being made, or, are being blocked by those who do not agree with correct actions to take to solve the nation's problems. Illegal immigrants are STILL coming here along with the ones who are still living here and they hate us. Many Americans do not realize the animosity that many immigrants have toward us. However, let me tell you something. Go to another country (yes, I have lived overseas and have traveled extensively) and try out that attitude of animosity toward the natives and see how that works out...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A controversial flier appeared on the University of Texas at Arlington campus that asks “white Americans” to report “any and all” illegal immigrants, CBS Dallas / Fort Worth reports. The school is taking down the fliers after students said they appeared on a message board inside the university commons. The group behind the message appears to be protesting the possibility of UTA becoming a “sanctuary campus.” The term “sanctuary city” refers to cities that follow certain procedures to shelter illegal immigrants.

FULL TITLE: Father of kidnapped Tennessee teen divorces her mother, accusing her of 'beating the girl and locking her in the basement' before the 15-year-old was 'snatched' by teacher The 15-year-old Tennessee girl who was allegedly kidnapped by her teacher for more than a month was vulnerable to predators because of the abuse she faced at her mother's hands, court documents say. Elizabeth Thomas was taken away by 'boyfriend' Tad Cummins, 50, on March 13, authorities say. The pair were found in an isolated hut in rural California, 2,500 miles away, on April 20. Now Elizabeth's father claims in divorce...

A 66-year-old Angie man is facing as long as 30 years in prison after being convicted by a Washington Parish jury of selling four oxycodone pain pills to a police informant. Henry James McMillan is be sentenced by Judge Donald Fendlason of the 22nd Judicial District Court on May 8, the North Shore district attorney's office said. McMillan was arrested after selling four OxyContin pills at his home to a confidential informant for the Washington Parish drug task force. The transaction, which took place on July 29, 2015, was recorded on videotape, prosecutors said. The informant also gave McMillan's co-defendant,...

FULL TITLE: I'm not a monster': Killer tells the woman who saw him rape and murder her mother 22 years ago 'I'm sorry' in sickening plea for forgiveness as he is put to death in America's first double execution in 17 years Arkansas executed two death row inmates on Monday night in America’s first double execution in 17 years. The first inmate to be put to death was Jack H. Jones, Jr, 52, who received a lethal injection after delivering a two-minute final statement - during which he told his victim's daughter 'I'm sorry' 22 years after she watched him...

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) - Police say a 10-year-old boy has been charged as a juvenile with aggravated arson after a fire at an Ohio discount store caused damage estimated at more than $200,000. Middletown police Lt. Jim Cunningham says about 10 people were inside the Family Dollar store when the fire began Sunday afternoon. No one was hurt.

Members of Minneapolis' Somali-American community say one of their main business districts -- often referred to as "The Somali Mall" -- is so ridden with crime, they no longer feel safe. Located at 24th Street East and home to dozens of businesses, more than 100 911 calls have been placed from the location since last October, according to police records. Problems include assaults, thefts, fights, and property damage. "I know a friend of mine being beaten up here badly and took his car," customer Asad Abdulahi recalled Monday. The owner of Juba Cafe, located across the street from the mall,...

This May, the SF Burrito Project celebrates its one year anniversary of nourishing San Francisco's most vulnerable communities with a city favorite: burritos. To date, they have given out more than 3,000. "Burritos are a perfect vehicle to deliver nutritious, affordable meals," says Eric Tuvel, one of the SF Burrito Project's five committee members. The vegan burritos made by the SF Burrito Project are chock full of wholesome ingredients that many homeless have limited access to such as legumes, whole grains and vegetables. Some of the SF Burrito Project's over 300 volunteers and follower. (Courtesy of the SF Burrito Project)...

In what appears to be a revenge mission, a rival cult group, in the early hours of today, launched a retaliatory attack over the death of one of their members, Kevwe Ikolo. Ikolo was allegedly murdered at his residence barely a month ago. Early Monday morning, suspected members of the Vikings confraternity stormed the home of a member of Aiye Confraternity at Ekiagbon Quarters and allegedly macheted one Emmanuel Misiate to death in his apartment. DAILY POST learnt that Misiate had survived a similar attack in the past. ‎This time, it was gathered that the Vikings, allegedly led by one...