Free Republic

First case I know of since the gay rights/religious liberty debate sharpened up over the last few years where a Christian business owner threatened to refuse all service to gay — or “openly gay,” i.e. affection-displaying — clients rather than service for gay weddings specifically. Although, strictly speaking, this isn’t a “religious liberty” case: There are no state or local laws where this guy lives that require him to serve gays. He can refuse for any reason he likes, religious or not. I wonder if it occurred to him when he was posting to Facebook that what he wrote,...

A veterans group wants to complete the Veterans Memorial in Milford's Central Park with a fallen soldier monument, but the Village Council isn't sure the piece — which features a pair of boots and a helmet atop an M-16 rife — is an appropriate focal point for the park. Bear Hall, founder and chairman of the local Friends of American Veterans (FAV), approached the council earlier this month hoping for approval of the plan. The group wants to place a fallen solder memorial – also known as a battle field cross – at the end of the brick paver walkway...

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WWJ) – A west Michigan business owner claims he’s been the target of death threats after he announced he won’t serve gays. Brian Klawiter, who owns Dieseltec Automotive Repair in Grandville, posted a message on his business’ Facebook page saying that he is a Christian, and that his company does not welcome “immoral behavior” — including homosexuality. “Our rights as conservative Americans are being squashed more and more everyday. Apparently if you are white (or close to it), you have a job, go to church, and own a gun… That translates into racists, privileged, bigot, conspiracy theorist.

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — The owner of a Grandville auto repair shop says he won’t hesitate “to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons.” Brian Klawiter, the owner of Dieseltec on Ottawa Avenue in Grandville, posted the statement to his company’s Facebook page on Tuesday because he says the voices of those who have Christian, conservative values are often overshadowed by those who do not. “I want to have a voice about this,” Klawiter told 24 Hour News 8 Wednesday. “I want to be heard about this… It’s challenging to decide to say I’m on the opposing side...

In our federal system, states should be able to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Friday joined an amicus brief on behalf of 57 members of Congress in support of the right of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The brief was filed in four cases that the Supreme Court will jointly hear on April 28, 2015, in which same-sex couples challenge the marriage laws of Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, and Kentucky, all of which were upheld by the U.S....

BRIGHTON, Mich. (WXYZ) - Is Proposal 1 the right solution for our crumbling roads? It has the support of Republicans in Lansing, but one local GOP group is breaking with their party on this vote. Three weeks from today, voters across the state will have the final say on Proposal 1. In the meantime, there's no shortage of opinions on this proposed "fix" for Michigan's crumbling roads. "I'm like everyone, I'm for getting the roads fixed and I don't want taxes to increase," says voter Jim Johnson. "I want it to go to what they actually are saying it's supposed...

An issue that could “dramatically affect” the mission of the United States Armed Forces is telling soldiers when it is okay to kiss a girl. The Air Force is the latest branch to employ the services of Mike Domitrz, a speaker and author known for his “May I Kiss You?” training session, to teach servicemembers about consent and sexual assault prevention. On Thursday the Air Force awarded Domitrz’s company, the Date Safe Project, $10,000 for three training sessions. Domitrz’s 60 to 90 minute sessions offer a “unique combination of humor and dramatic story telling,” the Air Force said in an...

Two of the country’s most powerful and politically influential labor unions are backing President Obama in the recent court challenge to his 2014 executive action on illegal immigration, saying they support the president’s effort because "undocumented workers" need more workplace protection and their participation helps the U.S. economy. The AFL-CIO and the National Education Association on Monday each filed so-called amicus briefs in a federal appeals court case in which Texas and 26 other states are challenges the president’s 2014 memorandum on illegal immigration. The memorandum essentially expands work authorization and delayed-deportation programs for illegal immigrants. And it provides similar...

As a lifelong Michigan fan who grew up with Jim Harbaugh as his favorite Wolverine, I didnÂ’t think my man-crush on the Maize-and-BlueÂ’s new football coach could get any bigger than it already is. The guy hasnÂ’t even coached a game yet in Ann Arbor, but Captain America hosannas, like the ones he earned as quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, are already raining down on him after he beat the toughest opponent of them all this week. Political correctness. Faced with the douchetastic dumb-arsery of campus victimologists, who felt a showing of the movie American Sniper would be insensitive to...

Government documents obtained by a top "Inside the Beltway" watchdog group and released on Thursday reveal that Internal Revenue Service's Lois Lerner was strongly urged by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, her assistance in attacking certain non-profit political groups. The organizations they selected for targeting by Lerner were part of the Tea Party and conservative movements. Newly released documents revealed that Sen. Levin (left) and Sen. McCain both urged the IRS to target conservative groups in the wake of the Citizens United decision. The group that investigates and exposes government corruption, Judicial Watch, released newly acquired...

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The lawyer arguing in favor of Michigan's same-sex marriage ban before the Supreme Court later this month defended the state's pursuit of the case, despite the fact that it runs contrary to a wide swing in public opinion since a 2004 voter-approved definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. "It's the attorney general's job to defend the (Michigan) Constitution whether he thinks it's a good idea or a bad idea," said John Bursch, the special assistant attorney general who will argue the case before the high court. In a March 31 meeting with...

According to Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, his team would have been watching 'American Sniper' no matter what Michigan's student life department had done this week. MY INSERT - (Harbaugh's Tweet)Michigan Football will watch "American Sniper"! Proud of Chris Kyle & Proud to be an American & if that offends anybody then so be it! — Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) April 9, 2015

The University of Michigan canceled a scheduled movie screening of “American Sniper” on Tuesday after nearly 300 students and others complained the film glorifies a “mass killer” and perpetuates anti-Muslim stereotypes. An online petition, titled a “collective letter from Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) and Muslim students on campus,” accused the school of “tolerating dangerous anti-Muslim and anti-MENA propaganda” by showing the Chris Kyle biopic, The College Fix reported. “The movie American Sniper not only tolerates but promotes anti-Muslim and anti-MENA rhetoric and sympathizes with a mass killer,” the letter reads. “Chris Kyle was a racist who took a...

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (AP) - Crews are working to clear a path through ice on eastern Lake Superior that's left freighters unable to move, including one that had a hole punched in its hull.......The cargo shipping season started last month on the upper Great Lakes.

Time Magazine Meet the World’s New Oldest Living Person Olivia B. Waxman April 6, 2015 Here's what 115-year-old Jeralean Talley of Michigan had to say about the news Following the death of 117-year-old Japanese woman Misao Okawa last Wednesday, Gertrude Weaver of Camden, Ark., became the world’s new oldest living person at 116 years old. But she passed away Monday morning at the Silver Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center after complications due to pneumonia, the Associated Press confirmed. “The record for the shortest reign is four days, and that was Emma Tillman in 2007 at 114 years old,” said Robert...

In all, 17 service pistols and shotguns belonging to Flint police are officially listed as stolen, while another 22 guns used by Flint police are listed as lost or missing -- including a sub-machine gun and a short-barreled shotgun.

The liberal media’s witchhunt on Christian bakeries and florists after the passage of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act ignored facts that should have been obvious: Christianity wasn’t the only religion that considers homosexuality sinful. Fox News contributor and comedian Steven Crowder traveled to Dearborn, Mich. to do something the liberal news media would never dare. He asked Muslim bakery owners if they would bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. Crowder noted that the media were “deliberately trying to set the narrative of mean, hateful Christians vs. poor, innocent gay people who are having their rights completely trampled.” Meanwhile,...

The wife of a Detroit-area soccer referee filed a $51 million lawsuit Friday against a hot-headed player who is in prison for throwing a punch that killed her husband during a game last summer. The figure represents $1 million for each of the 51 additional years that John Bieniewicz, 44, could have lived . ... Saad, 37, was recently sentenced to at least eight years in prison after pleading guilty

Gay wedding cakes! Yes folks, I did this. I went there. You have this now. Actually, I taped this video a long time ago but due to audio corruption issues, was never able to upload it. Now that my in-house whizz kid, Jared was able to salvage the footage, I am passing it onto you. What do you think happens when a gay, like SUPER gay Crowder tries to get a super gay wedding cake baked at a Muslim bakery? I’m pretty sure you can guess, but you might as well watch this week’s adventure to Dearborn, MI to find...

Amid a nationwide firestorm over so-called religious freedom bills, Michigan’s Republican governor is taking cover. Rick Snyder told the Detroit Free Press on Thursday that he would veto a bill like Indiana’s if it made its way through the state Legislature. “Given all the events that are happening in Indiana, I thought it would be good to clarify my position,” he told the Detroit paper. “I would veto RFRA legislation in Michigan if it is a standalone piece of legislation.” Though state Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills are not as controversial when the state also has anti-discrimination laws that include...