Free Republic

Well, so much for that 50 state strategy. The Obama camp surrendered 4 states to McCain-Palin today. And, you know what that means? It's time to play the racism card! Andrew Malcolm at the Top of the Ticket ties this decision by the Obama Campaign to close election offices in North Dakota, Alaska, Idaho and Georgia to a poll on Democratic racism that was released this weekend: Exactly 44 years after Lyndon B. Johnson became the last Democrat to capture the state of North Dakota in a presidential election, it looks like Barack Obama won't be the next. The Associated...

Jeremiah 7:23 But I gave them this command: Obey Me, and I will be your God and you will be My people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. Read Psalm 50 Who is God Mighty One. Righteousness. Everlasting. Creator. How many names of God can you think of? How many descriptions and titles are attributed to Him? There are dozens of words in the Bible God uses to describe Himself. Psalm 50:6 highlights one in the particular that should be kept in mind as this study on discernment progresses: God Himself...

DETECTIVES: Chris Jenkins murder connects dozens around country Could there be a calculated, cross-country plot to kill young college men, including some in Minnesota? It seems a little hard to believe, but two New York detectives say, they can prove it. Now, they are revealing years of their evidence for the first time to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS... University of Minnesota college student Chris Jenkins was found in the Mississippi River in February of 2003. Minneapolis Police began investigating the case, which also caught the attention of two retired NYPD detectives. Turns out, Jenkins' death was the missing part of the...

3rd Sunday of EasterApril 25, 2004 – Cathedral of St. MaryBishop Samuel J. AquilaBishop of FargoIn our Gospel reading for this weekend we hear the threefold question, “Do you love me?” put to Peter – the apostle who denied that he knew Christ, the apostle who wept in repentance for that denial. In the threefold question, Jesus makes Peter His successor. He makes him the one who is first among the apostles. The Church ever since that time has had Peter serving her in the papacy. Each successor of Peter, and every bishop, is a Vicar of Christ. Jesus...

CBP Air and Marine accepted delivery of CBP 110, the third Predator B in the CBP A&M inventory, from General Atomics, Inc. in December 2007. CBP A&M now has three Predator B’s assigned to the UAS Operations Center in Sierra Vista, Ariz. CBP 110 will operate on the southwest border until it is deployed to Grand Forks, N.D. for Northern Border operations in spring 2008. The fourth Predator B, CBP 113, is scheduled for delivery in early 2008. This aircraft will support border protection missions on the southwest border. Current initiatives at Sierra Vista include Border Security Flights, UAS pilot...

As he stood facing the busy street in front of the Red River Women's Clinic, the dozen or so men and women who joined him drew close to hear his words above the sounds of the traffic and occasional nearby trains. The campaign, which began Sept. 26, includes prayer and fasting, community outreach and a 40-day, 24-hours-a-day prayer vigil in front of the clinic. According to a diocesan release, "40 Days for Life" is a nationwide, ecumenical effort to increase awareness about abortion, "save the lives of unborn children and bring healing to those who have had abortions, those who...

A proposed North American “super corridor” would relieve overburdened highways and promote economic growth in three countries, supporters say. But others wonder whether the proposal might bring in cheap exports and put unsafe Mexican trucks on U.S. roads. The issue takes center stage at a three-day conference that begins today in Fort Worth, Texas. More than 350 transportation, logistics and economic development specialists from the United States, Canada and Mexico are meeting. The conference is sponsored by Dallas-based North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition. The nonprofit coalition, whose members include public- and private-sector organizations, wants to develop an integrated transportation system linking...

FARGO (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI has given new titles to seven priests from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo. The seven priests will have the official titles of "Reverend Monsignor." Three priests received the honorary title of Prelate of Honor of His Holiness. They are the Rev. Joseph Huebsch, 88, chaplain at St. Gerard's Nursing Home, Hankinson; the Rev. Robert Laliberte, 60, spiritual director at Cardinal Muench Seminary, Fargo; and the Rev. Dennis Skonseng, 50, vicar general and vicar for clergy, Fargo. Four received the honorary title of Chaplain of His Holiness: the Rev. Daniel Pilon, 56, pastor of...

A district judge has granted a preliminary injunction to stop the NCAA from banning the University of North Dakota from hosting a postseason game because of its "Fighting Sioux" nickname, state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said. Stenehjem said judge Lawrence Jahnke alerted him to the decision Saturday night. Stenehjem did not know the details. UND is among a handful of schools with American Indian nicknames and logos that the NCAA considers hostile and abusive. Those schools are barred from holding postseason tournaments, or from using their nicknames during road playoff games. Stenehjem, in asking for the injunction, said the ban...

A 5-month-old baby died in a minivan Wednesday after the mother apparently forgot to drop the child off at day care. The tragedy was discovered about 5:30 p.m. outside the Wonder Years 2 day care. The baby's mother stopped at the day care after work to pick up the child and was told by staff that the baby had not been dropped off. She realized then that the baby had been in her minivan all day. "The mother had forgotten to drop off the child at day care in the morning," said Curt Kreun, owner of Wonder Years 2. "She...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It's come to this for Brady Quinn: He was trying to move out of his dorm room in Dillon Hall at semester's end when he discovered 50 or 60 footballs piled up outside his door, all with notes from the awestruck and the opportunistic, requesting autographs. He'd already endured a steady stream of knocks on the door during finals, seeking his signature on something Notre Dame-related. Study sessions in the library had been interrupted by others anxious to meet and greet the Fighting Irish quarterback. "It became somewhat disappointing," Quinn said, "that people wouldn't let you...

The Most Dangerous States for American Kids By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.comThursday, Mar 16, 2006 For those of you who still believe the justice system in America is working, consider the following. For three years, 46-year old Andrew Selva sexually brutalized two boys, ages 5 and 12, in a small town outside of Columbus, Ohio. In a plea bargain, Selva admitted to the court that he raped the boys in a variety of ways. By all accounts, it was savage criminal activity. But when Selva appeared for sentencing before Ohio Judge John Connor, he received no prison time at...

Last month I had a couple of blog posts about the contest sponsored by the North Dakota National Guard that is offering 540 free trips (10 from each state and US territory), to North Dakota. Yes, FREE trips. In mid-February, only about 30 entries for this contest were received. The deadline to enter was February 28, but that has been extended to April 2. Medora, which is adjacent to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, is one of the destinations for winners of the contest; the contest is open to students who will be high school juniors or seniors in the upcoming...

...and according to AP, only 28 people have entered, 12 of them from North Dakota. Okay, let the jokes fly, but I've been to the Peace Garden State, and it's a great place. That's me below in 2004 running in the North Dakota Badlands near Medora, one of the places the winners--and their chaperones--will visit this summer. Anyone who knows any high schoolers who will be juniors or seniors next year should tell them about the North Dakota National Guard essay contest. From AP: A National Guard essay contest is offering 10 selected high school students from every state and...

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Feb. 11, 2006) -- There are more than 22,000 Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force units deployed in Iraq. Many of them are serving on the front lines, outside the wire, however, they would not be operating successfully without having proper administrative support backing them. Administrative Marines like Sgt. Jeffery P. Kast, an administration clerk with Combat Logistics Battalion-8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), routinely ensure Marines within their respective units have continuous administrative support. “For my office, our day-to-day tasks are to make sure that Marines in our battalion are being taken care of administratively,” Kast...

For once not involving Air America, liberal talk radio took a big hit this week, as Ed Schultz lost affiliates in three cities. In an especially significant blow, the syndicated talker was cancelled in his hometown of Fargo, North Dakota, from where his show remains based. According to Perry Simon of entertainment industry trade publication All Access, Schultz was cancelled in Fargo to make room for local programming, the same reason the Aberdeen American News has given for his South Dakota removal. And his Norfolk, Virginia outlet is switching to sports. While Aberdeen's KSDN is also dropping Rush Limbaugh for...

New Planned Parenthood Head Faces Home State Clinic Cuts By Randy Hall CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor January 20, 2006 (CNSNews.com) -- The Planned Parenthood Federation of America is marking the 33rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision on Jan. 22 with a new president. However, even as Cecile Richards takes the reins of the nation's most frequent provider of abortions, the organization may be forced to curtail services and even shut down clinics in an ironic location: her home state of Texas. The likely cutbacks are the result of amendments to the two-year budget passed in 2005 by the Texas...

So says the attorney general of North Dakota in a Grand Forks Herald article, although driving-under-the-influence arrests are up. The picture is from one of our family trips, from 2004. Those pockmarks on the "Welcome to North Dakota" sign below are bullet holes. There is room for improvement in North Dakota crime prevention. But then again, perhaps those bullet holes discourage North Dakota crime.

NORTH DAKOTA MAN GETS 30 YEARS FOR PRODUCING, RECEIVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY Sentence is added to a 20-year term he is already serving FARGO, N.D.—As a result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Michael Wade Stuckey of Finley, North Dakota, was sentenced to 30 years in prison today for producing and receiving child pornography. Stuckey, 31, pleaded guilty on August 31, 2005, to producing video and digital images of himself engaging in various forms of sexual contact with a child who was approximately three years of age. An acquaintance of Stuckey’s accidentally found the video images and reported...

Many in favor of Freudenthal The chief of the Cowboy State ranks third in a nationwide survey that asked people to rate their governors. By Ilene Olson rep3@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - Gov. Dave Freudenthal is the third most popular governor in the country with a 67 approval rate among Wyoming residents surveyed. A poll, released earlier this month by Survey USA, lists the approval ratings for the governors of all 50 states. Only Govs. John Hoeven of North Dakota, with an approval rate of 71 percent, and Mike Rounds of South Dakota, 70 percent, were ranked...

http://x3.putfile.com/videos/6608573980.wmv Some safety instruction for our gun owner Freepers.

Put info and links about North Dakota here.

A college student was injured after a police officer's gun accidentally fired inside a sandwich shop in Brooklyn Wednesday. The officer stopped at a Blimpie store in Flatbush on his way to work. While he was eating, his gun slipped off of his waistband and fired a shot, according to police. The bullet hit the ground, police said, fragments of the floor tile hit the 19-year-old student. She was treated and released from an area hospital.

Hot Issues Go Directly to State Voters Gay Marriage Among Initiative Questions By David S. Broder Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, September 18, 2004; Page A01 Eleven states have responded to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision allowing same-sex marriage by proposing to alter their constitutions or statutes to require that the partners be one man and one woman. Missouri voters approved such a measure on the August primary ballot by a 71 percent majority. Sponsors are hoping for similar results in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah and Oregon -- with a petition drive pending...

BISMARCK -- First, a series of heterosexual couples kiss. Then, two men are shown about to lock lips. All are dressed for a wedding. That is followed by three people, depicting a wedding of two men and a woman. The campaign commercial's message: Sen. Byron Dorgan supports gay marriage and unless North Dakotans vote for Republican Mike Liffrig for the U.S. Senate, they can "kiss their morals goodbye." Democrats demanded Tuesday that Liffrig pull the plug on that ad and another commercial that claims Dorgan supports human cloning, saying the allegations are lies. The ads began running statewide Monday and...

National politics could impact state races By ROBERT TANNER AP National Writer Presidential politics and economic turmoil will have a major impact on the 11 gubernatorial races this fall, with the interplay between national and state politics most critical in four states where the 2000 race was dramatically close Missouri, New Hampshire, Washington and West Virginia. Tuesday’s primary, the first this year for a gubernatorial race, puts President Bush’s former budget director into the running in Indiana. Mitch Daniels is relying on the president’s term of affection “My Man Mitch” as his slogan for the GOP nomination. He’s up against...

DEA agent shoots self during gun safety class for Orlando kids Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. - A federal drug agent shot himself in the leg during a gun safety presentation to children and his bosses are investigating. The Drug Enforcement Administration agent, whose name was not released, was giving a gun safety presentation to about 50 adults and students organized by the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association, witnesses and police said. He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. Then he pulled back the slide and asked someone in the audience to look...

CROOKSTON - The body of Dru Sjodin, the UND student who disappeared last November, has been found, authorities said Saturday. Polk County Sheriff Mark LeTexier sobbed as he told volunteers, "Dru is home." He later confirmed that authorities had found Sjodin's body. Volunteers had joined the search for the 22-year-old student on Saturday. A group at Crookston High School broke into applause after his announcement. Sjodin's father, Allan, and her boyfriend were in a trailer at the high school serving as a makeshift command post for authorities organizing the search. Sjodin, of Pequot Lakes, Minn., disappeared Nov. 22 from a...

Bodyguard's gun accidentally fires in audience at college tournament Greensboro, North Carolina-AP -- They're going to start checking for weapons at a college basketball tournament -- after an off-duty police officer's gun accidentally fired at a game. Baltimore police Detective Darren Sanders was wounded in the hip at yesterday's Atlantic Coast Conference game between Maryland and Wake Forest in Greensboro, North Carolina. Greensboro police say Sanders will be charged with carrying a gun into an assembly where admission is charged. And Baltimore police say they will investigate and determine whether Sanders should be disciplined. No one else was hurt when...

Live threads have to start somewhere, might as well be here.

Al Gore made just one stop in North Dakota in the entire 2000 presidential race. His jet touched down in Grand Forks, refueled, took on some pizzas and left. No one even knew he had been there. "Well, I guess the guys who refueled the plane knew, and the guy who delivered the pizzas," said Vern Thompson, executive director of the state Democratic Party. "But no one else." Brief as it was, the Gore stop was the only time people here could point to any visit whatsoever by a Democratic presidential candidate — until North Dakota scheduled its Democratic caucus...

Suspect in missing girl's case a native Laredoan By The Associated Press Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., the man suspected in the disappearance of Dru Sjodin, has been accused of sex crimes before and was a native Laredoan. He wasn't always convicted though. In 1979, he sat in front of a jury facing charges that he followed a woman from a department store to her car and forced her at knifepoint to drive to a remote gravel road. The victim told police Rodriguez raped her twice before ordering her to drive him back. The jury heard testimony and returned a not-guilty verdict,...

North Dakota convention rejects anti-gay resolution by the Very Revs. Steve and Pam Easterday and the Rev. Jamie Parsley 10/8/2003 [Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota] The Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota met for its diocesan convention at the Holiday Inn in Minot, October 3 to 5, hosted by All Saints, Minot and St. Paul's, White Shield. The theme of the convention was, "Proclaim the Love of the Lord in Your Heart, in Your Lives and on Your Lips" One of the more controversial highlights of the convention was the presentation of a resolution from Grace Church, Jamestown, identical to one...

[OMED: Michael sits darkly at the sports desk for the Tillamook Headlight Herald A journalistic Trekkie who types faster than light, he has experienced blackouts many times -- the one before this on a golf course. (He parred a hole, and the shock was too much for his delicate literary sensibilities.) In the piece below, he relates his experiences in far out New York City, when, once more in his star-crossed life, the lights went out. (Photo: Publicity shot of Mike O'Brien during his days as a star of Hollywood SciFi flicks.)] On Aug. 14, my first full day ever...

GOP Senate Hopes Dim by John Gizzi Posted Sep 3, 2003 In the two weeks before Labor Day, national GOP hopes of recruiting strong candidates against Democratic senators in three key states took a serious hit. It seems inarguable that the hope of enlarging the GOP's 51-to-49 seat majority in the Senate next year suffered. In Nevada, Rep. Jim Gibbons--so courted by the President and White House political operative Karl Rove as to drive away anyone else considering a bid against Senate Democratic Whip Harry Reid--said he would stay in the House after all. Gibbons had been thought to be...

Bishops Reject Unborn Bishop Zipfel testifies in person against HB 1242, but American Life League witness backs law outlawing abortion.   by GOOD MORALS NEWS SERVICE As reported previously, North Dakota Catholic Bishops Paul A. Zipfel (Bismarck) and Samuel J. Aquila (Fargo) flatly refused to endorse a bill criminalizing abortion which was introduced in the North Dakota House of Representatives on January 10, 2003.House Bill 1242,introduced by Representative Sally Sandvig (D-Fargo) at the request of Fargo pro-life attorney Peter Crary, creates a new section of the North Dakota criminal code: “A person is guilty of a class AA felony...