Free Republic

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Ted Cruz arrived in Raleigh Monday to help dig an even deeper foothold with conservative voters. Since the junior senator from Texas announced he was running for president in March, he's shot up in the polls here. PPP, a Democratic pollster in Raleigh, showed a dramatic rise in support from North Carolina Republican voters. Cruz's support rose from 5 percent over the winter to 16 percent now. Cruz found a receptive audience at the North Raleigh Hilton where he addressed a crowd of conservatives from across the state at a $100 a ticket luncheon hosted by the...

A North Carolina community college is on lockdown Monday after a shooting on campus, authorities say. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office told WRAL that there had been a shooting at Wayne County Community College. But details of the shooting were not immediately available. “This is not a drill. The entire campus is under lockdown,” read a message posted on the school’s website.

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...

The latest North Carolina survey from Public Policy Polling suggests that conservative U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz entering the race is stunting Scott Walker's momentum in North Carolina. The PPP poll released on April 10 shows Jeb Bush now leads the GOP field in North Carolina with 19 percent to 16 percent for Walker, with Cruz, Mike Huckabee and Marco Rubio each at 11 percent, Ben Carson at 9 percent, Chris Christie at 7 percent, Rand Paul at 6 percent and Rick Perry at 2 percent. Cruz is up 8 points from his 3 percent standing a month ago, while Walker...

We just pummeled by hail, the worst I've ever seen. I am about 25 miles east of Raleigh. Anyone else experience this? Heavy rain, lots of lightening and lots of hail. Scared the bejeesus out of us.

**SNIP** As the law states right now, before you can get a gun, you have to apply for a permit at your local sheriff's office, and wait for a background check. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page says it's a lengthy, but worthy process. "I look for felony convictions, I look for domestic violence convictions, I look for mental health adjudications," said Page. "I also look for what's called moral character." The proposed bill would eliminate the sheriff's role altogether. Instead, potential buyers would be evaluated through the National Instant Criminal Background Check. The NICS System is already used by store...

<p>A student at Appalachian State University says she was cyber-bullied after she called out a dormitory's "Check Your Privilege" bulletin board.</p> <p>The board showed memes to depict so-called white privilege, heterosexual privilege, Christian privilege, and able-bodied privilege, among others.</p> <p>A female student, Laurel Littler, objected to the board's apparent shaming, so she posted a photo of it on her Facebook page and was surprised to receive some harsh responses.</p>

Several top Democrats are voicing grave reservations over the Obama administration's emerging deal governing the future of Iran's nuclear program. Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) said they welcome a discussion on the framework agreement unveiled Thursday, but harbor deep doubts that the Iranians can be trusted to make good on their commitments. "I greet any deal with Iran with great skepticism given its deceptive history and ongoing destabilizing and dangerous activities," Deutch, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs subpanel on the Middle East, said in a statement. "I remain deeply concerned as to how a...

"The identity of the student is being withheld in compliance with federal student privacy regulations. Officials are continuing their investigation to find out if others were involved." http://www.cbsnews.com/news/duke-finds-person-responsible-for-hanging-noose-on-campus/

A US man missing at sea for more than two months was celebrating a miraculous rescue after being picked up by a passing ship and airlifted to land, the US Coast Guard said.

On a recent Friday, Kwanza Brooks, a $7.25-an-hour McDonald’s worker, climbed into a 14-person van to take a four-hour ride from Charlotte, N.C., to Atlanta. As she and other workers headed south, Ms. Brooks, a short, fiery woman, swapped stories with her companions about unsafe conditions and unfair managers. Upon arriving, they joined more than 400 other people — including home care aides, Walmart workers, child care workers and adjunct professors. The gathering was a strategy session to plan for the fast-food movement’s next big wave of protests, which is now scheduled for April 15. But the meeting was also...

AMMAN, JORDAN – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and a delegation of senior lawmakers met with His Majesty King Abdullah II on Sunday during a visit to Jordan where talks focused on Iranian-backed violence in the region and the growing terrorist threat. King Abdullah hosted the delegation for a luncheon at Beit al-Urdun Palace. Lawmakers also met with U.S. Ambassador Alice Wells, Nasser Judeh, Jordan’s Foreign Minister, as well as senior embassy officials. Discussions focused on two major trends in the region: the violence caused by Iran’s allies and proxies, and the spreading of the terrorist threat. There was also...

And unless there are any changes, this is the order. Iowa, New Hampshire,Colorado,Minnesota,New York,Utah.Then from Feb.6 thru Feb.23,we have Nevada,South Carolina,North Carolina and Michigan on the 23rd. Obviously the odds of Bush even winding up in the top three are about the same as the odds of Joe Biden taking the Democrat Nomination in 2016. The far left media will probably keep Bush in the top three with their "Left Leaning Polls". Should be interesting to watch their reactions when Jeb wont even make the top four in Iowa.

Oregon Inlet is closed to vessels drawing more than 2 feet, essentially shutting down the charter fishing fleet with four days left in the bluefin tuna season and Easter week approaching. Petty Officer Kathryn Bruner with the Coast Guard in Wilmington said Saturday that the closing was prompted by the latest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers survey, which showed that search-and-rescue vessels can no longer get out of the inlet. Emergencies will be handled by helicopters out of the Coast Guard’s air station in Elizabeth City, she said. A buffer zone of 100 yards on either side of the Bonner...

Dear journalists: May I have a public word with you, especially if you edit the Raleigh News and Observer? You probably take a dim view of unsolicited advice from a junior member of the guild, but I think I can save you some grief in the run-up to next year’s presidential election, with an assist from the first official candidate for the Republican nomination. That candidate would, of course, be Senator Ted Cruz. Many of the stories about him are written with the same “Get a load of this guy!” tone regardless of where they come from, but I thought...

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. -- Thousands of students have now stopped buying lunch each week in County cafeterias. The district says it all started when schools were forced to implement the USDA's Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act. It was part of first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative to get kids to eat healthier. All of a sudden, kids are pitching pounds of food in the garbage. "I like vegetables too, like I like spinach and potatoes - great - but they just don't have any flavor at all," freshman Aislinn French said. Hundreds of kids have now dropped out of...

On August 7, 2014 I made a bet with Mr. Britt Whitmire of the Brand and Britt radio show. He was convinced a radio station in North Carolina was flipping to sports because of recent events. This radio station ( 94.5 WPTI) is predominantly a conservative radio station. Their line up includes The K.C. Odea, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh,Sean Hannity and up until August 1st Jason Lewis. When Jason Lewis went off the air Mr. Whitmire got excited that this radio station was finally failing. I proceeded to tell him he was wrong and a bet was made. Mr. Whitmire...

The man who murdered four people in North Carolina, including a former contestant on “America’s Next Top Model”. Senators Thom Tillis and Chuck Grassley, confirmed that accused murderer, Emmanuel Jesus Rangel-Hernandez, was a known gang member and had been arrested on a marijuana possession charge. They also confirmed that in 2012 when Obama enacted his DACA program, the immigration service halted his deportation. Obama and the democrats believe the life of one illegal alien is worth much more than the lives of four American citizens. Grassley and Tillis wrote to Jeh Johnson:

(CNSNews.com) -- An illegal alien and known gang member who has been charged with first-degree murder in North Carolina was granted deferred deportation under President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA), despite having been placed in removal proceedings for drug charges in 2012, according to a press release from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Emmanuel Jesus Rangel-Hernandez. (Police mugshot.) Emmanuel Jesus Rangel-Hernandez, 19, was charged in February with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of three people in Charlotte, N.C, including a 19-year-old former America’s Next Top Model...

<p>Man suspected of killing Food Network contestant and husband admitted to destroying their bodies, police say The man suspected of killing Cristie Schoen Codd, a contestant on "The Next Food Network Star," and her husband told authorities that he had stored and destroyed the couple's bodies at his home, according to documents released by North Carolina authorities Thursday.</p>