Free Republic

Kudos for Sheriff David Clarke for reminding us of the double standard practiced by the self-righteous guardians of social justice such as Starbucks, who flagellate themselves in public over the injustice of denying non-paying patrons use of their facilities – patrons who happen to be black: Not too long ago a Philadelphia Starbucks refused to let a police officer use the restroom telling him it was for paying customers.  Don't remember Starbucks closing 8000 stores for sensitivity training toward police. In 2015, an unnamed Philadelphia police sergeant entered a downtown Philadelphia Starbucks and asked to use the restroom.  He might have been the one...

The former Starbucks manager who called the police on two non-paying black customers earlier this month may have a good case for bringing a defamation suit against the coffee company. In numerous public statements, Starbucks and its CEO Kevin Johnson have gone out of their way to imply that the the female manager, identified in media reports as Holly Hylton, was acting on subconscious racial motivations when she told the loitering customers to either buy a beverage or get out of her store. Crucially, Starbucks has also strongly implied that, as a factual matter, the manager violated company policy.

Within moments of the story going viral, many identified implicit bias, on the part of the store manager and/or the police, as the potential culprit. However, this suggests that, as a society, we have overlearned the lesson of implicit bias at the expense of acknowledging other societal and structural factors that might also be at play. Implicit bias alone, as pervasive as it is, cannot explain why black people in America are at risk when we get locked out of our own apartment, have car trouble, laugh with friends and, yes, sit quietly at Starbucks. Starbucks should absolutely train its...

<p>HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Republican state lawmaker in Pennsylvania is calling a colleague a "lying homosexual" in a Facebook post attacking liberal legislators.</p> <p>Rep. Daryl Metcalfe also is defending his comments, which he made Friday.</p> <p>He tells The Associated Press that he mentioned the sexual orientation of Democratic Rep. Brian Sims of Philadelphia because Sims has spoken openly about being gay, and because he believes it is "immoral behavior."</p>

"This is me in Scranton,” says the voice of Hillary Clinton over grainy black and white footage of a beaming little girl in a white 1950s dress. “This is where my father was raised and my grandfather worked in the lace mill.” The camera cuts to a shot of a clapboard house, the rustic cottage in the Pennsylvania hills near Scranton where the Rodham family spent every summer. “There was no heat or indoor shower, just the joy of family,” says Mrs Clinton’s voiceover, as the music rises to a crescendo. “I was raised on the American dream . ....

Philadelphia’s police commissioner is apologizing to two black men who were arrested at a Starbucks in the city following backlash over the language he used in a previous statement. "I’m here to discuss the unfortunate incident that has been in the news about this great city — an incident that I fully acknowledge that I played a significant role in making worse," said Commissioner Richard Ross at a press conference held Thursday. "For starters, I should have said the officers acted within the scope of the law, and not that they didn't do anything wrong,” he said.

<p>Law enforcement and Pennsylvania Health Department officials are investigating the death of H.R. McMaster Sr., the father of President Donald Trump's former national security advisor, at a Philadelphia senior care facility.</p> <p>The 84-year-old McMaster, a retired U.S. Army officer, died April 13 at Cathedral Village continuing care retirement facility. Local police and Pennsylvania Attorney General's office investigators are looking into it as a suspicious death. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's office says McMaster died of "blunt impact head trauma."</p>

A filmmaker is planning a documentary about one of the many debated aspects of Pennsylvania's interstate rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. No, it's not whether the NHL's Penguins or Flyers are better. With the Pens up 3 games to 1 in the Stanley Cup playoffs, there doesn't appear to be much debate over that. The rivalry to be explored in the documentary: Sheetz versus Wawa . "The rivalry is not between the stores, the rivalry is really between the fans," said Matthew Fridg, a Pittsburgh-based filmmaker behind the documentary. Fridg hopes to answer the age-old question of which gas station...

PHILADELPHIA — Rashon Nelson initially brushed it off when the Starbucks manager told him he couldn't use the restroom because he wasn't a paying customer. He thought nothing of it when he and his business partner, Donte Robinson, were approached at their table and were asked if they needed help. The 23-year-old entrepreneurs declined, explaining they were just waiting for a business meeting.

Wanna bet? On Good Morning America today, Robin Robert said that when she asked the lawyer for the two men arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks whether they were planning to sue Starbucks or the City of Philadelphia, he replied: “That’s not what they’re thinking about at this time. That they want to be a part of the process. Remember Kevin Johnson, the CEO, said that they wanted those gentlemen to be part of the process. They say they’re still working that out.” But here was the real tell: “They’re going to allow us, GMA, to follow along and follow up...

Lots of people just talk about soaking the rich, but Donald Trump and the GOP actually did it — in California, anyway, although they won’t be alone. The controversial phase-out of the state and local tax deduction (SALT) will drop like a bombshell on high-tax-rate blue states, which is one reason why Democrats so staunchly opposed it. According to an analysis from California’s Franchise Tax Board, the Golden State will be Ground Zero: President Donald Trump’s tax cuts will be anything but for about 1 million California taxpayers who will owe Uncle Sam more money a year from now.They’re...

ROXBOROUGH (WPVI) -- According to sources, the Philadelphia police homicide unit, the Philadelphia district attorney, the Attorney General's office and the health department are all investigating the death of former National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster's father 84-year-old H.R. McMaster, Sr. It is being investigated as a suspicious death. McMaster died on April 13 at Cathedral Village in the 600 E. block of Cathedral Rd in Roxborough. He was receiving care there after suffering a stroke. The allegations are that McMaster fell, hit his head, was put in a chair and then died. He allegedly did not receive proper care....

<p>MARIETTA, Pa. (AP) - Federal authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information on the theft of hundreds of pounds of explosives from a worksite in Pennsylvania.</p> <p>The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said about 640 pounds of dynamite and 400 blasting caps were stolen over the weekend from a Gregory General Contracting Company site in Marietta.</p>

“We have received information of a potential large scale protest in the Central Business District. The protest would be semi-spontaneous and more than likely happen on short notice,” the email says. “Beginning Thursday, all Major Crimes detectives are required to bring a full uniform and any issued protective equipment (riot gear) with them to work until further notice.”

Pittsburgh police detectives will report for duty with riot gear Thursday, in anticipation of a potential large scale protest should President Trump decide to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Major Crimes Commander Victor Joseph instructed his unit to bring “a full uniform and any issued protective equipment (riot gear) with them to work until further notice,” WPXI.com reported. The memo was issued based on “information of a potential large scale protest in the Central Business District.” “There is a belief that President Trump will soon move to fire Special Prosecutor Mueller. This would result in a large protest within 24...

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Police officers are preparing for a potential protest in the city in the event President Trump fires special counsel Robert Mueller. “We have received information of a potential large scale protest in the Central Business District,” an email sent to Pittsburgh officers said. If Mueller is fired, it could result in “a large protest within 24 hours of the firing,” the email said. “The protest would be semi-spontaneous and more than likely happen on short notice.” Beginning Thursday, all Major Crimes detectives will be required to have a full uniform and any issued protective equipment, like riot...

Professional wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino has died at 82, WWE announced Wednesday. A sickly, malnourished immigrant boy when he first came to America, Sammartino transformed himself into one of the strongest men in the world, winning the respect and love of legions of immigrants who found hope in his message that hard work brings reward. “You just knew this guy was a nobody,” said Marty Lazzaro, a fan as a kid who became Sammartino's friend and spokesman in adulthood. “But he came here, worked hard, got big and strong and made something of himself. These people weren't just rooting for...

PHILADELPHIA — A Southwest Airlines jet apparently blew an engine at about 30,000 feet and got hit by shrapnel that smashed a window and damaged the fuselage Tuesday, killing a passenger and injuring seven others, authorities said. The plane, a twin-engine Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia just before noon as passengers breathing through oxygen masks that dropped from the ceiling said their prayers and braced for impact. "I just remember holding my husband's hand, and we just prayed and prayed and prayed," said passenger Amanda Bourman, of...

One of the black men who was racially profiled by a Starbucks manager has received the full backing and support from his national fraternity. Rashon Nelson is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity's Alpha Eta chapter and graduated from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania in 2017. The finance major and member of the historically black fraternity was waiting -with his business partner - on a colleague in the Center City Philadelphia location when manager Holly Hylton called police. Following the initial national coverage, members of Omega Psi Phi - one of the 'Divine Nine' historic black Greek organizations - took...

The Starbucks manager who called the police on two black customers for trespassing previously branded customers who didn't speak English 'rude'. Holly Hylton managed the Center City Philadelphia store for a year and 'mutually parted ways' with the coffee chain after sparking a race row. The 31-year-old asked the pair to leave after refusing to let them use the bathroom without buying anything, and called 911 when they stayed. Video of the men, who were waiting for a friend, being dragged out in handcuffs sparked protests and forced the Starbucks chief executive to apologise. Ms Hylton, a career hospitality manager,...