Free Republic

Among the 23 shot in Chicago over the weekend: a 64-year-old teacher, a young mother and a 15-year-old boy. The nearly two dozen shootings from Friday afternoon to Monday morning included nine people who were killed, two of whom were teenagers. An unintended target of a drive-by in Rogers Park, Cynthia Trevillion was killed by a stray bullet Friday night while she waited for a train at the CTA Morse stop. She was a teacher at the Chicago Waldorf School in Rogers Park. Simone D. McKay, a 26-year-old mother of two, was fatally shot in front of her Rosemoor home...

The evidence piles up that in our largest city, charter schools can help the poor, even while the city's traditional public schools continue to pile up an abysmal record. Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes found that in New York City public schools: • "The new results for charter students represent an increase of 22 days of learning in reading compared to their results four years ago. Results for math have remained the same. • "For Black and Hispanic students, the analysis indicates a significant academic advantage from charter school enrollment. • "Hispanic charter school students perform at...

A Detroit firefighter was fired before he officially began his first day on the job for bringing a watermelon to work. Robert Pattison, 41, introduced himself to his fellow firefighters at Engine 55 at the corner of Joy and Southfield in Detroit by bringing a welcome gift, WJBK reported. Second Battalion Chief Shawn McCarty calls this welcome gift “a tradition” for Engine 55’s firefighters. “It’s not mandatory, it’s voluntary,” he said. “You come in bearing gifts. The usual gift is doughnuts, but you are allowed to bring whatever you want to bring in.” Pattison, who was a probationary firefighter, decided...

There were 59 murders in Chicago in September, the city where black lives don’t seem to matter to liberals and gun control zealots. The horrible death toll in the Las Vegas massacre is just a normal month in the gun control and murder capital of America. The Democratic caucus in Congress that seizes on Las Vegas as another crisis too terrible to waste in their pursuit of gun control says nothing about the Chicago carnage, for which nary an NFL millionaire takes a knee while whining about social justice: The murder toll in Las Vegas on Sunday makes it the...

The amount of overtime pay for St. Louis city and county police officers has added up to nearly $4 million in the weeks following the not guilty verdict against Jason Stockley. St. Louis County Police said the cost of staff overtime since the protests began is nearing $1 million. City police estimate $2.9 million has been spent as of September 25. St. Louis County officers were put on 12-hour shifts when the not guilty verdict in the Jason Stockley case was announced. News 4 has also reached out to St. Louis City officials to find out their current overtime cost. 

Cops in some crime-ridden South Bronx neighborhoods have all but abandoned aggressive or intuitive policing — to avoid getting sued or otherwise derailing their careers, officers admitted to The Post. It also comes against the backdrop of a nationwide outcry against aggressive policing. Scores of NFL players have being kneeling during the national anthem at games to protest police brutality. Several precinct patrol officers recalled incidents in which they didn’t bust suspected drug dealers who were taunting them while recording with cellphone cameras. In one case, a cop said, neighbors were “leaning out their windows, shouting at us to go...

FULL TITLE.... Detroit regains its crown as most violent large city in America, overtaking St Louis, according to new FBI data Detroit was America’s most violent big city in 2016, according to the latest government data released on Monday  The Motor City experienced more murders last year than Los Angeles even though the latter’s population is four times that of the formerDetroit police, however, say that the FBI's data is flawed and that the city actually experienced a decrease in violent crime Among the most violent cities, Detroit is followed in order by St. Louis; Memphis; Baltimore; and Wilmington, Delaware  The...

Virtually all of the teachers only spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. One reason for that is that Maryland has a law prohibiting anyone (including staff) from bringing a firearm onto school property. At least one teacher admitted that she already does it anyway, keeping a 9 mm. with her at her desk. From the sound of the support that this training program is drawing, she’s not alone.

Recent protests in St. Louis may repel Amazon as it mulls over its metropolitan options for its second headquarter’s location. ... “There is no good timing for something like this and it will have an impact,” said Didi Caldwell, founding principal with Global Location Strategies, which helps companies choose locations for new businesses and expansion, according to a Reuters report published Saturday.

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune detailed the experiences of a black woman who obtained a concealed carry permit in Chicago. The article is surprisingly positive about her experiences. An important point is that minority women make up a significant percentage of the growth in concealed carry permits nationwide. From chicagotribune.com: Robinzine, 51, is a gun owner with a concealed carry license. Since she received her permit in late spring, she carries her firearm wherever she goes. “It's like a part of me now,” Robinzine said with the smile.Data show Robinzine is part of a burgeoning group in...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen a single article on Free Republic, or on any place I frequent, talking about the three nights (so far) of rioting in St. Louis after that verdict. St. Louis police is reporting on their twitter that just tonight, there has been significant damage done to businesses in the downtown area, chemicals thrown at police, arrests, injuries received by cops, and weapons and ANTIFA/BLM flags confiscated from violent criminals. See the link above for more information, as I don't know how to post pictures from twitter onto free republic, unfortunately.

Several businesses in and near downtown are closing early in response to the Jason Stockley verdict. The home office of Wells Fargo Advisors closed at 10 a.m. Friday. The 4,900 employees at the Market Street campus west of downtown were "strongly encouraged to take their laptops home" and continue working there," based on a statement from the company.

At first glance, nothing differentiates Vernetta Robinzine from passers-by in the Beverly neighborhood on Chicago's Far South Side. On a recent evening, like most people on a workday, she donned business casual attire with a loose, bright blouse. But her daily wardrobe includes something unseen that gives her confidence. Robinzine, 51, is a gun owner with a concealed carry license. Since she received her permit in late spring, she carries her firearm wherever she goes. ADVERTISING "It's like a part of me now," Robinzine said with the smile. Data show Robinzine is part of a burgeoning group in Cook County:...

Miami-area police have arrested more than 50 suspected looters during and after Hurricane Irma, including 26 people who allegedly broke into the same Walmart. . . . 'I think it's despicable that anyone would try to take advantage of the fact that we're in a vulnerable state,' Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez said

PORTLAND -- Violence broke out between opposing groups at an anti-white nationalist rally in Portland that left at least one police officer injured, CBS affiliate KOIN-TV reports. Police made several arrests in the city's downtown area as two groups faced off over different views on white nationalism. The Portland Police Department tweeted that marchers and residents should clear the area for their own safety, adding that officers reported protesters attacking photographers and that projectiles were thrown at officers. They said several arrests were made and at least one officer was injured.

Three Portland police supervisors announced Friday that the Portland Police Bureau would halt its more than two-decade practice of designating gang members on Oct. 15. Portland police next month will end their more than 20-year-old practice of designating people as gang members or gang associates in response to strong community concerns about the labels that have disproportionately affected minorities. The Police Bureau recognizes that the gang designations have led to "unintended consequences'' and served as lifelong barriers for those who have shunned the gang lifestyle and tried to get jobs, said Acting Tactical Operations Capt. Andy Shearer.

rma Looting in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, BSO Deputy Shoots Teen Who Was Allegedly Burglarizing Weston Home In Miami, an NBC 6 reporter saw an organized group of at least a dozen looters at a store in Midtown loading up boxes of shoes and clothing into cars One teen was shot by a South Florida deputy and another is in custody after they burglarized a home during Hurricane Irma Sunday morning, while looters have been spotted in Miami-Dade and Broward, authorities said. The deputy-involved shooting happened around 3 a.m. at a home in the 2500 block of Monterey Court, Broward...

My heart is breaking for Chicago, and for all Americans, as one of our greatest cities crumbles before our (and the world’s) eyes. I don’t see any way out of the vicious circle of political corruption, irrevocable pensions obligations overwhelming tax revenue, vanishing public services, and a decline in civil order leading toward a third world level of crime.  As a result, the city consumes itself, strangling business and entrepreneurship, and killing off precious assets. Now, comes a story that captures it all in one heart-rending example. Sam Cholke of DNAChicago writes: BRONZEVILLE — Chicago’s top-rated bed and breakfast...

The Associated Press shirked their own style guide in a recently published article, using “undocumented citizens” in lieu of their usual “undocumented immigrants.” The article with the strange reference was published on September 5 and discusses Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s response to President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. “The Chicago Sun-Times reports that school officials say about a third of the school’s students are undocumented citizens,” the AP wrote.

EXCLUSIVE: Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner walk son Jordan to his first day of $40k-a-year kindergarten Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner were seen together for the first time in almost one year as they took their son Jordan to Kindergarten on Friday The estranged couple held hands with their son as they walked to his private school in downtown Manhattan, where annual tuition is over $42,000 Weiner, who turned 53 on Monday, turned back towards home however halfway through the walk leaving Abedin to walk their son the rest of the way He agreed to register as a sex offender...