Free Republic

Congress is requiring in its $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that automakers install monitoring systems in their cars to stop drivers from operating their vehicles while intoxicated. Monitoring systems to stop drunk drivers would roll out in all new vehicles as early as 2026, according to the new legislation. Some convicted drunk drivers already have to use breathalyzer devices attached to their vehicles' ignition interlock. By blowing into a tube, the system will disable the vehicle if the individual's blood alcohol level is above the legal threshold. The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program is a public-private partnership partially...

A cult-like group that incorporates AR-15s into its worship ceremonies and embraces Donald Trump's MAGA politics has bought a compound for its "patriots" 40 miles from Waco in Texas. The compound is meant to be a place of refuge for members of the Sanctuary Church – which is also called Rod of Iron Ministries – ahead of a "war" and "genocide" that will supposedly be brought against them by the "deep state”. Vice News reported that the church is led by Pastor Hyung Jin "Sean" Moon, who is often referred to as "King" by his followers.

Should we be worried?The undead have telepathic powers if Microsoft's latest Windows 10 Insider emission is to be believed.Perhaps stung by cruel criticism that the last batch of bleeding-edge Dev Channel releases have been a little light on features, build 20270 arrived overnight and apparently imbued Microsoft's unloved assistant, Cortana, with mindreading abilities.Assuming one's PC has a mind of its own, of course (and judging by the shenanigans that seem to happen every Patch Tuesday, we're starting to wonder). "You can now use Cortana on your PCs to translate their thoughts into direct actions to open and find files and...

The Minneapolis City Council president will vote to abolish the city's police department for a "transformative new model of public safety." On Thursday, Lisa Bender, the Minneapolis City Council president, committed to abolishing law enforcement in the city, which is home to approximately 430,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "Yes. We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a transformative new model of public safety," Bender said in response to Jeremiah Ellison, the son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and another member of the city council. **SNIP** In an interview with local...

A California crowdfunding effort is hoping to solve the U.S. homeless crisis by building a 300-acre city open exclusively to those without a home. Daune Nason, founder of the Folsom-based Citizens Again, released details Thursday of his plans for an estimated $3 billion private city equipped with amenities and services for a 150,000 “high-needs” population. California’s homeless population in 2018 was almost 130,000, nearly a quarter of the national total, according to the most recent federal data. “Qualified citizens” – those who meet as-yet undisclosed criteria – will be allowed to live in the city and are free to leave...

<p>CENTRAL, Ariz. (AP) - A man in eastern Arizona has died after authorities say he asked another man to shoot his bulletproof vest.</p> <p>The Graham County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened Monday evening as 25-year-old Parker Ray Lynch and two male acquaintances were shooting together in the area of Central.</p>

Scientists have proposed a new method to fight global warming: sun-dimming aerosols released into earth’s atmosphere. Research from scientists at Harvard and Yale universities was recently published in a journal called Environmental Research Letters which proposes using a technique called stratospheric aerosol injection to fight against climate change. The proposed technique would see scientists launching sulfate particles into the Earth’s lower stratosphere at altitudes up 12 miles high. Currently, the technology exists but there are no aircraft suitable to carry the particles and “developing a new, purpose-built tanker with substantial payload capabilities would neither be technologically difficult nor prohibitively expensive,”...

"Not in my backyard" protests helped block homeless housing in Temple City, delayed it in Boyle Heights and, last month, killed Orange County's plan to relocate homeless people to shelters. Now, Los Angeles officials want to turn NIMBYism on its head — by paying property owners to put houses for homeless people in their backyards. In August, the county Board of Supervisors approved a $550,000 pilot program to build a handful of small backyard houses, or upgrade illegally converted garages, for homeowners who agree to host a homeless person or family. Then in February, Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded L.A. a $100,000...

Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore recently sat down for an interview with a 12-year-old girl in a meeting arranged by a pro-Trump political action committee. A video of the interview was posted by the America First Project on Sunday. It includes Millie March, a northern Virginia girl who gained fame for her support of President Trump during his 2016 campaign, questioning Moore just days ahead of the Dec. 12 election. Moore, Alabama's former chief justice, has been accused of having improper sexual contact with teenage girls - including one as young as 14 - in the 1970s. He denies...

Experts are considering ploughing sulphate aerosols into the upper atmosphere which would cause some of the suns rays to be reflected back out into space. This could potentially cool the Earth down and help counter the effects of climate change, scientists say. The move would also help reduce coral bleaching and help calm powerful storms. James Crabbe, from the University of Bedfordshire, is leading the study and his initial results suggest the plan could help cool the planet. He told New Scientist: “Corals are the rainforests of the sea, and if you lose them the impacts on ecosystems and people...

In March 2016, DARPA — the U.S. military’s “mad science” branch — announced their Targeted Neuroplasticity Training (TNT) program. The TNT program aims to explore various safe neurostimulation methods for activating synaptic plasticity, which is the brain’s ability to alter the connecting points between neurons — a requirement for learning. DARPA hopes that building up that ability by subjecting the nervous system to a kind of workout regimen will enable the brain to learn more quickly.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas medical researcher is raising concerns about a potential large-scale comeback of the measles. Peter Hotez, Baylor College researcher, says Texas is on the verge of a measles out-break. The main reason is because parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children.

Pope Francis has taken 12 Syrian migrants back with him to the Vatican after visiting a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. The three families boarded the papal jet as the pontiff departed following his trip......

A first-of-its-kind private school in Georgia aimed at attracting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and teachers is being established in Atlanta for students who feel bullied or not accepted in traditional schools. Pride School Atlanta is a k-12 institution designed to be an alternative for LGBT students, though the school is open to any student who believes they're not getting the support they need for "being different," says Pride School founder Christian Zsilavetz.

Researchers have recreated the evolutionary lineage of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to reconstruct an ancient viral particle that is highly effective at delivering gene therapies targeting the liver, muscle, and retina. This approach, published July 30 in Cell Reports, could be used to design a new class of genetic drugs that are safer and more potent than those currently available. "Our novel methodology allows us to understand better the intricate structure of viruses and how different properties arose throughout evolution," says senior study author Luk H. Vandenberghe of Harvard Medical School. "We believe our findings will teach us how complex biological...

Viruses preserved in ancient samples provide valuable information about viral diversity from long ago; they help us trace how today's species evolved and study their biology. However, it is not easy to recreate ancient viruses. Even when they are preserved in ancient specimens, they are somewhat degraded and their concentrations are low. Now, a new study led by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), shows how it is possible, using modern techniques in the field of molecular genetics, to recreate ancient viruses from cryogenically preserved materials

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, is launching a $26 million program to help military personnel with psychiatric disorders using electronic devices implanted in the brain. The goal of the five-year program is to develop new ways of treating problems including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, all of which are common among service members who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan."We've seen far too many times where military personnel have neuropsychiatric disorders and there's very few options," says Justin Sanchez, a program manager at DARPA.DARPA is known for taking on big technological challenges, from missile defense to creating...

On June 20, a three judge panel ordered California to reduce its prison population by 10,000 persons. California has been under court order to reduce its prison population since 2009. According to Reuters, the panel criticized California's slow approach to dealing with their prison overcrowding and threatened to hold Gov. Jerry Brown in contempt if he does not act on their order quickly. Brown argued that he lacks the authority to carry out the court's orders. State law makers said they are working on legislation to change that. Brown is seeking a stay of the court's order.

The First new heavy weapons have arrived on Syria’s front lines following President Barack Obama’s decision to put Western military might behind the official opposition, rebels have told The Daily Telegraph.

Where do you libertarians stand on gays as boy scout masters?