Ok Jim, I just ask that you remember one thing. Its not "FreeRepublic" the site that makes it great here, its the POSTERS who actually post the latest breaking and other news stories. Its not the software, its not the moderators, its not you - you and the moderators are faciliators who help to make this happen and you do good work, but the news stories posters are the real "workers" who make this site what it is.
The ability to find Breaking News is/was what once made FreeRepublic great. With the last change (only 5 news stories in the sidebar) and with moderators now editing out breaking news stories because they appear to be reposts (in many cases, they are updates and more detailed stories than the "first" post, and that was GOOD), finding the latest breaking news isn't so easy anymore. I often find myself going to Drudge, AP and Reuters wires first nowadays.
And if you do only one thing, kill that left side faded flag border that wastes so much space! See my post #37 for other comments, thanks.