Free Republic

The spans had passed all design reviews and inspections, met all required specifications and were designed and built by some of the most highly regarded firms in the buildings sector.

A Massachusetts-based accountant who was charged along with three others in connection with a decades-long criminal scheme perpetrated by Mossack Fonseca & Co. (Mossack Fonseca), a Panamanian-based global law firm, and its related entities, pleaded guilty today to wire and tax fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft and other charges. Richard Gaffey, aka “Dick Gaffey,” 75, of Medfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit tax evasion and to defraud the United States, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, four counts of willful failure to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial...

OCT. 20, 2004: Amid national reports of a looming shortage of flu vaccines, Gov. Rod Blagojevich pursues buying overseas vaccines. Stymied by federal regulators who wouldn't allow the unapproved drugs into the country, the Democratic governor was stuck with a $2.6 million bill for medicine expiring in refrigerators on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Critics accused him of grandstanding, debates emerged over whether to pay and Blagojevich searched for someplace that could use the vaccine. It turns out, Pakistani officials say, the vaccines never helped anyone. Instead, health authorities in Pakistan crushed and burned the half-million doses because...

Bernie Sanders is on the go all the time -- which seems to have given him a momentary case of a campaign brain fart as he accidentally boarded the wrong jet. The Democratic front-runner was spotted Saturday making his way off of a private Gulfstream between campaign stops in South Carolina and Massachusetts -- the latter being where he held a rally at Boston Common ahead of Super Tuesday. Fact is ... the S.C. primary looks like it's gonna go to Joe Biden, as he's well ahead of everyone else in the latest polls. Looks like Bernie's cutting his losses...

It is the little things that tell me the long term outlook for the Republican Party and the country is doubtful. My fellow Republicans are stupid, really stupid. I am listening to last night's Trump rally and I am disgusted. When Trump talks about trade and bringing back manufacturing THE REPUBLICANS IN ATTENDANCE REMAIN SILENT. Shame on Republicans. Shame.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and section 811 of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (Act) (Public Law 116-113), it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1.  Establishment of Interagency Environment Committee.  The Interagency Environment Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (Committee) is hereby established to coordinate United States efforts to monitor and enforce environmental obligations consistent with title VIII of the Act and, with respect to Mexico and Canada, to carry out assessments of their environmental laws and policies, to carry...

That was the case in Canton, Ohio, where a woman made multiple calls to 911. The emergency? Her parents decided to stop making payments on her cellphone. Some people in their 30s might be hesitant to advertise the fact that their parents are footing the bill for their cellphone. That was not the case here.

During Irish-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the countless achievements of Irish Americans and recognize the remarkable contributions they have made to our Nation’s character, culture, and prosperity.  From America’s earliest days, Irish Americans have proven themselves to be confident, fierce, tough, and faithful.  They never give up, and they never give in, embodying the indomitable spirit that drives us as a people.  This month, we recognize their efforts to help build a stronger, prouder America, and we acknowledge the steadfast relationship we have with the Emerald Isle.Irish Americans have played a critical role in our Nation’s history and have...

Anyone telling you that drag culture is okay for children is downright insane. The American Library Association has forced drag queens into public libraries under the guise of "inclusivity" and it has now devolved into whatever the hell this is (spoiler alert: it's a crime called "corruption of a minor"). -snip Matt Walsh is taking some heat for linking libertarian conservatism to the decline of Western culture, but is he wrong? The libertarians I know have zero concern for the morality of our nation. Some that I know don't believe in any age of consent, nor do they believe pornography...

We are working to finally end America’s longest war and bring our troops back home. President Donald J. Trump PATHWAY TO PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN: President Donald J. Trump is following through on his promise and taking a decisive step to achieve negotiated peace in Afghanistan. President Trump is making good on his promise to bring our troops home from endless wars overseas by working toward peace in Afghanistan.Following a successful 7-day reduction in violence in Afghanistan, the United States is taking decisive steps toward a negotiated peace in Afghanistan.The United States and Afghan governments will be issuing a joint...

A former St. Louis police officer accused of killing another officer while playing Russian roulette pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to seven years in prison, the authorities said. The former officer, Nathaniel R. Hendren, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and one count of armed criminal action in the shooting death of Katlyn Alix, another officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, according to Kimberly M. Gardner, the St. Louis circuit attorney.

National College Players Association's Statement on Coronavirus and College Athlete Health: "In the wake of the emerging coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA and its colleges should take precautions to protect college athletes. They should also make public which actions will be taken and when. Precautions should include cancelling all auxiliary events that put players in contact with crowds such as meet and greets and press events. Athletic programs should also take every possible measure to sanitize buses and airplanes used to transport players. In regard to the NCAA's March Madness Tournament and other athletic events, there should be a serious discussion...

South Carolina is the nation's first open primary in the 2020 presidential election cycle — voters of any party may participate meaning independent and opposing-party voters can play a role.

IOWA CITY — The people in the crowd were angry, and “Chapo Trap House” wanted them to stay that way. The five hosts of the popular socialist podcast wanted everyone to know they had all been lied to. About everything. The media they consumed was fake news aimed to distract them from the only war worth fighting: the class war. Politesse, civility, even pleasure — those were tools of the neoliberal oppressor. The right answer is rage. “That joy,” the Chapo co-host Will Menaker said to the crowd gathered in Iowa City on the eve of the Iowa caucus. “That’s...

As I was vacuuming the leaves off/outta the rocks I glanced at the vacuum and and yes, it is a Black And Decker. I say that because its a bit beat up, dirty and I had to replace the plug on the cord coming out of it. Not because of the unit but because the extension cords female plug the vacuum was plugged into melted???? And its old. How old I don't know but I guess at least 14 years old. And that brings me to a story I was going to post few months back but didn't?? Anyway. In...

The United States has expanded travel restrictions on Iran to bar entry to foreign nationals who have recently visited the Middle Eastern nation, Vice President Mike Pence announced on Feb. 29. President Donald Trump also authorized the State Department to raise the advisory levels for South Korea and Italy to Level 4, the highest level travel risk assessment. The advisory calls on Americans to not travel to the two nations. Trump also said he is considering closing the U.S. border with Mexico to guard against the spread of the virus. Trump and Pence spoke at the White House on Feb....

Lady Gaga’s father is refusing to pay $260,000 in rent and fees for his restaurant at New York City’s Grand Central Terminal, saying the homeless population is hurting his business. Joe Germanotta, owner of Art Bird & Whiskey Bar, said he wants the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which oversees the busy commuter train station, to renegotiate his rent or release him from his lease, which expires in 2028, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Germanotta and other business owners on the terminal’s lower concourse said they are struggling because of a homelessness problem, rodent infestation, and outdated furniture and facilities. “I...

The head of a research institute in Israel has said its scientists are "weeks" away from developing a vaccine against the deadly new coronavirus which causes COVID-19. The new virus that has killed over 2,800 people is a member of the large coronavirus family of pathogens, which also includes SARS and MERS. On Thursday, the MIGAL Galilee Research Institute said in a statement a new vaccine against a coronavirus which infects chickens has brought them a step closer to developing a preparation to protect against COVID-19. According to the statement, a multi-disciplinary team created an Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) vaccine...

A skilled nursing facility in Washington state reported that at least two people have the new coronavirus strain, and state officials say other residents are reporting similar respiratory symptoms. One health worker at the nursing home, who is in her 40s, was found to have the virus. The other infected person is a 70-year-old resident. A third person died from the illness, known as COVID-19, in the state, but was not connected to the facility. The patient who died was male in his 50s who had underlying health issues, officials said. State officials said at least 27 residents and 25...

According to Iran International protesters torched the Towhid Bandar Abbas Clinic after news broke that the clinic was holding coronavirus patients. (translated) “An hour ago and a press release about the maintenance of several patients with the #کرونا clinic of Tohid town in Bandar Abbas, a number of people protesting this action with the influx of the clinic, burned a part of it.” It is not clear who torched the clinic at this time. #BREAKINGFeb 28 – Bandar Abbas, S #IranFire at the Towhid Clinic where reports indicate ten #coronavirus patients are held.Reminder:Iranian regime president @HassanRouhani said conditions across the...