Free Republic

Freshman lawmaker Rep. Doug Okuniewicz (Hayden, Idaho) has launched his first hot topic piece of legislation — preserving Idaho's historic monuments. ...Okuniewicz, R-Hayden, amended the [draft] legislation to clarify that municipalities or groups would need the support of lawmakers only if they were planning on permanently removing or decommissioning a piece. Moving or doing restoration procedures on a memorial or monument would not require legislative action. "I appreciate the work that the representative has done in working with the committee to address our concerns. I do feel that it is important that we preserve our history and not set an...

ATLANTA -- In a new report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that LGBTQ people in the US are more likely to have many of the severe underlying health conditions associated with severe disease from COVID-19. However, the agency noted that a lack of data around LGBTQ populations in current COVID-19 surveillance systems is preventing more nuanced examination and assistance to these groups.

GREENVILLE, SC (WSPA) – After Tommy’s Country Ham House owner Tommy Stevenson, Sr. announced the popular Greenville eatery would be closing its doors for good in May, many people in the Upstate community have come forward saying they hate to hear that the restaurant is closing. But maybe not as much as Circuit Court Judge Charles Simmons and South Carolina Supreme Court Justice John Kittredge, who, in good humor, teamed up to issue a “permanent injunction” denying Stevenson’s request to retire and close the restaurant. South Carolina Highway Patrol Commanders Don Dickerson and Joe Hovis served Stevenson with the injunction....

Fox News has canceled “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” the program hosted by television’s staunchest supporter of Donald Trump and of his assertions of voter fraud in the 2020 election, The Times has learned. Dobbs’ program, which airs twice nightly at 5 and 7 p.m. Eastern on the Fox Business Network, will have its final airing Friday, according to a Fox News representative who confirmed the cancellation. Starting next week, the program will be called “Fox Business Tonight,” with rotating substitute hosts Jackie DeAngelis and David Asman, who filled in for Dobbs on Friday.

Are there any groups who need time or money to primary some of these terrible Ohio Republicans? I am specifically interested in volunteering my time and giving donations to get rid of Steve Stivers and Gov. Dewine. They are terrible.

The Bureau of Land Management said Thursday it is immediately implementing a mask requirement for employees, visitors, partners and contractors in all BLM facilities and buildings. Also, masks are required outdoors on public lands where physical distancing is not feasible. “Ensuring people use masks when physical distancing is not an option and washing hands is the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Mike Nedd, BLM deputy director of operations. “Getting outside and enjoying our public lands is a great way to be active during the pandemic. We want to make sure our employees and visitors remain safe...

MyPillow magnate Mike Lindell has barely slept as he worked on an opus meant to prove the election was stolen. But Lindell’s claims—and his movie—don’t hold up.

The highway headache in west Tulsa has only just begun. As part of a project to widen Interstate 44 from west of the Arkansas River to Union Avenue, and to improve the I-44/U.S. 75 interchange, significant delays can be expected, especially during peak travel times. “It’s definitely the hard part of the project right now,” Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kenna Mitchell said Tuesday. “They’re going to be placing some additional signage further back in the corridor to alert drivers.” Northbound U.S. 75 is narrowed to one lane at the interchange, causing northbound traffic to back up at least two...

One of the best things about the papacy of Pope Francis has been the rediscovered honesty of some of the dissident bishops in the Church. Under the papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, many prelates hid their heterodox views. But under Pope Francis, they feel free to show their true colors or one might say come out of the closet. ...

Virginia, which for decades has sent thousands of people to jail for selling or using marijuana, is about to make it legal. In a historic shift for this traditionally conservative Southern state, the General Assembly voted Friday to allow its possession, manufacture and sale.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds has eliminated most of her COVID-19 restrictions in the latest health proclamation. According to the Governor's Office, the proclamation removes indoor mask requirements in public spaces, gathering limits and restrictions on businesses starting 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7. Advertisement "The proclamation strongly encourages Iowans, businesses and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health," said Pat Garrett, a spokesperson for the Governor's Office. The proclamation states, "I strongly encourage that all businesses or other employers remain open with in-person operations take reasonable measures under...

Pope considers making Cdl. Cupich new prefect of Congregation for Bishops: reportIf appointed, Cupich would have the most power in the Church, second only to that of the Pope, over the appointment of bishops throughout the world.VATICAN CITY, February 5, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — On January 30, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago traveled to Rome to meet with the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops. Sources in Rome say that Pope Francis is considering promoting Cupich to the position of prefect of that congregation, replacing Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who is set to leave the post this year, the Catholic News Agency reported.The Holy...

BINGHAMTON (WBNG) -- New York State Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte Friday handed a ruling in favor of Republican Claudia Tenney, barring any appeal. Without an appeal, Tenney wins the seat for New York's 22nd Congressional District.

Explanation: Fifty years ago this Sunday (February 7, 1971), the crew of Apollo 14 left lunar orbit and headed for home. They watched this Earthrise from their command module Kittyhawk. With Earth's sunlit crescent just peeking over the lunar horizon, the cratered terrain in the foreground is along the lunar farside. Of course, while orbiting the Moon, the crew could watch Earth rise and set, but from the lunar surface the Earth hung stationary in the sky over their landing site at Fra Mauro Base. Rock samples returned from Fra Mauro included a 20 pound rock nicknamed Big Bertha, determined...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4I-o9CoAtE

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A former PG&E employee was sentenced today to 22 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,476,295 in restitution for a conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and receiving kickback payments from a Stockton transportation company owned by his cousin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.According to court documents, Ronald S. Schoenfeld, 65, of Goodyear, Arizona, formerly of Dublin, California, while employed at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, conspired to obtain contracts from PG&E for his cousin’s transportation business in exchange for kickbacks from that business worth approximately 2.5% of the value of the contracts. Schoenfeld...

A woman from Texas County is charged with first-degree domestic assault for hitting a man with a battle ax. Lisa Zaemisch from Success, who’s 46, is in the Texas County Jail. A man told deputies Zaemisch hit him with the battle ax during an argument. His injuries aren’t life-threatening.

FRESNO, Calif. — On Jan. 28, a federal grand jury in Fresno indicted Selma couple Marquis Asaad Hooper, 30, and Natasha Renee Chalk, 37, charging them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.According to court documents, Hooper was stationed in Japan as a chief petty officer with the Navy’s Seventh Fleet until October 2018. His wife, Chalk, was a naval reservist stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. Hooper separated from the Navy in October 2018. Shortly before Hooper’s separation was final, Hooper and Chalk fraudulently obtained access...

A Wisconsin judge will hold a hearing next week on whether to arrest or increase bail for an Illinois teen accused of opening fire during a police brutality protest in Wisconsin last summer after he allegedly failed to update his address with the court. Judge Bruce Schroeder on Friday scheduled the hearing for Thursday afternoon for Kyle Rittenhouse. The 18-year-old former lifeguard is accused of shooting Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz, killing Rosenbaum and Huber and wounding Grosskreutz during protests in Kenosha in August. The demonstrations began after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man,...

A new coronavirus treatment developed at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center appears to have cured 29 of 30 moderately-ill and seriously-ill COVID-19 patients, the hospital said. The patients were released within 3 to 5 days of being treated.. This was only the first stage of trials and many months and thousands of patients will have to be treated before anything definitive can be said about the treatment. But the drug apparently works on the immune system to prevent a cytokine storm, which often leads to critical illness and death. Nadir Arber, the professor who invented the potential treatment, hailed the...