Free Republic

KELLER, Texas — After nearly two hours of public feedback, Keller ISD board members passed two controversial gender-based policies. More than 50 people signed up to speak at the special board meeting on Wednesday night to voice their opinions on the proposed changes. The two policies stated that students must use restrooms and locker rooms based on the biological sex on their birth certificate and that district employees are not required to use pronouns that are inconsistent with a person's biological sex on their birth certificate. The board passed both policies. Prior to the vote, the board heard from people...

At 10:00 a.m. this morning, the Supreme Court will issue opinions of cases remaining undecided for the October 2022 term. The remaining cases and a synopsis of the issues presented can be reviewed here: https://amylhowe.com/2023/06/27/the-seven-remaining-cases/

Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, is taking a toll on players’ wrists, legs and shoulders. And it’s especially popular with injury-prone seniors, which is driving up the cost burden. Pickleball injuries may cost Americans $377 million in health care costs this year, accounting for 5% to 10% of total unexpected medical costs, UBS analysts estimated in a report Monday. “While we generally think of exercise as positively impacting health outcomes, the ‘can-do’ attitude of today’s seniors can pose greater risk in other areas such as sports injuries, leading to a greater number of orthopedic procedures,” the analysts said. Pickleball-related injuries occur...

Mayor Eric Adams did not take kindly to one of his constituents wagging her finger at him and criticizing him for the city’s new rent increase rules Wednesday, likening her behavior to that of a plantation owner. The showdown took place at a community conversation event Adams hosted at Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics in Washington Heights. In footage from the meeting, Adams can be heard asking the woman to stand up after she interrupts him to call out that he “raised the rent.” Adams’ administration came under fire last week, when the Rent Guidelines Board voted...

A church in Massachusetts was vandalized with pro-LGBTQ graffiti last week after church members removed Pride flags that were placed on the property by an openly gay couple renting its facility to run a preschool. Pleasant Street Preschool, which had been renting space at Grace Community Church in Marblehead, is run by Mike Richmond and his partner Ryan Thompson, who placed Pride flags on the property to celebrate Pride month, according to local Marblehead Current. Richmond posted a video to Instagram last Wednesday of the church member taking down the flags, who explained she was doing so "because it’s a...

6 minute video. He's not joking.

The U.S. economy was much stronger in the first quarter of 2023 than it initially seemed, according to data released Thursday by the Commerce Department. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualized rate of 2 percent in the first quarter, according to revised data released Thursday, far faster than the 1.3 percent annualized growth rate estimated by government officials earlier this year. The first-quarter growth rate has been revised substantially higher from the 1.1 percent annualized rate first reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis earlier this year. The revision is much bigger than what is normally announced...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued decisions in three of the 10 as-yet-undecided cases. Here is a list of the seven as-yet-undecided cases, along with (when possible) discussion of who may be writing which opinion. 1. Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina (argued Oct. 31, 2022): Students for Fair Admissions, the group bringing the lawsuit, contends that UNC violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, which bars racial discrimination. 2. Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College (argued Oct. 31, 2022): This is a lawsuit brought by Students for Fair Admissions, the same group that filed the...

The Bible In Paintings ~ Encouragement for Applying and Appreciating God's Word ~ •Drawings•Engravings•Facades•Frescoes•Illuminations•Miniatures•Mosaics•Photographs•Reliefs•Statues•Tapestries•Windows• THE SISTINE CHAPEL’S WALLS EXTERIOR & WIDE-ANGLE 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 "Diagram of part of the vertical fresco decoration" ENTRANCE WALL 5 "ENTRANCE WALL" 6 HENDRIK VAN DEN BROECK Left "Resurrection of Christ" 7 MATTEO DA LECCE Right "Discussion over the Body of Moses" THE SOUTH WALL 8 "SOUTH WALL" 9 "6 Stories of Moses" 10 LUCA SIGNORELLI 1. "Legacy and Death of Moses" 11 BOTTICELLI 2. "The Punishment of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram" 12 COSIMO ROSSELLI 3. "Moses and the Tables...

The Scottsbluff, Nebraska 5.2 MW Community Solar project was part of the NPPD’s Sunwise program that consisted of an array has over 14,000 solar panels. It’s reported that it had been put into operation in 2019. Surely the project had been ceremoniously put into operation, with dignitaries and proponents proclaiming it would reliably deliver cheap and clean energy, reduce the state’s carbon footprint and contribute to a bright and climate-friendly future. Now it has been just recently reported that the multimillion dollar solar energy park was literally reduced to a heap of rubble as hail literally pummeled it to a...

ATLANTA — Police are investigating after a church was vandalized with anti-LGBTQ graffiti. Someone defaced the sign at The Church at Ponce and Highland in Northeast Atlanta this weekend and on Monday. The church’s Pride flags were also removed and tossed into a garbage can. Neighbors say it’s disappointing. “Well, I just think it’s awful. There’s too much of this hateful stuff going on right now,” Robin Bostick said. Church officials say they’ve contacted investigators at least four times in the last two months over vandalism that appears to target the church’s welcoming stance to the LGBTQ community. Investigators are...

The job cuts are part of cost-cutting measures by the magazine’s parent company, Walt Disney.

No text, just click on the map for your area. Unhealthy air quality in much of Pennsylvania.

Four Cuban internationals may have defected to the United States during the CONCAF Gold Cup, according to reports. Roberney Caballero, Carlos Denilson Morales, Neisser Sando and Jassael Herrera reportedly failed to show up for the team's flight from Miami to Houston after their 1-0 defeat against Guatemala in Florida on Wednesday. Since 1999, 55 football players from Cuba have defected to the United States in an effort to either further their careers or to improve their living standards. Cuban baseball star Ivan Prieto defected to the USA back in March, joining the likes of MLB stars Yordan Alvarez and Luis...

Is this the beginning of the end for low-calorie food and drink? Artificial sugar replacement aspartame, found in thousands of 'diet' replacements - like Diet Coke, Extra chewing gum and even toothpaste, to be declared 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' Leaked report says WHO cancer group could declare aspartame carcinogenic An artificial sweetener added to thousands of fizzy drinks, chewing gums and low-calorie foods will be declared a potential cancer risk, a bombshell report claimed today. Aspartame is set to be listed as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' in a World Health Organization reclassification, according to insiders. It follows a major safety...

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. -- Last week, the Veradale Church of Christ was covered with over 25 pride flags. Now the entrance is empty, and a threatening message stands in place. "There's been a lot of tears, not only here in our congregation but in others," said Reverend Gen Heywood. According to Heywood, last weekend, three people stole three large banners and 25 small pride flags from the property at 1 in the morning. They also spelled out LEV 20:13 on the front lawn using diesel fuel, referencing a verse often used to condemn Gay people. Heywood first learned of the...

Soon another 4th of July will be upon us. On July 4, 1776, 56 men voted to adopt the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. This was a milestone in history.

I’m a white writing professor, and apparently, that’s a problem. That was the unmistakable message sent to me at Penn State University – and that’s why I’m suing them. In November 2020 – nearly half a year after George Floyd’s murder – I was subjected to a “White Teachers Are a Problem” video for a monthly professional development meeting for writing faculty. Its featured speaker, Asao Inoue, is a self-described antiracist practitioner. Not an obscure one, either: About a year prior, Inoue gave the Chair’s Address at a prestigious writing studies research conference – the same field in which I...

WICKLIFFE, Ohio (WOIO) - A 37-year-old Euclid man is facing criminal charges for allegedly damaging The Stations of the Cross display at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Wickliffe police said the damaged happened early on Sunday, June 18. According to officers, the damage was sustained to the crosses, benches and center statue of The Virgin Mary. Officers tracked down the suspect after seeing his vehicle on surveillance video. Police said the Euclid man confessed to the damage and is charged with felony vandalism and desecration. His name has not been released. PICS ON LINK

(Daily readings from the USCCB)“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17–19Saints Peter and Paul are often referred to as two of the great “Pillars of the Church.” They each played an incredibly essential role in the establishment of the early Church. And though each...