Free Republic

GDP, the sum of all goods and services activity, increased at a 2.4% annualized rate for the April-through-June period, better than the 2% consensus estimate from Dow Jones.

Severe thunderstorms struck southern Michigan on Wednesday, uprooting trees, downing branches and power lines and cutting electricity to more than 140,000 customers, utilities and others reported. DTE Energy reported nearly 108,000 customers without power as of 5:40 p.m., and Consumers Energy reported more than 32,000 without service. The National Weather Service reported trees and tree limbs had fallen in the Detroit area, Ann Arbor and other locations across southern Michigan.

Pray For The Peace of JerusalemLuke 24 Jesus Has Risen 24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them,...

On Tuesday, the FBI handed over requested documents on its efforts to target Catholic Americans after another threat from Congress to hold director Christopher Wray in contempt. As reported by the New York Post, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, had subpoenaed the files in question and threatened to hold Wray in contempt of Congress if the documents were not delivered by the deadline of July 25th. The documents that are now in the possession of the Judiciary Committee also deal with the FBI’s plans to crack down on the grassroots protest movement led by conservative...

During a portion of an interview with CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa aired on Wednesday’s broadcast of “The Exchange,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed stated that if she could, she “would get rid of most taxes on the books” tomorrow in order to help attract business to the city and argued that the tax system needs a complete overhaul so it works for the city and businesses. Breed said, “Well, first of all, I would — if I could do it tomorrow morning, I would get rid of most taxes on the books. I want to also be clear that businesses need...

The United States steam transport Arago HENRY A. GADSDEN, commanding, from Port Royal, S.C., at 10:30 A.M., and Charleston Bar at 5 P.M., on Thursday, July 23, arrived at this port yesterday afternoon, bringing 100 first, and 172 second class, passengers, the usual mails, and having the prize steamer Emma in tow. The intelligence by the Arago confirms the telegrams already published from rebel sources, respecting the second assault upon fort Wagner, on Morris Island, by Gen. GILLMORE's forces and the monitors, mortar schooners and gunboats under Admiral DAHLGREN. After the first unsuccessful assault on the 10th inst., Gen. GILLMORE...

When the fires from Canada blanketed New York City in smoke last month, my partner and I tried to have sex in the early evening. But the terrible air quality outside made us shallow-breathed and racked by coughing fits in the orange light. Our lungs have been the subject of much neurosis for the last three years in a pandemic deeply intertwined with climate change, and when we finally caught the virus eight months before the smoke came, we each developed a cough that wouldn’t leave us. In climate change, we face an unimaginable threat to humanity. As humans do,...

Prayers up. FR is funded solely by contributions made by the liberty loving patriots who love and use it. We are beholden to no political party. No advertisers, no outsiders, no sugar daddies, no corporate string pullers. Definitely no government subsidies or tax breaks. No 501c or other IRS non-profit status. This means no commercial ads. No annoying pop-ups. No ad tracking. No mail campaigns. No spam. No third-parties -- not even the IRS -- trying to control what we do or say. We are self-funded, fiercely independent and enjoy our freedom to speak plainly in the support of God,...

Current polls, pundits, and politicos insist that the 2024 race is a sure rematch between former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden. It may well turn out that way. But in past election cycles, summer polls 15 months before the general election usually did not mean much. In December 2003, the CBS poll headline blared, “Dean Pulls Away in Dem Race.” Howard Dean would eventually be clobbered by nominee John Kerry. In the Gallup Poll of late June 2007, Hillary Clinton still continued to enjoy her wide lead in the Democratic primary over eventual nominee and elected president...

PORT ORANGE, Fla. Florida girl, 11, accused of fake 911 text An 11-year-old girl from Florida was arrested Wednesday for a fake 911 text that said her friend was kidnapped, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office. The girl, who said she thought the prank text "would be funny," was arrested and charged with making a false police report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner – a felony – and misuse of 911 – a misdemeanor – according to deputies.

27 July 2023 Thursday of week 16 in Ordinary Time St. Pantaleone Cathedral, Ravello, Italy Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(I).First readingExodus 19:1-2,9-11,16-20 ©Moses speaks with God on SinaiThree months after they came out of the land of Egypt, on that day the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sinai. From Rephidim they set out again; and when they reached the wilderness of Sinai, there in the wilderness they pitched their camp; there facing the mountain Israel pitched camp. The Lord said to Moses, ‘I am coming to you in a dense cloud so that the people...

On July 18th, 2023, Judge Roger T. Benitez heard statements from opposing attorneys on the former Rhode v Becerra, now Rhode v. Bonta lawsuit. There were no objections to combining the hearing on the preliminary injunction with the trial on the merits. This case was vacated by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and sent back to Judge Benitez because of the Bruen decision at the Supreme Court. The Rhodes v Bonta case deals with the Draconian restrictions which California enacted on the sale of ammunition within the state and on the importation of ammunition from other states into California....

Edgar Vazquez came to D.C. in the summer of 2021 with a plan: complete his congressional internship and turn it into a full-time job on the Hill. **SNIP** On a whim, he decided to intern for John Culberson’s campaign, as the longtime Republican congressman made his final bid for reelection. He learned the fundamentals of block-walking and phone-banking and began what would be a series of internships, culminating with one in the office of Texas GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales. Vazquez was riding high until, about halfway through his three-month assignment, he learned his days on the Hill were numbered. That’s...

Ukraine has launched a major push to dislodge Russian forces from the country’s southeast as part of its weekslong counteroffensive, committing thousands of troops to the battle, according to Western and Ukrainian officials and analysts. The surge in troops and firepower has been centered on the region of Zaporizhzhia, a Western official said late Wednesday. The official was not authorized to comment publicly on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

"In this you greatly rejoice" (1 Pet. 1:6). Contemplating your eternal inheritance should give you joy that transcends any temporal circumstance. Joy is a major theme in Scripture. The psalmist said, "Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright" (Ps. 33:1); "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee; and my soul, which Thou hast redeemed" (Ps. 71:23). Even creation itself is said to rejoice in the Lord: "Thou dost make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. . . . Let the heavens be glad, and...

Numerous Christians, including pastors, have told me they are continually harassed by former sins. They say, “if you only knew what I once did, you would understand why I’m so down. My sin still hangs over my head, and I battle constant guilt over it. I believe the Lord has forgiven me, that his blood is sufficient to cover my iniquity, but I don’t have the peace that comes from that knowledge.” Others tell me, “I believe I’m forgiven, but my mind is continually bombarded with hellish thoughts. It can happen anywhere, even in church, and it makes me feel...

WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday began a new effort to crack down on methane emissions, a major contributor to climate change. The first-ever White House Methane Summit came at a time of severe heat across much of the U.S., including in Pittsburgh, where temperatures are expected to approach or exceed 90 degrees until the weekend. President Joe Biden established a new methane task force to work with state and local officials to detect leaks and reduce emissions. The White House said billions of dollars of natural gas are lost to leaks every year. In Pennsylvania, methane accounts for...

WASHINGTON (AP) — With millions of Americans facing broiling heat across the Southwest, President Joe Biden on Thursday plans to announce new steps to protect workers, improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible, the White House says. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the heat wave as “a difficult time” and said Biden was treating climate change with “the urgency it requires.” The Democratic president is directing the Department of Labor to increase inspections of potentially dangerous workplaces such as farms and construction sites. He also wants heightened enforcement of heat safety violations. As part of the...

A school district in Texas has begun the termination process for a newly-hired teacher after he was arrested in a sex trafficking case. Police in Dallas, Texas, arrested Gershon Caston on July 20, according to FOX 4, and are charging him with compelling prostitution under 18, sexual assault of a child, and trafficking of a child. Police said that the alleged crimes were committed in both June and July. Red Oak Independent School District, which has schools located just south of Dallas, said in a statement that Caston is suspended without pay, adding that a termination process has begun. Caston...

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A cargo ship packed with nearly 3,000 cars was still ablaze Thursday close to a world-renowned bird habitat off the Dutch coast as firefighters and salvage crews waited for the flames to subside before attempting to board the vessel. The Fremantle Highway was sailing from the German port of Bremerhaven to Singapore when it caught fire shortly before midnight Tuesday about 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of the Dutch island of Ameland, sparking fears of an environmental disaster. German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said that she couldn’t rule out the possibility of the burning ship...