Free Republic

Nearly 30 percent of US pharmacies closed between 2010 and 2021, according to a new study in the health-policy publication Health Affairs. The research, led by University of California Berkeley assistant professor Jenny S. Guadamuz and colleagues, analyzed data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, county health statistics, and ZIP Code demographic surveys. Of the 88,930 retail pharmacies operating in 2010, almost one-third shuttered by 2021, with those in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods disproportionately affected. Independent pharmacies were hit hardest, with closures occurring at a higher rate than chain pharmacies regardless of location or market conditions. Black...

Russia has begun withdrawing ships from its naval base in Tartus, Syria, after a rapid advance by Islamist rebel forces that the Syrian army, led by President Bashar al-Assad, is unable to contain, according to Naval News. On December 2, the tanker "Yelnya," crucial for supporting Russian forces in the Mediterranean, departed Tartus. Other vessels may have left the base along with it. The Russian naval group in Syria consists of five ships and one submarine, including two "Admiral Gorshkov" class frigates, one "Admiral Grigorovich" class frigate, an upgraded "Kilo" class submarine, and two auxiliary vessels. If Russia decides to...

The mood in Damascus appears to be one of confusion and fear, with many people unable to find out exactly what is going on as rebel factions approach ever closer. In several suburbs, symbols of the power of the Assad dynasty have been torn down or toppled. The interior ministry says it's creating a ring of steel around the capital. But government forces have notably failed to provide any such defence in cities, towns and villages that have fallen to rebel factions across the country. Rumours are swirling over the whereabouts of President Bashar al-Assad, with people logging flights in...

The man who created one of Southern Colorado’s most beloved and quirky attractions has died, according to a social media post. James “Jim” Roland Bishop began building his monumental stone castle high atop a hillside in the forest of the Wet Mountains in 1969 on land in rural Custer County that he purchased ten years earlier, as a teenager. An ironworker by trade, the Pueblo resident labored on weekends, mostly singlehandedly on what was intended to be a small cottage. More than five decades later it stands about 165 feet tall, boasts stained glass windows and is topped by a...

The Food and Drug Administration will decide on a ban of certain food dyes in the coming weeks after receiving a petition to review the safety of Red 3, NBC News reports. “With Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization board, and we’re hopeful that in the next few weeks we’ll be acting on that petition,” Jim Jones, the deputy commissioner for human foods at the FDA, said during a Senate meeting this week, per NBC. According to the FDA, the agency has reviewed the safety of Red 3 —which is derived from...

Typical Haaretz Haaretzism: pro Arab supremacy Islamic racism. Letting horrific comments on too. Most comments on the Dec/5/24 antisemtic attack on Haredi (who are even non zionist BTW, but that's besides the point) synagogue in Australia try to justify the horrendous crime. This, Arab apparently, for example is: Adding quotation mark on "m'antisemitism' but shamelessly equates the Holocaust with clashes, battle in Gaza where its regime makes sure civilians die (still, it's historically lowest, compared to other wars). If anything, this and other hortific hate crimes and the sickening rationalization prove that anti-Jewish hatred is in fact the very basis...

President-elect Trump attended the reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral alongside First Lady Jill Biden and several other prominent world leaders. Notre Dame was reopened on Saturday, five years after a fire caused serious damage to the landmark Gothic cathedral. Trump was seated between French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, during the ceremony, which was also attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prince William. Also in the same row as Trump was First Lady Jill Biden, who attended the event with her daughter, Ashley. President Joe Biden was not present.

The U.S. on Saturday announced a new $988 million military assistance package for Ukraine in its war with Russia as Washington races to provide aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump's victory in the November election has cast doubt on the future of U.S. aid for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be provided before he is sworn in next month. The package features drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement....

ROME — Pope Francis has proclaimed a special jubilee pilgrimage for gays and all LGBTQ+ people, Italian media announced this weekend. For the first time, a specific Jubilee event will be dedicated to Catholic homosexuals and LGBT people, noted the Italian daily, Il Messaggero, despite the Catholic Church considering homosexual acts to be intrinsically disordered. On September 5, Catholic members of the LGBTQI+ community will be hosted by the Jesuit Church of the Gesù, in central Rome, for a vigil service. The Jubilee 2025 initiative is sponsored by Jonathan’s Tent, an Italian pro-LGBTQ organization founded in 2018 by Catholic priest...

San Jose special ed student ‘earns’ diploma despite reading issues, then denied services

Lyrics from Roger Whittaker

HTS rebel commander says forces have begun to enter Homs War monitors, the leader of the HTS fighters and pro-government media all reported late on Saturday that forces loyal to President Bashar Assad had largely withdrawn from the country's third city, Homs. The head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies had withdrawn from Homs, and that HTS forces had started to enter the suburbs.

NEW YORK CITY — Judge Maxwell Wiley has ordered the jury in Daniel Penny's trial to go back and keep on deliberating until they come back with a different verdict. After four days of deliberation, the jury announced that Penny could not be found guilty of manslaughter. Judge Wiley asked if maybe the jury could just pretend that never happened, and instructed them to think of some new charge go deliberate about until they changed their minds. "Ugh, you guys are making this so hard," sighed Wiley, holding his head in his hands. "Can we all just go around and...

CBN News. Because Truth Matters™

Is the Iranian-backed terror army in Lebanon, Hezbollah, regrouping and rearming during this Biden administration-initiated ceasefire with Israel? Meanwhile, as Syria deteriorates once again into chaos, is the country’s army—and the Assad regime--on the verge of collapse? And what would that mean for Israel’s security? Watch now.

Al-Golani’s ties to al-Qaida stretch back to 2003 when he joined extremists battling U.S. troops in Iraq. The native of Syria was detained several times by the U.S. military, but remained in Iraq. During that time, al-Qaida usurped likeminded groups and formed the extremist Islamic State of Iraq, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In 2011, a popular uprising against Syria's Assad triggered a brutal government crackdown and led to all-out war. Al-Golani's prominence grew when al-Baghdadi sent him to Syria to establish a branch of al-Qaida called the Nusra Front. The United States labeled the new group as a terrorist...

For you FReepers who are Rail Fans or even have had idiot bosses watch this video. This is an audio recording of Train Engineers talking to their dispatchers. The dispatcher is telling these train Engineers to do what? As one Engineer said "this makes stupid look smart" For you Rail Fans this could have been another Lac Megantic disaster because the dispatcher was a moron. as one Engineer said "THERE'S A MOUNTAIN UP HERE!"

As Syria once again deteriorates into chaos, could Israel be threatened by the country’s chemical weapons into the hands of jihadists? Meanwhile, the Iranian regime is vowing to save Syria’s brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad. Also, amid the rapidly escalating turmoil to Israel’s northeast, what outcome in Syria would be the most perilous for the Jewish State?

[Catholic Caucus] Would St. Ambrose Get Fired Today?What would Pope Francis have done with an Ambrose standing in the emperor’s path?The Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor, on December 7. By liturgical standards, he’s important. Not only is his an obligatory memorial (i.e., you have to celebrate it), but it’s an obligatory memorial in Advent. Saints—especially saints of the early Church—were often the subjects of classical art. Great painters often depicted them, and especially signature moments from their lives, in their paintings. One of those great painters depicting a great saint was the master of Flemish...

Drama continues about DeSantis' next move as the money moves away from him. Did Florida’s Governor fumble his shot to run the Pentagon? That’s what investors in a prominent prediction market seem to believe Saturday morning. Per Polymarket, Ron DeSantis has fallen back behind Pete Hegseth, who is the current Donald Trump nominee to be Defense Secretary. A DeSantis ‘Yes’ share is priced at 23 cents, with a Hegseth Yes at 43 cents. DeSantis led in the betting market until Friday evening, with speculation swirling that he might replace the embattled former Fox News host as Trump’s pick for the...