Free Republic

New York Gov. Hochul and hubby have between $2.2 million and $4.3 million in the bank– less than they’ve declared in the past, newly released state financial disclosures show. William Hochul Jr. took a job defending white-collar criminals for Manhattan law firm Davis Polk in January 2024, making between $850,000 and $950,000 last year, according to the 2024 filings, which do not include exact income figures but a range. It’s a significant pay cut from the $1.45 to $1.55 million he made the year before as counsel for gaming giant Delaware North, a gig he left in August 2023 amid...

0:01 The 49 star variation of our country's 0:03 flag is more rare than most. And this 0:05 year it's celebrating 66 years since its 0:08 creation. This flag was flown over the 0:10 US capital on July 4th, 1959. Here it is 0:14 on that Independence Day 66 years ago. 0:17 The flag signifying Alaska's induction 0:19 into the union with a field of seven by 0:21 seven stars. You know, the raising over 0:23 it during Independence Day would be a 0:25 significant moment in recognizing 0:27 Alaska's inclusion into the union. 0:29 Hawaii, however, wasn't added until...

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft intercepted a second general aviation aircraft that violated Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) airspace over Bedminster, New Jersey. This morning’s intercept, followed by two later TFR violations, brings the total to 11 unauthorized incursions into restricted airspace this weekend. The civilian aircraft violated the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) at approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The aircraft was safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft. “NORAD and the FAA aim to keep the skies over America safe, with close attention paid to areas with Temporary Flight...

VIDEOI wasn't at all prepared for how incredibly YUUUUUUGE the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon would be. At least two full city blocks in length. So big that a single photo can't capture all of it. Even using my cell phone camera video to show you a panoramic hview of it fell short. The good news is that if you don't have the patience to wait several hours on line, the view from the outside is more impressive than the view on the inside where the building is divided into segments which permit only a smaller view. Therefore the BEST view...

A protest by hundreds against gentrification and mass tourism that began peacefully Friday in Mexico City neighborhoods popular with tourists turned violent when a small number of people began smashing storefronts and harassing foreigners. Masked protesters smashed through the windows and looted high-end businesses in the touristic areas of Condesa and Roma, and screamed at tourists in the area. Graffiti on glass shattered glass being smashed through with rocks read: “get out of Mexico.” Protesters held signs reading “gringos, stop stealing our home” and demanding local legislation to better regulate tourism levels and stricter housing laws. Marchers then continued on...

Some experts say staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate responses with local emergency management officials.Crucial positions at the local offices of the National Weather Service were unfilled as severe rainfall inundated parts of Central Texas on Friday morning, prompting some experts to question whether staffing shortages made it harder for the forecasting agency to coordinate with local emergency managers as floodwaters rose. Texas officials appeared to blame the Weather Service for issuing forecasts on Wednesday that underestimated how much rain was coming. But former Weather Service officials said the forecasts were as good as could be expected,...

State officials said construction on the new facility could begin as soon as this week.Florida’s first migrant detention and deportation facility — dubbed Alligator Alcatraz — has officially opened deep in the Everglades, drawing applause from Republicans and sharp condemnation from Democrats and environmental advocates. The facility opened last Tuesday with a presidential visit and shortly after began receiving detainees. The temporary facility, with a capacity of up to 3,000 detainees, was fast-tracked into existence just weeks after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier pitched the idea. He insisted that detainees will be treated fairly and processed swiftly. “We'll make sure...

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs got a standing ovation from fellow inmates when the music mogul returned to jail after winning acquittals on potential life-in-prison charges, providing what his lawyer says might have been the best thing he could do for Black incarcerated men in America.“They all said: ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government,’” attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a weekend interview days after a jury acquitted Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.Combs, 55, remains jailed after his Wednesday conviction on prostitution-related charges and could still face several years in prison at...

Explanation: Why is there a spiral around the North Pole of Mars? Each winter this pole develops a new outer layer about one meter thick composed of carbon dioxide frozen out of the thin Martian atmosphere. This fresh layer is deposited on a water-ice layer that exists year round. Strong winds blow down from above the cap's center and swirl due to the spin of the red planet -- contributing to Planum Boreum's spiral structure. The featured image is a perspective mosaic generated in 2017 from numerous images taken by ESA's Mars Express and elevations extracted from the laser altimeter...

SummaryDeath toll expected to rise 11 girls and a counselor still missing from summer camp Total number of missing still unclear More rain expected on Sunday HUNT, Texas, July 6 (Reuters) - The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas reached at least 67 on Sunday, including 21 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp entered a third day. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, the epicenter of the flooding, said the death toll in Kerr County had reached 59, including the 21 children. Leitha said 11 girls and a counselor remained...

An anti-abortion Rally for Life is taking place in Dublin city center today, calling for the Government to establish an “urgent task force” on what organizers call “spiraling abortion rates”. Around 2,000 people attended the event, which began at 1:30 pm at Parnell Square. The demonstration traveled down O’Connell Street and is to conclude with speeches at Custom House Quay. The rally, according to organizers, is hoped to “kickstart a national campaign” to bring about reform to abortion laws, which were changed in 2019 after a 2018 referendum was passed by 66.4% to 33.6%. …

This week, former Presidents Obama and Bush took turns condemning President Trump for eliminating the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a separate government agency. "Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it's a tragedy," Obama said. "Now instead of doing what they deem is best, USAID workers will be closely scrutinized by the Secretary of State and forced to do what he requires them to do." Bush tried to console reassigned USAID staffers by telling them "you've showed the great strength of America through your work — and that is your good heart. Is it in our national...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Democrats who opposed Medicaid work requirements in President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” think “poor people are stupid.” Host Dana Bash said, “I’m sure you’ve seen and heard a lot of the concern, including, and especially from Republicans who are the most vocal in Congress, about the fact that those work requirements are going to be very cumbersome to actually prove. And it will inevitably force the people who need that Medicaid coverage off the rolls.” Bessent said, “Well, first of all, the Republicans are not the...

Fixed tariffs on Canadian vehicle exports to the United States would be the beginning of the end of auto assembly in Canada, one industry expert warns, as high-stakes Canada-U.S. trade talks lurch toward a July 21 deadline.

A six-year-old girl has allegedly been forced to marry a 45-year-old man in Afghanistan after she was given away for money. The haunting photo of an older man and a little girl standing together horrified even the Taliban, who intervened with the union. The youngster had allegedly been exchanged by her father for money to a man who already has two wives, it was reported by Amu.tv. The marriage was allegedly set to take place on Friday in Helmand province but the Taliban stepped in and arrested both men involved. No charges were brought against them but they have forced...

Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring July 4, 2025, as “Independence Day” in the State of California

[Robert Besser is a news editor who has worked in television and newspapers in the United States, Asia and the Middle East.] Since its founding, Israel believed it could develop alliances with western countries because we shared the ancient values of our Judeo-Christian heritage. We also believed such alliances were natural joinings, since we Jews had much in common with Western Civilization. But the 77-year history of Israel’s diplomatic alliances with the West appears to be ending, and increasingly we see that we have disturbingly little in common with the dying West. Indeed, today’s totalitarian leftist and progressive ideas prevalent...

Israel National News IDF to launch sweeping enforcement operation in haredi cities As part of the new plan, control and security checkpoints will be set up at entry points to major Haredi cities, aiming to identify and arrest youths avoiding military service. Israeli security forces are preparing to implement an unprecedented enforcement plan against members of the haredi public who refuse to enlist. As part of the new plan, which will be launched next month, checkpoints will be set up at entry points to major haredi cities, aiming to identify and arrest youths avoiding military service. The plan follows the...

Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce has been slammed for his 'tone deaf' July 4th post, as the NFL great has upset the fans of his beloved former team and more. On Friday, Kelce posted an Instagram video of fireworks, with his caption rubbing some the wrong way. 'Man I love the 4th! One of the great days we all can set aside our differences in this country, and enjoy the one thing we all share in common. That we are American! Cheers to you oh beautiful America,' Kelce said on Instagram, with a like from younger brother Travis Kelce. Jason's...

Many service workers are eagerly awaiting no longer paying taxes on their tips. Yet the fine print in Republicans’ new law could limit savings for some waiters, bartenders and others. Among the particulars restricting the reach of the measure: Only the first $25,000 in tips are free from income taxes. Tipped workers will still face the 7.65% combined payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. And workers won’t be able to benefit if federal officials say their type of service job doesn’t qualify. “No tax on tips” started as a campaign promise by President Trump during a 2024 stop...