Free Republic

On the same day that Mexican President Felipe Calderon was schmoozing President Obama and Democratic members of Congress in Washington, another news story reported that “gun battles between security forces and armed attackers have killed nine people in two states along the U.S. border.” Since 1996, approximately 23,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico and along the U.S. border. In contrast, earlier this week news outlets reported that the number of U.S. military personnel who had died in nearly a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, since March 2001, reached nearly 5,400. There was a time when...

NOTE The following text is a quote: MS-13 Driver in 2007 Murder in Springfield Sentenced to Life in Prison ALEXANDRIA, VA—Carlos Bladimir Montoya, also known as "Ciego," 26, of Sterling, Va., was sentenced today to life plus a consecutive 120 months in prison for his role in the murder of a rival gang member on May 5, 2007. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Shawn Henry, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office; and Colonel David Rohrer, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District...

Two of the four remaining Republican candidates hoping to unseat Rep. Jerry McNerney from Congress claimed that they are the one candidate who can return the 11th District into the Republican column. "I can hardly wait until I'm in Congress and introduce myself to Nancy Pelosi," candidate Elizabeth Emken told the Lodi Republican Women on Wednesday. "I'm ready to take on Nancy Pelosi, let me tell you." Emken, a Danville resident, said she'll even send photos of her first meeting with the House speaker. "You have to look at the four candidates," candidate Tony Amador, of Lodi, said. "Look at...

Firefighters also were battling a 5,400-acre wildfire elsewhere in Eldorado National Forest in Amador County. The Power fire broke out Oct. 6 and had been contained at about 500 acres Tuesday, but flared up and spread wildly in high winds Wednesday. By Thursday evening, the blaze had charred 12,000 acres and was just 10 percent contained.