Free Republic

A tourist was savagely beaten, stomped and spit on by a gang of over a dozen youths at the entrance to the Washington Hilton Hotel around 1 a.m. on July 14, according to Washington, D.C. police who released hotel surveillance video showing the brutal unprovoked attack. The Hilton–located about twelve blocks north of the White House at 1919 Connecticut Avenue and T Street, NW–is a key part of official Washington, playing host to presidents, foreign dignitaries, business and political gatherings including the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. It is also where President Ronald Reagan was shot by a would-be...

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday took a step toward improving Internet speeds in America, requiring providers to offer download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second to classify as "broadband." The new restrictions also require 3Mbps speeds for uploads to classify as broadband Internet. Internet service providers face the more severe restrictions after the FCC determined that U.S. broadband deployment is not keeping pace with the rest of the world. The new benchmark speeds are a large improvement from the previous requirement of 4Mbps download and 1Mbps upload to classify as broadband. The FCC said that the...

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Thursday the United States and its allies had foiled at least 10 serious plots by the al-Qaida terror network in the last four years, including plans for Sept. 11-like attacks on both U.S. coasts. In a speech designed to revive flagging public support for the war in Iraq, the president also said the U.S. and its partners have stopped at least five more efforts by al-Qaida to case targets or infiltrate operatives in the United States. "Because of this steady progress, the enemy is wounded, but the enemy is still capable of global operations," Bush...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The sweeping workers' compensation legislation approved by lawmakers last month will generate at least $3.3 billion in savings, an insurance industry research group estimated Tuesday. The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau said the legislation would cut statewide benefit costs by approximately $3 billion and loss adjustment expenses by about $300 million. That would translate into about a 2 percent to 3 percent drop in the so-called pure premium advisory rate recommended by state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi last fall, the bureau said. Many insurers use that rate as a benchmark in setting the prices they charge...