Free Republic

Days after it was revealed that the Rev. Paul Kalchik of Avondale’s Resurrection Catholic Church burned a rainbow banner that once hung in the church, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, has removed him from his role as head of the North Side church. “For some weeks now, I have become increasingly concerned about a number of issues at Resurrection Parish,” read a letter, signed by Cupich, to parishioners and staff at the church. “It has become clear to me that Fr. Kalchik must take time away from the parish to receive pastoral support so his needs can be assessed.”...

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A woman who just finished walking her dog in Avondale this morning was attacked when a man apparently followed her home and forced his way inside. The woman wasn't injured, and was rescued when her husband awoke. Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said the incident happened at 4:56 a.m. The woman was walking her dog in the 3800 block of Fifth Avenue South. When she finished and opened the door to her apartment, the assailant forced his way in behind her. He pushed her down and covered her mouth with his hand to keep her from...

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Police say a valley man threatened to kill his wife, telling his victim "Islamic Law" gave him the right to kill her. Ansar Muhammad, 43, is facing several charges, including assault and imprisonment. SNIP: Muhammad was arrested and booked into the Avondale city jail and later transported to the Maricopa County jail. He faces aggravated assault domestic violence-impede breathing, assault-intent/reckless/injury, unlawful imprisonment, threatening-intimidation with injury and sexual assault charges. More Information at Link

In a strange twist of emotional symbolism over reason, Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers and Councilman Charles Vierhout voted against the required sale of valuable property to raise money for the police and city of Avondale. State law requires that confiscated or forfeited firearms be sold, rather than destroyed in a ritual comparable to the medieval concept of the Deodand, where objects could be considered to be guilty of crimes. The police department has about 1,000 firearms that have been confiscated or surrendered, and they are running out of room. As demand for firearms is currently high, this is an especially...

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) wants answers from the US taxpayer supported Export-Import bank about a $2 billion loan to Brazil for offshore drilling. Vitter’s home state is suffering under a moratorium imposed by President Barack Obama. Vitter said Louisianians “are frustrated” and he wants to know “why permitting domestically is nearly stalled…” Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) had questions about ExIM—nine years ago when he asked Congress to reject the reauthorization of ExIm for “economic, constitutional and moral reasons.” Vitter sent a letter to Fred Hochberg, Ex-Im president, on March 17. Vitter asked Hochberg to identify all US companies that have...

January 2, 2009 Note: The following text is a quote: http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0901/090102phoenix.htm Four men plead guilty to firearms charges in ICE human smuggling case Smugglers face up to 30 years in prison for using firearms during violent crime PHOENIX - Four men from Mazatlan, Mexico pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation into a hostage situation at an Avondale, Ariz., human smuggling drop house in March 2008. The guilty pleas were entered in federal court in Phoenix during the last two weeks of December before U.S. District Judge...