Free Republic

The University of Minnesota has received a $7 million federal grant to create a childhood obesity center with the goal of transforming the exercise and eating habits of as many as 530 Minnesota families. Researchers will use the grant, announced Thursday, to connect families with health advocates in medical clinics, enroll them in classes about healthy foods and active lifestyles, and improve their access to healthful foods and recreation opportunities.

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves outside the Mideast and some of the largest known natural gas deposits. Yet the country is an economic shambles thanks to the mismanagement of its buffoonish and authoritarian president, Hugo Chavez. This past week he further crippled the economy by effectively banning private bond trading to stop Venezuelans from sequestering savings in dollar accounts. He instituted currency controls of 2.60 bolivars to the dollar for priority goods and 4.30 for nonessential items. The black market rate is 8.20 bolivars to the dollar. Not surprisingly, there is a thriving black market, widespread shortages and soaring...

President Hugo Chavez delivered a bizarre attack on the Queen when the firebrand Venezuelan leader demanded Britain return the Falkland Islands to Argentina.The outspoken Mr Chavez used his weekly television and radio show Alo Presidente to rally Latin America behind the cause of his Argentine counterpart Cristina Kirchner by making a direct appeal to Buckingham Palace. "Look, England, how long are you going to be in Las Malvinas? Queen of England, I'm talking to you," said Mr Chavez. "The time for empires are over, haven't you noticed? Return the Malvinas to the Argentine people." Still addressing the Queen, he went...

Reporting from Caracas, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has made moves to tighten government control over national media, say critics who warn that the Internet and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter could be his next target. Recently, Chavez announced that the government would review the licenses of and possibly close as many as 240 radio stations -- more than one-third of all AM and FM broadcasters. He has proposed rules that would limit the sharing of programming by stations, something that helps many stay economically viable.

Chavez 'to restore US ambassador' Mr Chavez says Mr Obama is more intelligent than his predecessor Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he expects to send an ambassador back to Washington soon, in a move towards restoring normal ties with the US. The announcement came at a Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, where US President Barack Obama received a warm welcome from Latin American leaders. Mr Chavez expelled the US envoy to Caracas in September in "solidarity" with Bolivia. The US reciprocated. The dispute was over an alleged US plot against Bolivian President Evo Morales. Mr Chavez was a fierce...

Citgo Petroleum has lost a contract to supply 7-Eleven fuel needs around the nation, elected leaders in two states are considering formal action against the company and dozens of smaller boycotts are being launched because owner Hugo Chavez called President Bush "the devil" and envisions the destruction the United States. "I can't buy a product from a country that wants to destroy our way of life as we know it," one supporter of the Citgo Boycott website said. "I don't care if Citgo starts selling gas for $.50/gal. I will go to another station and pay $2.50. All Americans must...