Free Republic

The woman who has become nationally known for allegedly planting a finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili smiled and appeared relaxed Monday as she mouthed "I love you all" to family members during her arraignment in a San Jose courtroom. Authorities have accused Anna Ayala, 39, of being a scam artist who attempted to shake down the fast-food chain after the March 22 incident at a Wendy's in San Jose, but the Las Vegas woman appeared in court before a small fan club. A dozen supporters came to the courthouse wearing T-shirts emblazed with "Free Anna Ayala" or "We...

TIJUANA, Mexico -Long accused of crimes including murder, Tijuana Mayor-elect Jorge Hank Rhon is one of the most closely watched politicians in Mexico as he prepares to assume his new job Dec. 1. Jorge Hank Rhon remembers the political advice his late father gave him. ''He taught me that if you're committed to a party and it calls on you and needs you, you answer,'' Hank said. Now Hank, who became a millionaire by running a dog track in this city of 1.5 million people on the border with the Unites States, is about to answer that call. On Dec....

Monterey County officials probe racially offensive e-mail SALINAS, Calif. (AP) - Some 3,200 Monterey County government workers received an internal e-mail with a racially disparaging cartoon, officials said. The cartoon, which was in computers Monday, depicts a ``Mexifornia'' driver's license with a photo of a sombrero-wearing bandit. The e-mail prompted an internal investigation by the county's Information Technology Department. The cartoon originated with an information technology worker who sent it to a few co-workers, he said. One of the recipients took offense and apparently distributed the cartoon countywide.

He calls himself the "dildo bandito" but says he's not a criminal. Bob Rowan, 49, of Boulder County, admits to removing 21 ceramic phalluses — part of an art display he called a "disgusting" form of male-bashing — from the Boulder Public Library in November. But he said Thursday that he will not accept any offer that dubs him a criminal. Instead of accepting a plea bargain from prosecutor Cassidy Murphy, Rowan said he wanted more time to think about the offer. Murphy's offer would require Rowan to plead guilty to second-degree criminal tampering — the original charge filed against...