Free Republic

A Friendlier Iran? Or Have They Just Moved Their Nukes to North Korea? Posted on January 31, 2014 by By Ilana Freedman, Editor After years of intransigence and unwillingness to even consider abandoning its nuclear program, Iran has suddenly become amenable to what appears to be real negotiations and an apparent readiness to compromise. The change was dramatic. Although still firing off occasional tirades against the West in general and Israel in particular, Iran is now allowing daily inspections of some of its nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. The sudden shift in Iranian policy has...

BUZZARDS BAY - The training ship at Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a floating testament to public service and advancements in education. And now it has a new name that matches its mission. With cadets braving the cold and lining the decks of the 540-foot ship throughout a dedication ceremony yesterday on campus, a collection of dignitaries and more than 100 people looked on as the T.S. Enterprise became the Kennedy.

FALL RIVER -- A 6-year-old girl and her 11-year-old brother were injured early this morning when a van involved in a collision at Morgan and Fourth Streets was pushed up onto the sidewalk and struck the children as they were waiting for a school bus. The girl suffered a head injury and was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, the police said. Her brother, whose leg was injured, was taken to St. Anne’s Hospital, where he was reported in good condition this afternoon, according to Sgt. Thomas Mauretti. A man who had been waiting with the children was arrested...

One of the suspected “middlemen” and 18 people who obtained fraudulent Rhode Island licenses are still wanted by the police in a scheme that allegedly involved two clerks at the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Nelson Hernandez, 26, of Providence, is suspected of working as a middleman arranging to help people obtain valid Rhode Island licenses from DMV clerks Dolores Rodriguez-LaFlamme and Soraya Santiago. A second alleged “middleman” was arrested last week. The authorities are also seeking people who illegally obtained licenses from LaFlamme and Santiago: • Yhasil Larracuente, 26, obtained a license on Dec. 8. The Tiverton police arrested...

A string of lies to city, state and federal authorities placed Dolores Rodriguez LaFlamme in a sensitive job at the state Division of Motor Vehicles, through which she allegedly helped drug dealers and illegal immigrants get the valid licenses they needed to hide their identities. She lied first to the city, when she obtained a license to marry a convicted heroin dealer solely to stay in the country. She lied to the state by checking off “U.S. citizen” on her DMV job application. She lied to federal Homeland Security officials when she told them her marriage was real. Three years...

VALLECILLO, Mexico - This town of farmers and cattle ranchers has about 1,300 registered voters. But officials had to spend weeks begging residents before they found the 14 people needed to staff its two polling places on Sunday. Days before the hotly contested presidential election, observers say voting sites across the country still lack enough people to provide a crucial first defense against a return to Mexico's fraudulent electoral past. Many towns have been depleted, their able adults now in the United States. Of those who remain, many simply refused, saying they couldn't afford to miss work.

NATIONAL FIGURES LEND A HAND TO 'LOCAL PEACE MOM' By Ellyn Moran Santiago - The Sun Staff WESTERLY - Sen. Ted Kennedy's message on Stephany Kern's voicemail had the ring of sincerity, she said. "I'm so sorry to have to leave a message..." the Massachusetts senator told this grieving mother and Westerly resident. And he promised to keep calling her cell until he was able to reach her. "All of the Kennedys and I are thinking of your extremely brave son..." Kennedy told Kern. It's a terrible, difficult, sad time. We're praying for you and your family and offering up...