Free Republic

Former San Jose Councilman Omar Torres was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for child molestation. Prosecutors say Torres abused a boy starting when the victim was 4 years old. Torres must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The mother of Minneapolis shooter Robin Westman appeared in a movie about her reunion with a daughter she put up for adoption as a child, the Daily Mail can reveal.Years after giving up her baby, Mary Grace Westman, now 67, went on to became a devout Catholic and anti-abortion activist who once held a crucifix in protest outside a Planned Parenthood clinic.Mary Grace has so far refused to cooperate with police seeking information about her son.She flew to Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon, within hours of the shocking attack at the Church of the Annunciation Catholic School that left two children...

...Former Vice President Kamala Harris will receive protection from the California Highway Patrol after President Trump revoked her Secret Service protection, law enforcement sources said Friday.... .

Forget the old-school thrills of "F1," the family charm of "Freakier Friday," and even the surprisingly pro-life "Fantastic Four: First Steps" — because this summer's feel-good movie turns out to be an August sleeper hit that virtually nobody saw coming. It's the story of a failed presidential candidate who raised record sums, left record debt, lost anyway, and gave her party the finger when it needed her most. It's called "Kamala's Revenge," and it's the kind of razor-sharp political comedy that Hollywood hasn't dared make since 1997's "Wag the Dog." The premise of "Kamala's Revenge" is even wilder than Chauncey...

“We had so much money it was hard to get it out the door,” a Kamala ally said after the election even as her campaign was still sending out texts to donors begging them to send more cash. “Hi Team, It’s Kamala, The election isn’t what we wanted, but I will never give up the fight,” a post-election text message solicited donors to replace all the money that went out the door. In Jan 2025, even as President Trump was preparing for his inauguration, the ‘Harris Fight Fund’ was still milking recurring donations even though there was nothing left to...

Kamala Harris has triggered further speculation that she is not running for governor of California and has higher political ambitions. Rumors of a 2028 White House run started circulating after she delivered a lackluster three-minute virtual address to the Democratic state political convention that was politely received by the audience. In a steady, monotone voice, she spoke about the Trump administration’s recent actions against universities and praised activists efforts to fight the president’s agenda. “While this administration in Washington tries to divide us, we hear know that we are stronger when we stand together,” she said, a flashback to her...

The official Trump store recently released a new 'Trump 2028 Hat,' and they are so popular that the site has a disclaimer noting the cap is in 'high demand' and additional processing might be required as they fly off the shelves. Bright red with bold white lettering, the cap is now on sale for $50. 'The future looks bright! Rewrite the rules with the Trump 2028 high crown hat,' the initial product description for the hat stated.

The president has previously said he was looking into serving a third term. Democrats and others on the left melted down on Thursday after the official website for President Donald Trump began selling merchandise for a possible 2028 campaign. The president is prohibited by the Constitution from being president more than two four-year terms because of the 22nd Amendment. Trump's allies have hinted that his supporters may mount a campaign to undo the rule in order to allow him to serve for a third term. One shirt reads "TRUMP 2028" with the text "(Rewrite the Rules)" and sells for $36....

A 12-year-old boy says he was brutally attacked by a classmate armed with brass knuckles. The family of the 12-year-old victim is speaking out, saying not only was their son bullied and attacked, but they also allege that the school failed to protect him. What they're saying: According to the family, Damian had been bullied by another male student all week. It was the first week of school for students at James A Foshay Learning Center in Exposition Park. It started as taunts and pushes but quickly escalated. On Friday, Aug. 22, Damian said the bully pulled him from class....

Immigration authorities announced Thursday the arrest of an illegal immigrant pedophile with a lengthy criminal record who was living in a residence that was operating an at-home daycare. Immigration and Customs Enforcement nabbed Ezequiel Cruz-Rodriguez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, on Thursday. His criminal history includes sex offenses involving a child under 14, sexual battery, illegal possession of a firearm, driving under the influence, and robbery. Cruz-Rodriguez was a member of the Logan Heights gang, a primarily Mexican gang based in San Diego, where the illegal immigrant was residing. At the time of his arrest, he was living with his...

California “First Partner” Jennifer Siebel Newsom making bank off her husband’s position is outrageous — and fresh proof that American politicians have gotten far too comfortable with the dirty dealing that pervades politics. ...Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit, Representation Project, pays her a hefty $150,000 — while raking in donations from companies that have an interest in winning the favor of her husband, California Gov. Gavin Newsom. AT&T, which has spent upward of $2 million to lobby the state on landline phone rules so far this year, forked over up to $25,000 for Representation Project’s “Flip the Script” gala. Comcast, AT&T’s competitor,...

Phillips 66 will begin shutting down its 139,000 bpd Los Angeles-area refinery as soon as next week , sources told Reuters, moving forward on a closure plan announced last year. Units at the plant will idle in phases through Q4 2025, with the facility permanently offline by year-end. The decision isn’t a surprise—Phillips 66 said in October it would exit the site, citing “market dynamics.” But it comes with fallout about 600 employees and 300 contractors will lose their jobs by December, with only a handful reassigned to the company’s marine terminal. The company insists it will support workers through...

The California High-Speed Rail Authority on Thursday announced a plan to accelerate the process of laying the first tracks on the state’s beleaguered infrastructure project. The materials will be used to install the first miles of electrified track along the California High-Speed Rail route, the first high-speed rail track to be laid in the U.S. The Authority states that the process is being accelerated and will result in track being laid in 2026. Aerial view of the Cedar Viaduct crossing in Fresno which was completed in April 2023. (California High-Speed Rail Authority) U.S. manufacturers will be able to bid in...

Cal Poly Pomona postponed its annual fall job fair this week after students, alumni and community members criticized its inclusion of Customs and Border Protection as an in-person recruiter, underscoring the heightened sensitivity about immigration agencies on college campuses this fall. The interim president of the Los Angeles County campus with nearly 28,000 students — the majority of whom are Latino — said leadership responded to the criticism and decided to rethink their approach to job fairs.

Supposedly, the tiresome comedy stylings of Gavin Newsom – he’s the equivalent of a Wednesday night prop comic opener down at the Gooberville Giggle Works – have thrust him into the forefront of the Democrat race for the 2028 nomination. What a sad and pathetic state of affairs that is. He’s trying to claim the Fighter Lane. You see, he fights by hiring a couple of they/them mediocrities to run his social media account, pumping out an endless series of tweets that are nearly as funny as leprosy. They are directed at Trump, who ignores them; if a nitwit tweets...

Who moves their hands like this?

Catholic grade school attacked. At least 20 injured.

On Monday August 25, 2025 The New York Times published a lengthy piece entitled,“How China Influences Elections in America’s Biggest City” with the subtitle: “The Chinese consulate in Manhattan has mobilized community groups to defeat candidates who don’t fall in line with the authoritarian state.”Though it’s ostensibly a story just on New York City, the reporting is not confined to matters there. Both a Democrat U.S. congresswoman on a sensitive committee and New York’s Democrat Governor get a looking-at. And while Governor Hochul may not be your governor or mine, she clearly has a seat of national influence, and at...

San Bernardino easily won the title for dirtiest city in both California and the U.S. for the second straight year, with the worst pollution rating and the highest number of dissatisfied residents, according to the study. Next in line was Los Angeles, which was also joined in the top ten by Ontario (5) and Corona (10). Topping the list of cleanest cities was South Bend, IN, with a score of 18.53, followed by Wilmington, NC and Des Moines, IA.

Dozens of Jewish clergy from all over Los Angeles County converged on the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles Monday, urging immediate food aid to Palestinians in Gaza, an end to the Israel-Hamas War, and the safe return home for Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. The rally, called “A Jewish Prayer for Peace,” was organized by rabbis across denominations in the Jewish community. Organizers called the demonstration a “moral cry for an end to the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.”... “There is nothing more pro Israel than calling for an end of the war in Gaza, the return of Israel’s hostages...