Free Republic

Years after a scathing federal audit exposed rampant waste in a multi-billion-dollar government program to help the “unemployed or underemployed” pay their mortgage, the gouging continues full throttle. Public officials who operate the disastrous project, known as Hardest Hit Fund (HHF), have wasted millions of dollars on parties, fancy cars, gifts, extravagant dinners and receptions, gym memberships and luxury travel. Previous investigations have uncovered more than $11 million in wasteful spending at HHF for illegal things such as employee bonuses, lavish shindigs, expensive vehicles and superfluous data storage. The latest enraging figures are documented in a lengthy report to Congress...

Minn. newspapers get retraining funds for Internet Minn. newspapers to share $238K in grant money to retrain staffs for Internet age DULUTH, Minn. (AP) -- Two Minnesota newspapers will receive a share of state grants normally given to retrain workers in manufacturing and other industries in transition. The Duluth News Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press will work with the University of Minnesota's School of Journalism and Mass Communication to help staff adapt to an increasingly Internet-based industry. Minnesota Job Skills Partnership is awarding $238,000 in state funds, while the newspapers and the university will contribute about $469,000 combined,...

Colorado aims to get obese kids moving Pedometer giveaway planned to boost exercise, health State doctors hope to coax children into more exercise by doling out pedometers to measure how many steps they take every day. It is the latest attempt to subtly curb childhood obesity, which nationwide is up 11 percent since 1994. In a pilot project launched with federal dollars, health officials said they will give 200 Denver-area kids pedometers, probably early next year. They hope the matchbook-sized beltclips are fun enough to push kids into walking at least 10,000 steps a day, which meets the surgeon general's...