Free Republic

BOISE, Idaho — A fire station crew must be a little embarrassed by the way some of this state's famous potatoes got fried. Boise firefighters returning from a medical call had to turn their hose on the firehouse kitchen after an overheated pan full of Tater Tots melted and set some cabinets ablaze. The Christmas Eve fire at Station 8 was quickly extinguished, with no injuries. No damage estimate was available. -snip-

WASHINGTON – It's not just Chinese food and drug imports that can kill you. Many of those bargain-priced products you pick up at Wal-Mart, Target or Sam's Club could do you in, too. Imports from China were recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission twice as often as products made everywhere else in the world, including the U.S., a WND study of government 2007 reports shows. (Story continues below) Of the 152 product recalls announced by the commission since January, 104 have been for products made in China. They include: * Portable baby swings that entrap youngsters, resulting in...

The fight to reduce fire hazards associated with beetle-killed lodgepole pines may have gained a little traction this week, as U.S. Department of Agriculture officials announced a $1 million funding boost for the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. Forest Service, covering Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Republican Sen. Wayne Allard announced the funding Sept. 5, shortly after top administration officials flew over some of the hardest hit areas in Eagle, Summit and Grand counties to view the insect infestation first-hand. “I am pleased that the administration has responded to my repeated requests for additional funding,” said Allard,...