Free Republic

NOUAKCHOTT, March 6 (Reuters) - More than 40 African migrants heading for Spain's Canary Islands drowned at the weekend when their boats sank off the West African coast, Mauritania's Red Crescent organisation said on Monday. More than 40 other migrants were rescued in the incidents, which took place in waters north of the Mauritanian coastal city of Nouadhibou, off the coasts of Western Sahara and Morocco, a Red Crescent spokesman said. "There were two shipwrecks from Saturday to Sunday," Ahmedou Ould Haye told Reuters, speaking by telephone from Nouadhibou, Mauritania's second city and biggest port. Most of the Africans involved...

A crowd gathered after this sport utility vehicle was driven to far down the boat loading area at the South Beach Marina in Sea Pines Saturday afternoon on Hilton Head Island and slipped into the water. Curtis Jenkins, wearing the white shirt, and Ronnie Williams with Tommy's Towing were trying to hook the car up and get it ashore. A visitor to the island accidentally launched his sport utility vehicle into the water along with his boat at the South Beach boat ramp on Saturday, Sea Pines Security said. The man backed down the ramp with a trailer carrying...

Dear Californians: As Chair of the California Quarter Committee, I am sending my thanks to Californians for their participation in the California Quarter Program. As we draw near to the much-anticipated selection of the California Quarter, it is my hope that the final design will visualize the concept of our diverse state. The generous participation of the public has made this historic program possible. From more than eight thousand submissions received between September 9, 2002 and November 9, 2002 the California Quarter Selection Committee has chosen twenty California-inspired ideas! The twenty images posted here give Californians an opportunity to comment...