Free Republic

tate Rep. Jim Gooch became the second member of the House Democratic caucus to change his party affiliation on Monday, informing leaders of both parties in the chamber of his decision to seek re-election as a Republican earlier in the day. Gooch, of Providence, has served in the legislature since 1995, chairing the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment. In a lengthy statement, Gooch said he informed House Speaker Greg Stumbo and House Minority Floor Leader Jeff Hoover of his decision in an email, calling his move "a personal one, free of any negotiation for personal benefit to me."...

Police say a Goochland County man accidentally killed himself while playing a Russian roulette-type game at a party.

The wait finally comes to an end Monday for 11 of the 15 MLS players at the 2006 World Cup as the U.S. national team opens Group E play against Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan will lead the U.S. team into action starting at 11:55 a.m. ET on ESPN2. In other action, Australia meets Japan in Kaiserslautern at 8:55 a.m. (ESPN2) for a Group F match. Italy and Ghana clash in the third match of the day, a Group E affair in Hanover at 2:55 p.m. (ESPN2).

WATKINSVILLE, Ga. - A northeast Georgia woman is suing her county's fire department, saying she hurt herself sliding down a firehouse pole during a party. Andra Gooch, of Watkinsville, claims the Oconee County Fire Department and county commission chairman were negligent when she hurt herself at a Nov. 2003 party. Patrons at the party - for the son of a fire department employee - had access to the pole and the area where fire trucks were parked and other equipment stored, according to the suit. At some point during the night, Gooch slid down the firepole from the second story...

Betty Gooch's name debuted in the media in the Aug. 6, 2001, issue of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association newsletter, which warned local car dealers to be wary of a little old lady with a sad story and bad check. Since then, that story and the woman behind it have exploded into something of a media phenomenon, evidenced at the Rolling Meadows courthouse last week as her attorneys gathered before a gaggle of reporters. All this combined to create a story that was heard as far away as Australia and by as many people as a weekly "Saturday Night Live"...

White-haired Betty A. Gooch has hobbled into car dealerships across the Chicago area and chatted about her ailments with eager salesmen while admiring their shiny new vehicles, police and prosecutors said Tuesday. Each time, they said, the 75-year-old woman ended up writing a bad check for the full amount and driving home in a new car. Gooch of Algonquin is charged with five felonies in two counties, accused of using bad checks to buy new vehicles, including a $36,000 Toyota Sienna and a $20,000 Toyota Matrix. But police say they believe Gooch has taken advantage of about a dozen car...