Free Republic

Taking a political stand — like asking a White House press secretary to leave your restaurant — can be polarizing and risky. So experts say an owner who decides to act should do so with forethought and civility. The Red Hen in Lexington, Virginia, has become internationally famous since ousting Sarah Huckabee Sanders over last weekend. The owner had consulted with employees, who said Ms. Sanders made them feel uncomfortable. It was an on-the-spot decision, and led to condemnation by President Donald Trump, an onslaught of negative Yelp reviews and global media coverage. Under federal law, restaurants and other businesses...

Mike Huckabee’s once-loyal conservative base may not be there for him in 2016 if he chooses to run again, and his complicated history with Common Core could prove to be the biggest reason why. A lot has changed since the former Arkansas governor last ran for president in 2008. Considered the conservative alternative to John McCain and Mitt Romney at the time, Huckabee enjoyed early success in the Republican primaries that year, winning the Iowa caucuses and a handful of primaries in his native South. He parlayed those victories into a popular weekly Fox News show, ensuring his continued public...

Missing: Republicans. Must be willing to declare candidacy for president of the United States. Missed terribly. Last seen dancing with the Tea Party movement. What's going on? Usually, by now in the "campaign cycle" (shortly after the midterm elections), at least a handful of candidates have declared their intention to run for president to much fanfare. But for the Republicans this time around, nobody is ready to announce. They're not even close. Yes, of course, there are names being floated around: Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Haley Barbour and – needless to say – Sarah "the Barracuda" Palin. But nobody seems...

ST. CLAIR TWP. — A suspected illegal immigrant is behind bars facing felony charges after he allegedly had sexual contact with two teenage girls at a St. Clair Twp. home. Teodoro Martinez, also known as Cezar Flores, 37, was charged Friday with two counts of rape for allegedly performing sex acts on two sisters, ages 13 and 14, at his residence in the 1800 block of Wayne-Madison Road, said Sgt. Melina Smith of the Butler County Sheriff's Office. The girls' mother, who lives in Hamilton, reported the alleged assaults to the sheriff's office.According to the report, the deputy spoke to...