Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Senate committee on Tuesday launches three long days of hearings on a Democratic climate bill in a bid to further convince an international summit in December that Washington is serious about tackling global warming. The Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee will kick off Tuesday's hearing at 9:30 a.m. EDT with a panel of heavy-hitters from President Barack Obama's Cabinet: the secretaries of energy, transportation and interior and the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Joining them will be the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. According to an EPA statement, the officials will focus...

12/12/2008 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- More than 850 ground recovery forces and 51 aircraft from the Department of Defense and numerous other countries kicked off a personnel recovery and combat search and rescue exercise Dec. 8 here. The two week-long Angel Thunder 2008 exercise allows U.S. and international military forces and numerous national, multinational and interagency personnel recovery assets to train through the full spectrum of personnel recovery capabilities -- preparation, planning, execution and adaptation. "Angel Thunder is a very unique program, built by the combat search and rescue community from the grass roots level, that...

As with every new year, today marks an opportunity to set new goals while coming to terms with the year that has passed. For Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, even though he will be on crutches, this week is one in which he hopes to set the tone for the coming year with the promise of continued bipartisan work on the state's problems of public health and insurance, traffic and the environment. His inaugural gala Thursday is about as bipartisan as one could imagine, with a number of prominent Democrats from across the country invited to attend. Among those from Los Angeles...

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Sept. 11, 2006 – Servicemembers from around the Hampton Roads, Va., area came together at Mount Trashmore Park here today to remember the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Sailors from the Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 4 stand at attention while the national anthem plays at Mount Trashmore Park, in Virginia Beach, during the 9/11 Hampton Roads Remembers ceremony. More than 1,200 people attended the event to help construct a human flag and remember the tragic events that took place Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Seaman Kiona McKissack, USN  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The servicemembers, along...

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 28, 2006 – Some of the country music stars that write songs honoring the nation's troops and travel the world to bring them a taste of home performed at the Grand Ole Opry this Memorial Day weekend. Country music singer, songwriter and lead guitarist Rockie Lynne responds to the audience at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., May 27 during an All-American Salute Signature Show featuring tributes to America's men and women in uniform. The audience, which included many military veterans, waved flags and gave Lynne a standing ovation after he sang "Red, White &...

INDIANAPOLIS, May 28, 2006 – Before drivers start their engines today to run the 90th Indianapolis 500, another long-standing tradition had people on their feet yesterday. A banner for the Defense Department's America Supports You program is carried during the 49th annual Indy 500 Festival Parade, in Indianapolis. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The 49th annual Indy 500 Festival Parade paid tribute to Indiana's rich culture, as well as the nation's military. Marching through downtown Indianapolis, the parade offered colorful balloons and floats as well as opportunities for the crowd to show their...

WASHINGTON - The AFL-CIO is organizing rallies around the country and overseas this week to try to energize a labor movement that has been losing membership for years. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said Monday that American workers have lost their right to organize — pointing to lost manufacturing jobs, companies' increased hostility to unions and government policies that don't weaken unions' strength. "The ability to form unions is the key to this nation's middle class," Sweeney said. "Yet, the right to come together in a union is a fundamental freedom that has been eroded beyond recognition." More than one- third...

<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Scores of Californians took the once-in-a-lifetime shot to run for governor Saturday in the state's unprecedented recall election as Democrats successfully whittled their own field to one major backup candidate in case Gov. Gray Davis is ousted.</p>

<p>The campaign to recall Gov. Gray Davis began in earnest Saturday at a boisterous rally outside the Capitol that featured three likely Republican candidates, conservative talk radio hosts who helped drive public opinion and more than 1,000 people who want Davis out.</p>