Free Republic

KENTWOOD -- Two families escaped the turmoil of war in post-Communist Eastern Europe to seek a free and peaceful life in West Michigan. Now, they see three of their teen sons facing a different kind of life -- in a Michigan prison -- if rape accusations are proven in court. Imer Gashi, 17, faces first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges for allegedly raping a 17-year-old at her Kentwood home on two occasions in August. His 19-year-old brother, Nesret Gashi, faces one count for aiding in the second alleged attack. A third youth, Armin Puskar, 17, is charged with first- and second-degree...

July 26, 2005 20:00 A FORMER Suffolk businessman who is today fighting for his life in hospital after being shot by robbers in his luxury Spanish home has regained consciousness. Brian Cowan, 61, is in intensive care in hospital in Malaga after being shot three times when he was confronted by a gang of four men in his villa in Alhaurin el Grande on the Costa del Sol on July 13. His wife Linda, who was struck on the back of the head by one of the gunmen during the attack, said her husband had slightly improved, but the family...

There is a bloc of voters that may easily decide the forthcoming election. A little over a million Serbian-Americans—their exact number is uncertain but this is a conservative estimate—are likely to vote this year in greater numbers than ever before. The significance of this group becomes obvious if we look at its geographic distribution. After Chicago, the main Serbian-American centers are Pittsburgh, PA; Cleveland, OH; and Milwaukee, WI. There are thousands of retirees in Florida and sizeable pockets in St. Louis (MO) and suburban New Jersey. In each of those states the size of the community exceeds the likely margin...

British soccer star David Beckham is stepping up security at his English mansion after British tabloid journalists uncovered a plot to kidnap his pop star wife, Victoria -- better known as "Posh Spice" -- and their two young children. Police arrested nine suspects -- mostly Romanians -- in connection with the plot and have charged five of them with theft. Prague, 4 November 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Britain's top celebrity couple, Manchester United and England national team soccer star David Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria, are stepping up their personal security after details emerged this weekend of a plot...