Free Republic

When Peyton Dennis told his mom, Katie Ann, that he wanted to run in the kids’ race at the Pottersville Sod Slingers lawn mower race weekend in Pottersville, Michigan, on August 24, she wasn’t too surprised. “Peyton’s always been an active kid. He wants to do what all the other kids are doing,” Katie Ann, who lives with her family in Ionia, Michigan, told Runner’s World. “When he found out there was a race that weekend, he insisted on doing it—even though he has trouble walking now, let alone running.” At the end of February, 5-year-old Peyton was diagnosed with...

Louisiana will spend $45 million on sports and livestock facilities and other new projects in spite of a looming deficit, frustrating some officials who say the frivolity reinforces the state's history of political patronage. "We're in Washington with our hands out asking for $2 billion plus, and rather than holding on to the money to see what the needs are, they're spending it on local projects financing goat shows and lawn-mower races," says state Sen. Robert Barham, Oak Ridge Republican. Supporters of the $4 million Morehouse Parish Equine Center say it will give a much-needed boost to the economy. Jimmy...