Free Republic

Federal and local authorities rescued more than 30 missing children and uncovered multiple trafficking operations targeting vulnerable youth during a coordinated crackdown across Texas. The effort, centered in San Antonio, led to arrests, felony warrants and several new investigations under a joint mission known as "Operation Lightning Bug." Teams from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) out of San Antonio, Del Rio, Midland, and Pecos joined forces with San Antonio Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit, Special Victims Unit, Street Crimes Unit and covert operatives. Together, they combed through Texas and national crime databases to identify at-risk juveniles and coordinate recovery efforts....

Hear the word firefly or lightningbug, and what comes to mind? Warm summer nights? Flickering lights in the encroaching dark? Maybe soft grass underfoot, with children running about? Few species ignite such warm feelings of nostalgia as fireflies.

After enjoying yet another great feed at my neighbors' annual pig roast this past Saturday evening, I commented on all of the lightning bugs across the road in the corn field. My wife's good friend, Wendy Everly, said I should write an article on them. I asked her what the big deal is with lightning bugs and she replied that they don't have them in Montana. My response was sort of "so what?" We don't have the great trout fishing they do and no elk and mule deer to hunt. This, along with all of the othe r great diversity...