Free Republic

SNIPPET: "A Texas college student was shot and killed in Mexico after the bus he was riding on was hijacked by suspected members of a Mexican drug cartel, The Brownsville Herald reports. Jonathan William Torres, an 18-year-old college freshman at the University of Texas at Brownsville, was killed Sept. 30 in Matamoros -- just outside Ciudad Mante in the southern part of Tamaulipas -- a university spokeswoman told the newspaper. Torres was reportedly on his way to visit family when his bus was allegedly ambushed by members of Mexican organized crime."

MCALLEN - The FBI has stepped in to investigate an attack on a Border Patrol agent. The agent has serious - but not life-threatening - injuries. We're told there may be some permanent damage to the agent's face. He's now recovering at a San Antonio hospital. CHANNEL 5 NEWS learned the attack happened while the agent was on narcotics patrol along the river last night. He was in an area near the city of Hidalgo when he came across a group of suspected smugglers. Border Patrol officials say the men hurled objects at the agent and then swam into Mexico....

CALEXICO, Calif. — A food distribution company in Calexico is recalling candy imported from Mexico because it contains high levels of lead. King Midas Inc. said Friday it is warning stores to stop selling Hola Pop, a caramel lollipop with a salted apricot in the center. The candy also comes in other fruit flavors.

The deadly flu strain sweeping across Mexico and into the U.S. has world health experts sounding the alarm bells. Mexico City has been shut down. Officials are advising citizens there to wear masks. There’s talk of a pandemic. California and Texas have seen several reported cases, but no deaths in the U.S. A NYC prep school saw 75 students fall ill on Friday and health officials are testing to see if it’s the new strain of swine flu. The World Health Organization is set to declare the outbreak an “international concern.” I’ve blogged for years about the spread of contagious...