Free Republic

A small town has never elected a mayor with opposable thumbs. But is it ready for a new kind of four-legged leader? Eric Spitznagel reports from Omena, Michigan. Welcome to Omena’s triennial animal election. Above (L to R) Kanda McKee holds Porsche McKee, the deputy vice mayor, Schatzi Putnam, and Rosie Disch, the incumbent mayor of Omena. (Nic Antaya for The Free Press)On July 20 in Omena, a small town in the “little finger” of northern Michigan, a crowd of about a hundred locals gathered in a church parking lot for the inauguration of their new mayor. A brass band...

Friday, at the U.S. embassy in Cuba flag-raising ceremony celebrating the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, Secretary of State John Kerry said he felt “very much at home” in the country ruled by the authoritarian Castro regime.

Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday said he is "hopeful" about the U.S. and the other world powers being able to reach a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear program. This followed a marathon series of meetings in Vienna on Saturday, including two sessions with the 6 allies and Iran -- one going to midnight. There were also separate sessions on Saturday between Kerry, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics* This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories. I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts…...

HORSE racing lost one of its greatest champions in action yesterday when triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate suffered a suspected heart attack on his return to action at Exeter. Trainer Henrietta Knight was first on the scene after jockey Paul Carberry - riding the ten-year-old for the first time - dismounted after the fourth-last fence of the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup when it became clear the horse was struggling. Screens were quickly erected around the stricken Best Mate, but vets were unable to save the gelding, who amassed more than £1 million in prize-money, having won 14 and...

A judge who disagreed with his colleagues on the Pennsylvania state Supreme Court was inspired to write his dissent in verse – to the theme song of "Mister Ed." Justice Michael Eakin (search), who is fond of writing rhyming opinions, didn't agree when his fellow justices ruled that a drunken driving law can't be enforced against people on horseback. Keith Travis, 41, and Richard Noel, 49, were riding horses when they were charged with drunken driving, as was a man in a pickup truck who allegedly rear-ended the horse Travis was riding. All three men failed field sobriety tests, police...