Free Republic

John Lennon’s son Julian Lennon this weekend performed his late father’s iconic song “Imagine” for the first time to benefit Ukraine. The eldest Lennon performed the song as part of the Global Citizen’s social media rally, Stand Up For Ukraine. The performance ended the 59-year-old’s previous vow to never perform his dad’s famous work, according to USA Today. Lennon explained his decision in a YouTube post, saying the “unimaginable tragedy” going on in Ukraine compelled him to respond “in the most significant way I could.”

County singer Chely Wright, sings one of her songs during a concert held at the Al Asad theater, March. 3. Wright, who has participated in multiple overseas tours with Stars for Stripes, believes it is necessary to pay tribute to the deployed service members. Official USMC photo. AL ASAD -- Since World War II, American celebrities have been raising the morale of service members overseas with different forms of entertainment ranging from concerts to stand-up shows. In an effort to keep that tradition alive, country singer Chely Wright, visited Al Asad, Iraq, to entertain and lift the spirits of service...

State performs criminal checks on evacueesAction aimed at identifying sex offenders raises questions of profiling Wednesday, November 09, 2005 By SEAN REILLY Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Alabama law enforcement authorities have been routinely running criminal background checks on adult Hurricane Katrina evacuees housed at 13 state parks, a spokesman for Gov. Bob Riley confirmed Tuesday. The spokesman, Jeff Emerson, described the move as primarily aimed at protecting children from registered sex offenders who might be among the evacuees. But as he and other state officials acknowledged, the evacuees' names are being run through the FBI's Nation al Crime Information Center,...