Free Republic

The Big Apple is about to take on a new name -- Tent City, or Filth City. Or perhaps Lepto City, after leptospirosis, a bacterial infection increasingly found in homeless encampments. New York's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is barring the New York Police Department from closing down encampments. Since Mamdani previewed his policy in December, new encampments are emerging in many neighborhoods. The consequences are dire both for vagrants and for the city's viability. Between Friday, when the city was hit with a bone-chilling winter storm, and Sunday night, eight people were found dead outdoors, suggesting they were homeless. Mamdani...

Is it one of the great alcoholic innovations of the 21st century — or an illegal way to serve beer? Frank Morales, the owner of the Rustico Restaurant in Alexandria, is selling the adult frozen treats in flavors like “Raspbeer-y” and “Fudgesicle.” They cost $4 for the 6-ounce size, shaped like a traditional Popsicle, and $6 for a larger “beer cone.” But the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control says the “beersicles” run afoul of rules governing the serving and pouring of beer.