Free Republic

The Italian government on Thursday dissolved four town councils due to evidence of mafia infiltration. The affected towns were Laureana di Borrello, Bova Marina, and Gioia Taura, all located in Reggio Calabria at the toe of Italy’s boot, as well as San Felice a Cancello in Caserta, Campania. […] Government-appointed commissions will take over council duties, the ministry said, and local elections scheduled for June 11th will no longer take place in two of the Sicilian towns. […] In 2016, the government disbanded the local council of Corleone because of suspected mafia infiltration of the Sicilian town which helped inspire...

A row has broken out in Italy after a photographer dressed up a famous 2,500-year-old statue in a leopard-skin thong and pink feather boa. The Riace Bronzes, of Greek warriors, are two of the nation's greatest archaeological treasures. Photographer Gerald Bruneau was given permission to shoot the warriors at their museum in Reggio Calabria. However, work was halted when he was discovered dressing the statues. The museum called the images "terrible". A local politician has now demanded a judicial inquiry. The images were published on Italy's Dagospia website.

Bars and clubs often are drug marketplaces for organized crime in many cities throughout the world, and woe to the owners who do not allow the illicit trade be conducted at their premises. The 'Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia brutally beat Rosy Canale after she refused to capitulate to their demands to allow party treats to be sold out of her disco in Reggio Calabria, and now that she's releasing a book about her experiences the thugs once again are targeting her as reported by John Hooper for The Guardian. However, the courageous mother insists "I'm not the sort of person...