Free Republic

Country singer Bryan Martin was “forcibly” yanked from the stage after causing a ruckus during a concert in upstate New York. The crooner, 37, was mid-performance at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, about 30 minutes from Albany, when he began to display “signs of intoxication and erratic behavior,” according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). “Deputies and event staff attempted to assist Mr. Martin offstage, but due to his impaired state, he became resistant and had to be forcibly escorted out,” read the statement, which was posted on Facebook Saturday. In a Facebook video of the ordeal, the “Wolves Cry” singer...

Three (Republican) county officials were accused of conspiring to file dozens of fraudulent ballots during the 2021 electionsALBANY — Three Rensselaer County officials accused of conspiring to commit ballot fraud were found not guilty on all counts by a federal jury on Wednesday following a two-week trial that delved into the inner workings of the county’s political machinations. The jury delivered its verdict after less than two days of deliberations in a case that federal prosecutors and the FBI had taken more than a year to build. That investigation included interviews with dozens of county employees, information gleaned from...

This week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new statewide mask mandate that will take effect on Monday, Dec. 13, citing a rise in case numbers. The mandate requires face masks to be worn in all indoor public places that don’t have a vaccine requirement. “A violation of any provision of this measure is subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 for each violation,” Hochul said in a statement. She also added that “local health departments are being asked to enforce these requirements.” But local governments were essentially blindsided by the announcement, and several counties with Republican executives are...