Free Republic

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has vetoed legislation that would make it illegal for most businesses to require the coronavirus vaccine. ... Last year, Montana became the first state in the nation to ban most businesses from requiring vaccines as a condition of employment. That law, like the one proposed in Idaho, cited “discrimination” as the reason. ... Idaho's bill, dubbed the “Coronavirus Pause Act,” would have subjected public and private employers to a misdemeanor charge punishable by a $1,000 fine if they require vaccines as a condition of employment or service. It includes exemptions for situations involving federal law, existing...

Colorado's Empower Field at Mile High, which is home to the Denver Broncos, is set to require football fans to wear masks while they are in the stadium's indoor spaces. The Broncos made the announcement on Wednesday, saying that masks will be mandatory in all restrooms, elevators, indoor areas of the stadium clubs, suite corridors, as well as the Broncos team store and in the press box regardless of vaccination status. The NFL team specified that masks will not be required in suites, which it deems private areas, and that fans will not have to wear masks while they are...

WASHINGTON — President Obama said Wednesday that he was receptive to Congressional proposals that would require every American to have health insurance and that would force employers to offer health insurance to their employees. But he said there should be exemptions for people who cannot afford coverage and for small businesses in general.

PHILADELPHIA - An appeals court has upheld the constitutionality of a federal law that requires prisoners, parolees, and some people on probation to submit DNA samples for an FBI (news - web sites) database. By a 2-1 vote, a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites) ruled the government's interest in building a tool to help solve crime outweighed the privacy interests of criminal offenders. Writing for the majority, Judge Jane R. Roth said while a similar intrusion into an "ordinary citizen's" privacy would be unconstitutional, prisoners and people on probation do not...

Court rules against requiring voter ID SANTA FE (AP) — Legions of new voters who registered in voter drives this super-heated election season will not have to show ID when they cast their ballots, the state Supreme Court has ruled. Siding with Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, the court in a 4-1 decision said only new voters who registered by mail will have to produce identification. Voting for the Nov. 2 election begins next Tuesday, when New Mexicans can cast absentee ballots by mail or in county clerks’ offices. The court without comment rejected the arguments of Republicans who backed...

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, has called the Sudanese rampage against Black Africans a “genocide:” We concluded that genocide has been committed in Darfur and that the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed [Arab militia] bear responsibility and genocide may still be occurring. The Sudanese government has been sponsoring a campaign of mass rape, mass murder, forced relocations, and forced starvation against Black Africans in Darfur. The BBC today tried to spin the usual “the U.S. is damned if it does and damned if it doesn’t” argument today: Critics point out...

(IsraelNN.com) In a meeting with Shinui Party officials on Monday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expressed his “sorrow” that instead of protecting Jews, he requires protection from Jews. Sharon added, “All my life I defended Jews and now, I must be defended from them,” referring to recent comments by Shin Bet Director Avi Dichter that there is a growing right-wing extremist element that is cause for concern. Sharon called on the Justice Ministry headed by the Shinui Party leader Justice Minister Tommy Lapid to work towards uprooting radical elements. Sharon told Shinui officials that the current coalition makeup is the best...

SACRAMENTO – Most state workers and employees of certain companies that do business with the state would have to be paid a "living wage" of at least $10 an hour under legislation sent to Gov. Gray Davis yesterday. The measure by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Santa Clara, was given final approval by the Assembly on a 43-33 vote that accepted Senate amendments to the legislation. Under the bill, certain companies that sign state contracts of $50,000 or more would have to pay their employees at least $10 an hour if they also provided the workers with health insurance. For companies with...