Free Republic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sen. Rand Paul wants to be part of the solution to problems in Louisville. “If it were simple, someone would have fixed it a long time ago, but I think being part of the solution is listening and I’ve always been willing to listen,” Paul said. Paul spent time with the Rotary Club of Louisville on Thursday talking about his work on crime and criminal justice, including his partnership with Christopher 2X. “Stick with the educational opportunities that the rotarians love to be a part of as it relates to getting us back on track,” Christopher 2X...

A company in Duluth, Minnesota, has fired about 50 employees who refused to get flu shots, according to KBJR 6. KBJR 6 on Tuesday reported that Essentia Health had set a Monday deadline for staff to get the injections. Essentia told employees, students, vendors and volunteers in September that they had three options in relation to the vaccinations. The health care provider said that the individuals affected could get the shot, secure an approved medical or religious exemption, or leave the company. Dr. Rajesh Prabhu, who is Essentia’s chief of patient quality and safety, on Tuesday said that the organization’s...

A Jeb Bush campaign speech breached a new dimension of awkwardness this week. The former Florida governor was speaking at a Rotary Club in New Hampshire Monday when a Rotary official interrupted the presidential candidate and sent him back to his seat. A C-SPAN video of the speech shows the man interrupting Bush's speech and ushering him off the stage. "They're kicking me off the stage!" Bush says, waving his arms, apparently flabbergasted by what is happening.

The cloud of awkwardness and clumsy misfortune continues to loom over Jeb Bush's head while on the campaign trail. At a rotary club rally in New Hampshire on Tuesday, Jeb was interrupted during the middle of his speech and ushered off stage. "They're kicking me out the door," Jeb said. "They're kicking me out the door." He then proceeded to awkwardly nod his head, walk around in a circle, and then move off stage.

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, had to bridge the partisan divide to win two terms in the central Kentucky 6th Congressional District, and he says that knowledge of the political terrain will be put to use for GOP governor nominee Matt Bevin. The 6th Congressional District has 1.6 times more registered Democrats than Republicans, but Barr was able to defeat incumbent U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler in 2012 and hold the seat facing a Democratic challenge in 2014. The incumbent congressman used some well-placed ads and had the benefit of President Barack Obama on the ballot, but he also credits voter...

Today the President spoke about the economy at a Rotary Club meeting in Virgina. The First Lady met with UN Special Adviser on Burma Ibrahim Gambari. Secretary of State Condeleza Rice is in Paris for an international donors conference. Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island

It wasn't your typical move-in day for former Marine Cpl. Paul Gardner and his new bride, Ashley. While Ashley stood beside her husband, seated in his wheel chair, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, presented the couple with a ceremonial key to their new Sugar Land home, bought and paid for through the Rotary Club of Houston's "Wounded Hero Home Program." "I didn't think I would have this nice of a house at the age of 25," said Garnder, who was paralyzed from the waist down after he was shot during a house-to-house search for insurgents near Baghdad in 2003. "Every...

Video on what every Westerner needs to know about Middle East Terror and Israel -- A Lebanese Christian woman's journey through Hell and beyond. If you have a hard time accessing the video, you can go to the website at www.americancongressfortruth.org and choose your connection speed and the interview at the bottom left of the page.

Traverse City, MI (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood Northern Michigan received a $10,000 grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City in the organization's fall grant cycle. The non-profit Rotary awarded $289,100 to 10 groups, including a center for homeless youths, a conservancy group, and the restoration of a historic ship. The abortion business was given the money to fund so-called abstinence education programs. Officials from Rotary Charities of Traverse City were unavailable for comment, despite repeated requests from LifeNews.com. The donation doesn't go over well with pro-life advocates. "Abstinence educational programs can positively impact our young people, but I have serious...

Lance Cpl. Mark A Argueta, from Houston, an administration clerk, and Lance Cpl. Raymond Lee George, 21, from Great Falls, Mont., a field data network specialist, both with Headquarters and Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, assemble a wheelchair July 10, 2003, one of several to be distributed to the hospitals in and around Karbala, Iraq. The wheelchairs were donated by Rotary Club District 5240 in Santa Barbara County, Calif., a project they participate in with freewheelchairmission.org, and distributed by the battalion Government Support Team. KARBALA, Iraq(July 10, 2003) -- Service members with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment have...