Free Republic

Portland's downtown is in freefall, with property values plummeting 57% since 2019, from $3 billion to just $1.3 billion. City leaders blame remote work, but the real culprit is the rampant crime, homelessness, and lawlessness that have turned once-thriving business districts into ghost towns. Portland is hemorrhaging businesses, tax revenue, and economic vitality as companies flee to safer, more business-friendly environments like Texas and Florida. The city anticipates a $33 million tax revenue loss over the next five years, further crippling essential services like police and fire departments. Despite this crisis, city officials ignore the glaring issue: out-of-control crime and...

Names of the four US Marines who died in yesterday's helicopter crash: Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill. Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston, Texas Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Watersbey, 29, of Baltimore, Md. The Pentagon has just released the names of two more US Marines who were killed in Iraq. I'll post as soon as I find that.