Free Republic

COUTTS, Alta. - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says a truck convoy that's blockaded a highway at a busy U.S. border crossing as part of a protest against vaccine mandates violates the province's Traffic Safety Act and must end immediately. The Canada Border Services Agency said the U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta., has remained open despite the blockade on Highway 4, but RCMP say only foot traffic is able to get through. “As I said last week, Canadians have a democratic right to engage in lawful protests. I urge those involved in this truck convoy protest to do so as...

WSJ reports Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is scheduled to make a major “economic announcement” on Tuesday at 5 pm local time concerning new plans for a massive semiconductor plant in Taylor, Texas. South Korean tech giant, Samsung Electronics Co., is doubling down in Texas with another facility, about 30 miles from its manufacturing hub in Austin. The new Taylor facility will cost a whopping $17 billion and create 1,800 jobs. Chip production wouldn’t start until the second half of 2024. WSJ said officials in Taylor incentivized Samsung by giving them “property-tax breaks of up to 92.5% for the first ten...

It still looks like we are nowhere near the end of the ongoing global semi chip shortage. Even worse, more manufacturers are confirming that the shortage could last “for at least another year”, catalyzed by sharp post-pandemic demand for automobiles and electronics. Flex, the world’s third-biggest electronics contract manufacturer, offered up the “gloomiest” forecast for the crisis yet to FT this week. The company has more than 100 sites in 30 countries and works with major names like Dyson and HP. Lynn Torrel, Flex’s chief procurement and supply chain officer, told FT: “With such strong demand, the expectation is mid...

The Michigan State Police organized a unique way to help a man who was threatening suicide on a highway overpass: they pulled together multiple semi truck drivers to help shorten the fall. Tuesday morning, all lanes of 696 were closed at Coolidge in both directions as a man threatened suicide. The first call came in a little before 1 a.m. on Tuesday as the unnamed man was on the bridge over the highway. The eastbound lanes were closed as MSP started organizing semi-truck passing through. A few minutes later, the westbound lanes were also closed as more semis showed up...

VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - It's the interstate many of you have sworn to never travel again. Just this summer, Interstate 70 was the host of several horrific accidents, in a matter of days. But why is that? That is why we are taking a look into what makes I-70 so dangerous. ----------- They are the titans of the road; the giants of the interstate. They are semis. “…semis carry 80 thousand pounds of weight.” Big to all, scary to some. But to Corban Matney, they're a way of life. "Altogether, I've been driving about 30 years." As a semi-truck...

Secret Service Investigating Alleged Bush Threat— WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Secret Service said on Sunday it had no comment on a report that a trucker had been arrested outside Chattanooga, Tennessee after allegedly threatening President Bush. "The Secret Service is conducting an investigation and due to there being an active, ongoing investigation, I can't make any further comment about it," said a Secret Service official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Cable News Network reported the man told police he had a 3,000-pound bomb "... and the president has problems," in a telephone conversation that led to his apprehension...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Technology stocks sold off after a brokerage downgrade on Monday, leading the market lower, while uncertainty over higher oil prices looked set to drive volatility in the days ahead. Wells Fargo downgraded the semiconductor sector, noting it has more than doubled in two years. The PHLX semiconductor index (^SOX - News), up 45 percent since the start of September, fell 2.7 percent. The broad S&P 500 is up about 25 percent in that period.

The lifestyle of truck drivers can lead to many health problems and many drivers are looking at the new safety initiative, CSA 2010 as focusing on the problem of obesity and sleep apnea. The concerns drivers are having is due to the following statement, found in the CSA 2010 document which states: “Driver Fitness BASIC—Operation of CMVs by drivers who are unfit to operate a CMV due to lack of training, experience, or medical qualifications.” The “medical qualification” that many drivers are concerned with, is the possible disqualification due to being overweight. We have received emails from drivers who are...