Free Republic

Amid the heart-wrenching moments of devastation from deadly hurricane Katrina, there is at least one bright spot. Snowball, a small white dog taken by police from a sobbing little boy as he and his family were boarding a bus at the Superdome, has been located, USA Today reported Thursday. Snowball is now at the Louisiana SPCA in Gonzalez and will be reunited with his owner, U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian Terry Conger told the newspaper. The Humane Society of the United States and the Louisiana SPCA rescued 43 dogs and 16 cats from the Superdome and delivered them to a...

Snowball, the little dog who was taken away from a traumatized little boy getting on a bus being evacuated from NOLA is still missing. They thought yesterday that he had been positively identified, but now he is not safe. Another Freeper spoke of pets being put in the stairwell and dying and assumed that Snowball was gone. Please pray that this isn't so and that he is found and reunited with his little boy.

NEW ORLEANS People everywhere are trying to help reunite a young New Orleans boy with his dog, Snowball. The story of the tearful boy torn from his dog while being shuttled to safety last week prompted an outpouring from around the country. Volunteers have been scouring shelters, posting notes on the Internet and making phone calls. The head of the Louisiana S-P-C-A says "Everyone wants to know about Snowball." A Florida woman was so distressed that she started a reward fund and set up a Web site to help reunite people with their lost pets. There's a ray of hope....

An Andover mother charged with assaulting a high school student after her car was pelted with snowballs was acquitted after another woman testified that she had been targeted the day before, the woman's lawyer said yesterday. A Lawrence District Court jury took less than half an hour on Monday to acquit Marie Needs, 48, of one charge each of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. A lesser charge of carrying a firearm -- pepper spray -- without proper registration was dropped. The incident took place March 16, when Needs went to Andover High...

An irate Andover housewife was freed without bail on assault charges after a case of snowball rage allegedly prompted her to chase down some kids with a tire iron and a can of pepper spray. Among the victims was a high school student who reportedly was an innocent bystander who just asked her to move her car. ``(Maria) Needs told him to say one more thing and he would see what would happen and she was waving the metal bar at him,'' read a police report. ``(He) said something sarcastic and at this time, Mrs. Needs sprayed him with pepper...

A 10-year-old boy died after being crushed by a giant snowball, it was reported today.Police refused to name the youngster or release any further details of the incident, but the boy was named locally as Peter Strang, according to the Daily Record newspaper. The accident happened at about 5.45pm on Saturday in Torphins, Aberdeenshire, Grampian Police said. The death was "the result of a tragic accident", a police spokesman said. The primary school pupil apparently died playing with a friend after a "giant snowball" rolled down a hill and engulfed him. Local minister Norman Nicoll told the paper: "It seems...

At one point, a demonstrator made a snowball about the size of an orange and tossed it behind him into a crowd of police and Bush supporters. Within seconds, two large men jumped him, pushed him down to the ground and punched him in the face repeatedly. A crowd quickly gathered, and women screamed for the beating to stop. Blood was visible on the young man's face and on the pavement. He was then led away by police.

WASHINGTON — Bill Clinton could pose a striking — and promising — contrast to President Bush's efforts if he accepts the mission proposed by two would-be Democratic presidents to pursue Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, say some foreign policy analysts. Those supporters add that considering the former president for the job helps Democrats John Kerry (search) and Howard Dean send the right message about their visions for peace in the Middle East. "Clinton would be a formidable negotiator. He has plausibility with both sides in the region, he knows the players and he knows the issues, probably better than any president — probably better than this president," said Will...

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario -- An 11-year-old Canadian boy is recovering in a hospital after he was trapped underneath a half-ton snowball. Officials in Niagara Falls, Ontario, say the boy and his classmates at a Catholic elementary school were rolling the 5-foot-high snowball around the playground when he slipped. The snowball rolled onto him, cutting off his oxygen. Officials say the school principal revived the boy by performing CPR. The boy is expected to make a full recovery. Police are calling it "a freak accident."

PHILADELPHIA -- Some children playing in the snow in West Philadelphia Wednesday got a scare when a man they hit with a snowball allegedly pulled a gun on them. The incident allegedly happened Wednesday morning in the 4400 block of Haverford Avenue.Police said the 51-year-old man was hit in the face with a snowball. He then reportedly pointed a gun at several kids involved.Police have not filed charges against the man, so NBC 10 News is not releasing his name. Investigators said they are getting a search warrant for his home.

A 10-year-old girl is in a critical condition after a man whose daughter was hit by a snowball, returned to the scene and opened fire with a gun. Philadelphia police arrested Joseph Best, 32, on charges including attempted murder after he fired five shots into a crowd of girls. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 March 26 Comet Ikeya-Zhang Over Tenerife Credit & Copyright: Francisco A. Rodriguez Ramirez (AstroEduca) Explanation: Comet Ikeya-Zhang has become bright enough to stand out in the night sky. Discovered February 1, the comet has now just rounded the Sun and has likely attained its peak brightness. The comet appears near the Sun and over the next week moves from the evening sky (just after sunset) to the...