Free Republic

Speaking to reporters at the White House Monday afternoon, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre assured Americans a number of "objects" that were shot down by the U.S. in recent days are not aliens or extraterrestrial beings. The clarification comes after United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command General Glen VanHerck refused to rule out the possibility the objects could be aliens. And while the White House claims they know unknown objects were not aliens, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters the objects still cannot be identified and cannot be classified as balloons. When...

WASHINGTON - Steven Miller, who resigned on Wednesday as the acting head of the Internal Revenue Service, said in a message to colleagues that there is a "strong and immediate need" to restore public trust in the nation's tax agency. Miller resigned after the IRS became embroiled in a controversy over the agency's targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny. "It is with regret that I will be departing from the IRS as my acting assignment ends in early June," Miller said in an internal message that was released by the IRS. "This has been an incredibly difficult time for...

A two-block section of Third Avenue near the King County Courthouse was closed for two hours Friday morning after a man carrying an object that resembled a pipe bomb told people he was a vampire looking for food. Bomb-squad officers took the 33-year-old man into custody near the main entrance to the King County Courthouse about an hour after police received the first call at 8:11 a.m. Police said the man had a section of pipe taped to his arm. "It was fashioned to look like a pipe bomb, but it was not a real explosive device," police said...

Choking game's deadly lure: Some kids cut off own their own oxygen supply for the lightheaded buzz, but the consequences can be deadly By COURTNEY HOLLANDS The Patriot Ledger NORWELL - Brian Moore was halfway through his freshman year at Norwell High School, playing basketball, studying for his driver's license and dating the prettiest girl in the sophomore class. On a day in January, he got together with friends down the street to eat Chinese food and watch the movie ‘‘Anchorman.'' He came home around 7 at night to finish schoolwork and kissed his mom on the cheek as his...