Free Republic

~SNIP~ "Those willing to pitch in are being instructed to show up at the Lincoln County entrance and bring two forms of ID, with one being either a Social Security card or a birth certificate. Also, you must be 18 or older." ~SNIP~

The idea that the proposed new Red Wings arena will revitalize midtown Detroit is the reason given for the $260 million in corporate welfare that will help finance the project. The idea that a new sports arena will spur economic development, however, lacks credibility. An NHL season only has 41 home games, meaning the arena is closed for the most of the other 324 days of the year with the exception of some concerts or other special events. Not much development can take place around a facility that is closed nearly 90 percent of the year. Take the Palace of...

A deal for hundreds of millions of dollars in public money to draw the Atlanta Braves north of their downtown home is pitting conservative tea party activists against the elected and civic leaders in the staunch Republican county, with opponents saying the use of public money to help a private business is not what American capitalism should be about. The argument for the deal is simple, says Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee and other supporters. Almost $400 million in county bonds and immediate infrastructure improvements, with debt payments approaching $600 million over 30 years - will generate enough economic...

A Minnesota legislator wants a provision stripped from the Vikings new stadium lease that would prevent the building from being used by businesses that sell guns and other weapons. Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo of Farmington said in a letter Thursday that the restriction could discourage hunting and outdoors groups from holding offseason events at the planned $975 million stadium, which is being built with a partial public subsidy. The Associated Press reported on the clause this week that is contained in a 30-year stadium lease.

There are many issues that led to bankruptcy in Detroit and everyone and his brother seems to have a theory. Rather than rehashing the reasons why Detroit went bankrupt, let’s discuss what did not save it: Flashy projects. Back in 2005, my colleague Michael LaFaive compiled a partial list of bold proclamations about projects in the Motor City: Fox Theatre. "Their moving downtown (from the suburbs) was one of the pivotal events in turning things around down here" — Michael Hauser, marketing manager, Michigan Opera Theatre, on renovation of the Fox Theatre and office complex ("Fox Theatre’s rebirth ushered in...

A 22-year-old Chicago man was arrested over the weekend for plotting to carry out a bombing outside a strip of crowded Wrigleyville night spots, according to the FBI. They also alleged that Sami Samir Hassoun, of the 4700 block of North Kedzie Avenue, had previously discussed a number of violent plots in Chicago, including a biological attack on the city, poisoning Lake Michigan, attacking police officers, bombing the Willis Tower and assassinating Mayor Richard Daley. But he is only charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted use of an explosive device in connection with the...

SNIPPET: "The North African terror group al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has threatened to attack this summer's World Cup games in South Africa. "How amazing could the match United States vs. Britain be when broadcasted live on air at a stadium packed with spectators when the sound of an explosion rumbles through the stands, the whole stadium is turned upside down and the number of dead bodies are in their dozens and hundreds, Allah willing," reads a statement the group published in a recent issue of the Jihadi online magazine Mushtaqun Lel Jannah (Longing to Paradise)." SNIPPET: "In addition...

The electronic pulltab sales slated to help fund the Vikings stadium are nowhere near their projected target, even after the state lowered that target last month, a House committee learned Wednesday. (snip) The sale of electronic pulltabs, run by Minnesota charities, was supposed to generate $348 million in taxes to underwrite the state's share of the cost of a new Vikings stadium. But the electronic pulltab games, introduced in September, have pulled in just $4.2 million in gross receipts -- and $635,000 in net receipts after prizes were paid.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said Thursday he won't seek a fourth term as leader of Minnesota's largest city, creating the first open race for the office in two decades. Rybak's announcement came less than a year before voters in the city of almost 400,000 will choose a new mayor. Several potential candidates had been waiting on Rybak to make a decision before declaring whether they would run, and the field is likely to be large. The decision also should ramp up speculation about Rybak's next political move. The 57-year-old Democrat has been mentioned as a possible addition to President Barack...

The Los Angeles City Council on Friday approved a $1.2 billion plan to build a downtown football stadium, moving America's second most populous city closer than it's been in nearly two decades to having a professional football team. Council members voted unanimously in favor of the Anschutz Entertainment Group's proposal to erect the 72,000-seat stadium in the city's downtown core. It will be named "Farmer's Field." AEG, controlled by billionaire Phil Anschutz, is up for sale but an agreement with the city will require its new owners to take up the stadium project.

Juhl Wind will provide 520,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy credits over the eight regular season home games, which is equal to conventionally produced coal-fired electricity that results in 507,570 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, Juhl Wind estimated. The credits offset the electricity used throughout the Metrodome, covering everything from the concession stands to the scoreboards and making the Vikings one of the only National Football League teams to play in a 100 percent green-powered facility during the entire 2012-2013 season, Corey Juhl said. To be clear: The Vikings are not using wind power to light up the Dome. Juhl Wind...

Team Obama promises it will fill every one of the seats in Charlotte’s mammoth football stadium Thursday night when President Obama closes the Democratic National Convention with a speech accepting his party’s nomination. For weeks, Democrats have been concerned about filling Bank of America Stadium, home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. They feared a devastating image of an enthusiasm gap if Obama spoke to empty upper decks at the venue. But the Obama campaign says it’s got it covered, and that all 73,778 of the stadium’s seats will be spoken for. The campaign also insists this success will showcase a...

Welcome to 'Panthers Stadium' (UPDATED)By MAGGIE HABERMAN | 7/17/12 7:38 AM EDT National Democrats have repeatedly touted their stand against taking corporate money for their convention in September, and so it was striking to see two emails from the DNC host committee referring to the Charlotte venue where President Obama will speak as "Panthers Stadium." It's the place where the Panthers play, but it's actually called Bank of America stadium. A recent email from the host committee signed by former Al Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile urged people to win a trip to Charlotte for the event, which will wrap...

Team Obama promises it will fill every one of the seats in Charlotte’s mammoth football stadium Thursday night when President Obama closes the Democratic National Convention with a speech accepting his party’s nomination. For weeks, Democrats have been concerned about filling Bank of America Stadium, home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. They feared a devastating image of an enthusiasm gap if Obama spoke to empty upper decks at the venue. But the Obama campaign says it’s got it covered, and that all 73,778 of the stadium’s seats will be spoken for.

I am at the Beck rally. I would guess crowd is somewhere between 50,000 and 60,000. Just getting started!!!

The Minnesota Senate has approved a financing plan for a new Vikings stadium. By a 36-30 vote the afternoon of Thursday, May 10, senators passed the bill to fund a new $975 million stadium. The bill now heads to Gov. Mark Dayton for his signature. Dayton has been a ardent support of the bill. The Senate vote came hours after the Minnesota House gave its support to the plan. The deal is a compromise bill after a conference committee ironed out differences between earlier versions. A key change was requiring the team to pay an additional $50 million than first...

The Minnesota House passed the conference committee version of the Vikings stadium bill early Thursday, May 10, leaving Senate approval as the last obstacle before the bill would head to Gov. Mark Dayton's desk. The bill passed 71-60 after about two hours of debate on the floor. The conference committee bill raises the amount the team would pay by $50 million. The team's contribution is now $477 million, up from $427 million. That drops the state's contribution from $398 million to $348 million. Minneapolis' contribution remains unchanged at $150 million.

After seven hours of debate Tuesday, May 8, here are the key differences between the Senate bill and what the House passed the night before. Debate in the Senate began about 1 p.m. Tuesday and was hitting its stride by 8 p.m. when this list was compiled. A number of amendments to the Senate version were still pending.

Minneapolis, MN – The new stadium plan for the Minnesota Vikings has received approval from the state's House of Representatives. After passing by a margin of 73-58, the proposal will next move to the state Senate. "It's the first hurdle, a couple more to go, but we're really excited," said Vikings vice president Lester Bagley.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (center) loses her shoe while Houston Mayor Annise Parker (left), Houston Dynamo President Chris Canetti, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Kent Friedman, Chairman of the Board Harris County Houston Sports Authority and El Franco Lee, Harris County Precinct One Commissioner kick soccer balls into the net during the Houston Dynamo and BBVA Compass Stadium ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Houston. Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle / © 2012 Houston Chronicle ........Unable to secure public funding for a stadium in San Jose or even nearby Fremont, it was only a matter of time...