Free Republic

Aid push made for 5 tied to Hamas Backers seek to raise $500,000 for Muslim brothers' legal team 02/15/2003 By STEVE McGONIGLE / The Dallas Morning News Supporters of five brothers accused of doing business with Middle Eastern terrorists are asking the Dallas-area Muslim community to help raise $500,000 to pay for a team of prominent attorneys hired to defend the men. The Muslim Legal Fund of America, a nonprofit group established by friends of Richardson businessman Ghassan Elashi and his brothers, is having a fund-raiser Saturday at the Dallas Central Mosque. A leaflet distributed by the fund described...

Bilingual poll workers eyed for DFW area Associated Press FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Tarrant County election officials are recruiting bilingual poll workers to handle the anticipated large turnout among newly minted U.S. citizens. The county plans to place a bilingual clerk at each of the 400 voting sites for the Nov. 2 election to help voters understand the mechanics of casting a ballot. "We think we are going to have a large turnout. We just want to be able to provide assistance to whoever needs it," said Gayle Hamilton, Tarrant Countys assistant elections administrator, in Sundays Fort Worth Star-Telegram. English...

Minority activists air complaints about proposed redistricting AUSTIN (AP) — Minority activists and elected officials testified Wednesday that a Republican-drawn congressional redistricting map could hurt the political progress black and Hispanic Texans have made over many years. "I think it's probably going to set us back maybe 20, 25 years," said Deralyn Riles Davis, a black political activist from Tarrant County. "The people are going to be discouraged." Attorneys for the state say Republican legislative leaders were trying to craft a congressional map for partisan gain, and that race was not a predominant factor. They dispute claims by Democrats and...