Free Republic

Pell grants aid confined sex offenders A stretched grant program is giving college money to offenders who served their time but are deemed unfit to rejoin society. By LEONORA LaPETER, Times Staff Writer Published October 27, 2003 David Depuy is a twice-convicted rapist who has been behind bars all but two of the last 31 years. In prison, he turned to education, and the government helped. He began taking classes in 1973 and continued on and off until 1994, when politicians decided that giving criminals financial aid grants for college wasn't a good idea. Then in 1999, Depuy finished his...

YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORKSex predators getting federal grantsFlorida law loophole allows offenders to receive cash for education Posted: December 17, 200311:08 a.m. Eastern © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com Sexual predators confined to mental-health facilities in Florida are receiving federal grants to take college courses. The taxpayer-funded tuition grants are allowed because the offenders are considered "residents," not "inmates," Fox News reports. A 1994 federal law prohibits "inmates" from getting financial aid. In Florida, jurors are allowed to confine the worst sexual predators to mental-health facilities rather than prisons. As such, they are able to take advantage of their status as "residents" and qualify to...

Meanwhile, back on the homefront ... Posted: December 17, 20031:00 a.m. Eastern © 2003 Creators Syndicate, Inc. The world is a better place now that the tyrant from Tikrit has been hoisted out of his fetid little hole. Our president, intelligence officers and brave men and women in uniform deserve the highest praise and prayers for a job well done. But the euphoria over Saddam Hussein's capture abroad must be tempered by the lingering reality of national security deficiencies here at home. Yes, we are safer now that Hussein is in custody. But we could and should be a lot safer...

The prospect of millions of Mexicans receiving United States Social Security checks is moving closer to reality. The Gannett News Service reports U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing a "totalization" agreement that would transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in payments south of the border. The plan would allow documented and undocumented immigrants to return home but still collect U.S. benefits. WorldNetDaily reported the idea to merge both countries' Social Security systems was pushed late last year by Mexican President Vincente Fox as payback from President George W. Bush for failing to secure major new immigration reforms beneficial to Mexico...

Something I often see missing in the news about illegal immigrants, is what they bring to America. We all know about the financial drain on health care, and welfare, but what about the culture shock to American citizens? Have you seen how some of our cities are looking lately? Illegals are coming over in such great numbers that we are starting to live in their cultural standards. My neighborhood is now filled with people that think the front yard is a parking lot, and that standing in the front yard drinking Bud Light and partying after work is OK. Businesses...

<p>Felicia McCray's daughter came home last year from Carstens Elementary School on Detroit's east side with a new burgundy coat.</p> <p>Kayja, now 9, also showed her mother her new hat, gloves, shoes, uniform, hair accessories and a voucher to Payless ShoeSource to get another pair of shoes.</p>

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. LONDON (Reuters) - Two British mental health workers visited a woman patient, chatted with her, and then left without realizing she was dead, newspapers said on Thursday. An inquest heard the workers from the mental health charity Mind let themselves into the home of paranoid schizophrenic Patricia Harris and found her sitting in the kitchen with the curtains drawn and her back to them. After saying hello, they tried talking to Harris, 43, but when she failed to respond they left, the Daily Mail reported. "She didn't seem to want us...