Free Republic

A witness in Kyle Rittenhouse’s murder trial told a Wisconsin jury Friday that he didn’t feel threatened by the first man fatally shot by the accused gunman. Jason Lackowski — who went to Kenosha the night that Rittenhouse, 18, fatally shot two men and wounded another — recalled victim Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, “acting belligerently” when he was asking people to shoot him and taunting them to come at him by “false stepping.” “He did a few false stepping — making a step to entice someone to do something,” Lackowski testified. “After he did that a few times, I turned my...

A Florida engineer is adamant he spoke with Brian Laundrie on a deserted road near the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina on Saturday morning. Dennis Davis’ alleged encounter with the boyfriend of slain Long Island native Gabby Petito comes as police receive tips that Laundrie may be traversing the trail, the world’s longest footpath. “There is no doubt in my mind I spoke to Brian Laundrie — none whatsoever,” Davis, 53, said. “Dog the Bounty Hunter’s daughter sent me an audio file of Brian’s voice and the voice was the same I heard.” A lost and dazed man allegedly waved...

Imagine purchasing a home and living in it and paying taxes on that home and property for decades. Then being told part of that property you paid taxes on is in violation and must be being taken away without compensation. Not only that, you’re responsible for footing the cost of removing the stuff you have on that land, like your fence or shed. Oh, and it has to be done in a few months time.

Beefed-up security came with a hefty price tag at the murder trial of ex-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd. The Minnesota city’s police department chalked up $2.9 million in overtime during the high-profile trial, which led to Chauvin’s conviction on murder charges, Fox affiliate KMSP-TV reported. The revelation came as Minneapolis police asked the city council at a Wednesday night hearing for $5 million in additional funding to offset spiraling costs, KMSP said.

WASHINGTON — Former President George W. Bush said Tuesday that the trial of Derek Chauvin has been conducted "fairly" as the nation awaits the jury’s verdict in the case. Speaking on NBC’s “TODAY” show in his first live television interview in three years, Bush was asked by co-anchor Hoda Kotb what impact he thought the verdict will have on the racial reckoning across the country.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters Thursday the upcoming impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump is about the “protection of the constitution and the preservation of our republic.” The 80-year-old California lawmaker made the remarks while speaking to reporters during Thursday’s press conference, explaining that Democrats will “insist upon the integrity and fairness of the proceedings” while recognizing the role that the Senate plays.

Friday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sounded off on the House sending over the article of impeachment citing President Donald Trump with inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. Blumenthal said on “CNN Newsroom” that the evidence of Trump inciting the riot is “pretty open and shut” given his speech and tweets leading up to and following the chaos that ultimately left five dead and others injured. With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) set to send over the article of impeachment on Monday, Blumenthal said the trial “can happen in days, not weeks.”

Left-wing documentary filmmaker Michael Moore issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump as he delivered his farewell address to the nation on Wednesday, saying that the outgoing president should be tried, convicted, and imprisoned. “He has just left the White House for good. We the people have evicted him. I will go ahead & cancel the U-Haul. He now flies over the wreckage he has created, knowing we are not done with him,” Michael Moore said. “Trial. Conviction. Imprisonment. He must pay for his actions – a first-ever for him.”

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) said Wednesday on MSNBC’s “All In” that President Donald Trump will have a full trial in the Senate “for his incitement of an insurrection.” Markey said I was very proud of the way in which the House of Representatives conducted the debate and ultimately cast the correct historical vote to impeach Donald Trump. I think that it’s the only answer that can be given. History must have recorded that there was a second indelible impeachment scarlet letter that was attached to Donald Trump and to his presidency. I think that the excellent work which they did...

A judge ruled Thursday that 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse will stand trial on six counts tied to events that occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin, August 25, 2020. Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and attempted first-degree intentional homicide following the August 25th deaths of Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during riots sparked by the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse allegedly shot three people, two of whom succumbed to their wounds.

Some participants for leading COVID-19 vaccine trials have reported experiencing grueling side effects after receiving the shot — such as high fever, body aches, headaches and exhaustion. Five participants — three in Moderna’s study and two in Pfizer’s late-stage trials — said the uncomfortable side effects usually went away within a day, but some were surprised by how severe they were, CNBC reported.

During an interview with MSNBC during their Senate impeachment trial coverage on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) stated that the Senate not getting witnesses during its impeachment trial is more likely than them getting witnesses. Schumer stated, “[H]ow it will have to happen is not one person doing it, but a couple of them, when they talk privately say, maybe we should do it and get a group together of five or six or seven, and they do it together. Is that certain to happen? Not at all. Is it more [likely] than not? I’d have to say...

The once distant and gauzy fantasy of impeaching President Donald Trump is becoming very real for Democrats, just not quite how they wanted or expected it to. As we move into public testimony this week, the wheels of presidential removal are stuck in deeper mud than ever. The polls have been flat or reversing back Trump’s way for weeks despite alleged bombshell revelations, and the worst could be yet to come if and when the issue moves to the Senate. Over the weekend, many Democrats and media allies moved away from the dulcet sound of the Latin “quid pro quo”...

On the morning of Saturday, July 13, Cindy Eiseler and three of her friends were running along the Lansing River Trail by Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan, when they heard a voice calling for help from the woods nearby. “We heard a man’s voice crying out ‘I need help, I need help!’” Eiseler told Runner’s World. “It stopped us dead in our tracks not knowing exactly where the man’s voice was coming from.” The group did not want to venture into the woods alone, so they called 911 and assured the man that help was on the way. While...

What are FReeper's thoughts on the Ruger LCP .380 vs. the Taurus Spectrum .380 as a trail gun? I am looking for something fairly small and light, with decent punch, but decent quality, to carry in a backpack while hiking, fishing, etc. Budget is limited to around $200. I might spring for a 2nd magazine to keep snakeshot* charges in, the 1st would get hollow points. I have looked at and briefly handled a Ruger LCP .380: Size, weight, and "feel" are all good for me. Reviews seem to indicate it is very reliable and not ammo picky. The Taurus...

It was after his third mental competency test, all of which he passed, that Joseph Tigano started getting desperate. After all, by that point he had spent six years locked inside the Niagara County, N.Y., jail, awaiting trial on a charge of growing pot. It would be another year before the trial began. The wheels of justice are known for turning slowly, but they moved so sluggishly in Mr. Tigano’s case that on Tuesday, the United States Appeals Court for the Second Circuit issued a scathing opinion dismissing his indictment. In the opinion, the court said the case was the...

SIERRA VISTA — With a passion for the outdoors, Rep. Martha McSally is launching an initiative to promote Arizona’s natural beauty and diverse landscape across the state. On Saturday, she led an entourage of hikers from the Coronado National Memorial parking down the Arizona Trail to its starting point at the Arizona/Mexico border, highlighting the trail while calling attention to “the extraordinary diversity of public lands” in Arizona. The 800-mile Arizona Trail extends from Arizona’s border with Mexico at its southernmost point and heads north to the border with Utah. McSally said she plans to tackle the trail in sections,...

Thanks to Del. Kaye Kory for sending me this; I strongly agree! I’d add that anyone who thought it was a good idea to jam a bike/pedestrian right next to car and trucks on I-66 seriously needs to have their heads examined. WTF???COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA RICHMONDAugust 11, 2017The Honorable Aubrey Layne Virginia Department of Transportation Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor 1111 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219Re: I-66 HOT Lanes Shared Use Trail ObjectionsSecretary Layne:We are writing to express our opposition to the current design of the shared use path on Interstate 66 (I-66 Trail) proposed...

Ultra Runner Karl Meltzer Sets Appalachian Trail Record, Fueled by Beer and Candy - NYTimes.com By LINDSAY CROUSE September 18, 2016 At a time when “endurance running” no longer means mere marathons — and even 100-mile races are attracting the masses — Karl Meltzer, a former ski-resort bartender, has proved he can suffer longer and faster than almost anyone else. When he staggered onto Springer Mountain in Georgia before dawn Sunday, Meltzer set a record for completing the Appalachian Trail. He covered the 2,190 miles over 14 states in 45 days 22 hours 38 minutes. Meltzer, 48, is a little...

Many people are wondering how it’s possible to track the CoC/Wall Street Jeb Bush election strategy, outlined here. While I usually don’t post these types of research material links (it can get rather wonky), perhaps this will assist readers in understanding what leads to our road-map. Since the advent of the Citizens United decision, the GOPe affiliates have used Super-Pacs to fund political candidates. Unfortunately, this means you don’t get to see the actual donors to those PAC’s – which means there’s an additional curtain to the donor. The development of, and refinement of, this strategy (which took place in...