Free Republic

Assault charges have been filed against a father and a referee following an altercation at a pee-wee football game in Northeast Philadelphia. Police say 40-year-old Wayne Durkotch of Philadelphia complained that his son wasn't playing enough Sunday in a game for six-year-olds at Burholme Park. During the argument, police say, Durkotch pulled out a loaded gun. Police say Durkotch's brother also began fighting with a referee and the referee, 39-year-old Shawn Henwood of Philadelphia, punched the brother. Police broke up the fights charged Durkotch with aggravated assault and related offences. The referee was charged with simple assault. Police say no...

The American Legion opened its national convention in Salt Lake City this week with high hopes the gathering would help "unite America" behind the war in Iraq. Instead, the veterans have found themselves in a fight with the city's anti-war mayor. Mayor Rocky Anderson, a Democrat in a city that is considered liberal by heavily Republican Utah's standards, has accused the Bush administration of lying about the rationale for war. He has called President Bush a "complete disaster." And he organized a protest rally Wednesday a few blocks from the Salt Palace Convention Center, just hours before Bush's arrival here...

<p>After more than 20 years of operations, NASA provided a new view of a shuttle launch on Monday, as they returned to flight after a four-month hiatus.</p> <p>For the first time, television and internet viewers of the launch were able to see first the launch pad, then Cape Canaveral, then Florida, and finally the earth itself get rapidly smaller as the shuttle ascended on its tail of fire.</p>