Free Republic

Seattle's soft-on-crime mayor is under the spotlight for her crime policies after two teenagers were shot dead outside a PreK-8 school in broad daylight. Residents slammed Mayor Katie Wilson for failing to address spiraling youth crime in the Washington city after she issued condolences to the families of the students. The two boys, who have not been named, were fatally gunned down at a bus stop beside South Shore PreK-8 school around 4pm on Friday in front of horrified children and teens.

The recent closure of a California oil refinery — and plans to shutter another in the near future — have some experts warning of potential fuel shortages and price spikes in Nevada and other Western states that depend on the Golden State. California supplies roughly 88% of Nevada’s fuel, including diesel and jet fuel. But Phillips 66 closed a refinery in the Los Angeles area in October, and earlier this year, Valero submitted a notice that it plans to close a Bay Area refinery by April 2026. Combined, the two refineries produce 284,000 barrels of oil per day, about 17%...

Gun violence legislation could get a second chance after Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger is inaugurated on Jan. 17.A bill to ban the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is one of several anti-gun violence proposals previously vetoed by Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin that could become law in 2026 under Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.On Jan 7, Democratic Del. Dan Helmer reintroduced a bill in the Virginia House of Delegates to ban large-capacity magazines and prohibit the importation, sale, purchase, or transfer of assault firearms in the commonwealth. Youngkin vetoed similar bills in 2024 and 2025 after they passed in...