Both links are working again. I think the excerpt links (for those articles that have them) always work; if the upper link is broken - as it was for every one I tried yesterday - as a workaround you can go to your browser's address bar, delete the http://www.freerepublic.com/^ string from the beginning of the URL, and try the new URL. For example, change this URL:
http://www.freerepublic.com/^http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57572869-504083/frederick-treesh-execution-ohio-executes-man-who-killed-adult-bookstore-guard-in-1994-crime-spree/
to this:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57572869-504083/frederick-treesh-execution-ohio-executes-man-who-killed-adult-bookstore-guard-in-1994-crime-spree/