Free Republic

The city of Phoenix reached its 31st consecutive day with at least 110-degree heat Sunday, rounding out what many scientists believe will be the Earth’s hottest month on record. Forecasters predict the arrival of thunderstorms late Monday likely will break the record heat on the last day of July; the expected high temperature in the Arizona capital July 31 is 106 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record for longest 110-degree streak in Phoenix was set in 1974, when it had 18 straight days of heat at or above 110 degrees.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) points to FBI background check figures to show that over one million guns have been sold in America every month for the past 38 months. FBI figures show there were 2,470,462 National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) checks performed in the month of September. Mark Olivia, the NSSF’s managing director of public affairs, indicates that 1.2 million of the NICS checks were specifically for gun sales.

SEATTLE – After 22 consecutive days of measurable rain, Seattle is closing in on a record so dismal even forecasters in this city famous for its gray skies are complaining. With more wet weather predicted over the next several days, Seattle may soon break a record set in 1953. The city saw 33 consecutive days of measurable precipitation then – the most since the National Weather Service office there started tracking rainfall in 1931. "Usually we have a few days of rain and one or two days of cloudy and dreary days and then it rains again and that's the...

On November 2, G.W. Bush assured himself eight years in office, on the heels of his predecessor's eight-year presidency. How common are back-to-back two-term presidencies? Not very. Besides the present day, it has happened in only two other time periods in American history. Each time, there were in fact three consecutive multi-term presidencies (FDR had 12 years). The first period was 1801-1825; the second was 1933-1961. Number Name From To Party Years 3 Thomas Jefferson 1801 1809 Democratic-Republican 8 4 James Madison 1809 1817 Democratic-Republican 8 5 James Monroe 1817 1825 Democratic-Republican 8 32 Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1933 1945 Democrat...

LOS ANGELES - University of California regents on Thursday approved a fee hike over the objections of students, who added a theatrical flourish to their arguments by peeling off T-shirts to give officials "the shirts off our backs." The eight percent increase brings average undergraduate fees to $6,769 for in-state residents, including miscellaneous campus fees, and is part of a longterm funding agreement UC officials reached with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last spring. The increase, approved by a vote of 13-1, was part of a budget proposal of $2.8 billion. The hike means UC costs will have gone up for four...

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Ernie Els is recovered, Davis Love III is revitalized and Phil Mickelson is rejuvenated after the birth of his third child. Tiger Woods, though, simply wants to pick up where he left off last year -- by repeating as champion in his third consecutive Masters . Woods will begin his quest for the unprecedented three-peat on Thursday when he tees off at 10:44 a.m. ET with reigning U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes and Angel Cabrera of Argentina. The game's No. 1 player has won three of the first five PGA TOUR events he's entered this year. Woods...