Free Republic

SUNNYVALE -- A prominent Silicon Valley clean-energy startup has been ordered to pay back wages and penalties for bringing in workers from Mexico and paying them about $2.66 an hour in pesos, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday. Sunnyvale-based Bloom Energy, which makes fuel cells and sells energy to clients including AT&T, Adobe, Coca-Cola, eBay, Google and Wal-Mart, was ordered by a judge to pay $31,922 in back wages and an equal amount in damages to 14 welders who were brought in to work alongside domestic workers refurbishing power generators. It followed a federal investigation that inspected records from...

Chinese surgeons have performed the world's first penis transplant on a man whose organ was damaged beyond repair in an accident this year. The incident left the man with a 1cm-long stump with which he was unable to urinate or have sexual intercourse. Doctors spent 15 hours attaching a 10cm penis to the 44-year-old patient after the parents of a brain-dead man half his age agreed to donate their son's organ. Although the operation was a surgical success, surgeons said they had to remove the penis two weeks later. "Because of a severe psychological problem of the recipient and his...

Giving to churches by seniors threatened? Little-noticed part of bill would penalize many for making donations -------------------------------------------------------- Posted: February 1, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Churches and other recipients of charitable giving that rely on senior citizens could face severe hardship if a Medicaid rule-change tucked into a 750-page budget bill passes the House this week, advocacy groups warn. Under current rules, a senior can give a gift to a church without affecting qualification for Medicaid assisted-living coverage, points out the conservative RightMarch.com. But the proposed legislation would take into account every donation for the five years preceding...

Woman severs boyfriend’s genitals after fight Sunday, February 20, 2005 - by Lynn Melling Anchorage, Alaska - A lover's quarrel took a bizarre twist last night. The Anchorage Police Department said late last night, after a fight over a pending breakup, a woman severed her 44-year-old boyfriend's penis. Kim Tran, 35, was arraigned today on charges of domestic violence, assault, and tampering with evidence. Police said after the fight, the couple decided to have sexual relations and he agreed to let Tran tie his arms to the window handle above their bed. That’s when they say Tran pulled out a...

Texas Tech coach Bob Knight has been suspended for five days, a result of his verbal confrontation with university chancellor David Smith on Monday at a grocery store in Lubbock, ESPN's Dick Vitale reports. Pat Knight will replace his father as coach of the Red Raiders for their home game Tuesday night against Baylor, ESPN.com's Andy Katz reports. Pat Knight, aware of the five-day action, also assumes he will coach the team Saturday when the Red Raiders visit Kansas in Lawrence. However, neither Pat Knight or the rest of the Texas Tech coaching staff had been told definitely that Bob...

MONTREAL (AP) -- Blitz, the Montreal Alouettes' mascot, received a reprieve - and a stern reprimand - after being given a penalty for pecking an official during a Canadian Football League game. Alouettes head coach Don Matthews wanted the bird mascot cut after drawing a 15-yard penalty for knocking an official on the head during Montreal's 30-10 victory over the Ottawa Renegades on Sunday. Team spokesman Louis-Philippe Dorais said Monday the mascot will keep his job, but will be confined to the sidelines. He didn't reveal the identity of the person in the costume. "He's been given a warning, but...