Free Republic

Two drivers, one high and one drunk, slammed into each other on a Virginia road, wrecking their cars while miraculously suffering no injuries themselves, police said. Stafford County deputies arrived at the 1800 block of Mountain View Road Thursday night after receiving a call of two vehicles colliding when one swerved into the wrong lane. Deputies said one car, a silver Honda Civic, crossed the center double-yellow line and struck an oncoming blue Honda Civic, which was knocked off the road. Police found that the driver of the silver Civic, an 18-year-old man, was driving while in possession of a...

A photographer who fell while taking pictures at the Rams's Super Bowl parade revealed afterward that she suffered a fractured spine in the process. A day later, the Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly, are stepping in to take care of the bill. The team and the Staffords released a statement on Thursday wishing the photographer, Kelly Smiley, a speedy recovery and pledging to pay for her hospital bills and replace her cameras, which were also broken in the fall.

For Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, launching ill-advised throws on Monday Night Football seems to run in the family. Stafford’s wife, Kelly, caused a stir by throwing a pretzel at a trash-talking 49ers fan at Levi’s Stadium during the Rams’ 31-10 loss to San Francisco on Monday, a defeat that featured two costly interceptions thrown by her husband. After getting called out on social media by a fan who claimed to witness her fury-filled fling, Kelly Stafford apologized for putting an ugly twist on the Rams’ embarrassing night. “Who do you think you are to do such a thing?” the witness...

Kelly Stafford is fed up. Amid the worsening state of COVID-19 in Michigan, the wife of the Lions’ quarterback took to Instagram to rant about the new restrictions put in place there. Starting this past Wednesday, Michigan placed limitations on indoor gatherings — including shuttering schools and indoor dining in restaurants and bars — for the next three weeks.

Defendants took numerous government-funded trips together, including 31 trips to Orlando BOSTON – An Uxbridge man and Maryland woman were charged with conspiring to defraud the government of thousands of dollars from 2014 to 2018.Thomas Bouchard, 57, of Uxbridge, Mass., was arrested yesterday, and Chantelle Boyd, 50, of Woodsboro, Md., was arrested on Monday, July 6, 2020, and charged with one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of theft of government funds. Boyd was also charged with false declarations before the grand jury.As alleged in the indictment, Bouchard was the Contracting Officer in charge of the U.S. Army Natick...

Kelly Stafford, wife of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, gave the public an update Easter Sunday after undergoing 12 hours of brain surgery — which was supposed to only last six hours.

HYDRO, Okla. — It’s apt that a maze cut into an Oklahoma cornfield featuring the likeness of a former NASA astronaut can be seen from space — and has been photographed by a satellite orbiting Earth. The image of Oklahoma-born Thomas P. Stafford is cut into a 10-acre field at P Bar Farms in Hydro, about 60 miles west of Oklahoma City. The maze was created in partnership with the Stafford Air and Space Museum, named for the astronaut, in nearby Weatherford. A satellite photographed the tribute from its orbit 400 miles away.

Local law enforcement are investigating threats at two area high schools and alerting the public to an increased police presence on campus Thursday. Fairfax County Public Schools acknowledged a threat on social media toward Fairfax High School. "Police are actively investigating and additional officers are at the school," a brief statement noted. No other schools or facilities were impacted. The Stafford County Sheriff's Office is also investigating a threat circulating on social media toward a school with the initials "SHS." "Investigators do not believe the threat is credible," SCSO officials said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution,...

A new Quinnipiac poll has Rand Paul tied for 5th. That’s eight different polls since November showing Paul in 4th place or worse. There was a moment in 2013 when political realignment was within our grasp– a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite conservatives and progressives under the banner of classic Jeffersonian liberalism. That window is closed– squandered by the mind-boggling incompetence of senior adviser Doug Stafford. I know what you’re thinking: It’s still early! Polls don’t matter until [some arbitrary future date]. (SNIP) Rand could meet with Al Sharpton again. Because that went over so well the first time. Rand could...

Virginia State Troopers stop traffic and escort 500+ patriot riders through Stafford, VA (HQ for BigDawg Music Mafia and BigDawg Music Radio) onto I-95 North (which they shut down for this!) as they roll toward DC to take part in the 2 Million Bikers to DC event to honor those who perished on 11 Sep 2001.

One of the five self-described anarchists arrested last week for attempting to blow up a local bridge signed the lease for a West Side warehouse where about a dozen members of the Occupy Cleveland group live. In a one-hour recording of a Friday evening general assembly meeting of the group posted on its website, occupy leaders expressed concern about Anthony Hayne's name being on the lease, which strengthens his link to the group.... "If this gets into the media, it would be a disaster."

Inspired by President Obama’s cheap election-year politicking, Congress has launched into a frenzied, bipartisan panderfest over the Stafford loan program. Late last week, an emotional House speaker John Boehner led House Republicans to vote for an Obama-proposed giveaway he’d denounced just a few days previously. For those who don’t eagerly track the ins and outs of federally subsidized student loans, here’s the deal: Five years ago, in a piece of cheap political theater, Democrats in Congress wrote an additional sweetener for federally subsidized Stafford loans into the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Beyond offering college loans at a guaranteed...

Anyone who still doubts that Obamacare would lead to a government-run health-care system should take a look at Obama’s plans for student loans. Those plans got a big boost this week when Rep. George Miller, the California Democrat who chairs the House Education Committee, introduced legislation to replace federally subsidized private lending with a government-run program, leaving only a sliver of student lending to the private sector and completing a journey to nationalization that began 44 years ago. Compromisers take note: This journey also involves a detour onto the “public option” turnpike.

(snip) The lesson moved into a discussion about Stafford, a small city in Fort Bend County that hasn’t levied a property tax for 14 years. Field listened as others questioned how a community — called home by more than 20,000 people — could function without them. “When you say zero property tax, people don’t believe you,” said Field, who has lived in Stafford for more than two decades. “I still don’t see how it works. I just reap the benefits. I don’t have to understand it.” Stafford stopped levying property taxes in 1995, making it the largest of the less...

Vatican City, Jun 2, 2009 / 10:48 am (CNA).- The Vatican announced this morning that the Pope has accepted the resignation of 77-year-old Cardinal James Francis Stafford, the former Archbishop of Denver, from his post as the Penitentiary Major. He will be replaced by Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, the current apostolic nuncio to France. As head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Stafford has dealt with matters related to sin, mercy and forgiveness. The Penitentiary is one of the three tribunals within the Holy See, and according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, is divided into two sections. The first section deals with the...

Rome, Jul 25, 2008 / 04:08 am (CNA).- Today marks the 40th anniversary of the often debated papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, in which Pope Paul VI reaffirmed the Church’s teaching against contraception. Looking back at the events as he experienced them, Cardinal James Francis Stafford writes that the reaction by dissenters to the papal document involved a level of infidelity which divided the ranks of the clergy to such an extent that they have still not recovered. The recounting of the events of 1968 by Cardinal Stafford-who was a priest in Baltimore at the time of the encyclical’s release-is eloquent, laced with...

I had to shake my head at Debbie Revely's letter concerning illegal aliens ["Illegal immigrants do the jobs too many won't do," July 25]. Sadly, Ms. Revely has fallen victim to two common misconceptions. First, they are "illegal aliens." That is the accepted term, the one used in congressional bills and legal writings. They are not migrant workers, temporary workers, displaced immigrants, or the like. They are illegal aliens, period. Second, this country was not magically produced. We managed to dig ditches, build highways, construct houses and skyscrapers and bridges--all without illegal aliens being paid pennies an hour. They do...

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 21, 2005) -- Being a Marine is something Lance Cpl. Joel Mulligan always wanted to be. Coming from a military family, the choice wasn’t hard for the 20-year-old from Stafford, Va. “I’d always wanted to be a Marine,” said Mulligan. “Plus my best friend’s dad was a recruiter, so I learned a lot about the Corps through him.” Mulligan, who eventually left for recruit training Nov. 10, 2003, actually postponed his entry date so he could become a machine gunner in the Marine Corps. “I had to wait more than eight months to get the (Military...

She makes a symbolic visit to DeLay's office, attends anti-war rally at a church Cindy Sheehan, now internationally known for her crusade to get President Bush to explain her son's death in Iraq, swung through the Houston area Thursday with a busload of anti-war protesters. She went to U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's office in Stafford and an evening anti-war rally at a local church. At DeLay's office, she asked to meet with the Republican power broker and supporter of the Iraq war. But DeLay wasn't there to hear her plea. "We didn't get an appointment. We were told...

Device designed to enhance small-unit leaders' communication and battle planning could enter fleet by OctoberSubmitted by: MCB Camp PendletonStory Identification Number: 200421916118Story by Gunnery Sgt. Matt Hevezi MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Feb. 19, 2004) -- Small-unit infantry leaders who must serve on the digital battlefield are poised to take what observers say will be a huge leap forward in battlefield communications and navigation technology when they begin receiving and using a palm-pilot-like device called the Dismounted Data Automated Communications Terminal. Built to withstand the most rugged of field conditions, the device -- which could start entering the fleet...