Free Republic

An Ohio State University assistant football coach was carjacked recently while visiting Cleveland to recruit for the school. The coach was in town visiting Ginn Academy when he was carjacked at gunpoint…. Responding officers used a helicopter to track the vehicle and its four occupants. When it finally came to a stop, the occupants jumped out and ran off. They were captured a short time later.

Two Cleveland Browns players had their cars stolen over the weekend, one of them at gunpoint, according to officials and online reports. Cornerback Greg Newsome II had his car taken during an armed robbery at 3:30 a.m. Monday near the 700 block of Superior Avenue, according to interviews and a report in Sports Illustrated. ..snip.. Both cars were Hellcats, a high-end Dodge model that has gained popularity in recent years. The Browns said the players did not want to speak about the incidents.

Henry Darrow, the pride of Puerto Rico who starred as the charming Manolito Montoya, the son of a wealthy Mexican land baron, on the 1967-71 NBC Western The High Chaparral, has died. He was 87.

Whitey Ford, a Hall of Fame pitcher who won more World Series games than any other pitcher, died on Friday, the New York Yankees announced. He was 91.Ford had a career record of 236-106, setting the Yankees club records for victories. He was the Cy Young Award winner in 1961, and was a 10-time All-Star.

Linda Cristal, the fiery and humble Argentine-born actress who became a star and pioneer for minority and women performers after fleeing to the U.S. as a child, has died. She was 89. Cristal’s son, Jordan Wexler, confirmed the screen and stage actress’ death to Fox News on Monday, saying that Cristal went peacefully in her sleep at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Saturday.

James Drury, who starred as the no-name, no-nonsense foreman of the Shiloh Ranch on The Virginian, one of the longest-running Westerns in the history of television, died Monday of natural causes. He was 85.

Jimmy "The Toy Cannon" Wynn, a legendary Houston Astros outfielder known for having tremendous power at just 160 pounds, died Thursday. He was 78. The 5-foot-9 slugger hit 20 homers five times and 30 homers twice during his time with the Astros.

Tasty Pizza in Lyndhurst is offering a free roll of toilet paper and a large plain pizza to anyone who buys an extra-large pizza. The promotion, which the owner undertook to help the business' many loyal customers during a difficult time, has been well-received.

Stuart Whitman, the rugged actor who starred on TV's Cimarron Strip, has died. He was 92. Whitman died Monday of natural causes at his home in Montecito, California, his son Justin told The Hollywood Reporter.

*Vanity post* I'm 55 years old, diagnosed with a torn meniscus cartilage on the inner right knee. Got injured playing ball about six months ago, slipped and fell running the bases. I had the knee drained and got a cortisone shot a couple of months ago, but it started hurting again recently. Got an MRI where the diagnosis was made. Not sure yet of the extent of the tear, or if there is fraying of the meniscus also. I am seeing an orthopedic surgeon and may possibly elect for arthroscopic surgery. Any FReepers have surgery for a torn meniscus? How...

Tommy Henrich, the oldest living Yankee who won four World Series rings with the club, died Tuesday morning in Dayton, Ohio. He was 96. Known as "Old Reliable" for his consistently clutch play, Henrich hit 183 home runs over his 11 seasons (1937 through 1942 and 1946 through 1950), and was a lifetime .282 hitter.

An 8-year-old Cincinnati Zoo cheetah named Sarah ran 100 meters in 6.13 seconds today, setting the world speed record for land mammals, according to a newspaper report.

Derek Jeter is known as a player in every sense of the word, and Maxim's upcoming Hot 100 list reflects that sentiment. The magazine told AM NewYork exclusively that six members of the Jeter exes club have made the annual list, which hits newsstands May 20. The sexy ladies are Jessica Biel, Scarlett Johansson, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Minnillo, Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba. Johansson and Biel land somewhere in the top 10, though Maxim wouldn't give any more specifics.

Hillary Clinton has cut Barack Obama’s lead in North Carolina to one point, according to the newest survey from Public Policy Polling. Obama leads 44-43 in the state, after leading by four points in a similar poll conducted by PPP two weeks ago. Clinton has particularly made gains with female voters, with whom she now has a slight lead after trailing in the previous poll.

In a stark, unfinished office space in a gritty corner of Philadelphia along the Delaware River, Hillary Clinton supporters gathered last Sunday to plan a campaign that wasn't supposed to happen.(snip)In fact, the state's April 22 primary is shaping up to be another so-called decisive battle in the Democratic campaign. It is the single biggest prize in the next six weeks, with 103 delegates up for a vote. With her comeback victories in Texas and Ohio, Clinton needs a solid victory here to justify a potential triumph at the convention with a superdelegate strategy.

Tige Andrews, the Emmy-nominated character actor who portrayed a police captain in charge of a trio of hip, young crime fighters in "The Mod Squad," has died. He was 86. Andrews died Jan. 27 of cardiac arrest at his home in the San Fernando Valley, his family said. The actor often played detectives during his television career, which spanned five decades and included appearances on more than 60 shows. His daughter said he was proud of his stint as Capt. Adam Greer on "The Mod Squad," which aired during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The popular TV drama starred...

The organizers of the Miss USA pageant said Thursday they are evaluating the "behavioral and personal issues" of the reigning winner and will decide her future within a week. Pageant officials and Donald Trump, who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization with NBC, would not say what Kentucky native Tara Conner, 20, had done to prompt the serious evaluation. "I can't really talk about it now," Trump said. "But we have to make a decision. There is no question about that." Internet gossip Web site TMZ.com reported that pageant officials and NBC met Tuesday to discuss Conner's alleged bad behavior, "including...

A third of the way through the football season, Ohio Stadium got a new playing surface on Tuesday. Workers laid 70,000 square feet of sod on the field, replacing a 3-year-old slab of grass that had badly deteriorated. After Saturday's 28-6 win over Penn State, the third home game of the season, there were large areas of worn and torn turf, particularly at midfield and within a few feet of the home and visitor sidelines.

Once upon a time, before he went into politics, Ronald Reagan was one of Hollywood's popular leading men, with 60 films to his credit. Unfortunately, only a few of them have made it to DVD, and even fewer in editions of any merit. That happily changes Tuesday, when the long overdue "Ronald Reagan: The Signature Collection" (Warner, $50) comes out.

<p>Whenever someone mentioned pancakes, without fail Thomas E. Jones would immediately think of Harry Truman.</p> <p>It's an odd word association for sure, but it's understandable given Jones' unusual place in our nation's history.</p> <p>On Aug. 14, 1945, Jones, a 16-year-old messenger in Washington, D.C., was entrusted to deliver to the White House the cable announcing Japan's surrender to the United States to end World War II.</p>