Free Republic

The University of Saint Katherine, a small nonprofit in North San Diego County, recently announced it will close May 18, citing “financial pressure due to unprecedented inflation and rising state-mandated labor costs.” It’s not alone. Nationwide, universities face financial hardships that appear to be getting worse. More than 100 colleges and universities have closed or merged, or announced plans to, over the last eight years, according to a tracker updated this month by Higher Ed Dive. The list, which does not include for-profit colleges and also omits mergers among public institutions, totals 108 since 2016. The closures span the spectrum...

A powerful blizzard that a meteorologist described as being 'as bad as it gets' howled in the Sierra Nevada mountains with wind gusts as strong as 190mph in the Lake Tahoe region, closing a long stretch of Interstate 80 and a 75-mile section of U.S. 395 in Northern California, forcing ski resorts to shut down, leaving thousands of homes without power. More than 10 feet of snow was expected at higher elevations creating a 'life-threatening concern' for residents near Lake Tahoe and blocking travel on the key east-west freeway. Blizzard conditions along I-80 saw hundreds trapped in their vehicles overnight,...

The Messenger is shutting down less than a year after the fledgling media company opened its doors with ambitions of building a leading news brand. In a statement to staff Wednesday afternoon, founder Jimmy Finkelstein wrote that the company would close, “effective immediately,” due to insurmountable financial difficulties. “Over the past few weeks, literally until earlier today, we exhausted every option available and have endeavored to raise sufficient capital to reach profitability,” Finkelstein wrote. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to do so, which is why we haven’t shared the news with you until now. This is truly the last thing...

Doctors have released a damning new report on America’s “failures” during the COVID pandemic, revealing that keeping schools closed for longer than necessary and forcing people to mask outside led the country to experience “eye-wateringly high” death rates compared to other first-world nations. Duke University professor Gavin Yamey and Drexel University professor Ana Roux said the pandemic “failures began at the top” with poor communication from the federal government, which demonstrated a “surprising inability to generate reliable information, communicate it in a timely and consistent manner and translate it into sound policy.”

EAGLE PASS, Texas — The Biden administration continues releasing migrants in the Texas border town of Eagle Pass. This is despite repeated claims by the administration that the border is “not open.” Despite repeated social media messaging by President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security advising the public, “The U.S. border is not open to unlawful migration,” more than two hundred migrants unlawfully entered the United States in the border town of Eagle Pass by daybreak. Also, in contrast to the assertion, Customs and Border Protection-contracted buses continue to release migrants into the United States at a local non-government shelter.

An Anglican vicar has slammed Yorkshire Building Society for closing his account after he accused them of promoting gender ideology. Rev Richard Fothergill, a longstanding customer with the building society, wrote to them in June to complain about their public messaging during Pride month. The 62-year-old says within four days, he received a reply telling him his internet savings account would be closed, The Times reports. Rev Fothergill, of Windermere, Cumbria, has since accused the banking giant of 'bullying' and said: 'I wasn't even aware that our relationship had a problem. They are a financial house – they are not...

One of the largest supermarkets in downtown San Francisco closed its doors this week due to deteriorating street conditions nearby. Increased drug use and crime near the Whole Foods on Eighth and Market, which opened just one year ago, contributed to the store’s closing, a city hall source told the San Francisco Standard. “We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being,” a Whole Foods spokesperson said in a statement. “If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location.” The news comes after...

On Friday’s “PBS NewsHour,” White House Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that “it’s tough to say” if federal guidance to close down for the coronavirus pandemic went on for too long in light of states like Florida that opened up before the federal government recommended and did relatively fine. Host Judy Woodruff asked, “We’ve heard people say, in particular, that you and others who were in charge of getting the word out to the American people sent the message that we needed to keep things closed for too long and that there were states like Florida that opened...

JACKSON, Miss. — As the sun bore down around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dale Gibson began affixing signs to the iron fence surrounding Mississippi’s only abortion clinic. “The fight is not over,” one read. In cursive script, another vowed: “This is not the end.” Wednesday was the last day the Jackson Women’s Health Organization was legally allowed to perform abortions in Mississippi. It was the last day Gibson and his fellow volunteer patient escorts gathered outside the clinic to defend a right that no longer exists in much of the country. For years, the volunteers — known as the Pink...

A group of fans at the Australian Open were asked by security to remove custom T-shirts that read, “Where is Peng Shuai?” on Saturday. The shirts — referencing the disappearance of the Chinese tennis player after she made sexual assault allegations against a retired government official in November — were apparently a violation of the tournament’s policy. "Under our ticket conditions of entry we don't allow clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political," a Tennis Australia spokesperson said, via ESPN. "Peng Shuai's safety is our primary concern. We continue to work with the WTA and global tennis community...

New Zealand's borders will remain closed to most international travelers over the next five months as the country takes precautions to fight the coronavirus. Government officials reportedly made the announcement on Wednesday during a news conference "A phased approach to reconnecting with the world is the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed," New Zealand's COVID-19 response minister, Chris Hipkins, said, according to Reuters. "This reduces any potential impacts on vulnerable communities and the New Zealand health system."

Target stores will no longer open their doors on Thanksgiving Day. The change, which was announced to employees on Monday, comes after the big-box retailer closed its stores on the holiday last year in an effort to limit crowds and ensure customer safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Target and other retailers have traditionally opened on Thanksgiving to capitalize on Black Friday, the start of the holiday sales rush. “What started as a temporary measure driven by the pandemic is now our new standard — one that recognizes our ability to deliver on our guests’ holiday wishes both within and...

The Washington Monument will remain closed indefinitely to the public to protect staff and visitors from COVID-19, the National Park Service (NPS) said Saturday. The monument closed on Jan. 11 as part of security measures around President Joe Biden’s inauguration. NPS said they would be keeping an eye on the public health conditions in the D.C. area and other indoor attractions’ operating status to determine when it would be safe to reopen. Along with the Washington Monument, all indoor attractions managed as part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks — such as the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, Ford’s...

The ongoing coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions ordered by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) have shuttered 32 percent of Michigan businesses at least temporarily this year. Michigan was second only to Puerto Rico in the United States for closures, a territory that was hit by a 2017 hurricane and relies heavily on tourism.

NEW YORK (AP) — Restaurants, bars and gyms will have to close at 10 p.m. across New York state in the latest effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday. The governor said people will also be barred from hosting private gatherings with more than 10 people.

(CNN)A new national survey spells more bad news for the restaurant industry. Sixty percent of restaurants that shut down during the pandemic are now closed for good, says the report from Yelp, the online service that provides crowd-sourced reviews. "The restaurant industry now reflects the highest total business closures, recently surpassing retail," Yelp says.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Students will continue distance learning for the rest of the school year, DeWine said during his coronavirus briefing. DeWine said the decision was made after talking to several parents, teachers, and administrators. The governor laid out two reasons for the decision: the virus is still out there, and continuity for the students. Even though the state has flattened the curve of the disease, it is still not safe to have students back in schools, he...

DARE COUNTY, NC (WITN) - Dare County says it is keeping visitors out due to concerns with the coronavirus.While the county says they have had no cases of the pandemic yet, they made the decision to limit the spread of coronavirus.Checkpoints were set up at 2:00 p.m. at entry points into the county, and no visitors will be allowed.Dare County says only permanent residents, non-resident property owners and non-resident employees of businesses within the county will be allowed.Those with valid driver's license with a Dare or Currituck county address or a government-issued ID card with a local address will be allowed...

MGM Resorts International (the "Company" or "MGM Resorts") today announced its decision to temporarily suspend operations at its Las Vegas properties until further notice, effective as of Tuesday, March 17th. Casino operations will close on Monday, March 16th, followed by hotel operations. The following statement was released by Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts: "As the coronavirus pandemic has intensified in the United States over the past week, the people of MGM Resorts have worked to try to find a way to continue delivering high quality hospitality and entertainment experiences for our guests while keeping our employees doing...

Since 2014, more than 130 abortion clinics across the country have shut their doors, according to a pro-abortion group. Pro-life activists will celebrate the fact that there are fewer "clinics" killing unborn babies. However, abortion activists have argued that pro-life laws are intended to close clinics, not to protect women and babies. The Abortion Care Network identified 136 independent abortion clinics — unaffiliated with Planned Parenthood — that closed since 2014. In that year, 23 clinics closed. In 2015, another 34 shuttered. Twenty-two more followed in 2016, then 17 in 2017 and 13 in 2018. So far this year, another...