Free Republic

A thin blue line flag has been banned by a local high school in Neptune Beach, Florida following a series of complaints that circulated on social media, according to a report by News4Jax. According to the outlet, the Fletcher High School football team started carrying the pro-law enforcement flag last year, as a way for one of its players, Caelan Lavender, to honor his late father, Cpl. Andy Lavender. Mr. Lavender was a Jacksonville Beach police officer who unexpectedly passed away in August 2019 after 29 years in law enforcement, and was active in sports programs. “He was one of...

Julie Stackhouse’s goal last Sunday was to win the Donna Half Marathon, a popular race that weaves through the coastal communities of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach east of Jacksonville, Florida. Stackhouse, a Jacksonville local, had good reason to think she could break the tape—she’s won the race twice in past years, and has notched victories in the marathon and relay, too. But even before she came face-to-face with an aggressive dog, Stackhouse knew she wasn’t going to win. She estimates her canine encounter slowed her down only around 45 seconds in total, but her impressive finishing time of 1:25:54—enough...