Free Republic

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed another Executive Order extending Michigan’s stay-home order until June 12. “While the data shows that we are making progress, we are not out of the woods yet. If we’re going to lower the chance of a second wave and continue to protect our neighbors and loved ones from the spread of this virus, we must continue to do our part by staying safer at home,” said Governor Whitmer. “If we open too soon, thousands more could die and our hospitals will get overwhelmed. While we finally have more protective equipment like masks, we can’t run...

DOJ has filed a Statement of Interest in an Illinois case challenging more general restrictions imposed by Governor J.B. Pritzker. The DOJ position is that the Governor’s last minute removal of the case from state to federal court, on the eve of a decision in state court, was improper. You can read the state court pleadings and motion papers here...DOJ’s involvement is helpful, but the more important aspect of the case is how the Governor feared a negative state court decision so he pulled the case, likely improperly, up to federal court at the last minute. An Emergency Motion to...

The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday warned the mayor of Los Angeles and the county’s top health officer that an extension of the coronavirus stay-at-home order may be unlawful. The vague letter sent to Mayor Eric Garcetti and LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer did not spell out any specific violations, but noted concern about statements both had made publicly that restrictions may be prolonged without a vaccine. “Reports of your recent public statements indicate that you suggested the possibility of long-term lockdown of the residents in the city and county of Los Angeles, regardless of the legal...

Two Round the Clock Diner locations in York County were told their business licenses are revoked as of Friday. Written warnings were issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on May 14 to both locations at 222 Arsenal Road and 145 Memory Lane, according to the department’s spokeswoman Shannon Powers. But, because they reopened ahead of Gov. Tom Wolf’s timeline, the state revoked both business licenses. Powers wrote in an email, "The Agriculture Department’s food safety inspectors did follow-up inspections on May 20 and found the businesses still in violation of Governor Wolf’s March 19 executive order. Both locations were...

President Donald Trump spoke briefly at the White House Friday and called for state governors to allow for churches and other places of worship to reopen to the public. Trump says he considers houses of worship “essential” and wants them to reopen this weekend.

It turns out Memorial Day weekend will not be quite the big economic and social reopening moment that Sacramento residents and businesses owners had hoped. Sacramento County health chief Peter Beilenson on Thursday reversed his approval from earlier this week for fitness centers to reopen, saying state health officials had stepped in to tell him it’s too soon. Beilenson said state health officials also told him to back off of his plans to allow groups of up to 10 get together, with social distancing, starting this weekend. Read more here: https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article242905031.html#storylink=cpy

A state court in Michigan ruled that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has the authority to extend the state’s state of emergency, refuting claims made by GOP leaders in the legislature that she overstepped her authority. The judge called claims by the Republican state lawmakers "meritless." Judge Cynthia Stephen noted that Whitmer did exceed her authority by trying to extend the state of emergency under the Emergency Management Act of 1976, which requires approval by the legislature, acccording to the Detroit News. However, the governor did have the constitutional authority to extend the state of emergency under the Emergency Management Act...

The owner of a borough shop has been charged with conducting business in violation of state orders after having been previously warned by police. According to a press release issued by the Bernardsville Police Department on Wednesday, May 20, police initially received a complaint regarding ongoing business operations at the Country Home Store at 21 Olcott Square at 1:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. Later in the day, at 3:07 p.m., the department received a second complaint related to ongoing business operations at the same location reportedly in violation of executive orders for nonessential business operations After receiving the second...

The French have a saying that has its origin and meaning in revolution: "We obey tyrants until we hang them from lamp posts". Later-on the Guillotine was invented to carry out this principle more effectively. Fortunately, in America we have an option to the annihilation of tyranny by lamp post. We have the Constitution of the United States of America that guarantees our freedom,the right to live, equality under the law, the separation of powers, and elections to throw the tyrants out.

a Montana resident attempted to drive to Cooke City when he was pulled over and harassed by law-enforcement who – obeying the orders of Governor Steve Bullock – refused to allow passage to the small Montana town. ... Governor Steve Bullock, who seems intent on hurting Montana’s tourism economy – which amounts to 3.7 billion dollars a year and brings in more money than both agriculture and energy – has the state’s parks on lockdown. ... Whereas Yellowstone National Park has been opened up, only the entrances on the Wyoming side are open to travelers. Governor Bullock, insistent on protecting...

ROGUE NEW JERSEY GYM SABOTAGED! Sewer Backed Up with Paper Towels Even Though Facility Has No Paper Towels - State Shuts Down Business! https://youtu.be/0kmgf5Xx-1k  

For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic became a daily battle between disease control and civil liberties, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has taken to Twitter to criticize the peaceful assembly of Jews in a city that boasts over a million Jewish residents. This time, de Blasio specifically targeted children meeting at a yeshiva, an Orthodox Jewish elementary or secondary school. Just a few weeks ago, the mayor slammed his city’s Jewish community for gathering to grieve at a large funeral for a beloved rabbi. Writing for The Daily Signal, I said de Blasio’s behavior was un-American and...

May 20, 2020, 7:21 p.m. EST: BREAKING: The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz separate letters today announcing that they will resume worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz’s current COVID-19 executive order which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people. Governor Walz’s latest re-opening order allows the Mall of America to open its doors to those seeking retail therapy but disallows churches from providing spiritual healing to their congregations. At the same time, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent Governor...

[Catholic Caucus] Minnesota bishops will reopen public Masses, defy state order The bishops of Minnesota have permitted parishes to resume public Masses, and to defy a statewide order prohibiting religious gatherings exceeding 10 people.“An order that sweeps so broadly that it prohibits, for example, a gathering of 11 people in a Cathedral with a seating capacity of several thousand defies reason,” the bishops of Minnesota’s six dioceses said in a May 20 statement.“Therefore, we have chosen to move forward in the absence of any specific timeline laid out by Governor Walz and his Administration. We cannot allow an indefinite suspension...

We need to proactively reach out to these companies that are allowing this behavior and tell them it is NOT acceptable. I just left a message for the CFO of Costco and I highly recommend you all do the same. The forcing of masks on us like we're sheep is completely unacceptable and if we don't step to the plate and push back on this they won't stop.

Ben Roethlisberger broke pandemic restrictions to get his hair cut and beard trimmed, along with a small recording crew, for a video the Steelers quarterback put out on his Twitter account Monday. Governor Tom Wolf doesn’t want Roethlisberger, or anyone to break coronavirus restrictions in that way. “My concern is just a general concern and anybody who puts himself or herself into harm’s way is something i think we ought to try to avoid,” Wolf said in response to a question about Roethlisberger specifically. "And when you go to something like a barbershop and you’re not protected, I don’t care...

The Oregon Supreme Court Monday evening issued a stay blocking a decision earlier in the day by Baker County Circuit Court Judge Matt Shirtcliff that temporarily stopped the state from enforcing Gov. Kate Brown's executive orders restricting certain activities due to the coronavirus pandemic. That means the executive orders will remain in effect statewide. After a 20-minute hearing Monday morning at the Baker County Courthouse, Shirtcliff granted a preliminary injunction to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the governor May 6. The next step is for attorneys from both sides to submit responses to the Supreme Court related to...

Constitutional sheriffs, judges and state legislators are rising up against tyrannical orders issued by state and local leaders and they deserve our support and encouragement. Here are just a few examples of courageous actions in the heat of battle to break the bands of tyranny.

Both owners were issued summonses and clients were given a warning. But Murphy suggested during his Monday briefing that the state might have to step in if the gym’s defiance continues. “I’m not concerned it will spiral out of control, and we will take action,” Murphy said. “If you show up at that gym again tomorrow, there’s going to be a different reality than showing up today. These aren’t just words. We’ve got to enforce this, but I also don’t want to start World War III.”

It appears the Governor is realizing his Executive Orders are not laws and they violate people’s Constitutional rights. What is the norm in Illinois when elected officials get exposed for violating the law? Change the law. In this case, change the rules and make criminals out of the very people that are the economic engine in this state. Not only do these new suggested rules invoke criminal penalties, but they also are to last 150 days and are being pushed through in an Emergency provision for such rule changes, meaning the public has little say about it. Let that sink...