Free Republic

As 12-year-old David Vetter was about to die at Texas Children's Hospital in 1984, he gave a last wink to his doctor, William T. Shearer. His wife told us Dr. Shearer carried that moment through the rest of his life. Dr. Shearer, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, died this week at the age of 81. David Vetter had been born with severe combined immunodeficiency, a rare disease that could have made it fatal for him to be touched, held, kissed by his parents or even take a breath of fresh air. Doctors devised a sterile clear...

A former New Orleans prostitute who will be featured in Larry Flynt's Hustler magazine appeared at his office Tuesday to accuse Sen. David Vitter of having a sexual relationship with her in 1999. Wendy Ellis told reporters that Vitter visited her two to three times a week for sexual relations between July and November 1999.

Dear Citizens of Kenner: Hurricane Katrina dealt a devastating blow to the city of Kenner. Life as we know it, for now at least, has gone with Katrina. We are continuing our state of emergency, marshal law remains throughout the parish and we are asking everyone to cooperate, remain calm and most of all understand that communication is very difficult and often sporadic. So please be very patient. Kenner fared much, much better than our good neighbors in New Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. Our hearts go out to those who are still suffering and fighting for survival. Because...