Free Talk Live

Here’s an interesting question about the proper scope of government arising from Obion County, Tennessee. The county does not have its own fire department, and instead relies on the fire protection services of the nearby City of Fulton. But there’s a catch: The City of Fulton does not automatically serve residents of the county. If Obion County residents want to be protected by the City of Fulton Fire Department, they need to pay a $75 fee to the City.

The battle between one man and the city of Roswell that started over his keeping of chickens ended Monday afternoon in a fiery explosion. Investigators believe that rather than be evicted from his home, Andrew Wordes poured gasoline throughout the house and set it on fire.

Detroit Fire Department Executive Fire Commissioner Donald Austin said he's proposing the city allow vacant buildings and homes to burn themselves out - but under conditions. “We are in no way looking to 'let the city' burn, this is about saving lives and money,” Austin said. “My department is strapped, the budget is strapped, and it’s time to look at a new way of doing things.” It's one of 3 proposals, the other 2 being to use the Navy for demolition, and creating a demolition unit within the Fire Dept, with the heavy equipment needed.

A Roswell, Georgia man who fought with the city over his right to keep chickens on his suburban property blew himself up at his house today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The home of the man, Andrew Wordes, was in foreclosure. Investigators believe he poured gasoline all over the house and set it on fire rather than get evicted.

A budget battle in New Jersey's capital city has some extremely unpleasant fallout, including a toilet paper shortage at police headquarters, fire stations, senior centers and municipal offices. Supplies have been dwindling down to almost nothing in the months since a spending fight broke out among the City Council in November over a $42,000 spending request for a year's supply of paper products, including toilet paper. “I’m embarrassed,” the Council president said.

It's a place where people can take their gun and shoot at people -- and they shoot back. There are, however, important rules of engagement that the owner says makes his gun range perfectly safe. The place is called Combat City. Before you step foot inside the range, customers meet with owner Dave Kaplan. “First thing, when you get here, everybody's checked. No guns, knives, ammunition on them,” said Kaplan. He then modifies the customer's weapon, replacing the barrel so a live round will not fire but will still function as a regular weapon, shooting a soft rubber bullet instead.

Tunisian man sets himself on fire? Revolution sparked across Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Libya. Keene, New Hampshire man sets himself on fire? No one cares.

I'm surprised this law passed. The cops will probably ignore it, but at least that gives people a chance to get evidence thrown out. Then again, most peopel will likely just cave and give cops permission anyway.

"nstead of declaring bankruptcy, Maywood officials decided to outsource all city functions. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will patrol the streets, while the neighboring city of Bell will cover other city functions, such as staffing City Hall.

Maywood already relies on contract workers and outsources many city services. The director of parks and recreation, for instance, is a contractor, and the city's lights, landscaping and street sweeping are handled by private companies. Los Angeles County maintains the library and fire department."