HAZLETON, Pa. - The mayor of Hazleton, Pa., who drew nationwide attention for his crackdown on illegal immigration, has been named the state’s Mayor of the Year.

Pennsylvania State Mayors Association gave Lou Barletta the honor Saturday. Group officials cited his illegal immigrant crackdown and his hands-on method of combating crime.

In 2006, the Hazleton City Council had approved a law that would deny business permits to companies that employ illegal immigrants, fine landlords who rent to them and require tenants to register and pay for a rental permit.   MORE>>>

By Patrick Buchanan-

To watch the contortions over that New Yorker cover cartoon of the Obamas is to understand whom it is impermissible to offend in the America of 2008.

The cartoon is a caricature of Michelle as an urban terrorist in an Angela Davis afro with an AK-47 slung over her back and a bandoleer of ammo in the Oval Office doing a fist-bump with a Barack decked out in turban and Muslim garb. On the wall hangs a portrait of Osama bin Laden. Blazing away in the fireplace is the American flag. Read more »

LYNWOOD, Ill. - Be careful if you have saggy pants in the south Chicago suburb of Lynwood. Village leaders have passed an ordinance that would levy $25 fines against anyone showing three inches or more of their underwear in public.

Eugene Williams is the mayor of Lynwood. He says young men walk around town half-dressed, keeping major retailers and economic development away. He calls the new law a hot topic.

The American Civil Liberties Union says the ordinance targets young men of color.   MORE>>>

BETHLEHEM, West Bank - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded Sunday that Israel cease settlement construction and promised more money to jump-start the battered Palestinian economy.

In his first trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories as Britain’s leader, Brown repeatedly stressed that economics are key to Mideast peace, and said Israel should ease travel restrictions in the West Bank that have hindered commerce.

But his strongest comments were reserved for the settlements: “I think the whole European Union is very clear on this matter: We want to see a freeze on settlements.” Read more »

Rapper DMX was arrested at a Phoenix, Arizona, mall Saturday on suspicion of giving a false name and Social Security number to a hospital to get out of paying for medical expenses.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said that when DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, went to Scottsdale’s Mayo Clinic in April, he used the name Troy Jones and failed to pay a $7,500 bill.

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