Thief Steals Special-Needs Teen's Tricycle

Story out of Burbank, California: 

Investigators released security video of the man suspected of breaking into a secure garage at 4524 Clybourn Avenue and taking D.J. Jeffries’ bike at 4:15 a.m. Saturday. It was locked together with his wheelchair.

The 13-year-old was born with cerebral palsy. He said riding the tricycle gives him a chance to feel like he fits in with his peers and allows him to temporarily forget he has a disability.

The tricycle costs $5,000, which was paid for with a $1,000 grant and $4,000 in donations. Cont.

Story from - CBS Los Angeles
Image from - Wikimedia Commons 
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High School Teacher Disciplined For Calling Muslim Student "Taliban"

Story out of Vancouver Island, British Columbia: 

A ruling from the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation says Sooke Grade 11 math teacher Matthew Pell repeatedly singled out the student in the fall of 2014.

The ruling says Pell admitted to referring to the teen as "Taliban'' and also told the class "don't make her angry, otherwise she will bomb you.''

Pell received a written warning from the Sooke School District in May and has now been reprimanded and ordered to complete a cultural sensitivity course by June. Cont.

Story from - Huffington Post

Man Arrested After Trying To Buy Explosives To Bring Forth “The Original Constitution”

Story out of Brentwood, New Hampshire:

An East Kingston man was arrested during an undercover FBI operation Wednesday after he allegedly purchased grenades illegally, claiming he belonged to a group that planned to bring forth “the original Constitution,” according to a federal affidavit.

Daniel E. Musso Sr., 54,  is charged with receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm after he allegedly bought four grenades from an undercover FBI agent at a location in Seabrook Wednesday morning.

According to an affidavit, the FBI learned in August 2015 that Musso had allegedly provided a handwritten list of ammunition and other items he hoped to purchase from a New Hampshire-based licensed firearms dealer. The list allegedly specified 10 different ammunition calibers and the quantities of each caliber Musso intended to buy, the affidavit said. Authorities claim the list also included items such as grenades, rockets, a gas mask and a “night/infrared system.”

Musso also allegedly asked about a “C-4 explosive” and said that $100,000 to $200,000 in cash was available to buy what “we” need, the affidavit said.

Story from - Union Leader
Image from - Cory Doctorow - Flickr
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Female Shark Eats Male Shark After Being Bumped

Story out of Seoul, South Korea:

In what was likely a turf war at a Seoul aquarium, a female sand tiger shark has eaten a male banded hound shark.

It took the 8-year-old female 21 hours to eat the 5-year-old male inside a tank at the COEX Aquarium. According to video of the consumption, the female shark started with the male's head and slowly went about consuming the rest of his body.

This act of shark cannibalism likely was the result of the sharks bumping into one another. "Sharks have their own territories," an aquarium official told Reuters. "Sometimes, when they bump into each other, they bite out of astonishment." Cont. (Video)

Story from - Newsweek

Man Lectures Youths About Crime While Pointing Gun At Them

Story out of Hansville, Washington:

Kitsap sheriff's deputies are investigating an incident Wednesday when a man allegedly held three teenage boys at gunpoint, forced them to the ground and lectured them about crime in the area.

The three 13-year-olds had been playing basketball about 8 p.m. at a community court in the Driftwood Key community near Hansville when they were approached by the man, according to reports.

The youths reported the incident to their parents, who called deputies. They said the man had been dropped off in a silver pickup, possibly a Dodge, with orange cab lights, according the report.

The man first shined a flashlight at the youths, then with his hand shaking pointed the semi-automatic pistol at them, said he wasn't "playing around" and ordered them to lie face down on the ground.

The youths said the man asked them what they were doing, said there had been a spate of vandalism and car thefts in the area and alluded to being called to investigate by a neighbor, according to the report. Cont.

Story from - Kitsap Sun

Redditor Has His Baby X-rayed After Suspecting He Swallowed Wife's Wedding Ring

Parents made a shocking discovery after deciding to have an X-ray of their baby.

Redditor IAmClarkGriswold shared a photo on the website of his baby’s X-ray, explaining that they decided to have the imaging done when his wife was unable to find her wedding ring “just in case.”

When the X-ray results were returned, the wife’s wedding ring was clearly seen inside the baby’s body.

“He was on the floor, putting things in his mouth. As he often does. She didn't realize he grabbed her ring while she was getting ready,” the father later explained in a comment.

He also said in an update that his son didn’t show any signs of “discomfort” and that they were hopeful he would pass the ring without needing any medical intervention. Cont.

Story from - Opposing Views
Image from - Reddit/Imgur

Cop Who Killed Mentally Ill Man Will Sue Teen’s Family For ‘Emotional Distress’

Story out of Chicago, Illinois: 

The Chicago police officer accused of killing 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier just after Christmas says he intends to file a lawsuit against the dead teenager’s estate, alleging that LeGrier assaulted the officer and caused him emotional distress.

Officer Robert Rialmo claims he shot LeGrier seven times because the teenager swung a bat at him. Rialmo also accidentally shot a neighbor, Bettie Jones, in the chest and killed her.

Rialmo’s plan to sue was revealed after a hearing for the victims’ wrongful death lawsuit against the city. Bill Foutris, an attorney for the LeGrier family, told CBS Chicago that the countersuit is a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that Rialmo shot LeGrier four times in the back without justification.

The events that led to the shooting are still unclear, but LeGrier called 911 and requested police assistance several times before he was killed. The dispatcher hung up on him and ignored his pleas for help.

Though Rialmo is planning to file a civil lawsuit for his emotional distress, it is not uncommon for police officers to criminally charge victims of brutality with assault, a tactic known as a “cover charge.” New York City prosecutors even charged an unarmed police shooting victim with felony assault, for causing police to accidentally shoot bystanders when they were aiming for him. Cont.

Story from - Think Progress
Image from - Wikimedia Commons - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

Microsoft Co-Founder's Yacht Destroys 14,000 Square Feet Of Coral Reef In Cayman Islands

A yacht owned by Microsoft co-founder and marine conservationist Paul Allen has ploughed into a sensitive reef in the Cayman Islands, destroying the majority of coral on the protected ecosystem.

The MV Tatoosh, a 300ft yacht owned by the billionaire Allen, ripped up 14,000 square feet of coral reef in the West Bay replenishment zone, according to local officials. About 80% of the reef, situated in a protected area, was destroyed by the ship’s chain. It is thought that Allen was not on board at the time.

According to a statement from Allen’s investment firm Vulcan, the incident occurred on 14 January. “When [the MV Tatoosh] crew was alerted by a diver that her anchor chain may have impacted coral in the area, the crew promptly, and on their own accord, relocated their position to ensure the reef was protected,” it said, adding that the crew was aiding investigations into the damage.

The incident is particularly embarrassing for Allen given his foundation’s work supporting marine conservation and tackling overfishing. The damage to the reef could prompt a fine of up to $600,000, although Allen is likely to be able to easily foot the bill, given his net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $17.4bn. Cont.

Story from - The Guardian
Image from - Wikimedia Commons - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

Man Found Not Guilty Of Theft After Taking Daughter's Phone

Story out of Dallas, Texas:

A Dallas County jury found a father not guilty Tuesday of theft for taking away his daughter’s cell phone as punishment.

Ronald Jackson, 36, was charged with theft of property of at least $50 but under $500, a Class B misdemeanor.

Jackson said he took his 12-year-old daughter’s cell phone as punishment after finding inappropriate texts in September 2013. A few hours later, officers from the Grand Prairie Police Department showed up at his front door, asking for the iPhone 4 back.

"At that point, I decided the police don't interfere with my ability to parent my daughter," Jackson said.

Michelle Steppe, the child's mother, sees it differently.

"As a mom, I'm upset because — number one — the property belongs to me," she said. Cont.

Story from - KHOU

Hoverboard Theft Turns Deadly

Story out of St.Louis, Missouri:

According to police, Ronald Houston Jr., of the 4100 block of Kennerly Avenue, was riding with 19-year-old Dominick Chambly on Delmar Boulevard in a car. Houston was in the passenger seat and there were three other passengers in the back.

When they approached the area of Clarendon, Houston reportedly saw an unknown man on the sidewalk with a hoverboard and announced he was going to steal it. According to court documents he pulled a ski mask over his face, exited the vehicle with a handgun, and stole the hoverboard from the man.

As Houston reentered the car, the unknown robbery victim drew a gun of his own and began firing at the vehicle as it drove away. The shots struck Chambly, who eventually crashed. Only two people were found at the scene of the crash; Chambly, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital, and Houston, who was shot in the back. Cont. (Video)

Story from - KMOV
Image from - Ben Larcey - Flickr
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Thief With 38 Phones Stuffed Down Pants Caught At Birmingham Concert

Story out of Birmingham, England:

Officers noticed the man acting suspiciously at a Libertines gig at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham city centre on Wednesday night.

They searched the man as he left the concert and were shocked when they found 38 phones inside his trousers – which were taped closed at the bottom of his legs.

Another man, who also had his trousers taped, was also stopped by police as he tried to get inside the venue.

Inspector Gareth Morris said: ‘It’s an unfortunately reality that large crowds at concerts such as this make rich pickings for career criminals.

‘We’re hot on the heels of these offenders but you can also reduce your chances of falling victim to such crimes by remaining extra vigilant when attending busy events. Cont.

Story from - Metro
Image from - Adam Russell - Flickr
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Family Plans To Sue Disney World After Son Bitten By Snake

Story out of Orlando, Florida:

An Orlando attorney tells FOX 35 he is representing an Alabama family who claims an 8-year-old boy was bitten by a snake at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and now they plan to sue.

According to attorney Matt Morgan, the family alleges a large snake fell from a tree onto the boy, wrapped around him, and bit him.  Morgan goes on to say the boy’s grandmother witnessed the event and went into cardiac arrest and died shortly thereafter.  Morgan plans on filing a formal lawsuit for the alleged injuries sustained by the boy and the wrongful death of the grandmother.

Disney confirms the incident occurred in October of 2014.  A Disney spokesperson says the snake was wild, not venomous, and not part of any exhibit. The spokesperson says the boy was taken to first aid and treated with a band-aid.  Disney goes on to tell us there was no call for an ambulance for the grandmother after the incident. Cont.

Story from - Fox 35 Orlando

Pakistani Man Arrested For Flying Indian Flag

Story out of Okara, Pakistan: 

A Pakistani man has been arrested for hoisting the flag of arch rival India on his roof, an act police described as "anti-state" but which the accused says was a tribute to Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli.

Umar Draz, from the eastern Pakistani district of Okara in Punjab, was charged under the Pakistan Penal Code, which is reserved for crimes considered contravening Pakistan's sovereignty and carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Police said they received information on Monday that Draz had hoisted the Indian flag. He went on the run, but police managed to find him. Cont.

Story from - Reuters

McDonalds Forgets To Put Mozzarella In Mozzarella Sticks

When you’re craving mozzarella sticks, biting into one and realizing there’s actually no cheese inside is like a stab right in the heart! That’s what a lot of people are experiencing when ordering McDonald’s new mozzarella sticks and they’re NOT happy about it.

McDonald’s started serving mozzarella sticks nationwide in January – selling three sticks for $1 on their menu. Not all of the mozzarella sticks being sold are missing cheese, but for a lot of people – that is not the case. And those people are taking to the internet to complain about their orders with photos of their sad, empty mozzarella-less sticks. Cont. (Tweets)

Story from - Quirlycues
Image from - theimpulsivebuy - Flickr
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Gecko Sitting In Pupil's Salad Is Adopted By Class

A chilled Gecko sitting in a chilled salad found by kindergartner has become the class mascot. Story out of New Jersey, New York:

The three-inch (7.5-cm) critter went unnoticed for a few days in the refrigerator in Princeton, New Jersey, before Sally Mabon and her daughter Faye found its limp body while unwrapping a bunch of tatsoi, an Asian leaf, science teacher Mark Eastburn of Riverside Elementary School in Princeton said on Tuesday.

Warmth restored its energy and soon the anole lizard was on its way to Riverside Elementary School, where it caught "oohs" and "aahs" like flies, and quickly became the class pet.

Less Godzilla and more Geico Gecko, the juvenile lizard has been named "Green Fruit Loop" by the children.

"It's great because the kids are studying DNA and the anole is the only reptile to have its entire DNA code sequenced," Eastburn said. Cont.

Story from - Reuters

Parents In India Roll Their Children In Cow Dung For Good Luck

Story out of Madhya Pradesh, India:

Tradition. A simple word that is not always simple to stomach. Take for instance a ritual that has occurred for centuries in the small Indian village of Betul. Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, in central India, the inhabitants of this town happily toss their children into a large, steaming pile of cow dung.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is the largest celebration in Hinduism. In the weeks leading up to the event, villagers in Betul begin collecting cow poop from the roughly 600 cows that reside in the surrounding area. All of this dung is piled up in a location at the center of town. On the day after Diwali, parents take children and dip and roll their offspring in the feces, all the while drums and fireworks roar in the background.

The beliefs behind this activity are multi-faceted. First, cows are among the most sacred animals in Hinduism and anything that brings a person closer to a cow is viewed in a favorable light. Second, Hindu preachers claim that both cow pee and cow poop have curative properties. Third, adherents believe that the ritual honors their ancestors, who also participated in the cow dung dipping, and that this will bestow good luck onto the children as they grow up. The ceremony lasts from sunrise to sunset, with villagers waiting their turn to dunk their children. Youths, ranging from six months to nine-years-old, experience this smelly tradition. Older children are tossed into the pile of feces, while infants are gently laid in the dung. Cont. (video_

Story from - Weird Asian News

Pantsless Man Dies After He Rolls His Vehicle While Masturbating

Story out of Detroit, Michigan:

A Detroit man who died early Sunday in a one-car crash was pantsless and masturbating while watching a pornographic movie on his cell phone, according to police who investigated the accident.

The rollover crash occurred around 3:40 AM as motorist Clifford Ray Jones, 58, was driving a 1996 Toyota on a freeway near Interstate 75.

Michigan State Police officials report that Jones became "distracted" while watching the film and lost control of the car, which overturned. Jones, who was not wearing a seat belt, was partially ejected through the car’s sun roof and died on the scene.

Story from - The Smoking Gun
Image from - A Healthier Michigan - Flickr
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Mom Is Warning Parents After Son Almost Dies Playing 'Duct Tape Challenge'

Story out of Renton, Washington:

A mother of a young teenager is hoping her son makes a full recovery after he fell and was seriously injured while imitating a video he saw online of other teens performing the 'Duct Tape Challenge.'

Skylar Fish was playing with friends and reenacting the challenge they saw online. Skylar had his arms and legs wrapped tight with duct tape, lost his balance and then hit his head on a concrete and metal window frame. The impact crushed his eye socket, cheekbone and caused bleeding on his brain that required immediate surgery.

Fish wants to warn parents about the dangers of this potentially deadly game that teens are trying all over the country. Cont. (Video)

Story from - Q Fox13
Image from - Wikimedia Commons

Teen Arrested For Plotting To Fill Kangaroo With Explosives

Story out of Melbourne, Australia:

A teenage suspect discussed with a British accomplice packing a kangaroo with explosives before setting it loose on Australian police officers, prosecutors alleged on Thursday.

Sevdet Ramadan Besim was ordered in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday to stand trial in the Victoria state Supreme Court on charges that he planned an Islamic State group-inspired terrorist attack at a Veterans' Day ceremony that included targeting police officers in April last year.

Besim, 19, pleaded not guilty to four charges relating to a plot to attack commemorative services in Melbourne or the neighbouring city of Dandenong to mark ANZAC Day, the annual April 25 commemoration of the 1915 Gallipoli landings in Turkey. The campaign was the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I and hundreds of thousands attend commemoration services around Australia. Besim faces a potential life sentence in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Besim discussed with a British-based accomplice in online conversations that a kangaroo could be packed with explosives, painted with "the IS symbol" and set loose on police. Cont.

Story from - CTV News

Santa Claus Arrested For Driving On Wrong Side Of The Road

Story out of Post Falls, Idaho:

Santa Claus is making headlines in his off season in North Idaho.  All because a recent sighting of Santa in Post Falls ended with a DUI arrest.

Court documents obtained Monday stated Post Falls officers arrested a Washington man legally named Santa Claus after he was spotted driving the wrong way.

He was spotted by police on Thursday night driving the wrong direction on Syringa Avenue according to court records. An officer activated his lights and Claus pulled over near Polston Avenue and Albert Street.

Police said they informed Claus why she pulled him over. Claus stated he was not from around here and unfamiliar with the streets according to court records. Police said they could smell alcohol coming from the vehicle when they spoke to Claus. Cont. (Video)

Story from - KREM2

UK Government Announces English Tests For Migrants, Spells Language Wrong

The U.K. government published an announcement about its new language requirements for migrants.

"The new A2 requirement delivers the government's manifesto commitment to ensure that those coming to the UK on a family visa with only basic English will become more fluent over time," reads the news release as it currently appears on gov.uk.

"It will mean that the person can better engage in everyday conversation and thereby better participate and integrate in everyday life in the community."

Unlike David Cameron's own announcement of the plan last week during an interview with BBC Radio, the U.K. Home Office document makes no mention of deportation, specific religious groups, or combating extremism.

What it did contain was an unmistakable error, right at the top of the page: New English langauge test for family route migrants.

The fact that the word "language" had been misspelled in an announcement about the British government's new language testing rules for family route migrants grabbed much attention online over the weekend.

In response to the error, a spokesperson for Cameron told local reporters that "all of us are open to mistakes at times."

"The Prime Minister is fully confident that his team speak English competently," the spokesperson said. "I'm sure there have been a few errors occasionally in newspapers, too." Cont.

Story from - CBC News
Image from - Micheal Mandiberg - Flickr

Philadelphia Councilman Wants To Collect Addresses Of Entertainers Coming To His City

Story out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

A new bill from Philly City Councilman Mark Squilla would require owners of nightclubs, cabarets, bars and restaurants in the city to collect the names, addresses, and phone numbers of entertainers — bands, rappers and DJs — in a registry, and to share that personal information with police upon request.

Police spokeswoman Denise James would not comment, instead referring Billy Penn to the department’s public affairs office, which did not respond.

Squilla vowed that “no specific music acts created this issue.” However, Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sanchez, Chairwoman of the Committee on Licenses and Inspections, which will be reviewing the bill before it is up for a vote in Council, had a different take.

Sean Agnew, owner of R5 Productions, worried immediately about the impact on the city’s music scene, and the practical application of such a sweeping request.

“This is news to me. I’m not sure what the reasoning or theory is. As someone who books 600+ shows a year, I have never once received an artist’s home address or phone number. It’s all through booking agents, managers, publicists,” Agnew told Billy Penn. “There is a firewall in place with the artists. I can’t imagine a band’s representatives wanting to give their clients information over to the police without a really good reason.”

Agnew, for his part, now wants to work with Council to “craft a measure that’s a bit more realistic.”

“I’m just trying to think of a situation where the police want the addresses and numbers of the 10+ members of Arcade Fire,” he said. “Seems really intense.” Cont.

Story from - Billy Penn
Image from - Wikimedia Commons

The husband Of Terri Schiavo Condemns Jeb Bush Super PAC For Using His Wife In Ad

The husband of Terri Schiavo is slamming a pro-Jeb Bush super PAC for invoking her in an ad touting the former Florida governor's record as a social conservative.

Right to Rise USA released an ad this week that will air in South Carolina (BuzzFeed first reported the ad). In it, a narrator highlights Bush’s record with the National Rifle Association before shifting to religion. “He’s a man of deep faith who fought time and again for the right to life,” the narrator says.

A dozen seconds into the 30-second spot, as the narrator touts Bush’s faith, the video shows an image of Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman whose feeding tube was pulled in March 2005 after a long saga that became national news. She was medically in a persistent vegetative state and died later that month. More than 15 years prior, her husband, Mike Schiavo, had discovered her unresponsive body lacking a pulse inside their St. Petersburg, Florida, home.

“It is simply disgusting that Jeb Bush and his super PAC would exploit my wife’s tragedy for his crude political gain,” Schiavo said in a statement. “Shame on Jeb Bush.” Cont.

Story from - Politico
Image from - Gage Skidmore - Flickr
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$50,000 Worth Of Bull Semen Stolen

Story out of Turlock, California: 

Tanks filled with thousands of dollars worth of bull semen were stolen out of a truck in Turlock, and it could cause trouble in the wrong hands.

The bulls are the cream of the crop and have been selected for their genetic value.

Turlock resident Anthony Reis spent months of his time and labor collecting top of the line bull semen for distribution only to have it stolen.

Three tanks and a transfer tank with nearly 3,500 units of sperm were stolen from the back of his work truck late Sunday night, enough to potentially impregnate more than 1,000 cattle.

The semen was worth nearly $50,000, with one of the bulls being the fifth best in the world now. Cont.

Story from - CBS Sacramento

British Principal Doesn't Like Parents Wearing Pajamas While Dropping Off Kids

Story out of London:

The principal of a primary school in northern England wants to impose a dress code — not on students, but on their parents.

That's because she's tired of them wearing pajamas and slippers when they drop off their offspring at the school gates each morning.

Kate Chisholm of Skerne Park Academy in Darlington, 240 miles (385 kilometers) north of London said she acted after some parents wore what she considered nightwear to school meetings.

In the letter published Tuesday she asked parents to "dress appropriately in day wear" when bringing their children to school. Cont.

Story from - WRAL

Bronx Cab Driver Steals Friend's $50,000 Powerball Ticket

Story out of New York:

It takes a pair of Powerballs to try and pull this off.

A Bronx cab driver with big money woes swiped his buddy’s winning $50,000 Powerball ticket — then tried to pass it off as his own, authorities said Tuesday.

Segura Rubelin’s pal Victor Castillo didn’t win the $1.5 billion jackpot that sent the nation into a fever pitch two weeks ago.

But the fortunate friend knew he had won enough money to tide him over for a while — until he said the man who was like a brother to him snatched the ticket out of his hand.

And if that wasn’t enough, the backstabbing lottery larcener dashed off with Castillo’s winning ticket to the bodega where it was purchased and came back with another winning ticket — one worth a mere $4.

Following an investigation, Rubelin was arrested Tuesday and charged with grand larceny. Cont.

Story from - NY Daily News
Image from - Mark Ou - Flickr
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Four-Year-Old Helps Save Mom Using Tablet

Story out of Norwich, New York:

The boy, Chadwick DePew, normally plays games on his tablet, but last week he used it to communicate with his father while his mother, Alice DePew, was having complications with her diabetes.

The disease causes serious threats to her health when her blood sugar gets too high or low. In this instance, her blood was extremely low when she was on the phone with her mother, who lives in North Carolina.

"I was talking to my mom on the cell phone and she heard me starting to slur my speech and I started feeling a little sleepy," Alice said.

Eventually, Alice passed out. Alice's mother contacted Chadwick’s father, Stanley DePew, who was at work.

Stanley tried calling the house phone, but got no answer. He then tried calling the tablet from his phone, and Chadwick answered.

“When I saw that green button I pushed it,” Chadwick said.

Chadwick's dad told him he needed to unlock the house door when 911 arrived -- which Chadwick did.

“I had no idea he knew how to unlock the tablet to even get on FaceTime,” Stanley said. “That was the first time ever." Cont. (Video)

Story from - WBNG Binghamton

Two Presumed Drown After Base Jumping From Bixby Creek Bridge In California

Story out of Monterey County, California:

Based on documents found in a rental car parked at the bridge, law enforcement officials identified a man and a woman whom they believe made the jump. Officials have identified the woman as Mary Katherine “Katie” Connell, a Ventura resident, and the man as being from Finland. They have not released the identity of the man, pending notification of relatives.

In a news conference Monday, Sheriff Steve Bernal said officials recovered video from a camera attached to a helmet found on the beach. Bernal said there are no plans to release the video. It shows a woman jumping off the concrete guardrail on the center of the bridge and parachuting to the beach. He said it also showed the woman landing safely, where Bixby Creek feeds into the ocean, but being overwhelmed by several large sets of waves.

“As the water retreats back into the ocean, Connell and the parachute are not seen retreating back to shore,” Bernal said.

Officials believe the man was wearing the helmet cam. He appears to have jumped from the bridge after the woman disappeared in the surf, and it seems from video footage that he also landed safely. However, there is no footage after he hits the beach.

“Both subjects appear to have drowned,” Bernal said. Cont.

Story from - Monterey Herald

Blake Griffin Is Out Four-To-Six Weeks After Fracturing Hand In Fight

The Los Angeles Clippers have confirmed that star player Blake Griffin injured his right hand in a fight with a member of the NBA team's equipment staff during a weekend trip to Toronto.

According to an ESPN report, the power forward and equipment staffer got into an argument in a restaurant. Griffin hit the man, who then left the restaurant and went outside. Griffin followed him outside and hit him again.

The man's face was injured while Griffin suffered a fracture, according to ESPN. Griffin is expected to be out of action for four-to-six weeks.

He issued an apology on Twitter.

Story from - CBC Sports
Image from - Wikimedia Commons
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Maine Gov. Paul LePage Says His State Should Bring Back The Guillotine

Story out of Maine:

Maine Gov. Paul LePage says his state is too easy on drug crimes, suggesting it should bring back the guillotine for serious offenders.

The Republican governor, known for his controversial statements, was speaking on local radio Tuesday about combating the drug epidemic in his state.

"What I think we ought to do is bring the guillotine back," he told WVOM. "We could have public executions and have, you know, we could even have (guessing) which hole it falls in."

It's only the latest controversial comments from LePage. Earlier this month, he made waves talking about drug dealers in his state.

"These are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty," he said. "They come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, then they go back home. Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave." Cont. (Video)

Story from - CNN
Image from - Wikimedia Commons
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Police In China Are Using Geese Instead Of Guard Dogs

Story out of Xinjiang Province, China:

Police in rural parts of China's Xinjiang Province are no longer turning to dogs to stand guard at police stations at night. They're using geese instead. And it works.

According to a recent report, a guy tried to break into a police station to take back a motorbike confiscated by the cops. The guard geese sounded the alarm, awakening the sleeping officers. Cont.

Story from - National Geographic

Heidi Cruz Asked On Radio Show If She's "Sleeping With An Immigrant"

In a radio interview last week, Heidi Cruz answered an awkwardly worded question about the natural-born status of her husband, Ted Cruz.

Speaking with Iowa local radio 1400AM KVFD, Cruz was asked, “Would you please respond to the fact of whether you’re sleeping with a, uh, uh, uh, uh, an immigrant?”

Cruz, laughing, replied, “There was a funny post on the Internet that the Canadians saying, ‘don’t worry he’s 100% American,’ so I think that can partly settled the question,” Cruz told Iowa local radio 1400AM KVFD last week. “But this is not hotly contested in the law. There a few liberal professors out there who are trying to stir this up, but there is a definition of a natural-born citizen, and Ted fits that definition. He was born to an American mother in a foreign country.” Cont. (Audio)

Story from - BuzzFeed

Two Teens Die After Drinking Gasoline Mixed With Mountain Dew

Story out of Greenbrier, Tennessee:

Two Tennessee teens have tragically died after possibly ingesting a mixture of racing fuel and Mountain Dew, authorities say.

Logan Stephenson, 16, and his best friend may have consumed that combination last Wednesday night, Greenbrier Police Chief KD Smith told the Daily News.

Stephenson was found unresponsive in his home in Greenbrier on Thursday and pronounced dead at the scene. His friend was taken to the hospital "for an undisclosed ailment." Foul play is not suspected.

Stephenson's friend, who has not been identified, died on Monday afternoon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Other teens have admitted to drinking the mixture. Cont. (Video)

Story from - NY Daily News
Image from - Lemsipmatt - Flickr

Dolls On A Thai Airline Are Treated Like Real Children

Story out of Thailand:

A Thai airline will allow passengers to purchase seats for life-like dolls that their owners treat as real children due to their belief that they possess supernatural powers.

Thai Smile Airways, which is a part of national carrier Thai Airways International Pcl, said in an internal memo that dolls with tickets will be served snacks and drinks, though they will be barred from sitting in exit rows. Owners who take dolls on the plane without tickets will have them treated as carry-on luggage.

The dolls known as Luk Thep, or Child Angels, have become increasingly popular in Thailand after several celebrities extolled their benefits. The dolls, which can sell for hundreds of dollars, are thought to possess the spirits of child angels and their owners pamper them with brand-name clothes and accessories due to the belief that a well-cared-for doll will bring good fortune. Cont.

Story from - Bloomberg
Image from - Wikipedia
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Thieves Steal $70,000 Worth Of Cheese In Wisconsin

Story out of Germantown, Wisconsin:

A block surrounded by warehouses in Germantown, Wisconsin is where the owner believes the well-orchestrated cheese theft took place.

A stolen trailer was backed up to an empty one. The cheese was transferred, and the bandits drove away, leaving the stolen vehicle without 70,000 dollars of Wisconsin cheese inside.

Police were hoping to find 70,000 dollars worth of cheese, but instead found an abandoned semi trailer.

As Germantown Police try to track down the cheese bandits, and all that they stole, a nearby city is investigating another cheese mystery.

"Approximately 90,000 dollars worth of parmesan cheese was missing from a logistics or storage facility here in Marshfield," said Lt. Darren Larson, Marshfield Police department.

Update: Friday evening, Germantown Police Detectives located the cheese products in the City of Milwaukee. No arrests have been made, and no other information can be released at this time due to it being an active investigation.

Story from - WDJT CBS

Lawsuit Claims Paramount Employees Forced To Use Their Vehicles As Bathrooms

Paramount Pictures is being sued by a group of production assistants who are raising quite a stink about their working conditions on movie sets.

Four parking production assistants (PPAs) are alleging that Paramount, along with Nickelodeon Movies, Regency Films, and a number of other production companies, were so strict about them leaving their posts during filming that they were required to turn their cars into bathrooms.

“Due to limitations on their ability to leave their assigned locations, many of the Plaintiffs are forced to urinate and defecate into bottles and buckets in their vehicles,” court documents obtained by TheWrap state. Cont.

Story from - The Wrap
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Alarm Installer Caught Stealing Customers' Credit Cards And ID

Story out of Cochrane, Alberta:

An Alberta man who wanted to make his home safer by installing an alarm system was appalled to discover the security company sent a man with a lengthy criminal record. The alarm installer would later be investigated for allegedly stealing his credit card information and ID while in his home.

"It's unbelievable that somebody that's supposed to be there to make life more secure took advantage of their position and stole my identity," Gary Brenner told Go Public.

Go Public's investigation found that only four provinces — B.C., Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador — require criminal record checks on employees or contractors in the home security industry.

Brenner lives in Cochrane, Alta., just outside Calgary. He hired Safety Alarm to install the alarm system in April, and it sent a contractor right away to do the installation.

In July, Brenner discovered fraudulent charges on his credit card totalling about $2,000 from purchases made by someone in British Columbia. He hadn't lost his wallet or credit card and had no idea how his card was compromised.

After his credit card company dismissed the charges, Brenner thought his problem was over, until he got a text message from a stranger.

"I was contacted by an acquaintance of the individual who installed my alarm, and she indicated she had seen copies of my credit card and my driver's licence … and she actually sent me pictures."

In those photos, Brenner's wallet is open and his credit card and ID are pulled out so the numbers are visible. The stranger also sent him a photo of the man she claimed was responsible — the same man who had installed Brenner's security alarm months earlier. Cont. (Video)

Story from - CBC News

Dog Runs Half Marathon, Comes In Seventh

Story out of Elkmont, Alabama:

A dog that left her Alabama home for a walk has wound up running in a local half-marathon – which she ended up finishing in an impressive seventh place.

Two-year-old Ludivane, a bloodhound from Elkmont, a town with a population of only about 400, had been let out for a stroll by her owner, April Hamlin, when she came across the Trackless Train Trek Half Marathon.

Always up for a run, the puppy committed to the endurance challenge – and finished the 21km course in just over an hour and 30 minutes.

The Elkmont Half Marathon honoured the canine’s participation and awarded her with a medal.

Her owner remained oblivious to her canine’s competitive spirit, and said she only became aware of the epic run when friends started sending her photos of Ludo at the finish line. Cont.

Story from - 9News

Hairdressers Are More Trusted Than Priests According To Poll

A poll by the research organisation, Ipsos MORI, investigating the most trusted job roles has found trust in clergy has dropped to 67% compared to 85% 30 years ago.

The Veracity Index said professions more trusted than priests include doctors (89%), teachers (86%), judges (80%), scientists (79%), hairdressers (69%), police (68%) and the ordinary person in the street.

It reported that trust in bankers had risen from 29% in 2011, to 37%, while priests are also apparently more trusted than television newsreaders (65%), charity chief executives (47%), business leaders (35%), estate agents (25%), government ministers (22%) and politicians (21%).

Revd Canon Jonathan Ford, a vicar in Bury St Edmunds, said: "People have less to do with clergy now than they did 20 [or] 30 years ago because less people are in church and they're less the person that you would turn to, necessarily, but, of course, probably the big one that has affected these figures is the issue around child abuse and the perceived inability of the church to response appropriately. Cont.

Story from - Premier

Fake Teeth Recalled After Concern Of People Not Being Able To Remove Them

Story out of Mainz, Germany:

Partygoers are being warned not to wear a brand of grotesque false teeth after a retailer discovered the product may be extremely hard to remove.

 The Swiss-based Manor chain markets Rottin' Teeth as a "movie-quality" costume accessory, advertised with the slogan "stay put ... teeth will fit exactly in your mouth."

This catchphrase proved too true, however, and Manor was forced to issue a product recall after learning that users "might not be able to remove" them.

According to Swiss authorities, Manor informed officials in Basel that one person "was not able to remove the ... Rottin' Teeth independently," triggering the recall. Cont.

Story from - NBC News
Image from - Dave Bleasdale - Flickr
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The European Handball Federation Has Banned Rainbow-Coloured Armbands

Story out of Poland:

The European Handball Federation has introduced a rule which makes it impossible for the Sweden captain to wear a rainbow-coloured armband at the European Championship, which starts in Poland on Friday. Poland refuses to recognise same-sex marriages and Tobias Karlsson announced last week that he was intending to wear the armband “as a quiet manifestation for acceptance and that every person is of equal worth”.

However, on the eve of the tournament the Sweden team have been told that a new rule means the captain’s armband can from now on consist only of that country’s colours.

“I think it is a real shame,” Karlsson told the Swedish paper Aftonbladet after being told of the news. “It is sad that the EHF chooses that path and does not allow us to express our feelings about humanity and how I think people should be treated.

“I have to say I am surprised. We were told only a few days ago that it was OK to wear the armband. Norway’s and Iceland’s captains have been in touch about also wearing one so we sent a few to them.”

The Law and Justice Party, which is opposed to LGBT rights, won the election in Poland in October last year and the country offers no recognition of same-sex relationships and has refused to recognise trans people. Cont.

Story from - The Guardian
Image from - Wikimedia Commons
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Tutankhamun's Mask Broken During Cleaning

It might have been safer in the ground. Go humans!

Eight museum employees will be charged with negligence after a botched reattachment of the beard on King Tutankhamun's mask, Egyptian authorities said.

There have been differing accounts of how the mask's blue-and-gold braided beard broke off since its damage came to light in 2014.

At the time, a museum conservator said the beard detached when the mask accidentally fell during cleaning. It was quickly reattached with a strong adhesive, but the glue left a gap between the face and the beard, the conservator said.

Prosecutors opened an investigation into the damage last year, saying workers did not follow protocol during restoration.

"The (museum) officials dealt recklessly with a piece of an artifact that is 3,300 years old, produced by one of the oldest civilizations in the world," the Administrative Prosecution said Saturday in a statement to state-run Ahram Online.

Prosecutors said the eight people who will be charged are six restorers and two former heads of the restoration section at the museum. Cont. (Video - Autoplay)

Story from - CNN

Gun Shop Owner, Son Killed Over $25 Firearm Repair Fee

Story out of Pearl River County, Mississippi:

According to Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison, 44-year old Jason McLemore, who owned McLemore Gun Shop, and his 17-year old son Jacob, were killed after a disagreement with two customers.

The two customers -- who are also a father-son pair -- were both injured during the altercation. McLemore and his teenage son were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities say that Michael McCool, 29, is the alleged shooter, accused of shooting both victims using a 40-caliber pistol.

According to Sheriff Allison, Audy McCool, 52, and his son Michael McCool, went to the shop to retrieve a weapon around 3:15 p.m. After being told it was not repaired, one of the men reportedly became agitated over paying a $25 service charge even though his gun was not fixed.

The wife of Jason McLemore, who was at the counter when the customers came in, called her husband and son to de-escalate the situation. Both father and son pairs began to argue, resorting to physical violence and, eventually, gunfire. Cont.

Story from - WLOX ABC

Man Asks People Not To Vote For Trump In Obituary

Story out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

A Pittsburgh man’s dying wish cuts no corners: please don’t vote for Donald Trump.

Ten months short of voting day, Jeffrey H. Cohen “unexpectedly” passed away Sunday at the age of 70, his obituary says. Still, he has made his choice known.

The light-hearted remembrance published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette speaks of Cohen as “The Chiropractor to the Stars” who treated Liza Minnelli and “Weird Al” Yankovic.

He’s described as a “voracious teller of jokes of all kinds, especially dirty and groan-inducing ones,” so perhaps it should come as no surprise to see how his obituary concludes: “Jeffrey would ask that in lieu of flowers, please do not vote for Donald Trump.”

In similar circumstances, an Ontario woman made headlines last summer with a more Canadian appeal.

Mary Catherine Finn of Peterborough passed away in July, a few months shy of Canada’s 42nd federal election. Her final request? Boot Stephen Harper from the prime minister’s office, and then some: “In lieu of donations, Catherine would want you to do everything you can to drive Stephen Harper from office, right out of the country, and into the deep blue sea if possible.” Cont. 

Story from - Global News
Image from - Wikimedia Commons

Kansas Lawmaker Imposes Dress Code For Female Witnesses

Story out of Topeka, Kansas:

Senate committee chairman, Mitch Holmes, set rules prohibiting women from wearing revealing clothing in front of his committee while making no restrictions for men. Holmes says he set these rules because women in provocative attire can be distracting for his committee.

With the legislative session is in full swing, women testifying on an elections or ethics bill, won't have their voices heard if their outfits are deemed inappropriate by a rule in Holmes' 11-point code of conduct.

 "It says professional attire is expected of conferees and it says for ladies, low cut neck lines and mini skirts are inappropriate," Holmes said.

Holmes says he set those rules for his committee room after a few incidents that he felt were unprofessional.

"We did have a professional lobbyist show up with a neck line that came down almost to her navel, that was very unusual," said Holmes. Cont.

Story from - Kake

Man Accidentally Released From Prison Murders Bank President During Robbery

A Confusing story of incompetence out of Texas:

The robber who fatally shot the president of the Bank of Eufaula had been released from prison by mistake.

Cedric Lamont Norris, 39, died after the bank robbery Thursday during a shoot-out with police.

He had been released from a Texas prison in March 2012, even though he still had to complete a 60-year prison sentence and 10-year prison sentence in Oklahoma, records show.

Tulsa County and Creek County officials are putting the blame on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the agency that runs that state's prisons. Texas corrections officials, however, insist they don't have any notices from Oklahoma that would have prevented his release there in 2012.

Norris was arrested in Dallas in February 2005 after a string of jewelry store robberies in both Oklahoma and Texas. He was moved in December 2005 to Tulsa County and then Creek County for trials. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a Tulsa jewelry store robbery and 60 years for a Sapulpa jewelry store robbery. Cont.

Story from - NewsOK

Paranoid Marijuana Smugglers Call 911 On Themselves.

Never get high on your own supply:

Leland Ayala-Doliente, 22, and Holland Sward, 23, were travelling from Las Vegas to Montana with 20lb of marijuana when they pulled over and called the police.

The two men thought they were being followed by undercover police and told the dispatcher they just wanted to “get warm” and “end the chase.”

When asked if they had any weapons, he responded: “Nope we don’t have any of that stuff with us. Just a bunch of snacks and stuff.”

A police officer arrived to find the two men outside of the car with their hands above their heads and the marijuana ready for authorities to seize. Cont. (Video)

Story from - The Telegraph

Drunk Driver Crashes Into Gazebo Featured In "Funny Farm"

There are better ways of criticizing a movie.
Story out of Townshend, Vermont:

Vermont state police say a drunken driver drove across a town common and struck a gazebo that was featured in the 1988 Chevy Chase movie "Funny Farm."

Police say a 71-year-old Connecticut man was charged with driving under the influence after the accident that occurred at 9:42 p.m. Friday on the Townshend town common.

Authorities say David Page's blood-alcohol content was .181 percent — more than twice the legal limit for intoxication. He had been driving north on Route 30 in the southeastern Vermont town when he drove onto the common. Page, of Groton, Connecticut, was taken to the Southern State Correctional Facility. Cont.

Story from - Killeen Daily Herald Via AP
Image from - Wikimedia Commons

Trump Says He Could Shoot Someone And Not Lose Voters

And what does this tell you about your voters Mr. Trump? 
His remarks were at an event at Sioux Center, Iowa:

Donald Trump boasted Saturday that support for his presidential campaign would not decline even if he shot someone in the middle of a crowded street.

"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters," Trump said at a campaign rally here.

After the event, Trump declined to answer when asked by CNN to clarify his comments. Cont.

Story from - CNN
Image from - Donkey Hotey - Flickr
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Man Picks Patrol Car As Getaway Vehicle With Cop Still Inside

Story out of Tacoma, Washington:

Fife police Lt. Tom Thompson said a man was spotted acting suspicious near a motel around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, so a patrol sergeant stopped to check the license on the car he was driving. It came back as stolen.

As the sergeant followed the suspect, identified as David Boulet, Boulet jumped from the car and ran. Police said Boulet climbed a fence and ran through traffic in both the north and southbound lanes of Interstate 5, dodging cars.

Meanwhile, a Tacoma police officer, hearing the chase over the radio, stopped on the Port of Tacoma road overpass and turned on his red and blue lights.

Thompson said Boulet ran from the freeway through heavy brush and onto the overpass, apparently looking for a getaway car.

He spotted the patrol car with lights flashing, ran toward it, pulled the door open, got in and sat down in the officer’s lap, apparently unaware that the officer was still behind the wheel. Cont. (Video)

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Rafael Cruz Says Public Education Is A Communist Plot

Rafael Cruz fought in Fidel Casto's revolution :

Rafael Cruz, the father of and top campaign surrogate for Sen. Ted Cruz, claimed today that the country’s public school system was founded by “a member of the American Communist Party.”

The elder Cruz alleged in an interview on the Sirius XM program “Breitbart News Daily” this morning that public schools are brainwashing children into communism as a result of the work of education reformer John Dewey.

While he did correctly identify Dewey as a secular humanist, Cruz alleged that “John Dewey was a member of the American Communist Party,” when, in fact, Dewey was “an avowed anti-Communist” who even believed that “known Communists should not be permitted to teach children.” He co-founded the anti-Communist Committee for Cultural Freedom and was widely denounced by supporters of the Communist Party. Cont. 

Story from - Right Wing Watch

Image from - Gage Skidmore - Flickr
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Drunk Man Shoots Woman In A Theater Showing "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi"

Story out of Renton, Washington:

The shooting happened at around 8 p.m. at a movie theater at the The Landing in Renton during a showing of the film "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi."

"It got about 15-20 minutes into the film and I believe the lady in front of us that got shot was actually talking to her husband or significant other and that's when we heard the loud pop," said one witness, who did not want to be identified. He was sitting 3 or 4 rows behind the man when the gun went off.

Just as witnesses realized it was a shooting, they saw the man make his way toward a nearby exit.

"We saw the lady, she was laying on the bench with a shot in her upper chest," a witness said.

Renton police believe the shooter may have been intoxicated at the time. Cont.

Story from - KOMO News

Woman Ticketed For DWEB (Driving While Eating Banana)

A single mother in the U.K. has received a nearly C$300 fine after she was caught by police last June eating one behind the wheel of her car, according to the Bournemouth Daily Echo. However, she defended her car was stationary at the time.

Elsa Harris was fined about C$200 on the spot and given the choice of taking a drivers' awareness course or three penalty points — but she opted to take the case to court instead.

She pled guilty in court, and received three penalty points as well as the bigger fine.

She told the Echo that she pled guilty on the advice of a lawyer friend, who told her she'd never win.

Police tried to be witty in their post offering an update on the case, saying the story might "ApPEEL to our followers."

However, Harris won't likely share the same sense of humour.

"It's the most expensive banana I've ever had in my life," she told ITV last year — but it got even pricier since then. Cont.

Story from - Huffington Post

South Korean Court Rules That Following North Korea On Twitter Is Not A Crime

A 73-year-old South Korean man was accused of distributing pro-North Korea propaganda after he followed the country's official account on the social network. Prosecutors alleged the former journalist, identified only as Lee, was sympathizing with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's communist kingdom -- an illegal act under South Korean law.

South Korea's controversial National Security Law criminalizes "anti-state" acts and forbids citizens from supporting the North in any context. But because Lee didn't retweet any posts, he was found not guilty of sharing or distributing North Korean content and was acquitted, The Guardian reports.

But even if his Twitter profile didn't land him behind bars, his personal blog did. The Korea Times reports Lee was sentenced to a year in jail anyway for praising the North on his blog years ago. Cont.

Story from - Huffington Post
Image from - Personeelsnet - Flickr
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Parasitic Worms Infect Man After Eating Raw Salmon

Story out of Calgary, Alberta: 

A man treated at a Calgary hospital shortly after eating raw wild salmon from a grocery store was stricken by tiny parasitic worms in his stomach, according to a new medical report.

Doctors say the alarming medical case is the first time the tiny toothed worms have been found in a human after consuming Canadian store-bought salmon.

But as uncooked culinary trends like sashimi and ceviche grow in popularity, doctors warn that the rare parasite could become more common.

According to the report, a 50-year-old man arrived in the emergency department with vomiting and upper abdomen pain about one hour after eating raw wild salmon. The pain persisted for at least six hours and raised his fever to 39 C (102.2 F).

After x-rays and stool tests found “nothing remarkable,” doctors sent an endoscope camera inside the patient’s stomach.

That’s when doctors spotted the tiny worms -- between 1 to 2 centimetres long -- wriggling inside several stomach ulcers. Two worms were removed and identified as anisakis, a parasitic worm that lives in fish and aquatic animals and leads to the condition anisakiasis. Cont.

Story from - CTV News
Image from - Steven Zolneczko - Flickr
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Student Pulled Out Of Class For Saying 'ISIS' During US Pledge Of Allegiance

A Connecticut high school student has been pulled out of classes and reported to police for substituting "ISIS" for the "United States of America" during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Lt. Andrew Cota says the 15-year-old student at Ansonia High School wasn't charged, but the case was turned over to the Department of Homeland Security. Police say there is no danger to the community. Federal officials declined to comment.

An attorney representing the school and Board of Education says the boy's dismissal was "out of an abundance of caution."

The boy's mother said at a board meeting that removing her son from school was an irrational decision. Cont.

Story from - ABC News Via AP
Image from - Wikimedia Commons
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19-Year-Old Folk Singer Killed By Coyotes While Hiking

Story out of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia:

Taylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow, who went by the stage name Taylor Mitchell, died overnight at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. She had been on tour in the Maritimes.

Mitchell was hiking on the Skyline Trail when she was attacked Tuesday afternoon. She was taken to the hospital in Cheticamp, then airlifted to Halifax in critical condition.

Park officials said Mitchell was walking the trail alone. They said other hikers managed to scare off the coyotes and call 911. Cont.

Story from - CBC News
Image from - Wikimedia Commons

Missouri Woman Admits To Poisoning Husband, Son, And Daughter With Antifreeze

Diane Staudte, 53, of Springfield, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault, The Springfield News-Leader ( http://sgfnow.co/1lzFogv ) reports. Another daughter, 25-year-old Rachel Staudte, pleaded guilty earlier to helping with the poisonings at her mother's insistence.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Diane Staudte will avoid a possible death sentence. She faces a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Staudte told investigators that she poisoned her 61-year-old husband, Mark Staudte, with antifreeze because she hated him, and that she killed her 26-year-old son, Shawn Staudte, because he was "worse than a pest," according to the probable cause statement. She also admitted poisoning her daughter Sarah Staudte over four days because "she would not get a job and had student loans that had to be paid," investigators said.

A medical examiner initially ruled that her husband's April 2012 death was from natural causes and her son's September 2012 death was from prior medical issues. But a tip led authorities to re-examine the deaths in June 2013 following the hospitalization of Sarah Staudte, who was then 24. Cont.

Story from - ABC News
Image from - Wikipedia

Texas Student Suspended For Helping Asthmatic Friend

Story out of Killeen, Texas:

Anthony Ruelas, 15, said his eighth grade classmate was wheezing and gagging for three minutes Tuesday morning while no one did anything.  But when Ruelas did do something, he apparently broke the rules.

According to Ruelas, the teacher was waiting on an email from the nurse and told the class to remain calm and stay in their seats.  Fearing for the girl’s health, Ruelas didn’t listen and after several minutes of inaction, went against the teacher’s wishes to help his friend.

Ruelas’ referral form from his teacher reads in her handwriting:

“During 5th period another student complained that she couldn't breathe and was having an asthma attack. As I waited for a response from the nurse the student fell out of her chair to the floor.  Anthony proceeded to go over and pick her up, saying ‘f—k that we ain’t got time to wait for no email from the nurse.’ He walks out of class and carries the other student to the nurse.” Cont.

Story from - 11 Alive NBC

Thief Is Caught After Repairing Stolen Snow Plow

Story out of Lynn, Massachusetts:

Last week as the maintenance crew of a nonprofit charitable agency in Lynn began preparing for snow, they discovered a plow missing. It was the only plow the agency has to clear four different lots, and it’s worth $7,000.

What the thief didn’t know is that the agency has several surveillance cameras pointed down at the parking lot.

The video shows a truck approach, mount the plow to the front, and drive off within five minutes. From that, police were able to identify the truck, and track down the stolen plow.

Here’s the bonus: In the short time the thief had the plow, he did $200-to-$300 worth of repairs on it, replacing marker guides and giving it a new shine. Cont.

Story from - CBS Boston
Image from - Arlington County - Flickr

Alaska Airlines Pilot Arrested For Flying Drunk

David Hans Arntson was arrested Wednesday at his California home and arraigned on the felony charge later that day. The 60-year-old pilot is accused of piloting two Alaska Airlines flights in June 2014 while under the influence, according to federal prosecutors.

On the day in question, Arntson flew from San Diego to Portland, and then from Portland to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. When he landed at John Wayne, the airline selected Arntson for a random drug and alcohol test.

Prosecutors say an airline technician performed two tests on Arntson, and both were over the legal limit. The pilot had a blood alcohol concentration of .134 and .142, according to prosecutors.

The charge of operating a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol or drugs carries a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Cont.

Story from - KOMO News
Image from - Wikimedia Commons