Corpse Wheeled To Store To Cash Check

Men Accused Of Wheeling Dead Man Through NYC Streets In Attempt To Cash His $355 Social Security Check

(AP) Two men wheeled a dead man through the streets in an office chair to a check-cashing store and tried to cash his Social Security check before being arrested on fraud charges, police said.
David J. Dalaia and James O'Hare pushed Virgilio Cintron's body from the Manhattan apartment that O'Hare and Cintron shared to Pay-O-Matic, about a block away, spokesman Paul Browne said witnesses told police.
"The witnesses saw the two pushing the chair with Cintron flopping from side to side and the two individuals propping him up and keeping him from flopping from side to side," Browne said.
The men left Cintron's body outside the store, went inside and tried to cash his $355 check, Browne said. The store's clerk, who knew Cintron, asked the men where he was, and O'Hare told the clerk they would go and get him, Browne said.
A police detective who was having lunch at a restaurant next to the check-cashing store noticed a crowd forming around Cintron's body, and "it's immediately apparent to him that Cintron is dead," Browne said.

Reality shows are getting ridicules

TORONTO (Reuters) - A new law meant to help crack down on young Canadian street racers in their souped up cars has nabbed an octogenarian in his Oldsmobile The 85-year-old man is one of 2,300 drivers across Ontario to be charged under new legislation, designed to combat "street racing, stunts and contests," since it came into effect three months ago -- and he's the oldest.The man was pulled over after allegedly driving 161 kilometers per hour (100 mph) this week on a main highway north of Toronto, where the speed limit is 100 km/h, Ontario Provincial It really doesn't matter the age of the person or whether they're trying to race another car," OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley said on Friday. "The consequences of the crashes and the laws of physics are always in effect."Under the street racing legislation, a person is charged if they are driving 50 km/h more than the posted speed limit."Street racing was probably a bad title for it, extreme driving probably would have been better," Woolley noted.Under the legislation, the 85-year-old could face a minimum C$2,000 ($2,000) fine. His license has been suspended and his car impounded for a week.Woolley said that, in the case of the 85-year-old, a police officer driving in a marked car saw the Oldsmobile and tried to get the driver's attention, honking her horn and waving."He flew past her," said Woolley, adding he was going about 140 km/h at the time -- and then speeded up.When he finally stopped, the man told the officer he was going to the bank and planned to go shopping, Woolley said."When she informed him that his car was being impounded for a week, he said: 'God damn, you're not taking my car, are ya?'" Woolley said, adding the man later apologized for swearing, and the officer drove him to the bank.

Until this week, two 75-year-old men were the oldest to be charged under the law. The youngest is a 16-year-old woman. Most are men in their 20s.

LONDON (Reuters) - A woman banned from driving for seven days after traveling at speeds of less than 10mph on the motorway told Reuters on Friday: "that road's my nemesis." Stephanie Cole, 58, of Fishponds, Bristol, straddled the hard shoulder and inside lane as she dawdled along a stretch of the M32 near her home last August In the back window of the car was a sign which said: "I don't do fast, please overtake."Cole admitted driving without reasonable consideration at North Avon Magistrates' Court on Friday and was told she would have to take another test at the end of the ban."I didn't intend getting onto the motorway, but all of a sudden I found myself on it and I could not get off," she told Reuters after the hearing."I just panicked. I hate that particular stretch of road and I avoid it normally. It is my nemesis."Cole had been traveling from her home to a stationer's when she was arrested in her Perodua Kenari mini people-carrier."I thought "thank God" when I saw the blue flashing lights," she said. "I thought they could help and I asked them if they could drive me home."Cole, who has multiple sclerosis, said she depends on her car for getting around."I will try and retake the test," she said."I will have to do my best when driving, and hope it is better than it was."

Cat Blamed For Idaho Blackout Cat Seeking Warm Spot Blamed For Outage Cutting Electricity To 12,000 Customers In Idaho

 NAMPA, Idaho, Jan. 8, 2008(AP)

A cat picked the wrong place to come in from the cold, and caused a power outage that blacked out more than 12,000 homes and businesses. The cat entered an electrical substation, snuggled up to a warm transformer and contacted a live circuit, causing a short that blew out nine feeder lines Monday afternoon, Idaho Power officials said.Service was restored in less than three hours to most customers, including City Hall where the lights came on in time for a City Council meeting, utility spokesman Dennis Lopez said. The outage also disabled traffic lights in the city of about 77,000 people. Temporary stop signs were set up at affected intersections and about 15 police officers were assigned to direct and monitor traffic. Police Lt. Eric Skoglund said he didn't know of any accidents that could be blamed on the outage.

To many smart things to even say about this  one

Mayor Wants To Partly Flush 'Toilet Tax'

Eunice, La. Mayor Wants To Flush Part Of The 'Toilet Tax'

EUNICE, La., Jan. 7, 2008(AP) 

The mayor of Eunice is ready to flush part of the city's "toilet tax." The town started charging households a $10-per-toilet fee under the administration of former Mayor Curtis Joubert to pay for badly needed improvements to the sewer system. It brings in $350,000 a year.
Current Mayor Robert Morris is calling for a $5 cut in the fee.
The fee was instituted in the early 1990s after problems with the sewer system brought fines from the Environmental Protection Agency.
"The sewer system was built around 1950, back at the time they used clay pipes," Alderman Jack Burson said. "They had to do a lot of repairs on the sewer plant and spend a lot of money on that."
Burson said cutting the fee could have consequences. "If we do cut the user fee, that money is not going to deal with the long term," the alderman said. "We should begin to plan for a new sewer system plant."
Joubert said he believes the fee should be reduced _ if it will not affect the town. "(The fee) was not intended to last a lifetime," Joubert said. "It would show good faith if we can reduce it."

dose thius mean ther flushing 175,000 $ a year??