Oprah, a senator?

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, charged with trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President Barack Obama, considered offering it to talk show star Oprah Winfrey.  Blagojevich said on ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday that a friend of his had suggested asking Winfrey to fill Obama's seat.  "She seemed to be someone ( Read more... )

Landlord takes tenant's toilet

A landlord was fined nearly $10,000 for removing the toilet and other fixtures from a basement apartment to get his tenant to move out.  The Rockland Board of Health issued the fine to Fausto Pinos on Wednesday. He had been charged with 24 housing code violations for conditions in the building in Spring Valley, a town ( Read more... )

Actor shot by loaded gun during rehearsal

An 81-year-old actor is recovering after being accidentally shot during a dress rehearsal with a gun that was supposed to be empty.  The incident happened Sunday on the final practice run by a seniors theater group for their production of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men."   One actor picked up a pistol he ( Read more... )

Mayor denies kissing ban, invites all to smooch

When you come to Guanajuato, pucker up. Mayor Eduardo Romero is declaring the colonial city in central Mexico "the kissing capital" of the world to disprove, once and for all, claims that he has banned smooching in public.  The flap arose over an anti-obscenity law that many people believed would fine ( Read more... )

Woman arrested after child gives away hiding spot

A Fort Pierce woman ended up in jail because of a little girl with a big mouth. Police went to the home of 22-year-old woman on Friday to serve warrants for assault, harassing phone calls and violation probation carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.  Officers said two men and a woman at the ( Read more... )

Man accused of stealing shark from pet store

A New York man is accused of going fishing in a pet store aquarium - catching a $350 shark and smuggling it out under his jacket.  Police say the bizarre shark heist took place Dec. 12 at Total Aquarium in Lynbrook.  The man went up to the tank where the shark was swimming and “just grabbed it and put it ( Read more... )

Man's pistol blasts toilet to pieces

The toilet at Centerville's Carl's Jr. restaurant never knew what hit it, but police say it was a slug from a 26-year-old Salt Lake City man's .40-caliber handgun. As the man hitched up his pants, the pistol fell from the holster, hit the tile floor and fired -- shattering the toilet and sending porcelain into ( Read more... )

Just desserts? Bird beaten for ice cream theft

A rare gull that apparently tried to eat a couple's ice cream was euthanized after the man beat the bird with a stick. Dragan Djuric, 50, of Wichita, Kansas, and his wife were eating ice cream New Year's Eve on the boardwalk at Main Beach when a flock of birds attacked them, Laguna Beach police Sgt. ( Read more... )

Man accused of selling daughter for cash, beer

Police have arrested a Greenfield man they say arranging to sell his 14-year-old daughter into marriage in exchange for $16,000, 100 cases of beer and several cases of meat.  Police said they only learned of the deal after the 36-year-old man went to them to get his daughter back because payment wasn't ( Read more... )

Music to soothe the criminal soul

Gangsters, murderers and other hardened criminals imprisoned in an eastern Indian state are being played soothing classical music daily to help soften them up.  "We are hopeful this special musical treat will indeed end the jail monotony and soften the hardened attitude of criminals," Bihar state Prisoners Welfare ( Read more... )