Thursday, August 01, 2013

Speeding on the way to Vegas and other eye-catching headlines

The Nevada Highway Patrol's "Zero Tolerance" program for motorists driving along I-15 from Primm to Las Vegas is generating large numbers of traffic violations, mostly for speeding.  Officials say this isn't about generating revenue, it's about public safety.

All-Star centerfielder Matt Kemp is on the disabled list and may remain there until December.  Considering that the Dodgers now lead the NL West by 3.5 games, and have won 28 of their last 35, he should rest up and be fully healed for the stretch-run and the post-season.  They have also won 11 straight road-games.

Director James Cameron has announced that he will be making three sequels to his mega-hit movie "Avatar", filming all three at the same time.  They will be released in December of 2016, 2017 and sometime the following year.

Ariel Castro listened to one of his victims tell him that he will "die a little each day" as he will be spending the rest of his life in jail.  The judge ordered that he never leave jail, for any reason.

Business at the Sbarro in the International area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport may be less busy in the coming days, as Edward Snowden was granted one year of asylum in Russia.  He left the airport in a cab and his whereabouts are unknown.

Major League Baseball may be announcing suspensions for a number of players, for using performance-enhancing drugs; as early as tomorrow.  Rumors have A-Roid possibly accepting a deal from MLB to accept a suspension, avoiding a lifetime ban.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered that performance ratings of LAUSD teachers be released, saying the public's interest in the information trumps any privacy expectations the teachers have under the California Public Records Act.

An 8 year old is in stable condition in a hospital near his Castaic home after he was found unconscious in a washing machine filled with water.  Deputies who responded to the scene had to give CPR to the boy after his father found him and dialed 911.

A former staffer of current San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, and a former mayor have contradicted the statement by Filner's attorney that sexual harassment training wasn't made available to Filner.  According to Jay Goldstone, it was Filner's office that cancelled the training, not the trainer.  Further, the training was available as an online course.  (reporter's note:  the fact that Filner did not complete the training and the HR department of the city didn't follow up may make the issue of who cancelled moot)

In Glendora, students, parents and alumni of St. Lucy's Priory School want a teacher reinstated after he was terminated.  Ken Becomo, who had been with the school for 17 years was fired after he and his long-time same-sex partner got married.  The school had been aware of his sexual orientation for at least ten years, but took no action until the wedding became public knowledge.

The election is over, but for Wendy Greuel the bills from her campaign are coming due and the debt is now more than $618,000.  She is working to raise funds to retire the debt.  The question is, what job will she take now that she has no place in City Government until it is time for another election?

Actress Joan Collins is denying claims made by Shirley Jones in her memoir that they nearly engaged in a "four-some" at the home Collins shared with then-husband Tony Newley.  She has sent a "cease-and-desist" letter to Jones.  Jones is standing by her story.

Fear of E. coli contamination has caused a Kansas company to recall 50,000 pounds of ground beef.

A recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council claims that the average American family spends nearly $2,300 per year on food that is wasted.

In New York City, a food truck worker lost his job after he tweeted his displeasure with some customers.  They worked for Glass, Lewis and Company and they'd placed an order for $170 worth of food, which was very time-consuming.  They left no tip.  He tweeted about the lack of tip and they complained to the truck's owner.  BTW, he also worked as a freelance journalist and his story about the firing, along with the tweet caused a massive backlash on social media for the customers, their firm, and the truck's owner.

Retired MLB player Cal Ripken is offering a $100,000 reward leading to the man responsible for kidnapping his mother last year.

The corpse flower at the U.S. Botanical Garden Conservatory just bloomed.  It smells like rotting flesh.  But it can't kill you like a doll's eye plant can.  Yes, the berries look like the eyes of a doll.


But if you ingest the berries, they can cause cardiac arrest and death. 

Kelly Clarkson bought a ring that once belonged to Jane Austen, at auction, but she was barred from bringing it back to the U.S. with her.  The Ministry of Culture placed a temporary hold, hoping a British buyer can be found.

Analysts are saying that giant retailer J.C. Penney's won't survive much longer, particularly if rumors about having lost their main source of financing the purchase of good to be sold in their stores are true.

At least one of the teammates of NFL player Riley Cooper is speaking out over Cooper's racist remarks on a video that went viral.  "I can't respect a guy like that" was the comment of LeSean McCoy.

Mark Hudspeth is the coach of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette football team  They've won two New Orleans Bowl titles during his tenure.  But the coach, a former safety and quarterback put on a weight lifting demonstration recently.  Doing bench presses, he did 25 reps with 225 pounds on the bar.  That's what the college recruits press during the draft combine.  The top prospect this year did 27 reps.  Hudspeth is a one tough hombre.