Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Muggers stole man's lightsabers
Police in Wichita, Kansas, are looking for two suspects after a 38-year-old man says he was robbed of his lightsabers while walking with his toy Jedi weapons on Thursday night.
Sgt. Scott Brunow said the man was approached by a man and woman. The man assaulted the victim, knocking him to the ground. Both suspects took the lightsabers and his cell phone and left the scene.
The male suspect is described as white or Hispanic, 30-to-40 years old, 6-feet tall, 330 pounds and bald. He was last seen wearing a tan or maroon shirt and white shorts. He fled the scene in a black 1980s Chevy truck.
The female suspect is a white woman, 21 years old, 5-feet-8-inches tall, 180 pounds and had brown hair. She was last seen wearing a maroon and turquoise dress. She left the area in a maroon SUV.
Sgt. Scott Brunow said the man was approached by a man and woman. The man assaulted the victim, knocking him to the ground. Both suspects took the lightsabers and his cell phone and left the scene.
The male suspect is described as white or Hispanic, 30-to-40 years old, 6-feet tall, 330 pounds and bald. He was last seen wearing a tan or maroon shirt and white shorts. He fled the scene in a black 1980s Chevy truck.
The female suspect is a white woman, 21 years old, 5-feet-8-inches tall, 180 pounds and had brown hair. She was last seen wearing a maroon and turquoise dress. She left the area in a maroon SUV.
Judge orders child's name be changed from Messiah to Martin
A mother from Newport, Tennessee, is appealing a court's decision after a judge ordered her son's name be changed from "Messiah." Jaleesa Martin and the father of Messiah DeShawn Martin could not agree on a last name, which is how they ended up at a child support hearing in Cocke County Chancery Court on Thursday. That is when the first name came into question.
Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the 7-month-old's name be "Martin DeShawn McCullough." It includes both parent's last names but leaves out Messiah. The name change was part of Judge Ballew's case; however, the parents did not think the first name would be changed. "The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ," Judge Ballew said.
Martin responded saying, "I was shocked. I never intended on naming my son Messiah because it means God and I didn't think a judge could make me change my baby's name because of her religious beliefs." According to Judge Ballew, it is the first time she has ordered a first name change. She said the decision is best for the child, especially while growing up in a county with a large Christian population. "It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has had no choice in what his name is," Judge Ballew said.
YouTube link.
Martin's two older children are named Micah and Mason. She liked how the name Messiah sounded alongside the other two siblings and thought it was unique. "Everybody believes what they want so I think I should be able to name my child what I want to name him, not someone else," Martin said. Judge Ballew said the parents will have to change the name on the birth certificate. However, Martin is appealing the judge's decision. It will go before the Cocke County Chancellor on Sept. 17.
Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the 7-month-old's name be "Martin DeShawn McCullough." It includes both parent's last names but leaves out Messiah. The name change was part of Judge Ballew's case; however, the parents did not think the first name would be changed. "The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ," Judge Ballew said.
Martin responded saying, "I was shocked. I never intended on naming my son Messiah because it means God and I didn't think a judge could make me change my baby's name because of her religious beliefs." According to Judge Ballew, it is the first time she has ordered a first name change. She said the decision is best for the child, especially while growing up in a county with a large Christian population. "It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has had no choice in what his name is," Judge Ballew said.
YouTube link.
Martin's two older children are named Micah and Mason. She liked how the name Messiah sounded alongside the other two siblings and thought it was unique. "Everybody believes what they want so I think I should be able to name my child what I want to name him, not someone else," Martin said. Judge Ballew said the parents will have to change the name on the birth certificate. However, Martin is appealing the judge's decision. It will go before the Cocke County Chancellor on Sept. 17.
'No Muslim' parking signs removed from outside Texas shopping centre following controversy
New parking signs posted outside a Houston-area mosque sparked outrage on Thursday. The posters lined the street near the El Farouq Mosque. The signs read, "No Muslim parking in the Westview Shopping Center. Your car will be towed."
Many Muslims heading to worship services were offended. The mosque sits across the street from the shopping centre. Store employees did not want to go on camera, but admit they get angry when mosque members park in their lot, taking up spots meant for customers.
With the Muslim month-long fast for the holy month of Ramadan ending, and a crowd expected at the mosque, the signs anonymously appeared. No shopping centre employees would take credit. One worker said the shopping centre owner, Steve Kwon, posted the signs. "I did not put up the signs," said Kwon.
YouTube link.
The owner says they will be calling a tow company to try to get all of the cars that shouldn't be parked here out. And he says he'll be checking the property to make there are no more of the offending parking signs.
Many Muslims heading to worship services were offended. The mosque sits across the street from the shopping centre. Store employees did not want to go on camera, but admit they get angry when mosque members park in their lot, taking up spots meant for customers.
With the Muslim month-long fast for the holy month of Ramadan ending, and a crowd expected at the mosque, the signs anonymously appeared. No shopping centre employees would take credit. One worker said the shopping centre owner, Steve Kwon, posted the signs. "I did not put up the signs," said Kwon.
YouTube link.
The owner says they will be calling a tow company to try to get all of the cars that shouldn't be parked here out. And he says he'll be checking the property to make there are no more of the offending parking signs.
Buddha the 31-pound cat ordered to lose weight
A cat in Nashville, Tennessee, that tops the scale at 31 pounds, twice the weight of an average feline, has been ordered to lose weight by veterinarians.
The Cat Shoppe’s Penny Adams rescued Buddha from Metro Animal Control after his previous owner gave him up. “All I know is there was a death in the family and the owner wasn’t able to care for him anymore,” Adams said. Buddha, who is kept in a round pen inside Adams’ shop, spends most of the day lounging around picking at his cat food.
“Our vet believes he was on people food. And we believe it too because when we were eating our lunch here the other day he went bonkers…,” Adams said. “We know he likes pasta because that’s what we had for lunch here and he wanted some of that.” A veterinarian gave Buddha a clean bill of health, but did say that if he does not lose weight, he might not be around very long.
YouTube link.
“To me, it’s neglect to let a cat get this large,” Adams said. “Of course everybody likes a good fat cat story, and it’s a little comical to see. But in the end, it’s his health and we want what’s best for him.” Once he gets a doctor’s okay, Buddha will go on a strict diet of cat food and exercise by hitting a kitty treadmill. The goal is to lose 12 pounds, one third of his body weight.
With additional news video.
The Cat Shoppe’s Penny Adams rescued Buddha from Metro Animal Control after his previous owner gave him up. “All I know is there was a death in the family and the owner wasn’t able to care for him anymore,” Adams said. Buddha, who is kept in a round pen inside Adams’ shop, spends most of the day lounging around picking at his cat food.
“Our vet believes he was on people food. And we believe it too because when we were eating our lunch here the other day he went bonkers…,” Adams said. “We know he likes pasta because that’s what we had for lunch here and he wanted some of that.” A veterinarian gave Buddha a clean bill of health, but did say that if he does not lose weight, he might not be around very long.
YouTube link.
“To me, it’s neglect to let a cat get this large,” Adams said. “Of course everybody likes a good fat cat story, and it’s a little comical to see. But in the end, it’s his health and we want what’s best for him.” Once he gets a doctor’s okay, Buddha will go on a strict diet of cat food and exercise by hitting a kitty treadmill. The goal is to lose 12 pounds, one third of his body weight.
With additional news video.
Thief smuggled puppies out of store down his pants
The owner of a puppy store in Orlando, Florida, said a man stole two puppies from his store by stuffing them down his pants.
Charles Glatz owns The Puppy Stop said two puppies were stolen from his store on Saturday. A miniature dachshund and a pug were both taken from their crib by a male suspect, Glatz said. Together, the dogs are worth around $1,500. Glatz was shocked when he reviewed the store's surveillance video and saw the man steal the puppies by stuffing them down his pants.
"It was shocking that I was standing 3 feet away writing up a sale and didn't see it," Glatz said. In the video, the suspect leaves the busy store with one dog before returning for another. "He came back in and went to the dachshund cage, took a little doxie, then all of them left the store at the same time," Glatz said.
YouTube link. Original news video.
The man had come into the store with two other adults and a child. Glatz called police after noticing the dogs had been stolen. He is hoping someone recognizes the man in the surveillance video so he can be brought to justice. "Just cause our eyes missed it, our cameras didn't. We got really good footage of this guy," Glatz said. Police said the puppy thefts are under investigation.
Charles Glatz owns The Puppy Stop said two puppies were stolen from his store on Saturday. A miniature dachshund and a pug were both taken from their crib by a male suspect, Glatz said. Together, the dogs are worth around $1,500. Glatz was shocked when he reviewed the store's surveillance video and saw the man steal the puppies by stuffing them down his pants.
"It was shocking that I was standing 3 feet away writing up a sale and didn't see it," Glatz said. In the video, the suspect leaves the busy store with one dog before returning for another. "He came back in and went to the dachshund cage, took a little doxie, then all of them left the store at the same time," Glatz said.
YouTube link. Original news video.
The man had come into the store with two other adults and a child. Glatz called police after noticing the dogs had been stolen. He is hoping someone recognizes the man in the surveillance video so he can be brought to justice. "Just cause our eyes missed it, our cameras didn't. We got really good footage of this guy," Glatz said. Police said the puppy thefts are under investigation.
Male breast masseur helps new mothers produce milk
A man in China has taken on the predominately female profession of helping new mothers to produce breast milk for their babies.
29-year-old Yang Jun is one of only three registered breast masseurs in the country.
He said: "At the beginning, my family didn't understand why I chose this for a living, and my girlfriend opposed my work when she found out I would touch other women's bodies.
YouTube link.
"But I persuaded them that it's a noble profession and important to new mothers who desperately want to produce milk." Only 28 percent of infants under six months are breastfed in China, far fewer than in many other countries.
Yang believes many more new mothers will turn to masseurs like him for help breastfeeding their babies.
He said: "At the beginning, my family didn't understand why I chose this for a living, and my girlfriend opposed my work when she found out I would touch other women's bodies.
YouTube link.
"But I persuaded them that it's a noble profession and important to new mothers who desperately want to produce milk." Only 28 percent of infants under six months are breastfed in China, far fewer than in many other countries.
Yang believes many more new mothers will turn to masseurs like him for help breastfeeding their babies.
Alligator snapping turtle hunted in Germany after attack on boy
Residents of a German town have joined a determined search
for a turtle blamed for an attack on a young swimmer. A lake was drained at the weekend in the hunt for what is suspected to be an
alligator snapping turtle. Firefighters and local helpers at the Oggenrieder Weiher, in Bavaria, are
wading through mud hoping to find the reptile, which is not a native
species.
The turtle, nicknamed Lotti, is likely to be some 40cm (16 inches) long and weigh at least 14kg (30 pounds). An eight-year-old German boy on holiday was bitten while bathing in the lake a week ago. His Achilles tendon was severed in two places, and zoologists in Munich later concluded that an alligator snapping turtle had probably attacked him.
Such turtles are native to North America, so German authorities believe the reptile must have been released into the lake by its owner. Since 1999 there has been a ban on keeping the turtles in Germany. The local mayor, Andreas Lieb, has offered a 1,000-euro (£859; $1,330) reward for whoever finds Lotti, while warning against any attempt to trap the turtle without expert help.
YouTube link. Original news video.
Lotti may be lying low in the thick mud, so it could be a long and perhaps fruitless search. Volunteers are reported to be beating the mud with the brooms more often used to put out small woodland fires. About 500 fish were transferred to a nearby pond when the lake - which is about the size of a football pitch - was drained. But Mr Lieb has described the whole incident as a "disaster", coming at the height of the holiday season.
The turtle, nicknamed Lotti, is likely to be some 40cm (16 inches) long and weigh at least 14kg (30 pounds). An eight-year-old German boy on holiday was bitten while bathing in the lake a week ago. His Achilles tendon was severed in two places, and zoologists in Munich later concluded that an alligator snapping turtle had probably attacked him.
Such turtles are native to North America, so German authorities believe the reptile must have been released into the lake by its owner. Since 1999 there has been a ban on keeping the turtles in Germany. The local mayor, Andreas Lieb, has offered a 1,000-euro (£859; $1,330) reward for whoever finds Lotti, while warning against any attempt to trap the turtle without expert help.
YouTube link. Original news video.
Lotti may be lying low in the thick mud, so it could be a long and perhaps fruitless search. Volunteers are reported to be beating the mud with the brooms more often used to put out small woodland fires. About 500 fish were transferred to a nearby pond when the lake - which is about the size of a football pitch - was drained. But Mr Lieb has described the whole incident as a "disaster", coming at the height of the holiday season.
Jam-making lady tweeted for help after finding herself locked in church
A jam maker found herself in a pickle when she was locked inside a Plymouth church. Sarah Greep was inadvertently imprisoned inside the city's Minster Church of St Andrew on Sunday morning when volunteers locked up, unaware she was still inside. She therefore took to Twitter to get help.
Sarah, 43, who runs Janner Jam said: “I just went into the small chapel at St Andrew’s Church where I sometimes go, and didn’t think for one minute they were going to close the door. It was nice and calm and the sun was shining through the stained glass windows. I didn’t want to bother anyone but thought I would just send a few Tweets as it was a bit unusual. The next thing I know Tudor Evans is calling the police to help get me out!”
Council Leader Tudor Evans, Plymouth Herald Crime Reporter Carl Eve and Chief Inspector Brendan Brookshaw were among those who became involved in the mission to free Sarah. However she enjoyed her time alone in the church, exploring the building and taking in the peace and quiet. She even had time to make a video of her adventure.
YouTube link.
Eventually Chief Inspector Brendan Brookshaw, who had been contacted by Cllr Evans, was able to track down an emergency keyholder to the church. The keyholder came from Peverell to rescue her and she was finally freed after two hours. Sarah added: “It’s lucky it didn’t happen to someone more vulnerable and I’m glad I had my phone with me. I could have called someone but I just went to Twitter to say what was happening to me.”
Sarah, 43, who runs Janner Jam said: “I just went into the small chapel at St Andrew’s Church where I sometimes go, and didn’t think for one minute they were going to close the door. It was nice and calm and the sun was shining through the stained glass windows. I didn’t want to bother anyone but thought I would just send a few Tweets as it was a bit unusual. The next thing I know Tudor Evans is calling the police to help get me out!”
Council Leader Tudor Evans, Plymouth Herald Crime Reporter Carl Eve and Chief Inspector Brendan Brookshaw were among those who became involved in the mission to free Sarah. However she enjoyed her time alone in the church, exploring the building and taking in the peace and quiet. She even had time to make a video of her adventure.
YouTube link.
Eventually Chief Inspector Brendan Brookshaw, who had been contacted by Cllr Evans, was able to track down an emergency keyholder to the church. The keyholder came from Peverell to rescue her and she was finally freed after two hours. Sarah added: “It’s lucky it didn’t happen to someone more vulnerable and I’m glad I had my phone with me. I could have called someone but I just went to Twitter to say what was happening to me.”
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