Florida continues to lead U.S. in identity, tax fraud
MIAMI (Reuters) – Despite efforts by federal officials to crack down on rampant identity theft linked to hundreds of millions of dollars of fraudulently claimed tax refunds, South Florida continues to lead the nation for these scams.
One dead after restaurant interior collapses in New Jersey
MAPLEWOOD New Jersey (Reuters) – Falling rubble killed one construction worker and another was seriously injured when the interior of a restaurant collapsed in Maplewood, New Jersey, on Friday, a fire department official said.
Arizona judge rejects bid to nix death penalty for Jodi Arias
PHOENIX (Reuters) – An Arizona judge has again turned down a bid by convicted murderer Jodi Arias to be spared the death penalty during her sentencing retrial for killing her ex-boyfriend in 2008, court documents showed on Friday.
Six rare monkeys die mysteriously at Oregon Zoo
PORTLAND Ore. (Reuters) – Six cotton-top tamarin monkeys died unexpectedly soon after their arrival at the Oregon Zoo, following the death of an orangutan that led to the firing of the zoo’s director, officials said on Friday.
Maryland man sentenced to five years for lengthy dine-and-dash binge
ANNAPOLIS Md. (Reuters) – A Baltimore man who police say routinely scammed restaurants by eating and then faking a seizure to get out of paying his bill was sentenced Friday to five years in prison.
Fourteen charged in Ohio college hazing after pledge injured
(Reuters) – Fourteen men have been charged with misdemeanors in a hazing incident that left a fraternity pledge at a small southwestern Ohio college seriously injured, prosecutors said on Friday.
Passenger who forced Detroit airport lockdown cited, released
(Reuters) – A man accused of breaching a security checkpoint at Detroit’s main airport, causing a nearly three-hour lockdown, was released on Friday after posting a bond, an official said.
Los Angeles college evacuated after report of man with gun
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A Los Angeles college and nearby occupational center were being evacuated and locked down on Friday after reports that a missing and suicidal man could be armed and in the vicinity, police said.
New Jersey water park apologizes for Amber Alert pun in promotion
(Reuters) – A New Jersey water park apologized for using a pun on the Amber Alert system for tracking down abducted and missing children in a promotional email aimed at attracting customers.
California school guard faces felony for attack on wheelchair-bound teen
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A California school security guard is facing a felony child abuse charge over accusations he attacked a disabled student in his wheelchair at a high school in the Bay Area city of Oakland this month, a school spokesman said on…
