News Briefs
Bullet misses Snoop Thursday, three men shot at a group of cars in the mid-city area of Los Angeles, one of which was transporting rapper Snoop Dogg. The star wasn’t hit, but his bodyguard, an off-duty police officer, was injured. No arrests have been made.
Bullet misses Snoop
Thursday, three men shot at a group of cars in the mid-city area of Los Angeles, one of which was transporting rapper Snoop Dogg. The star wasn’t hit, but his bodyguard, an off-duty police officer, was injured. No arrests have been made.
‘Girls Gone Wild’ producer facing charges
The maker of the “Girls Gone Wild” videos is facing drug trafficking and racketeering charges related to prostitution in Florida. Parents of girls in the tapes told police that Joe Francis made the girls lie about their ages. During a search of Francis’ things, police found tapes of underage girls baring their bodies.
Explosion in Venezuela
Early Saturday an explosion occurred in an office building in Caracas, Venezuela that contains the headquarters for negotiations between the Venezuelan government and opposition leaders. Friday marked the one-year anniversary of a military coup that temporarily ousted President Hugo Chavez from power for two days.
SARS reaches Africa and Japan
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has spread to Japan and South Africa. Possible cases have also been reported in Indonesia and the Philippines. As Hong Kong has many cases of SARS, its government has said people infected with the virus will not be allowed to leave the territory. Seventy people with SARS in Hong Kong have been placed on home confinement. China has recently been criticized for failing to report early and truthfully on the virus.
More on dog-mauling death case
Prosecutors in California have asked that Marjorie Knoller’s murder conviction in the dog-mauling death be reinstated. Knoller faced 15 years to life for the second-degree murder of her neighbor, Diane Whipple, 33, until a judge overturned the verdict. The judge said his decision was based on evidence that failed to show Knoller knew the dogs were likely to kill someone. Knoller’s husband, Robert Noel, also has been convicted.
Russia to aid space station
As long as U.S. space shuttles are grounded, Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will provide rockets and money to maintain the International Space Station. U.S. space shuttles have not flown since NASA halted operations in February when seven astronauts died in the Columbia disaster. The Russians will carry food, fuel and replacement crews to the station later this month.
April Fools’ issue suspends school newspaper
The April Fools’ issue of the Stetson University school newspaper, The Reporter, is responsible for the publications suspension. The issue apparently included profanity, racist jokes and a sex column advocating rape and domestic violence. The Reporter usually uses April Fools’ to poke fun of the faculty and student groups, but school officials say the students went too far this year.
Blair to star on ‘The Simpsons’
British Prime Minster Tony Blair will star as an animated version of himself in a future episode of “The Simpsons.” The cartoon version of the government official is depicted with a large grin and ears that stick out. Blair is reportedly a longtime fan of the show. During the show’s 10 years, stars such as former President Bill Clinton have been depicted on “The Simpsons.”
Indian man eats glass bottles
A man in India claims he can digest glass pieces. P. Arthanari Swamy says he has been eating empty liquor bottles for the last 18 years. The 45-year-old man eats the glass and pesticides at shows to make a living. He says he can eat all bottles except soda bottles, which are too thick. Swamy said he is thinking about joining the Guinness Book of Records.
