Judge evicts man from NYC apartment citing urine stench
A 30-year Harlem resident, who suffers from incontinence, has been evicted from his apartment by a New York City judge who said the stench of his urine jeopardised the safety of other tenants. Civil Court Judge Sabrina Kraus in Manhattan said while she had empathy for Michael Edmonds, the other tenants were entitled to live in a building that did not smell of urine or expose them to bio hazards in the common areas.
According to the court, not only did the smell of urine emanate from Edmonds’ apartment, but he also sometimes urinated in public areas of the building, and was also fired from his job because of his incontinence. Edmonds claimed he had suffered from the condition since 2011 and was seeing new doctors and taking medication, but Kraus said he appeared to be unable to handle the condition on his own. Furthermore, three cleanings by a city agency had been unable to get rid of the stench. Edmonds did not have an attorney. His court-appointed guardian, Roger Moore, did not return a request for comment. Nor did a lawyer for the landlord.
(Reuters)
Elephant ‘abducts’ tourists after trampling his handler
Authorities in Thailand said they rescued two Russian tourists carried off by an elephant after it tramped its handler to death during a tour. Capt Pissanu Thaharn of Thungkangok Police said the 18-year-old bull elephant, named Meaw, had a Russian tourist and her nine-year-old daughter on his back for a jungle tour in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, when he attacked and killed his handler, Suk Sapmak, 60.
Pissanu told the Phuket Gazette that police suspect Meaw was in “musth”, a state of aggressive sexual excitement, at the time of the incident. Pissanu said police and elephant handlers found Meaw about a mile and a half away from where Sapmak’s body was found trampled. The tourists were safely rescued and the elephant was tranquilised. “Officers shot him twice with the tranquiliser gun. It took about 30 minutes before Meaw became dizzy,” he said. Waraporn Kasetkala, manager of Phuwara Tour, said Meaw is being kept under observation and may return to service if the officials determine it is “safe for him to be around tourists”.
(UPI)
5,000 BATS drop dead from trees
Over 5,000 bats suddenly dropped dead and fell from the trees in an Australian forest. The flying foxes died after extreme temperatures that soared to 44 degrees when a heatwave swept over Casino, New South Wales. Foul-smelling bat carcasses piled up across the streets, sparking a public health warning to avoid them in case of spreading disease. Despite this, animal lovers flocked to the forest to try and cool down the remaining few by spraying jets of ice cold water on them.
Council workers have doubled up attempts to clean the streets of bodies, but some areas are out of reach so it’s likely the smell will remain for a while.
Most of the survivors are thought to be babies, who somehow managed to stay cool despite the heat. Around 450 were being cared for by emergency animal rescue staff drafted in from across the region.
Animal rescue staff posted on Facebook: “The task is ongoing; carers are working round the clock and emotions are tested as carers do what they can to ensure each and every little flying fox is taken care of while dealing with the sight of thousands of adult and juvenile bats dead and dying.”
(Mirror)
Idaho teacher kills, skins rabbit in class
An Idaho biology teacher is facing possible disciplinary action after killing and skinning a rabbit in class to show students where their food comes from.
Nampa School District spokeswoman Allison Westfall says the teacher killed the rabbit in front of 16 students by snapping its neck on November 6 at Columbia High School. The rabbit was then skinned and cut up in front of the 10th graders. Westfall says the demonstration isn’t part of the biology curriculum. She says students who didn’t want to view the lesson were allowed to leave ahead of time. The teacher’s name hasn’t been released.
(AP)
Maine teenager charged for breaking into homes naked
Police say an 18-year-old Maine youth has been arrested after allegedly breaking into two homes while naked, at about the same time his own home was destroyed in a fire.
logan Valle faces charges including burglary, theft and attempted theft.
Police allege Valle forced his way into two homes last week looking to steal car keys. He was found in the attic of one of them. At about the same time, the nearby home owned by his parents was destroyed in a fire. No one was injured.
Valle’s vehicle was found in a country club parking lot nearby, and police say it appears as if someone tried to set fire to it.
Valle was held without bail over the weekend and it’s unclear if he has a lawyer.
(AP)