Woman who robbed banks while pregnant sentenced to prison
A Wisconsin woman accused of robbing three banks while she was more than eight months pregnant pleaded guilty to robbing two of them and was sentenced to four years in prison. The State Journal reports that 32-year-old lisa Harding of Madison was also ordered to pay back money taken during a third bank robbery, even though that charge was dismissed under a plea agreement. The robberies happened in December 2016. Harding was arrested after taking a taxi to and from the final robbery.
Dane County Circuit Judge Jill Karofsky said that while she understands Harding’s health problems and drug addictions, a prison sentence was warranted because of the threat to public safety. Harding apologised for her crimes and said a lot of things were “going wrong” for her at the time.
(AP)
Fat squirrel steals pricey goods left out for delivery
An obese squirrel was caught on video stealing gourmet chocolate and lip balm that a family leaves outside as a holiday treat for delivery people. Michele Boudreaux, of Maplewood, New Jersey, said on her blog she provides candy, snacks, tissues, hand warmers and other goodies on her doorstep every year. She’s never had any issues before, but this year, her basket was raided within hours of being set outside her home.
The thief seemed to be targeting the priciest stuff, including about 25 squares of Ghirardelli chocolate, she said. The family set up a surveillance camera to see what was going on and spotted the overweight varmint standing on a step stool, digging through the stash Tuesday. “I mean, this squirrel is so obese — a jolly ol’ chap — he must be prepping for a decade of winters,” Boudreaux wrote. Her husband tried to chase the squirrel to see where it was hoarding all the treats, but it made a clean getaway.
Boudreaux said she stumbled upon the thieving rodent in the act Wednesday, and recorded it taking more chocolate and a Carmex lip balm. Her family has devised the perfect solution to the problem. “We now have our chocolate in a jar that requires opposable thumbs,” she wrote.
The shenanigans “brought my family so much joy,” she said. She also put a bowl of treats out for the squirrel Thursday, full of walnuts, popcorn and pumpkin seeds. The rotund rodent showed his pickiness yet again.
“He threw all the seeds out on the porch and ate all the other stuff,” she said. Squirrels are seemingly trying to ruin the holiday spirit all over New Jersey this season. Officials in the town of Sea Girt were puzzled last week when wires to the town’s Christmas tree and display were found torn. Workers repaired the damage so the tree could be lit on Friday. Police kept watch over the display and on Saturday posted a photo on Facebook of the culprit — a squirrel. Police said the naughty rodent was “charged with criminal mischief and released on bail.”
(AP)
Boston teacher seeks to stop speeders with Tom Brady pic
A Boston teacher frustrated with drivers failing to slow down for a crosswalk gave the sign a profile boost by adding a photo of Tom Brady. Sam Balto, a gym teacher at Ellis Elementary School, said drivers frequently speed through the 20 mph school zone outside the building, and often the School X-ing sign between the lanes of the road ends up getting run over by drivers.
“Unfortunately, those signs get run over on a daily basis. Maybe if Tom Brady was on the School X-ing sign drivers might pay more attention, slow down and yield for students at crosswalks,” Balto tweeted.
The teacher took what initially seemed to be a joke and turned it into a reality with the help of WalkBoston, a pedestrian safety advocacy group. WalkBoston tweeted photos Wednesday of the School X-ing sign with Brady’s photo displayed at the top. “People really fly down Walnut Avenue or use it as a cut through, and that’s not right on any neighborhood street -- let alone one with so many kids walking down it,” WalkBoston spokesman Brendan Kearney told the Boston Globe. “I’m glad Sam has taken this step. He’s looking at a way to call attention to the crosswalk. ... If Tom Brady can make that happen it’s great.” Balto said the sign appears to have been successful so far, causing passing drivers to slow down for a better look at the New England Patriots’ quarterback. He said the sign has also been successful in other ways. “Also, we need a smile, everybody needs to put a smile on their face. Tom Brady is one good looking guy. If I can get my kids to smile and their parents to smile, that’s a great way to start the day,” Balto said.
(UPI)
dinosaur looks like a mix of duck, croc, ostrich
With a bill like a duck but teeth like a croc’s, a swanlike neck and killer claws, a new dinosaur species uncovered by scientists looks like something Dr Seuss could have dreamed up. It also had flippers like a penguin, and while it walked like an ostrich it could also swim. That’s the first time swimming ability has been shown for a two-legged, meat-eating dinosaur. The tiny creature, only about 18 inches (45 centimeters) tall, roamed 75 million years ago in what is now Mongolia. Its full curled-up skeleton was found in a sandstone rock. “It’s such a peculiar animal,” said Dennis Voeten, a paleontology researcher at Palacky University in the Czech Republic.
(AP)