Small Bits of News

Katrina Victims Hit Feds With 489,000 Claims,
Including One for $3 Quadrillion
NEW ORLEANS — Hurricane Katrina's victims have put a price tag on their suffering and it is staggering — including one plaintiff seeking the unlikely sum of $3 quadrillion.
A whopping $3,014,170,389,176,410 is the dollar figure so far sought from some of the largest claims filed against the federal government over damage from the failure of levees and flood walls following the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.
Of roughly 489,000 total claims, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it has received 247 for at least $1 billion apiece, including the one for $3 quadrillion.
"That's the mother of all high numbers," said Loren Scott, a Baton Rouge-based economist.
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Ambulance service receives a call every 8 seconds as Britain welcomes in 2008
Binge-drinking revelers fuelled a chaotic start to 2008 as over-stretched ambulance workers battled to cope with emergency calls flooding in at a peak of one every eight seconds.
In the capital alone the London Ambulance Service had to deal with its highest number of emergency calls since the Millennium - the majority related to excess alcohol.
As midnight came and went there was mayhem as scores of drunken partygoers around the country tumbled into the streets, some wearing little more than their underwear.
Brits on binges dailymail.co.uk

Man breaks in to play pool
One of the oldest billiard halls in America calls Wilmington home, and on early Tuesday morning it was broken into, but the intruder says he was only looking for a friendly game of pool. Jeremy Turner, 20-years-old, broke into the Orton Pool Hall on early Tuesday morning.
Turner did not get away with any money, in fact, when he was found, it looked as though he was just visiting, and hoping to have a little fun. "It turns out the guy had been here for four hours. He was playing pool, drinking, and watching sports, he broke into the first and second door and gained entry to the place," explained Eric Rylander, owner of the pool hall. Turner has been charged with two counts of breaking and entering and larceny for the alcohol authorities say he drank. Rylander said Turner was cooperative so he was able to hold him until police arrived.
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Man arrested for burning bills
A Waterloo man has been arrested after he allegedly lit cash in his elderly father's room Wednesday night.
Robert Allen Broderson, 53, was involved in an argument with his 98-year-old dad over the father's retirement and stock funds around 5 p.m., police said. The father gave Broderson two $10 bills, but Broderson set them on fire and then flung them in the air, saying money didn't mean anything to him, according to court records. Broderson then put out the burning bills when his dad asked, records state. The father is on oxygen, and the air tube was on the table next to him when the incident happened.
Officers said Broderson tried to flee into his house when they approached him, and they found a pipe with marijuana residue. Broderson, of 1314 W. Third St., was arrested for reckless use of fire, second-degree harassment, interference and possession of marijuana.

Man arrested in attack
A 63-year old man has been arrested for cutting an acquaintance during an argument over washing dishes. Police arrested Leon Currie, of 1721 Mount Village Drive, for willful injury causing bodily injury and going armed with intent Sunday at his home. Officers were called to 646 Stokes Drive at 9:40 p.m. and found Michael White, 63, with a cut to his back.
Witnesses said the two got in a dispute because Currie was washing dishes, and White had to turn of the volume on the television because of the noise. Currie armed himself with a box cutter, and White had to be taken to Allen Hospital for treatment.