Free Republic

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Six University of Maryland students have admitted cheating on an accounting exam by using their cell phones to receive text messages with the answers, the school said Thursday. Another six students were implicated in the case. The scheme worked this way: Test-takers brought their cell phones into the exam with them. They used the phones to contact friends outside the classroom

WALDO, Fla. -- Some residents of this northern Florida town are beginning to think their police chief might be getting too successful busting speeders. Business leaders, who are embroiled in a bitter war of words with the law-and-order chief, say he is hurting business because people are too scared to risk driving through Waldo's speed traps. For Chief A.W. Smith, there is no compromise. "Slow down and see our city or speed up and see our judge," he said. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/nation/1709826

Five people died and the home of a striking firefighter was hit by a suspected arson attack as firefighters continued thier national walkout Saturday. Soldiers manned antiquated firetrucks and firefighters stood on picket lines as politicians and union leaders traded blame for the strike that has hobbled Britiain's fire service. Troops and their outdated "Green Goddess" engines were called to several serious blazes, filling in for 50,000 firefighters who walked off the job Friday morning. A 27 year old man died in a house fire in Eccles, south of London, in the first fatal fire during the strike. A military...

TOKYO (AP) - Sony closed the final chapter of its legendary battle with Victor Co. of Japan to dominate the home video machine market, when it announced Tuesday that it would discontinue its Betamax VCRs. Sony will stop manufacturing Betamax machines by year's end as the company refocuses its efforts on DVD and other technologies now dominating the market, Sony spokeswoman Shoko Yanagizawa said. The announcement marks the end of a 27-year run, during which the fabled brand sold 18 million units worldwide in a race against VHS technology from its archrival Victor Co., which is also known as JVC,...