Free Republic

MILWAUKEE – Cities around the country that have installed energy-efficient traffic lights are discovering a hazardous downside: The bulbs don't burn hot enough to melt snow and can become crusted over in a storm — a problem blamed for dozens of accidents and at least one death. "I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from West Bend who got into a fender-bender recently because he couldn't see the lights. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?" Many communities have switched to LED...

LAKE HAMILTON, Fla. — A Florida man was arrested after allegedly going on a violent rampage after a minor fender-bender, slashing and stabbing the occupants of a car, then running over and killing a woman who had been riding in another nearby vehicle. Casey Weldon Till, 26, of Haines City, faces murder and carjacking charges after the attacks involving family members traveling in two vehicles. The Polk County Sheriff's Office tracked Till to his home through a pill bottle left at the scene late Sunday night. Police allege that he killed Odalis Cespedes, 41, by running her over twice. Till...

LOS ANGELES - Oops, she dinged it again. Paparazzi took pictures and videos of a puppy-toting Britney Spears steering her car into another one as she tried to turn into a spot in a Studio City parking lot. Then assessing the damage to her own car only. Then heading off to shop. But the tale of the tape made it clear to the owner of the parked car just who it was who scraped up her silver Mercedes-Benz. Kim Robard-Rifkin, 59, told the entertainment Web site CelebTV.com on Wednesday that nobody from Spears' camp had contacted her about the damaged...

Device Explodes Prematurely, Killing Hamas Handler 15:30 Jan 02, '07 / 12 Tevet 5767 (IsraelNN.com) One Hamas member was killed and three wounded when the explosive device they were transporting exploded on Tuesday. They were attempting to transport the device to a location where they could make use of it. The explosion took place in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) crashed his car near the Capitol early Thursday, and a police official said he appeared intoxicated. Kennedy said he had taken sleep medication and a prescription anti-nausea drug that can cause drowsiness. Kennedy, D-R.I., addressed the issue after a spate of news reports. His initial statement said: "I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident."'Later, however, he issued a longer statement saying the attending physician for Congress had prescribed Phenergan on Tuesday to treat Kennedy's gastroenteritis.Kennedy said he returned to his Capitol Hill home on Wednesday evening after a final series of votes...

Man Charged With Drunken Bulldozer Ride POSTED: 12:45 pm EDT August 24, 2005 THOMPSON, Ohio -- A man was drunk when he tried to run down two law enforcement officers while driving a 10-ton bulldozer, authorities said. William Armstrong, 52, refused to stop as his Caterpillar excavator rumbled toward a Geauga County sheriff's deputy and Thompson Township police chief who had parked in his path Monday night. He missed the retreating officers, but damaged a parked sheriff's car. Officers eventually persuaded the Thompson Township man to stop the vehicle. Armstrong's blood-alcohol level was .244 percent, more than three times the...