Pennsylvania man arrested after calling 911 for conversation
Allentown, Pa. (AP) – Police say a Pennsylvania man repeatedly called 911 while intoxicated because he was seeking conversation. Pennsylvania State Police say 51-year-old Larry Keiser first called around 10:30 p.m. Friday because he wanted to speak with a police officer. He said there was no emergency. Keiser called five more times, leading police to show up at his home in North Whitehall Township after midnight. The man told officers he drank several beers because he was upset about a family situation. Troopers told Keiser not to call 911 again unless there was an emergency, and he said he wouldn’t call again. Troopers say he called 911 the minute after officers left. Keiser has been arrested and is facing charges that include intentionally calling 911 for other than emergency purposes.
Dunkin’ Donuts sends cease-and-desist to local coffee shop
North Attleborough, Mass. (AP) – A Massachusetts coffee shop owner says he received a cease-and-desist letter from Dunkin’ Donuts claiming trademark infringement for riffing on the chain’s catchphrase. Steve Copoulos tells the Sun Chronicle he added window art reading “North now runs on Mike’s” on his Mike’s Coffee shop in North Attleborough. While he expected a few laughs from customers, Copoulos says he was surprised to find the letter from the Canton, Massachusetts-based coffee shop chain claiming he was infringing on their “America Runs on Dunkin’” slogan and Copoulos’ variation implied an affiliation. Copoulos says he wants to be the “exact opposite” of a corporate coffee chain and has since erased the sign. Dunkin’ Donuts, in a statement, said it wrote the letter, “In support of our legal rights under trademark law and in support of our franchisees.”
Italy police under fire for letting mob boss greet fans
Rome (AP) – Police in southern Italy are under fire for allowing one of Italy’s most-wanted mob bosses to greet his fans after his arrest and let them kiss his hand. Police arrested Giuseppe Giorgi early Friday in a bunker inside his home in San Luca, the base of some of the most notorious clans of the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta mob. A video shown on Sky TG24 showed police jumping for joy after the arrest. But another showed them letting an un-cuffed Giorgi greet well-wishers outside his home as they escorted him out. One reached out for Giorgi’s hand and kissed it to show respect. Italian magistrate Federico Cafiero de Raho says police couldn’t have foreseen the gesture and insisted the arrest was a sign of police strength even amid such “tribal rites.”
WWII grenades from German flea market blow up in summer heat
Berlin (AP) – Police in western Germany say a neighborhood was evacuated after World War II-era grenades and other munitions bought at a flea market began exploding in summer-like heat. Police said Tuesday that authorities were called after an explosion Monday afternoon in the town of Hennef, east of Bonn. They arrived to find a garage in flames, and more explosions followed. They cleared a wide area around the home, shutting a stretch of railway and highway as experts were brought in. They secured the munitions and destroyed them in a controlled explosion in a field. The 51-year-old homeowner, who’s under investigation for weapons law violations, told police he bought the crate of munitions at a flea market and they apparently started exploding in the hot weather. There were no injuries.
Trump’s tweeted typo covfefe becoming vanity license plates
Augusta, Maine (AP) – President Donald Trump’s mysterious tweeted typo covfefe is coming soon to a license plate near you. The Maine Department of Motor Vehicles confirms someone claimed COVFEFE for a personalized license plate just hours after the Republican president’s now-infamous tweet at 12:06 a.m. Wednesday. Local media report it’s also happening in other states, including Nebraska and North Carolina. The word took social media by storm after the president tweeted about “constant negative press covfefe.” Trump later poked fun at it, saying, “Who can figure out the true meaning of ‘covfefe’ ??? Enjoy!” Whoever claimed the Maine plate remains just as much a mystery as the word itself. Twitter user Joe Blanchette tweeted a photo suggesting he was the lucky motorist. But he says he balked at the last minute out of fear of “plate regret.”
