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MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP
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! KICKERS !
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JAIL TRYST
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The birds do it. The bees do it. And jail inmates do it, too. Officials at a Maine jail say a female inmate was able to sneak out of her cell for a rendezvous with a male inmate. Guards at the Cumberland County Jail say inmates used cardboard from toilet paper rolls to jam cell locks and prevent them from closing. Sheriff Kevin Joyce says the female prisoner managed to get through four doors and into the cell of the male inmate. Sheriff Joyce says the investigation into the sexual encounter continues.
SCHOOL PRESIDENT-BREAK
ALLENDALE, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan university president has a sense of humor about his boring spring break. While many students from Grand Valley State headed for some fun in the sun, Tom Haas stayed on the snow-covered campus. Haas has posted a tongue-in-cheek YouTube video showing him making a snow angel, napping on an empty bus and reading a book in a greenhouse. At the end of the video, Haas welcomes students back to campus. Classes resumed yesterday.
WEDDING CRASHER-THEFTS
POTTSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The wedding crasher was after more than free drinks. A suburban Philadelphia man has pleaded guilty to stealing cash and gifts from wedding receptions. Authorities say Joseph Patrick Franzone Junior swiped thousands of dollars in gifts from a reception in July and another nine-grand worth from a June reception. He's pleaded guilty to theft and attempted theft charges, and remains jailed without bail. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
BRATWURST CHALLENGE
YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — You have to like brats in "wurst" way. Ypsilanti, Michigan, Mayor Paul Schreiber is working up an appetite for the Wurst Challenge later this month. He's one of nine people to sign up so far for the fundraiser. The big eaters will chow-down on 20-foot-long bratwursts. Ypsilanti's Wurst Bar is donating 10 cents an inch for the brats that are eaten. Participants also are raising money separately. The Wurst Challenge will benefit the FLY Children's Art Center.
REHOBOTH BEACH-SMOKING
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — A favorite Mid-Atlantic resort has a message for beach-lovers -- butt-out! Rehoboth Beach is banning smoking on the boardwalk and bandstand area of the Delaware town. Smoking will also be limited to designated areas of the beach. Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Stan Mills says the smoking ban will reduce litter, pollution and health risks. Officials hope people will voluntarily comply. But police will be able to issue 25-buck tickets to those lighting up.
RUBBER DUCK-SCULPTURE
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — It's no bath toy. A giant rubber duck will soon be floating outside the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia. The 40-foot duck is a sculpture by a Dutch artist (Florentijn Hofman). The mega ducky will be moored outside the museum's entrance when it reopens in mid May. The Virginian-Pilot reports that Norfolk will be the second city in the U.S. to host the inflatable duck. Pittsburgh was the first. The giant duck is a world traveler, having made appearances from London to Hong Kong.
by Jamie Friar
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