Lead Stories
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The Los Angeles Times reported in February on astute decisions made by Colombian drug cartels to increase their U.S. heroin sales. The cartels reduced prices and increased quality so that customers could achieve an adequate high by smoking heroin rather than injecting it with potentially dirty needles. The U.S. government estimates the Colombians have now captured two-thirds of the east coast market despite producing only 2 percent of the world’s heroin.
In October Larry Bottone, a coach, teacher, and private tutor for children, pleaded guilty in Norwalk, Connecticut, to child pornography. According to police, confiscated videotapes showed Bottone whipping nude, blindfolded boys, sticking objects under their fingernails, and rubbing their bodies with hot olive oil. Bottone explained that he was trying to determine how much punishment someone could endure when asked to do so by an authority figure.
Not My Fault
According to a recent newspaper advertisement for Walt Disney World, Bill and Vicky Meredith of Ashland, Ohio, have spent ten days of every month at the park since 1974, staying in the same room at the Caribbean Beach Resort.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): Illustration by Shawn Belschwender.
