Local

Laura Whitney and her husband, Michael Korte, thought they were being good citizens when they chose to conserve water during drought season in Southern California. Rather than watering their lawn daily, they cut down to twice a week in order to not waste water. Instead of being congratulated, though, the couple received a threat from the city of Glendora. If their lawn isn't greener in 60 days, they will receive a $500 fine. Whitney and Korte received the city's notice on the same day that the state approved mandatory outdoor watering restrictions, and their situation represents that of many Californians, who find themselves between a rock and a hard place, or in this case, a green lawn. "Despite the water conservation efforts, we wish to remind you that limited watering is still ...

Have you ever come across a landscaping job that seemed to be beyond human ability? Well, maybe you should have hired a goat. Orinda-based company Goats R Us doesn't bother with landscaping equipment. They just supply goats: hungry heards of goats who munch all day on brush, poison oak, weeds and grass. 600 of their goats were recently hired by the Homeowners Association of Deer Flats to get rid of an unwanted greenbelt of foliage. They've been munching on vegetation in the greenbelt for a week now and expect to be there for a couple more. According to the Homeowners Association, they get better results from the goats than from the humans they've hired in the past. While the human gardeners wouldn't go more than five feet past the fence line, the goats are happy to keep on eating ...

A Houston, Mississippi hospital is being forced to close its emergency room due to a lack of funds available to run the 24-hour medical center. The hospital, which serves the rural region of Chicksaaw county and its surrounding areas, will instead open a new medical clinic to fill the gap in available medical services. However, local residents have reported that they are concerned about the limitations of the new clinic's hours, as well as the increased distance to an emergency room. Trace Regional Hospital will close its ER on September 8, 2014 and open a medical clinic with shorter hours to save on operational costs. This new clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, but residents have complained that this leaves the community with no immediate access to medical ca...

Is black market refrigerant a thing? It is now, thanks to demand for a refrigeration chemical which has not been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. is currently in the process of phasing out a chemical known as R-22, which was used across the country as a refrigerant for refrigerators and air conditioners for many years. It was only recently that research determined that R-22 destroys the earth's ozone layer, and for this reason it was banned for use by an international treaty. The phaseout, not surprisingly, caused the price of any remaining R-22 to skyrocket, making it expensive to fix the older air conditioners that still require it. Consequently, many unapproved replacements have started to enter the market. These products, given names like "Super Freeze 22...

Dr. Cheryl Karcher, a dermatologist at the Sadick Dermatology office on the Upper East Side of New York City, was arrested Wednesday, July 9th for an alleged oxycodone scam. Karcher is a well-known medical professional who has appeared in a number of newspapers, magazines, and television talk shows to discuss skin care. Her attorney, Chuck Clayman, has announced that his client plans to vigorously prepare for her defense. Investigators stated that Karcher allegedly wrote and filled hundreds of oxycodone prescriptions, using patients' names without their knowledge or permission. She also used the names of former patients and acquaintances. She apparently executed the scam by lying to pharmacists, telling them she was performing a service for her patients. As a result, Karcher is now facing...

At first glance, Spectrum Academy seems like a regular school. But closer look into a classroom will reveal one child sitting on a bouncy ball, another wearing earphones to focus on the teacher, perhaps another looking into a small screen in his desk. Spectrum Academy is a new charter school specializing in children on the autism spectrum. Opening this fall in Pleasant Grove, UT, the school has been designed with the specialized needs of its students in mind. Spectrum Academy Director of Development Brad Nelson says activities that would be frowned upon at other schools are allowed at Spectrum, for the students' sensory development. Spectrum Academy takes into consideration the students' unique needs and created a unique design. Kelly Clark, Chief Mom in Charge, at Autism-Products...

This summer, campers hoping to attend Camp Spaulding in Penacook, New Hampshire will be disappointed to hear that all future sessions have been cancelled owing to a bed bug infestation. During the camp's first two week session, which started June 30, boys in one cabin immediately began complaining about itchy skin. Counselors were able to fairly quickly identify the perpetrators as bed bugs. Staff moved the boys out of the infected bunk, sanitized their bedding and other belongings, and moved to clean the cabin. However, the next day bed bugs were found in yet another bunk. The camp repeated the moving out process, and called in a pest control service. It then became clear that the problem was larger than just one cabin. The pest control service found that “active bugs or evidence...

Moving can be a high-pressure time, Whether you're moving cross country or just moving down the block. Here are some mistakes to avoid while packing to make your move as smooth as possible. 1. Procrastination You never have as much time as you think you have when it comes to moving. Packing is a big task! Too many people wait until the last minute to gather their belongings and find themselves staring down a monumental task. Remember, packing fragile items takes time and finding or building boxes can be a pain. 2. Not Planning Ahead Improvising and throwing things together is no way to move to a new place. Be strategic with your move. Don't pack and store something you might need before you move out. That might seem obvious, but sometimes the first instinct is to just start pac...

A news headline may invoke some skepticism when it names both "flooding and fires" as problems which are wreaking havoc in the same region, at the same time. Nevertheless, this phrase was used recently in a headline by ABC News to describe the environmental conditions in the western half of the U.S. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to figure out which concern is the most problematic. And even more frustrating is the fact that both weather conditions have the ability to cause incredible damage to property, while homeowners are left with little to show. Extreme forest fires and flooding are nearly impossible to stop -- and in some cases, impossible to prevent -- and professional emergency responders are given the task of attempting to control them. These are often the si...

Many people who find themselves victims of auto accidents may be wondering whether they should make an appointment with their local chiropractor before seeking a personal injury attorney, but what happens when the victim is the chiropractor? According to Lawrence Herman, it means attempting to submit phony chiropractic records to receive compensation for treating injuries that didn't exist. Herman, a chiropractor in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, had filed an insurance claim in May 2012 requesting thousands of dollars in compensation for injuries he suffered as a result of a car accident the previous August. Herman claimed that he had required chiropractic treatments for lower back and neck injuries after the crash, but it appears that the crash was a "minor, fender-bender type accident" and...