■ United States
Move over Rover
If you're in a New York City park and tell your dog Max to fetch, you might find a strange pooch retrieving your ball. That's because Max was the top dog name in New York last year, according to the city Health Department. The name Max was engraved on 1,228 dog licenses of the 101,274 issued last year, the department said. All top five names remained the same as in 2004 -- Max, followed by Lucky, Princess, Rocky and Buddy.
■ United States
Actors forced to flee
A holiday vacation in Northern California came to an abrupt end for actors Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal when a fire destroyed the country lodge where the siblings were staying. The Gyllenhaals were among a dozen or so guests who fled Manka's Inverness Lodge after the fire broke out at about 3am on Wednesday. The lodge and its restaurant were a popular destination for VIPs. Jake Gyllenhaal was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as a heartsick cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.
■ United States
Car kills man in living room
A man was killed when a speeding driver being chased by police spun out of control and crashed a car through his home's walls and into his living room, authorities said. Neighborhood residents, who witnessed Thursday's accident, said the car was traveling at about 145kph. The car went through several walls of the house before striking and killing homeowner William Calhoun, Suffolk County police Detective Sergeant Kenneth Williams said. The body of Calhoun, 59, was still pinned under the car hours after the crash because heavy equipment was needed to remove the vehicle without collapsing the house, police said. The driver was arrested at the scene and was being questioned, police said.
■ Venezuela
Broadcaster to bite the dust
Authorities will not renew the license of an opposition-aligned TV station when it expires next year, President Hugo Chavez said on Thursday, accusing the broadcaster of backing plots to topple him. Chavez said in a speech to troops that the head of Radio Caracas Television, Marcel Granier, was mistaken in believing "that concession is eternal." "The television concession runs out on him in March," Chavez said. "So he had best start packing his bags and seeing what he's going to do after March. There will be no new concession for that coup-plotting television channel named Radio Caracas Television." RCTV is among a number of private TV and radio networks that in recent years have strongly criticized Chavez's government.
■ United States
Bus tickets for homeless
The police chief in Daytona Beach, Florida, wants to give the homeless free bus tickets so they can find housing with out-of-town family and friends and get help with problems such as mental illness. Chief Michael Chitwood says the homeless population of about 2,600 has given the city a bad image. Earlier in the year, he told police officers to arrest the homeless for petty crimes such as trespassing and panhandling to push them into getting help from social-service agencies. The American Civil Liberties Union supports Chitwood's idea. "It's a positive," said Central Florida chapter head George Crossley, who has opposed Orlando's razing of two homeless camps and banning of feedings of the homeless in certain areas. "At least it gives a person the option of being back with friends and family."
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