A standoff at a bank in New Jersey is over after police learned a “person” seen inside was actually a full-size cardboard figure. Officers went to the PNC Bank in Montgomery Township on Thursday night after an alarm went off. They saw what they thought was at least one person through the windows of the bank, which had its blinds drawn. The area was sealed off and three nearby apartment buildings were evacuated as a precaution. Authorities used bullhorns and made telephone calls in a bid to make contact with whoever might be in the bank. After getting no response, a SWAT team entered the building and discovered the cardboard figure. It was not immediately clear what set off the bank alarm.
■ UNITED STATES
Space Shuttle undocks
Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven departed the international space station on Friday, ending a 12-day visit that left the orbiting complex with more modern living quarters for bigger crews. Endeavour pulled away as the two spacecraft soared 350km above the Pacific. The shuttle is due back on Earth today having dropped off an extra bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms, and a new recycling system designed to turn astronauts’ urine and sweat into drinking water. The processor needed some work before it finally started producing recycled urine.
■ UNITED STATES
‘Obama cookie’ proves a hit
Want an example of the change Barack Obama is bringing? Check out cookie sales at Baby Boomers Cafe in Des Moines, Iowa. Ever since word spread about the Obama family’s fondness for Baby Boomers’ chocolate chunk cookies, the small downtown restaurant can’t bake them fast enough. “Two months ago I was giving these cookies away,” said co-owner Rodney Maxfield. “Now, it’s like, ‘I need two dozen cookies. I need four-dozen cookies.’”
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