■UNITED STATES
Naked Cowboy seeks office
The Naked Cowboy wants to be New York’s mayor, promising transparency in politics — while running almost buck naked. “I know how to do more with less,” said entertainer Robert Burck, clad as usual in a pair of white briefs, boots and a cowboy hat, as he announced his bid on Wednesday in Times Square. On most days, the 38-year-old ordained minister collects tourists’ tips while posing for photos with “Naked Cowboy” emblazoned across his underwear, cracking jokes and making up funny songs on the guitar strapped across his bare chest. He’s running as a write-in candidate against Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a buttoned-down billionaire vying for his third term.
■UNITED STATES
Marijuana taxes increased
Perhaps only in the sometimes hazy world of medical marijuana could higher taxes be considered good news, but sure enough, supporters of medical marijuana were pleasantly pleased on Wednesday after Oakland voters overwhelmingly approved a huge tax increase — 15 times the former rate — on sales at the city’s handful of permitted medical marijuana dispensaries. Believed to be the first of its kind, Measure F received nearly 80 percent of the vote, a landslide that pot professionals hailed as a significant step in the legitimization of the cannabis industry. “It’s one more victory in a big war,” said Richard Lee, president of Oaksterdam University, a downtown storefront where the aroma of marijuana pervades the sidewalk. “It’s a lot better than being arrested and thrown in jail.”
■UNITED STATES
Sex offenders to be housed
Homeless advocates and county officials intend to move a group of sex offenders living under a bridge in Miami to private housing this week. About 70 offenders live in tents or makeshift huts near a bridge that connects Miami to Miami Beach. In the past three years, the bridge has become a shantytown of men on probation who struggle to find affordable housing that doesn’t violate strict local ordinances against sex offenders living too close to schools and parks. The chairman of the county’s Homeless Trust said the group would move eight of the offenders off the property and into an apartment.
■UNITED STATES
No takers for US$10 shark
The body of a shark was left lying in the middle of a downtown Miami street after two men tried to sell it to several fish markets. The men apparently carried the 1.5m-long fish around on the city’s Metromover downtown train, prompting calls to police. News footage on Tuesday night showed the dead animal in the street with police officers and cruisers nearby. Two stations reported that a pair of men had tried to sell the animal to at least three fish markets for around US$10. Rob Orta, an employee at Casablanca Fish Market, told television station WSVN that the men offered his business the shark. “But we don’t buy sharks off the street,” Orta said.
■UNITED STATES
PETA releases abuse video
An animal-rights group has released a video showing what it says is the abuse of Ringling Bros circus elephants. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Wednesday released what it said was a secretly recorded video showing handlers striking elephants backstage. PETA said someone affiliated with the group made the recording during a circus tour earlier this year. Circus spokeswoman Amy McWethy denied PETA’s abuse claims.
RSS