Bandit Gang Writ Large

Louisiana: Traffic Camera Company Sues Client Over Cash

"Redflex is irate that its photo ticketing contract was swept up in a parish government corruption scandal two years ago. A new set of government leaders intent on cleaning up the parish decided on January 27, 2010 to suspend the red light camera program. Officials were most concerned about documents that showed Redflex paid a 3.2 percent cut of the firm's profit on each ticket to lobbyist Bryan Wagner, a former New Orleans city councilman, who in turn shared the funds with the wife of District Judge Robert Murphy. Wagner was set to earn an estimated $90,000 a year from this deal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLouisiana: Traffic Camera Company Sues Client Over Cash

Protesters banned from tax title auction; 1 man arrested for using video camera

"During a public auction of town-owned properties on Thursday, only registered bidders were allowed to attend, the media and other members of the public were banned, and a New Hampshire man was arrested. One of the four properties that was auctioned was seized for non-payment of taxes from Bondsville call firefighter Joseph 'Jay' Noone, who had approximately a half-dozen supporters at the duplex during the open house held before the auction. Noone, who was evicted from the property last year, owed approximately $35,000 in back taxes and legal fees. The auction netted $90,000 in revenues for the town." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingProtesters banned from tax title auction; 1 man arrested for using video camera

Nigel Farage: We Are Headed To A ‘One World Government’

“We’ve reached a point in this where, despite the massive economic the massive economic, political, and social problems that exist within the eurozone, and indeed an argument that the North and the South of Europe are diverging by the day, despite all of that, the political class have got so much the upper hand in Brussels, that, actually, they are moving to more and more extreme tactics. (This is being done) to lock countries in to a new form of government which is so far removed from any concept of liberal democracy that I think it’s quite frightening." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNigel Farage: We Are Headed To A ‘One World Government’

Chicago cop: No memory of bartender beating, 110 phone calls

"Abbate says he doesn't remember much about the February 2007 night he was caught on videotape beating up bartender Obrycka. In the civil trial against the fired Chicago cop, Abbate testified that was 'on a mission to get totally inebriated' because he was upset his dog had just been diagnosed with cancer. Obrycka accuses Abbate and the Chicago Police Department of trying to cover up and downplay the beating. Obrycka's attorney Terry Ekl says the alleged cover-up was evident by the more than 110 phone calls Abbate made within 24 hours after the beating. Abbate said the calls were nothing more than 'drunk dialing.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChicago cop: No memory of bartender beating, 110 phone calls

Iraq issues arrest warrant for ex central bank chief, other officials

"Iraqi authorities issued arrest warrants for the former central bank chief and other bank officials after a probe into corruption, a spokesman for the high judicial council said on Friday. Iraq's cabinet on Tuesday ousted director Sinan al-Shibabi over a parliamentary charges bank officials were abusing dollar sales. His dismissal will do little to ease investor worries the government is undermining the bank's autonomy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIraq issues arrest warrant for ex central bank chief, other officials

European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize

"While welcomed by European leaders, the award will have little practical effect on the debt crisis afflicting the single currency zone, which has brought economic instability and social unrest to several states, with rioting in Athens and Madrid. On the streets of the Greek capital, where demonstrators have burned Nazi flags to protest against German demands for austerity, the award was greeted with disbelief. The prize, worth $1.2 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10. It was not immediately clear who from the EU would be there to collect the check and what it would be spent on." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEuropean Union wins Nobel Peace Prize