BONER CANDIDATE #1: OUR WATER SMELLS FUNNY
Fort Lauderdale officials say 211.6 million gallons of sewage has spilled into the city’s waterways in the past few months. The Sun-Sentinel reports that’s enough to fill 320 Olympic-sized pools. The city’s aging sewer pipes broke six times in December and spewed 126.9 million gallons of sewage — ranking as one of South Florida’s biggest spills ever. The spills fouled the Tarpon River, the Himmarshee Canal and streets in three neighborhoods. According to what officials told the state Department of Environmental Protection, 79.3 million gallons spilled into George English Lake over a 10-day period that began Jan. 30 and ended Feb. 8. Then an additional 5.4 million gallons flooded streets near a park right across from a popular mall. Read More
BONER CANDIDATE #2: THEY MADE IT WORSE
A North Carolina mother is blasting law enforcement officers for their violent treatment of her son outside an emergency room during a mental health crisis. The teen is expected in court today facing four charges from the incident, including felony malicious conduct. In surveillance video of the scene, which happened in December in Lincolnton, outside Charlotte, security guards are seen tackling the teenager. At another point, a sheriff’s deputy punches him in the head while he’s handcuffed, reports correspondent Don Dahler. His mother, Jessica Long, told CBS Charlotte affiliate WBTV that security officers and law enforcement escalated the situation instead of helping her son, who’s been treated for mental illness in the past. “They did the worst; they made it worse,” Long said. The shocking video shows the moments Long’s 16-year-old son, Hayden, was tackled to the ground and punched twice in the head. “They just immediately went for full-blown physical force,” said Long. “And these were big guys, and my son’s, what, maybe 120 pounds.” Read More
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