# What's the big local news story in your neck of the woods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105 "2006-09-09T23:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/1 "2006-09-09T23:27:18Z")
We all get the national news, and sometimes our local news IS national news (Atlantis launched today) but there are local news stories that are quite the thing in our little corner of the world that don’t get national play. For me, the big one right now in Orlando(ish) is the story of a missing toddler. The little boy has been missing for two weeks, and on Friday, his mother was found at her grandparents’ house, an apparent suicide. [Link](http://www.wesh.com/news/9810722/detail.html) Now, IMHO, the mother seemed a bit off to me. I saw her on TV talking about her missing son, and she showed no emotion, was rather matter of fact, not teary at all. Her estranged husband (she had a restaining order against him) was at the police station 12-16 hours a day, but she never went. For what it’s worth, she refused to take a polygraph test. Her husband took one and passed. If your child were missing, why would you kill yourself before you found out if your child was all right? Unless you already knew the answer? Was it grief or guilt in this woman’s case? The police are still investigating. What’s hitting the top of your local news? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/2 "2006-09-09T23:40:54Z")
[Penn professor in a child porn scandal.](http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/15475753.htm?source=yahoodist&content=phi_news) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/3 "2006-09-10T00:55:37Z")
Around here, the teachers in the Detroit School System are on strike. They want a raise, but the financially strapped school system is talking about pay cuts. A judge just ordered them back to work. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/4 "2006-09-10T01:13:38Z")
[They got Bucky Phillips.](http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/09/09/captured.fugitive/index.html) Buffalo, NY area, incidentally. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/5 "2006-09-10T01:36:52Z")
Still the plane crash, mostly, but there’s also some discussion about whether a juror in a murder trial lied about having prior knowledge of the case. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/6 "2006-09-10T01:39:18Z")
[Our national icons are dying off, one by one.](http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/15477082.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/7 "2006-09-10T01:40:45Z")
A large number of county employees either are on strike, and there is a massive wildfire on the eastern edge of the metropolitan area. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/8 "2006-09-10T01:44:04Z")
Boston MA: 1. The unfortunate collapse of one of the so called “Big Dig” tunnels which killed one woman and has caused no end of finger pointing amongst those in charge. Traffic is still a mess and looks like it will be for months. 2. The race for Governor, especially the approaching Democratic primary. 3. The Red Sox recent wholesale collapse, whose fault it is, will next year be better. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/9 "2006-09-10T02:48:22Z")
Arizona is declared a major disaster from all the rain and storm damage from this year’s monsoon. It’s been raining a _lot_. A U of A freshman was shot on campus. And this guy: Handcuffed and sitting in the back seat of a sheriff’s vehicle, 51-year-old William Lovell denied he was fugitive from the law, insisting, “I was never at no Pima County Jail.” ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/10 "2006-09-10T04:25:21Z")
[Polygamist leader on trial in St. George.](http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060907/NEWS01/609070305/0/OPINION05&theme=JEFFS) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/11 "2006-09-10T05:44:59Z")
Steve Irwin and Peter Brock are now very much yesterday’s news, so it’s back to your regular scheduled FOOTY…first week of the premilinary finals, so it takes up virtually every page. We’re like that in Melbourne come September. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/12 "2006-09-10T05:55:22Z")
Fire! I can’t remember how many wild fires are burning in the state, but, I think there are 5 in Western Wash today. We don’t usually have fires on this side of the mountains. One is within 2 miles of my cousin’s house. ---
**Author:** ![BrattiAtti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BrattiAtti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrattiAtti)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/13 "2006-09-10T06:08:22Z")
Local counties are no longer permitted to opt out of carrying the Plan B morning after pill at their health districts. [important to me] Fish & Game get to hunt 100+ elk that escaped a trophy hunting farm near Yellowstone. [important to others] Contact information was posted for those wishing to comment about the airing of “The Path to 9/11” on Sunday. [important to ABC] As an aside, a headline the other day read, “ISP to crack down on drunk driving.” I had to wonder why an internet service provider would care, and so clicked the link. Idaho State Police. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/14 "2006-09-10T06:36:25Z")
There’s quite a few items of local news topping the charts down here in NZ at the moment. Right now, we’re in a bit of a debate over [tasers used by cops.](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10400635) ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/15 "2006-09-10T06:43:47Z")
Jane Pitfield is running for mayor (she doesn’t have a hope of winning against the incumbent, David Miller). Our chocolate factory turned 100. Jim Brennan joined Toronto FC… ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/16 "2006-09-10T06:59:43Z")
Last week, a local Jewish private school was [firebombed](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/09/02/school-firebomb060902.html) with a molotov cocktail, and we’ve been hearing lots about it. ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/17 "2006-09-10T07:06:23Z")
The arrest of [Warren Jeffs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Jeffs) has been the biggest story around here that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![straykat23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@straykat23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straykat23)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/18 "2006-09-10T07:50:17Z")
[All Eyes on Amazing Teenager](http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/20699.html) > [@](#): > > Benjamin Underwood, who finds his way in the world using a technique generally seen only in bats and dolphins, is a wanted man. In New York. In Great Britain. Even in Japan. > > CBS News featured him on Katie Couric’s second day in the anchor chair. Geraldo’s people called. The folks from “The Montel Williams Show” pursued him. Ellen DeGeneres invited him to Los Angeles, and People magazine sent him to San Diego. > > “It’s gone crazy,” said his mother, Aquanetta Gordon, with a laugh. > > Ben is 14 years old, completely blind and absolutely remarkable. He plays video games. He skates. He rides a bike. He practices karate. > > In May, The Bee published a story about the Elk Grove teenager’s ability to identify objects by clicking his tongue and listening for sound waves, a skill known as echolocation. ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/19 "2006-09-10T09:05:18Z")
Three, I guess. One, the local university put up a [giant residence](http://www.tru.ca/news/break/business/economy_tru_apartments.htm) with panoramic views of the city on a hillside visible from everywhere in town. Two, that absolutely [ginormous forest fire](http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060905/washington_fire_060906/20060906?hub=Canada) (the Tatoosh Fire) is managing to drown the town in smoke even though it is a couple hundred kilometres away. Three, two weeks ago a major figure in the city clocked two people with her car while driving around sloshed. People keep bringing it to my attention, even though it was two weeks ago, because one of the men she hit happens to be my boyfriend. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105/20 "2006-09-10T09:15:37Z")
In Phoenix, police have arrested the man they believe to be the [Baseline Killer](http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0910profile0910.html). This, in conjunction with the arrest of two additional serial killers last month, makes this the first time Phoenix has been “serial killer free” in well over a year. :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-local-news-story-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/372105.md?page=2)