http://cbs2chicago.com/local/fight.girlfriends.father.2.698553.html

Man Killed In Fight With Girlfriend’s Dad

CHICAGO (STNG) ? A 23-year-old man was killed in a fight with his girlfriend’s father Saturday afternoon on the West Side.

The 40-year-old father was taken into custody after the incident, and the case was initially being investigated as a homicide, but the father was later released without being charged.

Swantell McKinley, of 1416 S. Karlov Ave., was pronounced dead at 1:48 a.m. Saturday at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

McKinley was the aggressor in a domestic battery incident with his girlfriend in a second-floor apartment in the 4000 block of West Harrison Street about 1 a.m. The woman’s father attempted to stop the incident, a fight ensued and McKinley was injured, police said.

A Saturday autopsy determined McKinley died of multiple injures from an assault and the death was ruled a homicide.

I know it probably sounds vicious and unmerciful of me, but my first thought upon reading this was, “Go, Dad!” The man tried to stop the “victim” from beating his daughter, and when he wouldn’t, the dad defended his daughter. If more families would stand up to domestic violence, maybe there would be fewer men, women, and children who die as a result of the abuse they endure every day.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080408/ap_on_re_us/toddler_beaten_5

Police: Pa. girl dies after beating

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/883757,WA08_escort_s1.article

Man out $8K after making ‘date’ with escort

BUFFALO GROVE– A man is $8,000 poorer Tuesday after providing his debit card and PIN number to an escort he hired.

According to a report from Buffalo Grove police, the man, a resident of the 500 block of Vernon Lane, told police he hired an escort last week and gave her his debit card and PIN number to complete the transaction.

Sometime between 6 p.m. last Wednesday, April 2 and 3 p.m. Monday, more than $8,000 in purchases had been made with the debit card, without his consent, the report said. He was alerted to this after his bank contacted him to advise him that his account was negative by $2,000.

The man has closed his account, police said. No other information was provided whether charges are pending against the man or the escort.

You know, it seems like it would be common sense not to provide a prostitute with one’s debit card and pin number.

Besides, where in the heck was he expecting her to scan it? Escorts come equipped with a few things, but I have yet to see one who has a credit card reader anywhere on her person.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/884257,womanshot040808.article

Woman shot after threatening deputies with sword

UNINCORPORATED ANTIOCH — A 54-year-old woman was shot by Lake County Sheriff’s deputies Tuesday afternoon, after police said she threatened to harm deputies with a sword following a disturbance near far north suburban Antioch.

Lake County Sheriff’s deputies first responded to a call of a woman throwing objects at cars near Route 83 and Eagles Nest Road in an unincorporated area near Antioch about 2:09 p.m., according to a release from the Lake County Sheriff’s office.

When deputies arrived, they were told that the woman had gone into a home in the 40300 block of North Route 83. The deputies went into the home and found the woman in the back of the home holding a sword-type weapon, the release said.

The deputies tried to make contact with the woman, asking her to drop her sword. When she refused to do so, deputies attempted to Taser her, the release said.

The Taser attempt did not stop the woman, and she continued to approach the deputies with the sword. Authorities then shot the woman, the release said.

The woman was transported to Condell Health Network in Libertyville, where she is awaiting Flight for Life to take her to another hospital for treatment, the release said.

Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force are investigating the shooting.

Ladies and gentlemen, there can be only one…and this one’s most likely headed for a psych ward.

But I’ve been too tired, frustrated by the blogger format, and insanely busy to update the blog as much as I like.

I’ve also lost much of my taste for writing due to a writing assignment that is asinine, pays poorly, and is about as much fun to write as it would be to receive a high colonic.

I will try to do better now. I have set a goal for myself to post at least once a day, even if it is just my opinion on whatever news story happens to catch my eye.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080406/ap_on_en_mo/obit_heston_3

Charlton Heston dead at 84

By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press WriterSun Apr 6, 12:23 AM ET

Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing “Ben-Hur” and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the ’50s and ’60s, has died. He was 84.

The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said.

Powers declined to comment on the cause of death or provide further details.

Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, saying, “I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure.”

With his large, muscular build, well-boned face and sonorous voice, Heston proved the ideal star during the period when Hollywood was filling movie screens with panoramas depicting the religious and historical past. “I have a face that belongs in another century,” he often remarked.

The actor assumed the role of leader offscreen as well. He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and chairman of the American Film Institute and marched in the civil rights movement of the 1950s. With age, he grew more conservative and campaigned for conservative candidates.

In June 1998, Heston was elected president of the National Rifle Association, for which he had posed for ads holding a rifle. He delivered a jab at then-President Clinton, saying, “America doesn’t trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure, Lord, don’t trust you with our guns.”

Heston stepped down as NRA president in April 2003, telling members his five years in office were “quite a ride. … I loved every minute of it.”

That same year, Heston was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. “The largeness of character that comes across the screen has also been seen throughout his life,” President Bush said at the time.

He engaged in a lengthy feud with liberal Ed Asner during the latter’s tenure as president of the Screen Actors Guild. His latter-day activism almost overshadowed his achievements as an actor, which were considerable.