The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that police armed with a warrant can barge into homes and seize evidence even if they don’t knock. Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority, said Detroit police acknowledge violating that rule when they called out their presence at a man’s door, failed to knock, then went inside three seconds to five seconds later.
Bush signs mine safety bill
President Bush signed into law Thursday the first major overhaul of mine safety laws in three decades. The new law, the first of its kind since 1977, requires miners to have two hours’ worth of oxygen on hand while they work, not one. Mine operators also must store additional oxygen underground and must put new communications in mines within three years.
Hooters wants to repay FEMA
Hooters is looking for FEMA’s address. Company Chairman Bob Brooks said Thursday that he wants to reimburse the agency for the $200 bottle of champagne that was purchased with a government credit card issued to Hurricane Katrina victims. The champagne was among numerous examples of improper spending cited by the government earlier this week.
Gates to change focus
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said Thursday that he will transition from day-to-day work at the company he co-founded to focus on the charitable work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates will continue on as the company’s chairman after transferring his duties over a two-year period. Microsoft’s Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie will immediately assume Gates’ title as chief software architect.
GOOD DAY/BAD DAY
It was a good day to be …
A Colorado teen who wants to get married. A state appeals court ruled that a 15-year-old girl was old enough to enter into a common-law marriage, and that even younger kids might be able to marry, too, according to The Associated Press. Under English common law, which Colorado recognizes, it’s legal for girls at 12 and boys at 14 to have common-law marriages.
It was a bad day to be …
A New York ice cream truck driver.
Fernando Esparza was sentenced to 10 years in prison for beating two competitors with a wrench in an attempt to take over their ice cream route, The Associated Press reported. The attack left one of the victims with multiple skull fractures and internal bleeding.
