Florida

Anonymous Coward writes "On Friday the wonderfully customer centric AirTran decided to remove a family of 9 US born Muslims after a comment between two family members regarding how close to the Jet engine they had been seated. The wonderful part is that after the FBI cleared the family 2 hours later, AirTran refused to fly the family, and refused to rebook them on their way from Washington to Orlando, Florida. The family purchased additional tickets on US Airways later that day, after AirTran requested that the irate father be escorted from their booking podiums by security.

This not a fox but rather a rare albino raccoon that lives in the woods of Rockledge, Florida. A local woman has been lobbying for the zoo to capture it for its own protection.

Michelle Smurl, Brevard Zoo's director of animal programs, said the zoo is not at liberty to trap an adult animal that is thriving in the wild. She viewed photos of the animal and confirmed that it is a white raccoon.

New controversy has erupted in the case of former police Cmdr. Jon Burge as the Fraternal Order of Police has announced they will pay for Burge's defense, a bill the Trib speculates could reach as much as $1 million. Burge was charged in October with perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with charges of police torture.

Two articles about Sarah Palin, religion, and the internet; both interesting reads.

This is part of Chicagoist's coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival.

Sleep Dealer (screens tonight only)

Former police commander Jon Burge, whose name has become synonymous in this city with police torture, was arrested this morning at his home in Tampa, Florida. He's been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, charges which carry decades of jail time if Burge is convicted.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Former Police Cmdr. Jon Burge -- who has cast a long shadow over the Chicago Police Department because of accusations he tortured suspects for two decades -- was arrested this morning on civil rights charges.

It was long believed Burge could not be prosecuted because of the statute of limitations. But the FBI arrested Burge, 60, in his hometown near Tampa on federal charges stemming from his conduct at the Chicago Police Department.

They won't even let us use the bathrooms, half these places. If we don't buy nothin'--even thought I'm a Vietnam vet--they tell me I can't use the bathroom. I fought the war for them, got shot four times, and I can't use a bathroom?

--"Downtown Dave"

This is the third in a series of excerpts from my book, Of No Fixed Address: A Collection of Voices from the Streets of Chicago. Read more about the project here.

CLASS WARFARE

The Republicans tried to make fun of Barack Obama as a community organizer at their national convention in Minnesota, which I guess just goes to show how little Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have to fear from right-wing "humor."

Now they've gone further: Now they're attacking ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), one of the strongest, hardest-working, most dedicated community organizations in both Chicago and in 40 states across the U.S.

Dear Mr. Geek,