Revised charges filed in O.J. Simpson case

Revised charges filed
in O.J. Simpson case

LAS VEGAS — New charges of felony coercion were filed Wednesday against O.J. Simpson and three co-defendants in the alleged armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers.

The revised complaint also drops charges against Walter Alexander and Charles Cashmore, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges.

Alexander, Simpson’s golfing buddy, and Cashmore, at times a day laborer, disc jockey and bartender, have agreed to testify at a preliminary hearing against the former football star and the other men who went to a Las Vegas casino hotel room Sept. 13 to retrieve items that Simpson said belonged to him.

The memorabilia taken from the hotel room included football game balls signed by Simpson, Joe Montana lithographs, baseballs autographed by Pete Rose and Duke Snider, photos of Simpson with the Heisman Trophy and framed awards and plaques, together valued at as much as $100,000, according to police reports.

2 teens, 2 adults shot
at middle school game

SAGINAW, Mich. — Gunfire erupted during halftime at a middle school football game Wednesday afternoon, wounding two teenagers and two adults, police said.

The victims’ conditions were not immediately clear. One was shot in the neck, according to a police officer who declined to give his name. He said all victims were taken to a hospital for treatment and their injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

No one was answering telephone calls at Saginaw police headquarters.

The shootings took place at South Middle School during halftime of a game with Central Middle School.

Georgia governor calls for
reduction in water use

WEST POINT, Ga. — Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday banned the washing of state vehicles and ordered inmates to take one quick shower a day as part of an effort to reduce water use in the drought-stricken state.

Standing on the banks of a dwindling lake, Perdue ordered state agencies to reduce their water consumption by 10 percent to 15 percent as the state struggles with one of the worst droughts in its history.

The governor’s order also bans the installation of new landscaping and power washing state buildings. It also requires employees to probe state buildings for leaks.

“That means inmates, one quick shower. Fire trucks going unwashed. Entire departments using paper plates at least once a week,” he said. “These are the kinds of innovative, creative things we can all do to conserve.”

Almost a third of the Southeast is covered by an “exceptional” drought — the worst drought category. The Atlanta area, with a population of 5 million, is in the middle of the affected region.

Cell phone applications
ward off gropers on trains

TOKYO — Did you just grope me? Shall we head to the police?

That’s the message women are flashing on their cell phones with a popular program designed to ward off wandering hands in Japan’s congested commuter trains.

“Anti-Groping Appli” by games developer Takahashi was released in late 2005 but has only recently climbed up popularity rankings, reaching No. 7 in this week’s top-10 cell phone applications list compiled by Web-based publisher Spicy Soft Corp.

The application flashes increasingly threatening messages in bold print on the phone’s screen to show to the offender: “Excuse me, did you just grope me?” “Groping is a crime” and, finally, “Shall we head to the police?”

Users press an “Anger” icon in the program to progress to the next threat. A warning chime accompanies the messages.

Israel to cut electricity
to deter firing of rockets

JERUSALEM — Israel unveiled a new tactic Wednesday aimed at deterring Palestinians from firing rockets out of the Gaza Strip — it will cut off Gaza’s electricity bit by bit as a pressure tactic every time rockets hit Israeli territory.

Israel provides more than half of Gaza’s electricity, and any power cutoff is sure to make life more difficult for people in the impoverished region — and draw harsh international criticism.

The retaliation would begin with short cutoffs that would gradually increase for continued rocket fire, but a lengthy power blackout would not be imposed, defense officials said.

Associated Press