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Noteworthy

Briefs and news of note.

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 19, 2006

In Wisconsin, laxatives fight crime

Police officers who forced a drug suspect to drink a laxative in hopes of recovering a swallowed bag of heroin were within their rights, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday. Reversing an appeals court decision, the high court said police had a clear expectation the laxa-tive would reveal evidence of a crime. In 2002, a Milwaukee sheriff's deputy saw Tomas Payano-Roman swallow what looked like a plastic bag. He was given six doses of a laxative, officers retrieved the bag and he was convicted of heroin possession.

New superjumbo jet makes run to Britain

The world's biggest passenger airliner landed at Europe's busiest airport Thursday to test whether London's Heathrow was ready for the Airbus A380. Heathrow is spending $850-million to upgrade the airport to accommodate the A380 and other anticipated ultralarge aircraft. The airport has widened and strengthened a runway to accommodate the A380, which has a list price of $300-million. New, larger baggage carousels also have been installed to accommodate the 555 passengers that can travel on the aircraft.

THE UNUSUAL

Let me help you use my credit card

A Wal-Mart clerk in Bentonville, Ark., noticed something familiar when a customer went through the checkout line - her own credit card, which had been stolen two days earlier, police said. Ashley Dawn Dover had repeatedly tried to pass the card through a scanner Tuesday to pay for $120 worth of merchandise when the clerk offered to help. Then she noticed it was her card, which had been stolen out of her car in the parking lot of the store. Challenged by the clerk, Dover reached into her purse, handed other items to the clerk, then ran out the door. She was arrested as she drove off.

Next, pick mayor by rock-paper-scissors

City Council candidates in Ingleside, Texas, used a quirky but inexpensive method to settle an election tie: a coin toss. Debra Sanders and Luis Lamas each received 247 votes in Saturday's election. Rather than have a runoff that could cost the cash-strapped city $4,000, the two decided to let a coin settle the score. Lamas called heads, and won. Sanders took her loss gracefully and said she would likely run again. Texas election code allows for a "casting of lots" in the case of a tie. A state spokesman said elections have been decided with rolls of the dice and names pulled out of a hat.

UPDATE

Duke lacrosse

One of three Duke lacrosse players charged with rape wants the case resolved in time for the next school year, his attorney said in court Thursday. But the judge warned he will not fast-track proceedings. The case "is not going to jump ahead of the line and be handled any differently," Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens said at a hearing for Reade Seligmann. District Attorney Mike Nifong said he does not expect any trial to begin before next year.

[Last modified May 19, 2006, 06:29:56]