In the news

Luciane Glesse, a Brazilian judge, wants prosecutors to levy a $250 fine against Passa Sete Mayor Vaderlei Batista, who rode a donkey to his inauguration to needle an opponent who reportedly referred to him as a “burro” in a debate, contending that Batista ignored a restraining order barring any further satirical donkey business in local politics.

Jack Gessner, an Arizona firefighter, rescued two teenagers who had ventured out onto a partially frozen lake then spent at least two hours hanging on to a dead tree after the ice started to crack, authorities said, adding that the two boys were taken to a hospital for treatment of mild hypothermia.

Gary Pohronezny, 41, is being evaluated at a hospital and has been charged with disorderly conduct, risk of injury to minors and interfering with police over allegations that he stripped naked in a Killingly, Conn., church in the presence of congregants and schoolchildren.

Janet Hasson, publisher of The Journal News, said armed guards are stationed at the newspaper’s White Plains, N.Y., headquarters after a decision to publish the names and addresses of area residents with pistol permits sparked a public outcry, adding: “The safety of my staff is my top priority.”

Ex-Sen. Kit Bond, RMo., has been hired to serve as Kansas City’s new lobbyist with the federal government.

Joseph “Jose” Banks, 37, one of two prisoners who used a rope made of bedsheets to climb out of a high-rise jail in Chicago, no longer faces escape charges after prosecutors asked a federal judge to dismiss them because Banks already faces up to 80 years in prison in a bank-robbery case.

Victoria Nuland, a State Department spokesman, said that while officials have made clear to former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Google executive Eric Schmidt that this is not a “helpful” time for them to visit North Korea as they’ve planned, “they are private citizens, and they are making their own decisions.”

Front Section, Pages 1 on 01/04/2013

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