Weird but true
Schools in Illinois have cut down to just two “R’s.”
State education officials have decided to save money — some $2.4 million a year, according to some estimates — by eliminating standardized tests of writing skills.
While ‘riting is on the chopping block, schools will still test reading and arithmetic skills.
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A Florida couple whose 2-year-old foster child was injured allegedly tried to borrow a healthy kid to pass a state inspection.
They hoped to hide the fact that their child had fractured ribs and a broken leg by asking a pal if they could borrow a backup kid to stand in when inspectors called at the house, authorities said.
The alleged ruse was never carried out, but the couple was arrested.
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This guy would have paid less if he’d just rented a parking space.
A Detroit man has become one of the city’s top scofflaws after racking up $13,000 in unpaid parking tickets.
Kevin Cousins, 25, blamed “immaturity” for getting so many fines.
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A New Zealand couple is outraged after a hotel sent them a bill for the time they were trapped in their room after an earthquake.
The hotel in Christchurch charged the visitors $248 for their stay during the massive quake that hit the city in February.
They also charged them about $15 to park their car, which had been crushed in the hotel’s collapsed garage.
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A 5-year-old English boy was miraculously brought back to life after being “dead” for 40 minutes.
Joshua Baker suffered cardiac arrest after undergoing an operation.
When his heart stopped beating, his parents feared he was lost.
But doctors managed to restart his heart after 40 minutes by opening his chest and massaging the organ with their hands.


