arkansas
Border collies keep geese from taking over park
NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Two border collies are letting a flock of Canada geese know they're not welcome at a North Little Rock park.
Bud and Heck sent the birds flying Thursday morning on their first day of work at Burns Park.
City officials hired the pair's owner, Gary Westbrook, to help trim the number of geese, which have damaged the grass and littered the grounds with waste.
Officials had considered allowing hunters to come in and kill the geese, but backed off that idea after residents and animal supporters opposed it.
Westbrook said the collies found the flock in a pond near the golf course and chased them until they flew away.
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He's being paid $250 a day until the city can acquire a "bird dog" of its own.
illinois
Governor wants residents to walk more for health
CHICAGO - Gov. Pat Quinn has a fitness challenge for Illinois: Add a half-mile of walking to each day.
The governor on Friday announced the "Walk Across Illinois Challenge" and encouraged people to walk at least 167 miles during 2012.
That's the equivalent of walking from Rock Island on the Mississippi River to Chicago on Lake Michigan. Walkers can register on an interactive website, log their miles and track their progress.
Quinn walked across Illinois 10 years ago to advocate for health care.
Quinn also announced he's set up the Governor's Council on Health and Fitness to develop and spread healthy lifestyle ideas.
Illinois was the 23rd-most obese state in the nation in a recent report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
iowa
Federal grant to finish repairs to flooded roads
DES MOINES - The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Iowa more than $37 million to cover the costs of repairing roads damaged by summer flooding along the Missouri River.
Sen. Tom Harkin announced the grant from the Federal Highway Administration on Friday. The Iowa Democrat said the money will reimburse funding the state has already spent on road repairs in western Iowa.
At the height of the flooding, nearly 80 miles of the state's highway system was closed.
Gov. Terry Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht said the state previously received $6 million for flooding repairs. He said what was granted on Friday was the remaining funding for the work, which totaled $43 million.
louisiana
History Channel producer sues over copyrights
LAFAYETTE - Troy Landry from The History Channel's "Swamp People" accused three companies of profiting from his "Choot Em" and other trademark-protected catchphrases.
A federal lawsuit filed in Lafayette last week accused Halpern Import Co., National Cap and Sportswear, and Ripple Junction Design Co. of using Landry's trademarks "Choot Em," "Tree Shaka," "Tree Breaka" and "Mudda Fricka" on T-shirts, caps and display items for their goods.
The Advocate reported the lawsuit says Landry uses the trademarks on T-shirts, caps, sweatshirts, hoodies and other merchandise sold under the company name Troy Landry Productions, based in Pierre Part, La.
The suit accuses all three companies of soliciting business, executing contracts, licenses and selling infringing goods in stores located within the boundaries of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, which covers the Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lafayette and Lake Charles areas.
"Swamp People" follows a group of hunters through the 30-day alligator hunting season in the Atchafalaya Swamp.
michigan
Wayne State fraternity suspended over thefts
DETROIT - Wayne State University has temporarily suspended a fraternity on its Detroit campus after three pledges were accused of larceny and receiving and concealing stolen property.
School spokesman Matt Lockwood told the Detroit Free Press Friday that code-of-conduct charges are being put together against the Epsilon Beta chapter of Theta Tau.
Lincoln Park police said a pedestal ashtray, a metal toolbox and a baby Jesus statue were found Dec. 11 after officers stopped a car following a theft report. Three Wayne State students and a wooden paddle inscribed with the Greek letters for Theta Tau also were in the car.
Officers were told the items were on a list and part of the process to join the fraternity.
minnesota
Smartphone app may aid drivers' winter survival
VIRGINIA - A computer-engineering student from Virginia has helped design a smartphone application for winter travelers.
The free app designed by 20-year-old Adam Koski and a fellow student at North Dakota State University helps motorists who are stranded in severe winter weather. It determines geographical location, calculates how long the vehicle's engine will run on remaining fuel and provides emergency contact numbers, among other things.
The Mesabi Daily News said the app also provides information on putting together a physical winter survival kit and winterizing a vehicle.
missouri
Humane Society takes in starving horses, donkeys
ST. LOUIS - The Humane Society of Missouri took temporary custody of 18 horses and donkeys found starving at a property in southwest Missouri.
Humane Society officials said Friday that seven horses were found dead on a property near Milo in Vernon County. The Humane Society said the animals at the property had very little food, only low-quality hay.
Concerned residents called the Vernon County Sheriff's Department and the Humane Society earlier last week about the horses, prompting an investigation and rescue. The animals were removed on Friday.
A disposition hearing later this month will determine custody of the animals. If granted to the Humane Society, they could eventually be put up for adoption.
wisconsin
Customer, dealership differ on long test drive
MADISON - A man who took a car from a Madison dealership told police he was simply on a long test drive and had no intention of stealing the vehicle.
Police arrested the 47-year-old man after he took a Nissan Altima from A to Z Auto Dec. 30 and drove to Milwaukee and back. Officers acknowledged the man and the dealership had a different understanding of how long a test drive should last.
The man could face a charge of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. The Journal Sentinel said the man was arrested about seven miles from the dealership. He told police he drove to Milwaukee to test the car and get some money to buy it.
The Associated Press
