JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 28 (UPI) -- Authorities said four suspicious boxes filled with wires that sparked an evacuation at the University of North Florida turned out to be a student's art project.
Campus police called in the bomb squad to X-ray the four black boxes, which contained wires and a telephone, and the items were found to be "perfectly harmless," WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, Fla., reported.
"A black box with a phone on top with a lock and wires and inside was electronics. Clearly, that would be very suspicious," said University of North Florida spokeswoman Sharon Ashton.
The items were later discovered to be a multimedia art project created by a student.
Felled geese take power lines with them
STANWOOD, Wash., March 28 (UPI) -- A group of snow geese spooked by pursuing eagles collided with power lines south of Stanwood, Wash., causing a small electricity outage, utility officials said.
Snohomish County Public Utility District spokesman Neil Neroutsos said about a dozen geese flew to their deaths after a group of eagles began chasing their flock, which included hundreds of snow geese, toward the power lines, the Everett (Wash.) Herald reported.
Neroutsos said about 20 homes lost power for approximately three hours because of the damage done to the lines by the fallen birds.
"It happens periodically," Neroutsos said. "We work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department to follow their regulations to make sure we're minimizing our impacts on birds."
Tied election decided by names in hat
WINTON, Australia, March 28 (UPI) -- A tied mayoral election in Winton, Australia, has been decided by unusual means -- picking a name out of a hat.
Ed Warren, who has served as acting mayor of the Queensland shire since the retirement of former Mayor Bruce Collins eight months ago, was declared the winner after his name was pulled from the hat, The Courier-Mail reported.
Warren and rival Graham "Butch" Lenton each received 423 votes. Local election law states that a tied mayoral election must be decided by drawing names out of a hat, or flipping a coin.
"It is a disappointing way to lose the mayoralty," said Lenton. "What gets me is that the election is run fair and square according to the rules and then you get knocked off by lady luck."
State opposition leaders have called for an end to the name-drawing practice to decide the outcome of tied elections, suggesting the outcome should be decided by incoming councilors.
"The incoming councilors have also just faced election and the people have given them their confidence to make informed decisions," opposition spokesman Howard Hobbs said.
County refuses toilet paper check
BINGHAMTON, N.Y., March 28 (UPI) -- A Binghamton, N.Y., man said he protested a high water bill by attempting to pay it with a homemade check printed on toilet paper.
Ron Borgna said the Broome County Office of Real Property Tax Services refused to accept his $2,059.66 check -- which would cover the $422.90 bill, late fees and subsequent water and sewer bills -- despite an accompanying bank statement proving that his account contained adequate funds, The Press & Sun Bulletin of Vestal, N.Y., reported.
Borgna said the September 2006 water bill was four times the amount of his normal bill. His water meter and plumbing were tested in an attempt to discover the cause of the extra charges, but the only problem found was his meter over-registering by 1 percent, within the bounds of city regulations.
The homeowner refused to pay the bill, and the fee was transferred to the county after one year. Borgna said he decided to pay the fine, but the county's refusal to accept his toilet paper check left him considering other creative payment options.
"I don't know where I'm going to get $2,000 in nickels and dimes," he said.
