UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Sanctions possible for alleged sex demand

CHICAGO, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- An immigration lawyer in Chicago is facing possible sanctions for allegedly demanding sex from a job applicant, documents show.

A complaint filed with the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission accuses attorney Samir Chowhan of questionable conduct in regard to a Craigslist advertisement for a legal assistant at his firm, the Chicago Tribune said Friday.

Chowhan is also accused of lying to the commission, which investigates alleged misconduct by attorneys, by falsely claiming he did not post the online job listing in May.

The complaint alleges Chowhan eventually admitted he filed the Craigslist posting for a female assistant for "general secretarial work, some paralegal work and additional duties for two lawyers."

Chowhan allegedly said in an e-mail to an unidentified job applicant she would be required to have sex with him and his partner as part of her job.

In June, the woman reported Chowhan's alleged actions to the commission. A commission panel will review the case and could recommend disciplinary action, the Tribune said.

Condolences sent to living soldier's wife

OTTAWA, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The wife of a retired and healthy Canadian soldier said she's appalled at receiving a letter of condolence from an insurance company about his death.

Lisa Scott, 45, told the Ottawa Citizen she opened a letter from the insurance company soon after her husband set out on a city bus for a haircut this week and couldn't believe her eyes.

Her husband, Sgt. John Scott, 47, retired from the military in April after 27 years that most recently included two tours in Afghanistan.

Scott said she called her husband on his cell phone and his first response was a laugh and the question "Where are we going to spend the money?"

The insurance company has a Department of Defense contract for the military. Scott said calls to the company this week didn't yield any clues as to why she got the letter.

Meanwhile, her husband told the newspaper his alleged death wasn't much of a concern.

"I feel good," he said. "There are no ill-effects from my death, anyways."

Young Norwegian takes Monopoly title

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- A 19-year-old Norwegian defeated opponents from New Zealand, Russia and the United States to become the new world Monopoly champion.

Bjorn Halvard of Oslo won $20,580 Thursday, KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, reported.

The prize in the Monopoly World Championship is the real U.S. currency equivalent of the paper money in the standard Monopoly bank.

Hjalvard, who graduated a few months ago from high school, the Oslo Private Gymnasium, needed only 45 minutes to eliminate his three opponents in the final.

The runner-up, Geoff Christopher, 25, of New Zealand, tapped out when he landed on Pacific and North Carolina avenues in two consecutive moves and did not have the Monopoly money to pay Hjalvard $1,600 in rent.

Monopoly in its current form dates back to 1935 although it was based on an earlier board game invented by Elizabeth Phillips in 1904. Phillips, a Quaker and advocate of the single-tax ideas of Henry George, hoped to show the evils of monopoly ownership of land.

Hasbro which owns Monopoly, has been holding the world championship since 1973.

Glenn Beck Day price tag: $17,748.85

MOUNT VERNON, Wash., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- A Washington state town is facing more than $17,000 in bills stemming from a recent visit by conservative TV pundit Glenn Beck, who was given a day by the town.

Alicia Huschka, finance director for Mount Vernon, Wash., said the Sept. 26 Glenn Beck Day, which featured a visit from the Fox News host, cost the city $17,748.85, with most of the expense attributable to 239 hours of police overtime, The Seattle Times reported Friday.

"Honestly, I'm a bit surprised at how big the cost was," Huschka said.

Mount Vernon Police Chief Ken Bergsma said the police presence was necessary as the crowd of protesters that greeted Beck before he received the key to the city from Mayor Bud Norris numbered 800 to 1,000, the largest protest he has seen in the city in his 32 years with the police.

"I'd rather be before you justifying the cost of the staffing involved, as opposed to being before you to explain why it was underplanned and understaffed," Bergsma said he told the City Council.

Bergsma said the town received about 3,000 e-mails and several phone calls ahead of the visit by Beck, a native of Mount Vernon, and one e-mail and one phone call "were alarming, with indications of threats." He did not give details.