New York librarian fired after defending child who dominated reading contest

A librarian in upstate New York believes she was fired over comments she made in support of a student who dominated a reading competition for five consecutive years, The Post Star reported.

In August, Lita Casey, who worked at the Hudson Falls Free Library for 28 years, called the library's plan to change the rules of "Dig Into Reading" to hurt 9-year-old Tyler Weaver's chances of winning next year's prize "ridiculous," the report said.

The library director at the time, who no longer works there, appeared to criticize the boy and said he "hogs" the contest and ought to "step aside."

"Other kids quit [the reading contest] because they can't keep it up," she told the paper in August.

Casey, for her part, called the rule change "ridiculous."

"My feeling is you work, you get it. That's just the way it is in anything. My granddaughter started working on track in grade school and ended up being a national champ. Should she have backed off and said, 'No, somebody else should win?' I told her (the director), but she said it's not a contest, it's the reading club and everybody should get a chance," Casey said at the time, according to the paper.

Casey told the Post Star that she couldn't believe she was fired and asked a library board member why she was fired, and was told the board would not give a reason.

“I worked there for 28 years without a complaint,” she said. “I have to believe it was related to the whole reading controversy.”

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Miami cop fired 8 times could make it 9

For one police officer, will the ninth strike mean he's out?

This time around, Sgt. German Bosque—who has been fired eight times from three different police departments—has been charged with leaving his assault weapon with his girlfriend’s father, a trained security guard, while on an eight-day leave, according to CBS4 Miami.

That’s a no-no, says the Opa-locka Police Department, which presented its case to dismiss him in front of an arbitration officer on Wednesday.

The station, which covered Bosque's hearing, spoke with City Attorney Joe Geller, who said, "We’re here on a very simple matter. It’s going to be up to the arbitrator. We think what the officer did was wrong.”

Geller is arguing that Bosque violated the department’s policy that an officer’s weapon should be secured at all times.

But like the Terminator, Bosque has a history of coming back: He's the most fired, fined and disciplined officer in the state, according to CBS4.

The Miami cop has managed to return to his post despite his alleged vices. The Miami Herald reports Bosque has beaten back a long list of head-turning charges, including:

- busting the skull of a handcuffed suspect
- beating juveniles
- having dope and booze in his squad car
- ripping off suspects
- falsifying reports
- participating in an unauthorized chase where four people were killed
- calling in sick … from Cancun

“It’s allegations. Allegations are not convictions,” said Bosque’s union-provided attorney, Andrew Axelrad. “We have a system in place, and that system is a fair system.”

To hear Bosque tell it, he just loves his job. “I love serving the community. I love what I do for a living, and I’m very proud,” he said.

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Norway teacher fired after children taste her blood

In response to the increased attention and concern for America's rising rates of obesity and diabetes, the food industry has responded by creating what they often refer to as "better-for-you" foods. These include, among other things: bags of dried fruit slices, organic bars and cookies, yogurts, smoothies, vegetable crisps, and, of course, baked, not fried, potato chips. In turn, these items have begun to replace the more traditional junk food found in our children's school vending machines.

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