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Sherrif Arpaio pardon leads to criticism
PHOENIX -- The possibility of President Donald Trump pardoning former Sheriff Joe Arpaio has led to criticism that absolving his conviction would contradict a key theme in the immigration debate.
"The rule of law" has been invoked by politicians as they pushed for tougher immigration measures and argued that no one -- no matter who you are -- is above the law.
Three of Arizona's Democratic U.S. representatives say Trump shouldn't pardon Arpaio for disobeying a court order and that the rule of law should be applied to the former sheriff.
Republican Reps. Paul Gosar and Trent Franks voiced support for a pardon.
The offices of the other Republican members of Arizona's congressional delegation didn't respond to interview requests, including Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake and Reps. Andy Biggs, David Schweikert and Martha McSally.
Drunken woman bites fisherman's line
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- It wasn't exactly the catch a Florida man was hoping for while fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, deputies say a drunken 22-year-old woman cursed at him before swimming up to his fishing line, biting it and swimming away with the rigging.
St. Johns County Sheriff's officials tell local news outlets the fisherman told deputies the incident happened Tuesday evening as he was fishing with a rented pole near St. Augustine.
Deputies asked Alexandria Turner to come to the pier office, but she became belligerent. Investigators say Turner created a scene and upset the "sense of public norm at the pier" when they tried to take her into custody.
She was arrested on suspicion of intoxication and resisting arrest.
A lawyer wasn't listed in court records.
Florida python hunt tally reaches 500
MIAMI -- Hunters have killed 500 Burmese pythons during an elimination program in the Florida Everglades.
Officials who are overseeing the program tell local news outlets that Miami snake hunter Jason Leon killed the 500th python -- a 7-foot snake -- Thursday morning. It was his second kill since the Python Elimination Program began March 25.
The South Florida Water Management District hired hunters to remove the voracious snakes from the Everglades. Researchers say the snakes are decimating populations of native mammals and pose a threat to the Everglades restoration efforts.
The hunters are independent contractors who are paid $8.10 an hour to track and kill pythons. They earn a $50 bonus for pythons that measure up to 4 feet and $25 for each additional foot.
Driver forced to jump rising drawbridge
LOWER TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- A driver was forced to gun his engine and jump a drawbridge that began rising as he crossed it with his family.
Terence Naphys, of West Deptford Township, had paid the toll to cross the Middle Thorofare Bridge with three family members in his vehicle on Aug. 1. The bridge links Cape May with the Wildwoods near the Jersey shore.
As he was crossing the steel grate, it began to rise 3 to 6 feet because a vessel was trying to cross, police said.
"My wife said, 'I think the bridge is opening,'" Naphys said.
"He accelerated, and of course then we landed with a big impact on the concrete on the side," Jackie Naphys said.
Police said the landing caused minor damage to his vehicle. No one was hurt.
Authorities said the operator of the bridge was to blame for the scare.
"An employee for the Cape May County Bridge Commission stated that a large vessel was approaching the bridge and they had no contact with that vessel due to their radio being down," police said in their report.
Naphys said he would never cross the bridge again.
By The Associated Press