A group of pranksters created a fake Twitter account claiming to be the official Cat Fancy magazine, garnering more than 9,000 followers. Sample tweets: “cats blowing lines of Ritalin at 5 in the morning and stressing about the universe expanding” and “cat hell is full.” The account has since been suspended for trademark violation. World +1
Teenage pregnancies and abortion rates in the U.S. are at their lowest levels since 1972, according to data collected by the Guttmacher Institute. World +1
Cincinnati’s highly anticipated streetcar project will kick off with a groundbreaking ceremony this Friday, despite tiffs with Duke Energy last week over compensation for relocation of utility lines. Opening of the streetcar’s first phase is scheduled for late 2013. Cincinnati +2
iTunes increased the prices of singer Whitney Houston’s albums following the news of her death on Saturday by as much as nearly 300 percent. World -1
An ornery tow truck driver called 700 WLW Friday morning threatening to tow Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld’s car from City Hall after the councilman drafted legislation to stiffen penalties for predatory tow truck drivers who charge more than Ohio law allows. Sittenfeld, can we have his tow truck towed? Cincinnati -1
Angry Athenian rioters torched buildings and hurled rocks and firebombs at police Monday morning in protest of new austerity measures passed by the Greek parliament. More than 100 police officers were injured and more than 45 buildings were damaged or looted in what many describe as the worst riot in Athens since Greece began dealing with its severe debt crisis in 2010. World -2
Dohn Community High School in Walnut Hills
—
a charter school focusing on at-risk children and high school dropouts—
has begun paying students to come to class as incentive to improve attendance and graduation rates. The program is expected to cost the school about $40,000 this year. The plan is controversial, but principal Ramone Davenport says other incentives have failed. He hopes this will keep kids off the streets and show them the benefits of working toward a goal. Cincinnati +1THIS WEEK: Cincinnati +2, World -1
YEAR TO DATE: Cincinnati +4, World -5
