National Roundup

Kentucky Ginseng poaching on the rise at Ky. national park MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (AP) -- Rangers at a national park in Kentucky say they are seeing more visitors trying to take away more than memories. Poachers are digging up ginseng roots at Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. The root can be sold for a hefty profit, and is used in energy drinks and as an aphrodisiac. Gene Wesloh is the park's lead field ranger. He told The Daily News that cameras and sensors are helping catch thieves. Park workers are also marking the ginseng. That means it can be traced back to the park, and the tag destroys the ginseng's value when it's time to sell. Digging up the root on national park property is illegal. Jenny Beeler leads the park's resource management division. She says workers are also mapping ginseng and replanting it when possible. Wisconsin Loch Ness monster ordered to leave Wisconsin river EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) -- The Loch Ness monster is on vacation in Wisconsin -- and state officials want the legendary lady to leave. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Dan Baumann says a sculpture of Nessie is illegally obstructing the Chippewa River in Eau Claire and must be removed by the person who placed it there. The sculpture's creator remains a mystery, although a person who anonymously emailed the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram on Thursday said it would be removed within 10 days. Retailer Menards says it would like to acquire the guerrilla art and that the monster could make her home in retention ponds at the home improvement chain's Eau Claire property. The Loch Ness monster was first "spotted" at Loch Ness, a waterway some 10 miles south of Inverness, Scotland, in 1933. New York NYC con artist posed as dead mom in fraud scheme NEW YORK (AP) -- A New York City con artist has been convicted in a bizarre scheme that involved dressing up as his mother and collecting her Social Security benefits for six years after she had died. Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced the conviction Thursday of 51-year-old Thomas Parkin on charges including grand larceny, forgery and perjury. He faces up to 83 years in prison at sentencing. Prosecutors say Parkin doctored his mother's death certificate after her 2003 death to make it look as if she were alive. He even dressed as his mother and went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew her driver's license. The mother, Irene Prusik, had deeded her house to Parkin, but he failed to make the payments and it was sold at foreclosure. Prosecutors say Parkin sued the new owner in his mother's name, alleging real estate fraud. Utah Unknown birthday may spare Utah man death penalty SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Attorneys for a Burmese refugee accused of a South Salt Lake killing say there's no proof their client was of age when the crime happened, and the death penalty should be taken off the table. Esar Met's birthday is listed as January 1987, which means he would have been 21 when 7-year-old refugee girl Hser Ner Moo was found dead in his apartment in spring 2008. But attorneys filed a motion in 3rd District Court this week saying Met and his family aren't sure of the man's date or year of birth. Officials at the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City tell The Salt Lake Tribune it's not uncommon for refugees to lack official birth certificates. Prosecutor Rob Parrish tells the newspaper his office is researching the issue. Colorado Lesbian wins right to file paternity suit CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) -- A lesbian parent has won the right to file a paternity lawsuit against her partner in a battle over custody of their children. Wendy Alfredsen and her partner Lena Alfredsen adopted two biological sisters in 2006. The couple broke up in 2009. According to KMGH-TV, each woman was the parent of just one of the girls and could make all the decisions regarding that child because Colorado law allowed only one gay parent to sign adoption papers for a child. Wendy Alfredsen went to court seeking parental rights and a judge ruled in her favor. The ruling prompted both women to agree to share custody of the two girls. A judge will decide in June issues over parenting time. Arizona Judge tosses drug case for prosecutor's misconduct TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- A federal judge in Tucson has dismissed a drug-smuggling case because of a prosecutor's misconduct. U.S. District Judge Cindy Jorgenson says she wants to ensure the U.S. attorney's office takes the misbehavior seriously. The Arizona Daily Star reports that Aurora Lopez-Avila was found with 23 pounds of cocaine in her car in 2009 in Nogales and pleaded guilty in February 2010. She then rescinded the plea and went to trial in November 2010, claiming she had been forced to take the car across the border. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Albert read from a plea hearing transcript at her trial where she answered no to a question about being threatened. U.S. attorney's office spokesman Bill Solomon said last Friday's ruling is a reminder of a prosecutor's ethical and constitutional responsibilities. Indiana Lawsuit: C. Ind. mayor fired workers over politics ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) -- A central Indiana mayor is fighting a lawsuit filed by 10 former city employees who claim they lost their jobs because they backed the mayor's opponent in last year's election. The federal lawsuit filed by the former Anderson employees against Republican Mayor Kevin Smith argues the city's action against them violates their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit says the workers all publicly supported former Democratic Mayor Kris Ockomon in the 2011 election and that three of them are Democratic precinct committee representatives. City attorney Jason Childers tells The Herald Bulletin that he believes all the workers were terminated for legally valid reasons and that he's confident the actions will be upheld in court. Published: Mon, May 7, 2012