Quick Takes: Melting point

The London Climate Action canceled an event titled “Extreme Heat: Improving governance and improving action around the world.” Why? Extreme heat. The move from officials with the advocacy group dedicated to raising alarms against climate change came amid a record-breaking heat wave across Western Europe. On June 24—the same day as the planned event—temperatures in an English seaside town soared to 96.68 degrees, marking the highest recorded temperature in June in the United Kingdom’s recorded history. According to organizers, the venue, an old library on the campus of the London School of Economics, wasn’t air-conditioned. Despite the unprecedented heat, some government officials have ordered residents to remove their air conditioning units, arguing they conflict with the nation’s climate change policy goals. Officials suggest more climate-friendly methods like opening windows or turning on a fan. But that rankles opposition politicians like shadow minister Claire Coutinho, a Conservative: “We have to get out of this miserabilist net zero mindset which says that Britain alone has to stay stuck in the dark ages and can’t enjoy the modern conveniences that are completely normal in other countries.” A recent study indicated less than 20% of British households have air conditioning.

Turnabout is fair play

He was so busy burgling a Verizon store, one Maryland thief didn’t realize he himself was being robbed. Police say 29-year-old Jalen Godard broke into a Verizon store in suburban Baltimore June 25. But he didn’t get very far with his loot. According to authorities, the thief’s getaway car was stolen by an unknown and unrelated thief while Godard was inside the store. Police charged the Maryland man with burglary, destruction of property, and theft after matching him to surveillance footage.

Vigilante justice

Frustrated by the somnolent pace of Mexican police investigations, one Western Mexico local has turned to vigilantism. Using the nickname “Batman of Lagos de Morena,” the grassroots crime fighter has taken to binding alleged thieves to lampposts with duct tape. Over a 10-day period in June, local authorities in Lagos de Morena say they found five alleged criminals tied up to lampposts with “thief” written on their bodies in Spanish and pink signs posted above detailing their alleged criminal behavior. According to authorities, some of the captives had been beaten. Local police say they’re looking for the vigilante but also investigating potential crimes committed by those he caught.

Legislative lemons

Michigan’s legislature stands poised to return a lucrative opportunity back to the state’s children. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a bill that should allow children to continue to operate lemonade stands without complying with the state’s health and safety regulations. Enforcing those laws has occasionally led law enforcement officers to shutter children’s lemonade stands. If passed, the bill would exempt from scrutiny minors who operate on private property and make less than $5,000.

A jab in the eye

Some quick thinking and a fishing pole saved a Florida man from a vicious alligator attack July 3. Taking his pet bulldog for a walk near his North Fort Meyers, Fla., home, James McMicken decided to cast his line into a nearby canal. That’s when he saw an alligator. Before McMicken could react, the reptile had latched onto the 71-year-old’s leg and dragged him into the water. “I stuck my thumb in one eye, and I just took that fishing pole and jabbed him in that other eye and jabbed him and jabbed him and jabbed him,” he told WINK. The gator, annoyed by the eye pokes, eventually released McMicken, who was able to scramble ashore and hobble back home where he sought medical attention.

Quite the bargain

A sharp eye from a bargain-hunting Oregon teen unearthed a rare piece of sports memorabilia and could earn the 19-year-old a mint. Earlier this year, Quinn Brown spied a bright yellow jacket for sale while digging through bins at a Hillsboro, Ore., Goodwill store. As soon as another customer dropped it, Brown picked it up for closer inspection. On the front, the purple-and-gold warmup jacket carried the logo of the Los Angeles Lakers. On the back, he read the name “Chamberlain.” After paying $3.07 for the merchandise, Brown began investigating whether the apparel was authentic. It was. Legendary Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain wore the warmup during the 1972 NBA finals. After getting the piece authenticated, Brown turned over the jacket to Sotheby’s for auction, which estimated it could sell for as much as $250,000.

Nose complaint

Proprietors of a Beaverton, Ore., game store have a message for gamers who show up for tournaments: Take a bath. After receiving numerous complaints from other customers, owners of Chronos Games & Gifts suspended its Yu-Gi-Oh fantasy card game tournaments for a week because players smelled too bad. “We have had issues with people mistreating the restrooms and multiple bad reviews because of poor hygiene,” the store posted online. Organizers of fantasy card game events have noticed a trend in pungent players. Official tournament guidelines from the makers of Yu-Gi-Oh expressly require players to maintain hygiene standards.