Washington, DC, USA. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. The Ohio Attorney General must provide advice to himself on impeaching himself. A Pennsylvania state senator tries to solve the gay marriage dillemma by outlawing divorce. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.

 

You think just because he could be the next president of the United States that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D) would have an easy time on the basketball court? Not in Alexi Giannoulias’ neighborhood. Giannoulias, the Democratic Illinois state treasurer, bulled over Obama and bruised the senator on his way to the basket, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Giannoulias, who played pro ball in Greece for a year, took the court with Obama and friends in Chicago May 6, the day of the Indiana and North Carolina primaries.

 

Salt Lake City, Utah, of all places, is home to a new martini. The key to making Club Bambara’s new concoction is the amount of Beefeater Gin: It’s 1.5 ounces, no less and certainly no more. Bartenders created the new drink in celebration of the Utah Legislature allowing them to pour an extra half ounce of liquor in their drinks, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. Alas, the martini has a name only a legislator could love; it’s called the SB211 Martini, after its enabling legislation.

 

How awkward. Ohio lawmakers are thinking about impeaching a state official, but to get legal guidance on handling the rare procedure, they had to ask the same attorney general they’re trying to impeach, the Columbus bureau of The Associated Press writes. House Speaker John Usted (R) said Attorney General Marc Dann (D) might consider hiring  independent lawyers to research the matter.

 

Miffed at legislation designed to preserve the integrity of marriage by outlawing civil unions or gay marriages, Pennsylvania Sen. Vincent Fumo (D) offered his own addition: outlawing divorce, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Fumo, himself twice divorced, said, “There's no greater threat to families and to marriage than the high divorce rate.” The Senate tabled his proposal.

 

A 28-square-mile Louisiana prison complex with farms and forests has enough wildlife to make prisoners think twice about escaping, the AP writes. The Angola prison is home to rattlesnakes, wild pigs, alligators and now bears. The guards say as many as 10 bears patrol the grounds, giving inmates a good reason to stay inside. But a state wildlife official was skeptical, telling the AP there have never been black bear attacks on pets or livestock in Louisiana. “As for a bear coming out and rushing an inmate,” she said, “I don't see that happening.”

 

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