'Grandpa Bandit' at it again

Syracuse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation say that the man who robbed a local bank on September 22 could be the same man linked to robberies in Houston, Atlanta, Roanoke, Va., Little Rock, Ark., Dallas, Birmingham, Ala., and Tallahassee, Fla. 

Known for his polite demeanor during hold-ups, “America’s Most Wanted” says the suspect is balding and overweight, and photographs suggest that the man is fairly old.  Law enforcement officials have dubbed him the “Grandpa Bandit.”

Syracuse.com reports the FBI has offered a $10,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robber. 

My Take:  This is a big story because it means that one local event was part of a much larger conspiracy across the eastern and southern United States.  Also, the robber’s nickname, the “Grandpa Bandit,” and polite persona gives this story a novelty that almost seems like something out of a movie.  This will certainly be an interesting case to follow as law enforcement tries to track down a man who has robbed banks up and down the country without getting caught.

Suspected CIA agents convicted in Italy

An Italian court sentenced two-dozen Americans to five years in prison this week for what human rights groups call “extraordinary rendition.”

Prosecutors allege that the Americans kidnapped a Muslim cleric in 2007 whom they suspected of terrorism and then transferred him to Egypt, where he claims he was tortured.

The U.S. acknowledges making such “rendition” transfers, but denies sending anyone to countries that torture suspects. 

The convicted Americans were not present for their trial, and are not in Italian custody.  The ruling, however, could make them fugitives in Italy and other places around the world. 

Italian authorities believe the Americans to be CIA agents, and a former CIA analyst told CNN that the Italian military secret service had approved the operation that the Americans faced trial for. 

My Take:  This is an interesting story that combines elements of international politics with secret intelligence operations.  Organizations like the CIA are rarely in the news because of the secrecy with which they operate, so for the Italian government to publicly put them on trial for carrying out an operation is something extremely rare.  This story also highlights how unpopular U.S. foreign policies are around the world.

Le Moyne stuns Syracuse basketball

Division II Le Moyne upset Syracuse University in an exhibition game Tuesday, 82-79. 

SU, ranked 25^th nationally in the ESPN/USA Today Poll, blew a ten-point second half lead despite 34 points from junior forward Wes Johnson. 

Christopher Johnson led Le Moyne with 22 points, including 17 in the second half of the game played on Jim Boeheim Court in Syracuse’s Carrier Dome. 

While the exhibition game will not count in the standings for either team, the stunning upset has major implications for both squads. 

Le Moyne head coach Steve Evans told ESPN.com that his players “will remember this forever,” but understands that much of the media focus will be on SU and their high-profile team. 

“I feel bad that the story tomorrow will be, ‘What’s wrong with Syracuse basketball?’” Evans told ESPN.com. 

My Take:  This is a big story because it's incredibly rare to see a Division II basketball team beat a Division I team, especially a nationall-ranked and perennially successful program like Syracuse.  It's too early to tell whether this game was an aberration or a sign of trouble for SU basketball, but it's safe to say that this game raised concerns for everyone involved with the team and all of its fans, both on campus and throughout the country.