A Spring Brook (NY) firefighter is recovering in the hospital after being struck by a car while directing traffic at a vehicle collision. The incident happened in Elma, New York. The Ambrose-Searles Move Over Law just began on January 1st.

I will admit it, I cannot stand panhandlers. It is illegal to panhandle where I live and that makes me happy. The reason why I cannot stand them is because typically they are unkempt and not pleasant to look at. Gary, Indiana has one of the most well dressed panhandlers. No, he is not wearing a tuxedo or even a suit. He is wearing his turnout gear and leather helmet. It is apparently very effective. He made $400 in just 4 hours on Sunday...that is $100 an hour. Not bad money. That is no way to live though.

Some of you have asked about the Blog of the Year contest. I have not forgotten it. As a matter of fact, I received word today that we are good to go! I will be posting more information soon on the contest, the page for the contest is here. It will be updated soon! I am pleased to announce that Black Diamond will be sponsoring this years Blog of the Year Contest. More on the details in the near future!

A four-alarm fire ripped through an under-construction condominium complex early Wednesday morning in New Jersey. The intense blaze began at about 1:30 a.m. at the four-story building located at St. Georges Avenue & Stone Street along Route 27 in Rahway. The fire appeared to have consumed the complex's top floor and rooftop.

Firefighter David Remington was killed at 10 pm Monday night on the way to a call. David, a firefighter with the Shapleigh Fire Department in Maine, was in his personal vehicle responding for an emergency. The 58 year old firefighter is listed as N28 and a driver/operator on the departments roster.

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - At midnight Saturday morning, the Evansville Fire Department officially took over emergency runs in Knight Township, but before the torch was passed Knight Township fire fighters responded to one final call. The Knight Township Fire Department has been answering emergency calls in Evansville for the past 28 years, but their doors are now closed because of a lack of funding.

Toronto waking up to the acrid smell of smoke.The fire broke out just after 4 a.m. in the old Salad King building, part of which collapsed in April.Dozens of trucks and more than 100 firefighters were on scene.

Obama signed the bill during his Hawaiian vacation, with no signing ceremony held. In a statement issued later, the president said he was "honored" to sign the bill, which pays for health care for responders believed to have been sickened by pollution at the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York.

Firefighters were unable to get to the burning house because of the man's threat and armed deputies watched over them. The entire house burned, while firefighters concentrated on protecting neighboring structures. Deputies helped an elderly woman out of harm's way.

Moscow CNN -- Four people were killed Saturday and more than 43 others were injured, four critically, after a Russian passenger jet caught fire shortly before takeoff, authorities said.One of the engines aboard the Tu-154B-2 caught fire as the plane taxied toward the runway in Russia's Siberian city of Surgut, Russia's Investigation Committee said in a statement on its website. The blaze quickly spread throughout the cabin, forcing passengers to evacuate as the aircraft became engulfed in flames.