| DRINK UP! Rancher arrested for selling snake vodka
SANTO, Texas (AP) -- A rattlesnake rancher who calls himself Bayou Bob found a new way to make money: Stick a rattler inside a bottle of vodka and market the concoction as an "ancient Asian elixir." But Bayou Bob Popplewell's bright idea appears to have landed him on the wrong side of the law, because he has no liquor license. Popplewell, who has raised rattlesnakes and turtles at Bayou Bob's Brazos River Rattlesnake Ranch for more than two decades, surrendered to authorities Monday. He spent about 10 minutes in jail after the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission obtained arrest warrants on misdemeanor charges of selling alcohol without a license and possessing alcohol with intent to sell. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines. Popplewell said he will fight the charges.
Operators Don Business Attire
Get out the suits and ties. Major cable operators are mobilizing this year to tap into enterprise telecommunications services, estimated to be a $55 billion market in the United States, according to Wall Street analyst firm Sanford Bernstein. Comcast last week launched "business-class" voice service in New England, offering small and medium-size businesses a triple-play bundle with cable TV, high-speed Internet and voice starting at $99 per month. The operator will widen the rollout to its other territories through the rest of the year. As part of the nationwide SMB initiative, Comcast has hired more than 1,000 sales and support representatives in the past year, according to one of its technology suppliers. (Comcast would not confirm the specific number of hires.) Industry analysts said cable has a rich opportunity to pick off business from incumbent providers, such as AT&T and Verizon Communications.
Market owners indicted for tax evasion
The owners of a Cadillac market were indicted on federal charges Wednesday. Timothy Walraven, William Walraven, Jr. and Karen Zaborowski were indicted by a Michigan Grand Jury on federal tax evasion charges. According to the indictment, the Walravens skimmed money from their various businesses and concealed in their respective residences. .
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