Get Background on your Hired Hit Man

Feds say a Florida construction company owner attempted to hire a hit-man to murder an IRS agent to avoid paying $300,000 in taxes.

"A U.S. Treasury agent says in an affidavit that Randy Nowak in June agreed to pay an undercover FBI agent $20,000 to kill agent Christine Brandt, who was auditing him. Nowak thought the FBI agent was a hit man."

The FBI agent who went undercover said he knew he was in when Nowak forgot to ask for identification.

"I was mad at myself for actually taking my FBI badge to the initial meeting, but when he forgot to ask ID - I was like...I'm so in there," said the FBI Agent.

If you plan on hiring a hit man in the future - don't be intimidated to ask questions. Just because they are hit men doesn't mean they are so mean and tough (funny). Get your questions answered up front.

Chicago Funnies

Due Daniels

4 Year Slump in Workforce

The economy as we all know is taking a huge hit - the gas prices, the war, and the joblessness. Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and several service-providing industries,while health care and mining continued to add jobs.

The nation’s unemployment rate climbed to a four-year high of 5.7 percent in July as employers cut 51,000 jobs, dashing the hopes of an influx of youth & teens looking for summer work.

Payroll cuts weren’t as deep as the 72,000 predicted by economists, however, job losses for both May and June were smaller than previously reported. "July’s reductions marked the seventh straight month where employers eliminated jobs. The economy has lost a total of 463,00 jobs so far this year.

The biggest irony of it is that, with gas prices so high; I've heard people complain they can barely afford to go find work (not funny). It's not good to have something bad 4 years straight. More bad news is that it isn't going to get better any time soon.

All told, there were 8.8 million unemployed people in July, up from 7.1 million last year. The jobless rate last July stood at 4.7 percent. More job cuts are expected in coming months.

Chicago Funnies

Randall Watson

Los Angeles Earthquake

When I was younger, my older brother told me that thunder was the sound of angels fighting in Heaven. Made me think...then what is an earthquake? Maybe the other angel getting knocked to the ground (not funny). There was another Los Angeles earthquake today, so small they called it a "small sample."

A small sample of the big one coming some time in the future. Can you say, "get out of LA!"

A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook the Los Angeles metropolitan area Tuesday, leaving residents rattled but causing no serious damage or injuries. This Los Angeles earthquake isn't scaring anybody in LA now, their worries are in the future.

"Every earthquake relieves some stress," Hutton said. "It's usually only a drop in the ocean. In other words, the amount of stress released by this earthquake is minuscule compared to the amount that's built up and is building up for the Big One when it happens some day in the future."

That was Kate Hutton, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology.

We're happy to report no injuries or deaths.

Chicago Funnies

Hank Laiden

Ref Gets 15 Months

If you've ever wanted to get a ref for blowing a call - here is your chance... or not. Yesterday, attorneys for Tim Donaghy, the former NBA referee who admitted to betting on basketball games he officiated, filed a psychological "evaluation" that blames his crimes on compulsive gambling.

I hope he is not in jail roomed up with guy who bet on games he officiated (funny). Donaghy was suppose to have a more extensive sentence. His compulsive gambling was his plea.

The plea worked. Today, Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison instead of the 27 to 33 months that had been expected. Note to everyone, do a crime have psychological behavior ready as your plea.

Chicago Funnies

Due Danielz