Southwest Michigan's four Republican House members criticized the move since they say the program saves the state and taxpayers money, and called on lawmakers to override the governor's veto.

"Financially speaking, it doesn't make sense for the governor to veto this program," said state Rep. John Proos, of St. Joseph, who serves as vice-chair of the corrections appropriations subcommittee. "This program saves the state millions of dollars a year at a time when we are working to resolve a $2 billion budget deficit."

Thomas Greatbatch, aged 23, turned on the driver when he was asked to pay a fare at the start of a journey.

Greatbatch, of Malham Road, Newcastle, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday after admitting racially aggravated criminal damage.

The court heard he was among a group that flagged down a Roseville Taxis cab in Hassell Street, Newcastle, in the early hours of May 1.

Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said: "The driver requested £10 payment up front, to which the defendant shouted racial abuse, punched the plastic screen between the group and the driver, and pulled at the screen causing it to crack.

Preston Crown Court heard how Darryl Mulholland was allowed into a Barrow home and stole an Xbox in what the judge called a “mean" crime.

The burglary happened months after he assaulted a police woman and a community support officer who had gone to his address.

Mulholland, 40, of Thwaite Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary and two counts of common assault.

The burglary took place earlier this year at an address on Harrison Street, Barrow.

Miss Kirsten McAteer, prosecuting, told Thursday's hearing that a woman living at the house with her family had gone to work.

And the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union has accused the Prime Minister of failing to prosecute employers of illegal workers or to crack down on organised people-smuggling rackets.

In June, the government announced it would scrap the Howard government's policy of detaining visa cheats as a "default position" and replace it with "more humane" detention policies based on risk assessments of offenders.

Byrd has also been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, reckless endangerment, carrying a handgun, using a handgun in the commission of a violent crime and resisting arrest.

Hamilton said the charges carry sentences of "life down to three years" in prison.

Under the legislation, the maximum jail term for lighting a fire where it was likely to damage people or property will increase from 14 years to 20 years.

But if a person wilfully destroys or damages property by fire, the maximum penalty will increase from 14 years to life imprisonment.

Attorney-General Christian Porter and Emergency Services Minister Rob Johnson said the laws would ensure arson was treated as one of the most serious criminal offences in WA.

"Our legislation will significantly increase penalties and ensure the laws of this State recognise the inherent danger arsonists cause," Mr Porter said.

Said Scott Thorpe of CDAA, "The California District Attorneys Association is proud to have sponsored and to have worked with Mr. Nava on this important environmental legislation. This bill will increase the ability of District Attorneys across the state to prosecute those who violate hazardous materials laws."

Under the sentence imposed by Justice Keith Dolbeck, the O'Haras will also spend 3 years on probation and will each have to pay $500 fines or perform 50 hours of community service, Garcia said.

The O'Haras are to begin serving the jail sentences this weekend and will spend each weekend in jail through the weekend of Jan. 15, Garcia said.

Their then-16-year-old son hosted the party. Neither he nor the other teens at the party were prosecuted, as all became witnesses in the case against the O'Haras. That case went to trial in July, and the couple was convicted of all charges.

The court heard that the girl's father had been out looking for her and came upon the couple when they had been together.

After hearing the evidence Judge John Neilan said he was putting an 11-month sentence in place now but would adjourn the matter until January to allow for victim impact and probation reports to be prepared.

Jason Higgins, Castle Grove, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, admitted the offence, which took place in an area outside Mullingar on August 6th, 2008.

Court heard Taylor and several other people were drinking beer and hair spray at Esther Harper's apartment when Harper and Taylor's nephew got into a shoving match.

Taylor allegedly intervened with a knife he grabbed from the kitchen and stabbed Harper once in the neck, puncturing her jugular vein.

Taylor, his nephew and an adult female allegedly fled the apartment in a taxi, said Crown attorney Melinda Murray. Police were not called until six hours later when a drunk partygoer awakened beside Harper's stiffened body.

'Disconcerting'

One week from today, the Redwood Areas United Way is conducting a jail and bail event to try and help raise funds toward achieving its goal.

That goal was reduced for the coming year as a reflection of the economy, but the needs have not been reduced.

According to Tanya Cook, of the Redwood Area United Way, those who volunteer to be jailed then need to collect $100 in bail to be released with each dollar raised being used for local organizations.

The event is being held from 1-6 p.m. at Scott-Preusse in Redwood Falls.

Tina and Richard Gair – the parents of 12 children – their daughter Kerry and son Duane, together with family friend Patsy Lenton, all admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis to addicts in the city.

They were caught after a police undercover surveillance operation, Stafford Crown Court heard.

Officers watched drug deals taking place and finally carried out a search on the Gairs' home in Meadowbrook Road.

Their wholesale stash of cannabis was never found, but Tina Gair's mobile phone revealed drug-dealing text messages and a “dealer's list" was also found.

Lee, 36, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Chong Swee Sang, 49, at house no 7x, Jalan Dua, Jalan Chan Sow Lin, here at 4am on June 22, 2005.

Judicial Commissioner Azman Abdullah ordered Lee to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest, which was June 22, 2005.

In handing down the sentence, Azman said that a life was lost in the case and that Lee should not have taken the law into his own hands.

Currently, judges have the latitude to sentence inmates guilty of certain nonviolent crimes to serve their jail time only on the weekends if they have a job and a family to support. In trade, those weekend inmates pay a flat fee of $15 for each day they are at the jail. That fee doesn't cover the costs for the food, clothing, shelter and security the county provides.

Hendri Dharmawan, 29, pleaded guilty last month to charges of possessing and importing child pornography and was sentenced Wednesday in Halifax provincial court.

"This conduct is repugnant," Judge Barbara Beach said. "It�s distasteful, unacceptable behaviour."

Officers with the Canada Border Services Agency conducted a routine search of Mr. Dharmawan, a pastry chef on the Carnival Triumph, as he and a couple of other crew members were going back on board the ship at Pier 22.

After finding child pornography on Mr. Dharmawan�s iPhone, the border agents were prompted to go to his living quarters on the ship and examine his laptop computer and an external hard drive.