CALIFORNIA

The high costs and moral implications of applying the death penalty has led five states to repeal their capital punishment laws in the same number of years.

Mad cow disease has emerged once again in the United States, for the first time in six years. The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy infection was confirmed on Tuesday. Health concerns were allayed by the USDA, but economic concerns are taking their place.

If your name is legally Don Draper, not only do you have the same name as possibly the most suave ad man in fiction's history, but you could also score yourself a free hotel room at Howard Johnson. The HoJo hotel chain is using the latest episode of Mad Men, where Mr. and Mrs. Draper had a horrific experience during their stay, as a marketing ploy - and an apology - to everyone named Don Draper by giving a free one-night stay in order to boost the brand and revenue.

U.S. authorities reported the country's first case of mad cow disease in six years on Tuesday, swiftly assuring consumers and global importers that there was no danger of meat from the California dairy cow entering the food chain.