postcards

Can’t buy me love. Couples eager to tie the knot in Valley View, Ohio, often turn to Mayor Randall Westfall, who presides over nuptials for free. But, in a 2006 e-mail response to a curious person’s question about the service, Westfall also offered to accept donations, according to The Associated Press (AP). “Ceremony is at no charge, however, sometimes people choose to donate to my campaign (no more than $50),” Westfall wrote in the e-mail. He was cited for soliciting donations for village work and failing to give the funds to the village. Westfall says that he responded to a common request when couples hear of the free weddings.

Thanks for not speeding. This past holiday season, some Rancho Cordova, Calif., drivers were pulled over and rewarded for their good driving habits. Police officers stopped law-abiding drivers and presented them with $5 Starbucks gift cards, which were donated by local businesses, according to AP. Police Sgt. Tim Curran told AP the project was meant to reinforce the relationship between public safety officials and drivers. “[The city’s officers] raised a substantial amount of money,” Curran told AP. “They’ll be pulling over a lot of people.”