An ex-con straightens up, and more

An ex-con straightens up

A man who was once one of the most notorious jewel thieves in the U.S. has cleaned up his act enough to become an honorary police officer—the first ex-con in the country to receive the honor. Larry Lawton spent 11 years in a federal prison after being convicted of racketeering. The grim experience of being in jail led him to change his life, and since his release in 2007 he has become a motivational speaker discouraging young people from turning to crime. Lawton, 52, was sworn into the Lake St. Louis, Mo., police department this week.

A victory for disability rights

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A woman with Down syndrome has been hailed as a hero by disability rights advocates after winning independence from her parents. A Virginia judge ruled earlier this month that Jenny Hatch, 29, could choose where she lives, rejecting a guardianship request from her parents. Hatch’s father had wanted her to live in a group home, but Hatch preferred living with friends she made working at a thrift store. Since the ruling, she has received speaking invitations from across the nation. “She really has become a symbol of hope,” said supporter Denille Francis, “and to so many families, she is a hero.”

From one bride to another

When a bride-to-be in Kent, Wash., discovered that her wedding dress had been stolen from her car on the morning of her wedding day, she called 911 in tears. The dispatcher sent the police—and then asked what size the dress was. The operator, Candice, who had been married herself just 18 months before, offered the use of her wedding dress to the distraught bride, whose name was Amanda. Luckily, the two were the same size—and Amanda’s white wedding went off without a hitch in spite of the theft. “[She] had her special day after all,” said Candice.