A company has launched a excused absence service for U. S. employees and students. The Excused Absence Network services all your excuse letter needs for just $25 per excuse note, which appears to come from professional doctor or hospital. They also offer fake jury summons and an authentic-looking funeral service program with poems and pallbearers.

A 65,000 square meter mall worth $86 million opened in Soweto, and officials say the mall marks an economic turnaround in South Africa. The opening of Maponya Mall, which features 200 stores and eight movie theaters, is expected to boost the city's prominence and help it rise from a suburb of Johannesburg to its own city. The shopping promenade is expected to generate jobs and speed up the ongoing economic boom in Soweto. Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo noted Soweto is not just undergoing a facelift, "it is undergoing a racial reconstruction and the mood is one of excitement. "

According to the Beer Institute the state of Colorado officially became the largest beer producing state in the country. The Colorado brewing industry produced over 23. 3 million barrels or 724. 5 million gallons of beer. This makes the state tops in production, edging out second place California and other large states such as Texas and New York. A recent study commissioned by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) also found that the beer industry, made up of brewers, beer importers, beer distributors, brewer suppliers, and retailers, directly and indirectly contributes $12. 4 billion annually to Colorado's economy. The industry's economic impact includes 67,918 jobs - paying $3 billion in wages - as well as $1. 6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

A waiter in Fort Lauderdale, FL who ran out of the restaurant to rescue a woman being carjacked was fired when he came back to work on Monday. Juan Canales who many call a hero for his quick thinking is now left stunned by his unemployment status - however employers are coming to his aide with job offers, including his old boss at 84 Thai restaurant. According to police reports 22-year-old Massiel Marquartdt was being attacked by a man wielding a knife outside the 84 Thai Food restaurant in the Southland Shopping Center on Monday.

Chicago City Colleges will train students for jobs in the casino industry if the plan to introduce casinos in the state gets approved. Chancellor Wayne Watson made the announcement after Alderman Tom Tunney (44th), owner of Ann Sather's Restaurants, suggested offering casino training if the casino plan gets Legislative approval.