As an indicator of the worsening housing problem in the U.S., more shanty towns were observed to have risen in major American cities the past few months.

Among the cities which are grappling with an increasing number of tent city residents are Fresno, Sacramento and Los Angeles in California, New York City, Seattle and Olympia in Washington, and St. Petersburg in Florida.

Vandals broke windows of the house and a Mercedes Benz of disgraced British banker Sir Fred Goodwin in Edinburgh, Scotland on Wednesday.

The vandals calling themselves Bank Bosses Are Criminals (BBAC) informed their action to local media organizations through e-mail and warned they will carry out more attacks against banking executives.

Police in Utah arrested a 25-year-old homeless man for allegedly trying to steal a $500,000 firetruck so he could drive home to Washington to see his mom on Christmas.

Police said the firefighters, who were on a medical call near 200 East and 3000 South, were alerted when they heard the air horn on their fire engine blaring.

While federal officials in Washington are trying out different approaches to reduce foreclosures such as modifying mortgage loan terms, a Miami resident is applying his own unique solution to twin problems besetting many states - homelessness and foreclosed houses.

Tapping the Internet and volunteer teams, Max Rameau uses his Take Back the Land Foundation to match the homeless with vacant units that were foreclosed. Since January he has helped six families find temporary dwellings, although his efforts are expected to generate controversy. So far, federal, state and local officials have not stopped him.

With the worsening economy everything is for sale on Craigslist, including one kidney from someone self-described as a healthy, healthy, broke and about to be homeless 35-year-old.

Selling a kidney is unquestionably illegal but its hard to tell if the ad is serious or a prank.