The public has known for a few weeks that TriMet's planned light-rail extension to MIlwaukie was facing a giant funding gap, partly because fewer federal dollars than expected came through. But TriMet officials had an inkling of trouble waaay before that. Now they want Portland to kick in more cash. And Mayor Sam Adams says: "This project is at risk unless we figure it out."

They were only supposed to make nice with the locals. Instead, they're getting shot at—and find themselves firing back. Patrolling in Marja, Afghanistan, one of the hottest battle zones in the country, has brought unexpected challenges for experimental all-female Marine patrol teams. Because even in today's more egalitarian military (ha!), women still are supposed to be kept from combat.

Because skull fragments from a subway blast would make a shitty souvenir, the U.S. government is telling travelers that there's an elevated risk of terrorist attacks in some of Europe's more august capitals. This isn't a full-on warning, officials say. You can still go. But if you do go, and things happens, then everyone also gets to say "I told you so."

PISSING MATCH! Microsoft, which flailed with its crappy Windows-for-phones system, is suing in federal court over patent claims involving Google's Android operating system. The target, in this case, is phone maker Motorola. (The smart geek's explainer is here.) Previously, Apple filed suit against phone maker HTC over Android, and Oracle has sued Google directly.

The wealthy can afford better lawyers than a bunch of poor Panamanian kids. A now-dead American tycoon tried leaving $50 million of his fortune to helping Panama's needy, but his heirs prevailed in court, and now his widow's five rich children from her previous marriage are poised to take the money and run.

Who says the Vatican lacks a conscience? Its official newspaper has slagged Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini Silvio Berlusconi after he was caught on video railing against Jews and a female opposition politician. But his most, um, cardinal sin? He uttered the words "Dio porco," as in, "God's a pig!"—and that's one of the worst possible fucking things you can ever say around a bunch of Italians, apparently. Someone said it on Big Brother once, and it got 'em kicked off.

Much like the glory-day casinos that have given way to Babel-like towers of hubris (also food, dancing and gambling!), Las Vegas itself might be slowly imploding. Its economy hasn't been this bad since 1940s, and there are fears it might not ever return to its pre-recession vigor. Now that home values and savings accounts have dwindled, all those slot coins fed by glazed retirees might be better served buying cat food.

Xe, the company formerly known as Blackwater,
is no longer welcome in Afghanistan. It will join seven other private security firms banned from the country.

And presumably, these fine fellows will be replacing them: