National news capsules

Man charged with impersonating mom

NEW YORK (AP) — Irene Prusik has been dead for six years. But in April, someone showed up at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Brooklyn to renew her driver's license.

The explanation given by prosecutors rivals the Hitchcock classic "Psycho": It was her son, in drag.

Thomas Parkin, 49, was charged Wednesday in the bizarre plot to impersonate his deceased mother so he could collect $117,000 in government benefits. He and the man accused of being his accomplice, Mhilton Rimolo, pleaded not guilty to grand larceny, criminal impersonation and other charges.

Both men were ordered held on $1 million bail.

Parkin, who lived with his mother, was accused of hatching the scheme after she passed away in 2003 at age 73. He concealed the death by falsifying her death certificate, then collected $52,000 from her $700-a-month Social Security checks during the next six years, prosecutors said.

Authorities say Parkin also got another $65,000 in rent subsidies by falsely claiming he had a disability and that his mother was still alive and was his landlord.

Minnesota teen is 2 millionth Eagle Scout

MINNEAPOLIS (MCT) — Eagle Scout Anthony Thomas already knows what it means to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful and kind. He is about to find out what it's like to travel the country like a rock star.

With the distinction of becoming the 2 millionth Eagle Scout in the nearly 100-year history of the Boy Scouts of America comes the chance to wave to the crowd from a float in the Rose Bowl Parade, ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and chat up the president of the United States.

Such will be life for Thomas, 16, of Lakeville, Minn., during the next 14 months as he travels the country serving as a youth ambassador for the Scouts.

"It's an opportunity to show boys what a great experience scouting is and how fun it is," Thomas said. "And all the things you get to do in scouting that you couldn't do if you weren't in it."

The Boy Scouts, which honored the 1 millionth Eagle Scout in 1982, made the announcement Wednesday at Fort Snelling, Minn.

Death of Farrow's brother ruled suicide

CASTLETON, Vt. (AP) — Mia Farrow's brother, a sculptor and local fixture in Castletown, killed himself at his art gallery, state police and a spokeswoman for the actress said Wednesday.