Norman Simmonds was making six figures in the investment banking world. Now, as the owner of a new PostNet franchise in Pelham Manor, he expects it to take up to two years to recoup his investment and make the business profitable.

But for Simmonds, a 39-year-old father of three in Norwalk, Conn., the change is already starting to pay off.

"The goal was having more control over my time," he said. "The investment-banking world often has 12-, 14-, 18-hour days."

As a senior compliance officer for Citigroup Asset Management in Stamford, Conn., he would often work from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Now, he has a little more time for his family. Ultimately, he would like to top the $100,000-plus salary he earned in banking while hiring more staff to cut back his hours and gain flexibility.  more >>

While reports of Greek organizations restricting membership have made national headlines, some members of the VCU Greek community say they don't mind reinforcing stereotypes.

Robert Dunn, a 20-year-old marketing major, is the president of the Eta Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Dunn said his organization has an image to maintain.

"I think the image depends on the person looking in," Dunn said. "We're known as the pretty boys. We're always dressed nice, with the clean haircut."

Cara Jenkins, Greek life coordinator, said while fraternities and sororities might not be as popular at VCU as they are at other universities, there are organizations present on campus that represent the Greek lifestyle.   more >>

With his cheeks puffed out and his mouth full, Sheffield Marcus tried his hardest not to laugh, which would force him to either spit or swallow his mouthful of water.

Unable to control his laughter, the audience of over 100 students cheered "he swallowed it!"

Marcus (sophomore-medicine), chapter historian of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, was on the greek team in Penn State's version of Wild 'N Out late last night at Redifer Commons.

Wild 'N Out was part of Ebony and Ivory Week, a week-long celebration of diversity aimed at unifying all four greek councils.  more >>

Same place, same crime, same m.o., same week, and maybe the same guy.

"I'm still a bit shook up," Essence Payne says about being carjacked by a man at the Valero station at Bert Kouns and Baird Wednesday night. That's the same place where a man says he was carjacked two nights before, and gave police the same description: a young white man with a knife.

Payne says she'd just pulled up to buy some milk, and noticed a man sitting out back of the store. It was enough to make her lock up her car. But she never dreamed what would happen next. 

"He came toward me and I pushed him away from me," she said. "That's when he pulled a knife on me.

"I started running and he started chasing me. He just started screaming, 'Drop your keys, just drop your keys, drop your keys!' And I dropped everything. I dropped my purse, my keys, everything. I came out of my shoes."  more >>

San Jose real estate appraiser Jason Glover was a free man Friday nearly three days after he was falsely arrested on the way to work in a case of coast-to-coast mistaken identity by the U.S. Marshal's Service.

A spokesman at the Santa Clara County Jail confirmed that the 31-year-old was released from the facility at 11 p.m. Thursday. But his release did not erase three frightening days spent behind bars.

"I'm just glad it's over," his mother -- Mary Millender -- told KTVU. "He's such a good kid, such a good kid. He's never been in trouble ever. It's not right. It's just not right." Glover, was taken into custody on Tuesday while on his way to work. U.S. Marshals Service said he had been arrested for a lengthy indictment -- 39 criminal counts, including sexual assault and false imprisonment charges --- out of Prince George's County, Md. Malik Miles, Glover's roommate, described the arrest for KTVU.   more >>