Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it

1) MASSIVE BRAWL IN DOWNTOWN LEGHORN
2) VIAREGGIO, THE MAYOR CLOSES MAIN SQUARE
3) MONTEPULCIANO, ATM TORN AWAY WITH EXPLOSIVES
4) SOCCER, THE MIDWEEK SERIE B ROUNDUP
5) THE ADOPTED PUPPY IS NOT A DOG BUT A WILD WOLF
6) THE ESCORT IS REALLY A PIZZAIOLO

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Pick You Up
Author: Wayne John Bradley
License: Creative Commons Attribution
Links: https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/pick-you-up-slow-poprock-style-instrumental-creative-commons

LINKS TO ARTICLES
https://iltirreno.gelocal.it/livorno/cronaca/2021/03/02/news/c-e-una-rissa-tra-bande-di-ragazzi-in-piazza-attias-arriva-la-polizia-1.39974420
https://www.iltelegrafolivorno.it/cronaca/video/rissa-violenza-livorno-1.6084310
https://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/cronaca/21_marzo_02/viareggio-sindaco-chiude-piazza-shelley-ci-va-troppa-gente-1c507e12-7b7c-11eb-a431-957d0ab51442.shtml
https://www.sienanews.it/toscana/acquaviva-di-montepulciano-assalto-al-bancomat-con-esplosivo-crolla-muro-dei-negozi-accanto/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acquaviva-di-montepulciano-assalto-al-bancomat-con-esplosivo-crolla-muro-dei-negozi-accanto
https://www.lanazione.it/pistoia/cronaca/la-storia-di-rufus-cucciolo-di-lupo-adottato-da-una-famiglia-che-credeva-fosse-un-cane-1.6083450
https://www.lanazione.it/viareggio/cronaca/avvocato-detective-1.6080165

SCRIPT
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you may be, however you might be listening, welcome to another episode of What’s Up Tuscany, the daily podcast from L’Arno where you will find the most interesting news of today, Wednesday March 3rd 2021, as selected by our journalists. As usual, if you like what we do please subscribe, share this podcast on social media and let us know what you think of it on the Arno Facebook page and on Twitter.

Let’s start today with yet another episode of social unrest that startled people in downtown Leghorn Tuesday evening. As we read on Il Tirreno, around 7 PM in Attias Square people saw a massive fight between groups of youngsters. The footage of a video published by Il Telegrafo shows a no-holds-barred brawl between several young people, who also threw stones at each other, surrounded by the screams of many supporters. All happened in a few minutes and when the police cars showed up the situation was more or less back to normal. People living there were rather shaken nonetheless. Many remember when, last october, Carabinieri were assaulted while conducting routine anti-COVID checks. According to the first reports, the massive brawl started when two youngsters attacked each other, prompting the reaction of their friends. No consequences have been reported so far but this again shows how many of us, especially young people, are one heartbeat away from a mental breakdown.

Let’s remain on a similar topic with a story we read Tuesday evening on the Corriere Fiorentino. In Viareggio, the mayor has decided that, from this morning, a square downtown will be closed to the public, in order to avoid people gathering there. In a video published on the official social media accounts, mayor Giorgio del Ghingaro announced that from today Shelley Square will be blocked to anyone that doesn’t live or have a shop there. Despite the action of the municipal police, too many people gathered there. If the situation shouldn’t improve, the mayor could close other areas of the city, especially during the weekend. A while ago the mayor protested when too many people were walking on the promenade, back when Tuscany was in yellow. More recently he spoke against young people coming from other towns to enjoy the winter sea. After the mayor of Quarrata removed benches from the main square, now we have the mayor of a major tourist destination that fights against people that could help local bars and restaurants to avoid bankruptcy. Don’t know about you, I’m quite speechless...

Let’s move now to a story we read this morning on Siena News, an assault against an ATM in Montepulciano that startled citizens overnight. At 3 AM a Carabinieri patrol got in front of the local Monte dei Paschi branch only to find a bunch of rubble where the ATM machine used to be. A large explosion had dislodged the ATM from the wall, severely damaging a hairdresser shop nearby and throwing debris more than 100 meters away. It’s not the first time events like this happen in the area, usually in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. It is definitely the work of a professional: moving an entire ATM by hand is no easy feat. So, while in Leghorn people are trying to blow parking meters for change, in Montepulciano people steal entire ATM machines. We’ll let you know should the police manage to stop these criminals or not.

As soccer has a midweek matchday, here is a quick recap of the results of Tuscan clubs in Serie B. Leaders Empoli won three nil away at Reggio Calabria: now they have 49 points, plus five from Venezia and plus four from Monza, who drew away at Frosinone. Great result for Pisa Sporting Club in Ascoli, where the Nerazzurri won two nil thanks to the goals of Mastinu and Marconi. Pisa is now only two points away from the playoffs.

Let’s move now to a curious story we read on La Nazione, that of a very peculiar animal adoption. After finding a puppy injured after being run over by a car, a family in Pistoia decided to adopt him and pay for the surgeries he needed to get back to health. Rufus, despite having an unusually dark coat, was not a dog but a wild wolf. As he grew, the family realized that his behaviour wasn’t that of a dog and was forced to call the wildlife authorities. After being sedated, the young wolf has been moved to a wildlife refuge in Modena. If the injuries he sustained will prevent him from being released in the wild, Rufus will share a large forested area with several other rescued wolves. Not exactly the same, but definitely better than a small flat.

Let’s close today’s episode with an incredible news that we read on the Viareggio edition of La Nazione, a sexy con that was thwarted by a local Perry Mason. After posting on a local announce board, a fifty year old man was contacted by a young lady from Forte dei Marmi. She said she was available to have a casual relationship. The couple exchanged several encouraging pictures, then the request for money. 350 Euros for a house visit, 150 Euros down payment required. The man thinks there’s nothing strange and brags about it with his lawyer, who is immediately suspicious. A quick check and he realizes that the photos were stolen from the profiles of several escorts. When he asks the bombshell for her fiscal code, the woman blocks him and disappears into thin air. Behind the online profile was not a curvaceous young lady but a pizzaiolo from Liguria that had come up with this trick to make some money from overly optimistic middle aged men. Remember, people, nothing is as it seems on the Internet.

That was all for today, I’m your host Luca Bocci and I’ll see you tomorrow for another episode of What’s Up Tuscany, the daily podcast from L’Arno where you will find the news that, according to us, are well worth a second look. Thanks for listening and goodbye.