I'm pleased to report a couple bits on the lighter side of today's news stream.

The Associated Press reports a New Hampshire postal worker has adopted a two-pound, 8-week-old kitten found dropped into a public mailbox in Boston.

The fall from the mailbox's small opening onto dozens of envelopes and packages below was several feet, the story said. A USPS letter carrier found "Postina" earlier this month. Now her home will be with George Knapp, a postal employee, and Dani-Jean Stuart, who directed a TV news segment about the kitten.

Animal abandonment in Massachusetts is punishable by up to a $2,500 fine and 5 years in prison, but at least there's a happy ending here.

Also, falling more into the "farm animal" category, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland released a statement today supporting a comprehensive animal care amendment for the November ballot. Did you know this was a possibility?

The amendment would create a 13-member Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board that would determine and enforce guidelines for the care and well-being of Ohio's livestock and poultry - an effort to protect food safety and locally produced food for Ohioans, but hopefully resulting in more healthy conditions for the animals, as well.

"This effort will help further the mission of Ohio farmers to provide high-quality, locally grown food," Strickland said. "The Board will ensure that Ohioans continue to have access to a safe and affordable local food supply and will make our state a national leader in the level of animal care and responsibility."

The proposed amendment is supported jointly by Strickland, House Speaker Armond Budish, Senate President Bill Harris, House Minority Leader Bill Batchelder, and Senate Minority Leader Capri Carafo. More power to 'em.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com