Editor’s note: There’s lots of news today, but the notion of news isn’t really new. Here’s an actual news story that was written about a century ago.

Drought Closes Jails

Four Massachusetts Towns Find Lock-Ups Unnecessary

Boston, Jan. 17. — (By A.P.) — The jail population of Massachusetts has diminished so rapidly over the last few months that county jails at Lowell, Taunton, Newburyport and Fitchburg have been ordered closed.

Twenty-five county institutions which have accommodations for 6400 persons housed a daily average of only 2500 during the last month. In addition to prohibition, another reason assigned is high wages.

Three Boston men who drank wood alcohol mixtures at John Barleycorn obsequies last night were in hospitals today.

Source: Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1920