Superstar reindeer Blitzen will be taking on a new role this year following his avalanche victory in the recall election at the North Pole.

This summer, the group Voters for the Northern Lights (VNL) successfully gathered enough voter signatures for a recall election of the former mayor of the North Pole, Martin Frost. Martin Frost is the brother of ice expert Jack Frost.

The North Pole mayoral changeover was crazier than the recent election battle which saw Arnold Schwarzenegger elected governor California.

The chilly shakeup happened after the former mayor raised sled taxes on North Pole residents fifty percent. Frost explained, "I had no choice. Everyone expects every tree in town to be lit up for the entire holiday season, but our budget shortfall meant we weren't going to be able to pay the city's electric bills." His controversial plan outraged voters.

"It was bad enough when he was signing backroom deals with the Elves' Guild for toy labor rates," said Ezmeralda Snow, head of the VNL. "Then he pulls this stunt. We vowed to yank him from office faster than pulling a burning marshmallow from the fire, and we meant it!"

The recall opened up the election playing field. It seemed like everyone from the Easter Bunny to the Nutcracker wanted a chance at being mayoruntil Blitzen announced he was running.

The popular movie star made his homecoming to cheering crowds at the North Pole city hall on the day after Thanksgiving.

Upon taking his oath of office, Blitzen said, "I hope I can live up to everyone's expectations. We'll balance the budget and keep the lights on!"

Political pundit Sugar Sprinkle said, "With his movie career, Blitzen made a name for himself separate from Santa's sleigh team, but he has no experience with the political scene at the North Pole. We'll find out soon just how much of a team player he really is."

Surprise from J.R. ClausSpam Scam

Authorities are searching for J.R. Claus, Santa's twin brother who has been getting into trouble with the law for years.

Buffy Summers, the new Chief of Police at the North Pole, explained. "J.R. ventured into a life of crime years ago. He's done everything from robbing newly delivered toys from orphanages to sabotaging holiday displays across the nation. This time he's gone too far, and we're going to hunt him down and bring him to justice."

J.R. Claus has teamed up with spammers to deliver Christmas mail bombs to email users. Cell phone companies are particularly worried about the spike in junk calls to wireless systems because they haven't figured out how to filter the unusual spam messages.

Santa Claus said, "I wish my brother would turn himself in. He's lost the spirit of Christmas. But it'll catch up with him, sooner or later."

Authorities are hot on his trail. Det. Axel Foley insists he's hiding out in the Philippines, but there have been sightings as close to home as Minneapolis and as far away as Afghanistan.

The police have set up a tip line. If you see J.R. Claus, call (800) STOPJR1.

New diets come and go, and this year was no exception with low carbohydrate fads like the Atkins and Southbeach diets. These diets have been blamed for crushed wheat prices and lowered bread sales, while they've been kinder to other industries, spiking beef sales and catapulting low-carb snacks like fried pork rinds into the stratosphere.

The North Pole has not been immune to the latest diet crazes. Just last month guests on the Frosty Night Show were touting their low carb weight loss miracles to host Frosty, and it's rumored that even the big man himself, Santa Claus, tried out the Atkins diet for a month, although the Christmasville representative vehemently denied it.

Like any fad, however, these diets appear to be subsiding in popularity. In an exclusive interview with Lois Lane of the Daily Planet out of Metropolis, the Snow Queen said, "I'm done with these low-carb farces. They only work for a couple weeks. While I was traveling for work, I discovered a better diet." The Snow Queen splits the workload with Jack Frost in bringing wintry weather to the world. "The Southpark diet has changed my life. I never had enough energy when I was eating all that meat, and how many eggs can you really consume in a day?" If true, residents across the East and North East may have to credit her new diet for their latest snow storms, which the Snow Queen managed at twice her usual rate.

The new diet originated in Southpark, Colorado from Dr. Eric Cartman, who has written a new health book, How to Stay Thin the Southpark Way. The key ingredient in the book's recipes: cheesy poofs!

"Don't laugh," said Dr. Cartman. "I know it sounds absurd, but I have authoritative proof that eating cheesy poofs, coupled with regular exercise such as watching television and grocery shopping, can lead to significant weight loss." When confronted with reports that his diet killed Southpark resident Kenny McCormick, he said, "Mr. McCormick did not follow the diet regimen correctly."

Undeterred, North Pole residents are snapping up Dr. Cartman's book, a sure sign that it will top best-seller lists across the nation this holiday season.