Taichung Mayor Jason Hu yesterday condemned violence after an assault on a female city employee by a knife-wielding ex-boyfriend during office hours.

A suspect killed a high school girl with a cleaver early yesterday morning in central Taichung and then committed suicide, according to police. Police said they are still investigating possible causes for the homicide.

Legislator Chien Chao-tong (簡肇棟) of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced yesterday his resignation as a lawmaker in the face of possible charges of involuntary manslaughter and attempting to run after hitting and killing a pedestrian.

“The International Spotlight Central Region Program” was officially launched on Taichung's Calligraphy Greenway recently. With the theme of “Live it. Taste it. Central Taiwan,” the opening event was co-officiated by Wayne Liu, deputy director-general of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau; Chia-Chi Hsiao, Deputy Mayor of Taichung; and Jessica Huang, Chief Executive Director of the iSee Taiwan Foundation. A variety of programs were featured to highlight the authentic tastes, culture and art of the region, showcasing its Lohas lifestyle for international visitors as well as local residents.

The 2011 My Style Show will open on Sept. 2 and run through Sept. 25 at the Taichung Cultural and Creative Industry Park and the new Taichung City Hall Building to display a spate of domestic and foreign classic design works and show the future lifestyle trend.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced the first domestic case of cholera this year, the subject being a 67-year-old man from Taichung. The man first showed symptoms after eating sashimi at a local seafood restaurant. After examination, he was confirmed to be infected with the toxic bacterium Vibrio cholerae O1-Ogawa.

Police have arrested a coast guard officer after DNA tests identified him as the serial rapist who had terrorized college co-eds in Taichung 14 years ago, officials said yesterday.

The Lishan Hotel (梨山賓館), a popular lodging with rich environmental resources and historical impressions, closed after being damaged by natural disasters, will resume services beginning in July next year, the Tourism Bureau said this week.

Hundreds of saxophonists honked their hornsat a carnival in Taichung Sunday to set a new Guinness world record for simultaneous saxophone playing, in a town famed in the sax fraternity as the center of the world in terms of their beloved instrument.

The 2011 Houli Instruments Carnival is scheduled to open in August in central Taiwan's Taichung City, with over 1,000 saxophone players attempting to break a Guinness world record, the city mayor said yesterday.