WTVM - Strange News

Police arrest man who scaled San Francisco tower

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 01:10:00 EDT

San Francisco police arrested a man who scaled the exterior of a 58-story downtown skyscraper Monday and unfurled an American flag at the top.

Nevada candidate touts speedy fix to budget crisis

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 23:10:00 EDT

One Nevada gubernatorial hopeful sees a speedy fix to Nevada's budget crisis.

Philly cyclists bare all to promote cleaner air

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 23:10:00 EDT

Hundreds of naked and partially nude cyclists have pedaled their way through Philadelphia to promote bicycling awareness and cleaner air.

NM Goodwill collection box turns up inert grenade

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 13:10:00 EDT

Just in case it wasn't clear: Weapons and drugs don't make good charitable donations.

Plumbers help Tenn. newlyweds find flushed rings

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 13:10:00 EDT

Diane Buckalew said she felt sick when she woke up and realized two rings she'd left on the bathroom counter the night before were gone. She and husband Carl, married in Las Vegas a month ago, realized Thursday their cat...

Wyo. troopers examine human ashes in traffic stop

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 13:10:00 EDT

The powdery substance that Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers found in a zip-close bag during a recent traffic stop didn't turn out to be drugs after all. Sgt. Stephen Townsend of the patrol said then when troopers pulled...

Montana teen accidentally texts sheriff to buy pot

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:50:00 EDT

General rule of thumb: when looking to buy marijuana, don't text the sheriff. Authorities said a Helena teen hit a wrong number and inadvertently sent a message to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, saying "Hey...

Indonesia's smoking toddler kicks the habit

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:50:00 EDT

Indonesia's smoking toddler has kicked the habit.

Mich. man gathering corn confronted by alligator

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:50:00 EDT

A man gathering sweet corn in southern Michigan is the latest to have an unexpected encounter with an alligator. The animals have been showing up far north of their traditional habitats this summer. Jeff Adamski of Burr Oak...

Police: Pa. woman zaps self, brother with stun gun

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:50:00 EDT

Police said an Erie-area woman somehow managed to zap both herself and her brother with a stun gun during a drunken dispute. Darlene Newara, 45, will have a hearing Oct. 18 on charges including driving under the influence,...

Goats rescued after 2 days on 6-inch ledge in Mont

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:50:00 EDT

Two young goats wandered onto the thin ledge of a railroad bridge and spent nearly two days high above the ground until rescuers in a towering cherry picker plucked them from their perch, hungry but safe.

Malaysian snake smuggler sentenced to 6 months

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 06:30:00 EDT

A Malaysian court sentenced a notorious wildlife trader to six months in prison Monday after he was caught smuggling 95 live boa constrictors in his luggage at the country's main airport.

95 snakes found in burst bag at Malaysia airport

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 05:09:00 EDT

A Malaysian man pleaded guilty to wildlife smuggling after his bag bursting with 95 live boa constrictors broke open on a luggage conveyer belt at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, an official said Friday.

Drake University's 'D+' logo earns failing grade

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 15:29:00 EDT

A "D+" campaign logo aimed at encouraging recruitment at Drake University is getting a failing grade from some faculty, students and alumni.

For 2nd time, Ohio woman gives birth in vehicle

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 14:49:00 EDT

For a second time, an Ohio woman has given birth to a baby who couldn't wait and arrived on the drive to the hospital.

For 2nd time, Ohio woman gives birth in vehicle

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 13:49:00 EDT

For a second time, an Ohio woman has given birth to a baby who couldn't wait and arrived on the drive to the hospital.

Homeless man calls 911 from hot tub, seeks cocoa

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 13:49:00 EDT

A homeless man who called 911 from the hot tub of a suburban Portland home and asked for towels, hot chocolate and a hug got arrested for trespassing instead.

Police say man leads hour-long chase in dump truck

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 08:49:00 EDT

Police said a 37-year-old man driving a dump truck led them on an hour-long chase over roads, rails and yards in the Syracuse area that ended with the suspect being shot. The Onondaga County Sheriff said Stanley Lostumbo...

Conn. driver falls from car on I-95, Dodge goes on

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 08:49:00 EDT

Connecticut State Police say a man fell out of his car onto Interstate 95 and watched his vehicle drive on for about two-tenths of a mile before it crashed into a pole. Troopers said they're not sure why 51-year-old...

Homeless man calls 911 from hot tub, seeks cocoa

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 08:49:00 EDT

A homeless man who called 911 from the hot tub of a suburban Portland home and asked for towels, hot chocolate and a hug got arrested for trespassing instead.

Cell phone left in Ala. burglary leads to arrest

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:09:00 EDT

Police investigating a home burglary in Russellville found a surprising clue - a cell phone that got left behind. Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the phone was left near where a computer was taken in the...

Insurance company: Flowers started Ark. house fire

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:09:00 EDT

A fire that did $20,000 in damages to a northeast Arkansas home wasn't caused by an electrical problem or burning food or arson, an insurance investigator concluded.

Busted pot growers mistake wardens for suppliers

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:09:00 EDT

California wildlife officials say two men are in custody after a group of marijuana growers started to toss bags full of pot into a pickup truck belonging to game wardens they mistook for their suppliers.

Frankenstein cited over monstrous behavior in Ohio

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:09:00 EDT

Ohio police say a Toby Keith fan named Forrest Frankenstein threatened them and beat his head against a partition in their cruiser after his arrest.

Men lucky to be alive after driving under semi

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:29:00 EDT

A South Dakota sheriff said two Minnesota men are lucky to be alive after they drove underneath a stalled semi truck towing a flatbed. Potter County Sheriff Alan McClain said he's amazed the men were not decapitated.

Hiker accidentally shoots himself in the rear

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 09:29:00 EDT

A hiker on Blewett Pass shot himself in the butt when he put a handgun in his back pocket. The Chelan County sheriff's office said the 52-year-old Snohomish man had moved his .40-caliber handgun from its holster to his...

Golfer's swing snags rock, sparks fire in S. Calif

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 07:29:00 EDT

Forget "Fore!"

Mo. man nabs roaming goat with Facebook following

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:09:00 EDT

A wandering Missouri goat whose exploits have been chronicled on a popular Facebook page has been captured. KXEO reported that a man named Mervin Beechy noticed the goat Tuesday afternoon while he was driving around the...

Cops: 6 arrested after gunfire at baptism party

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:29:00 EDT

Police said a baptism party where some uninvited guests arrived turned into a brawl that resulted in gunfire. Police were dispatched to the Progressive Men's Club at 2 a.m. Saturday after a caller reported gunfire....

69-year-old Ala. woman shoots 18-year-old intruder

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:29:00 EDT

A pistol-packing 69-year-old woman in northern Alabama believes intruders will think twice before messing with her again. Police said Ethel Jones shot an 18-year-old man in the stomach when she found him inside her bedroom...

Police: Would-be burglar gets stuck in grease vent

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:29:00 EDT

A would-be burglar who tried to break into a South Carolina restaurant found himself in a tight and a greasy situation. The Post and Courier of Charleston reported a man tried to break into a North Charleston restaurant by...

Cell phone victim helps deputies recover property

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 07:29:00 EDT

A man who bought a cell phone online, only to find it was the same one that was stolen from his car, tipped off California sheriff's deputies, who arrested a man they believe broke into dozens of vehices.

Pa. officer shoots coyote headed for colleague

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:49:00 EDT

A western Pennsylvania police officer said he was saved from a coyote attack when a fellow officer shot the animal as it was about to attack. Aliquippa Sgt. Douglas Edgell said he stopped a speeder just before 10 p.m. Friday...

Facebook post gets Detroit-area juror in hot water

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:49:00 EDT

A judge removed a juror from a trial in suburban Detroit after the young woman wrote on Facebook that the defendant was guilty. The problem? The trial wasn't over.

Mileage jump has couple wondering where car's been

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EDT

A couple who left their car parked in a long-term lot near Kennedy Airport during a trip to California were trying to figure out what their car has been doing without them. Mimi and Ulrich Gunthart said their car odometer...

Kangaroo testicle? Chefs in Serbia say, 'Yes!'

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:49:00 EDT

In a remote Serbian mountain village, they're cooking up delicacies to make your mouth water - or your stomach churn.

Man nabbed with fake $1 million bills in Abu Dhabi

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:49:00 EDT

Can you break a $1 million?

Yard sale patron allegedly hits man with pan

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:49:00 EDT

A 70-year-old yard sale shopper is facing charges after things apparently got a bit out of hand at a yard sale. Tuolumne County authorities said Jon Joslin was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he...

Officer, that's not me! Mistaken ID jails pastor

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:49:00 EDT

A series of unfortunate coincidences led to a case of mistaken identity that put a Louisiana minister behind bars for nearly eight hours. Gregory Jones, pastor at Eden Worship Center, was pulled over for speeding and...

Alleged 'Brownie Bandit' nabbed with bag of treats

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:29:00 EDT

Police arrested the suspected 'Brownie Bandit,' a man accused of repeatedly breaking into a bakery, stealing freshly baked brownies and leaving behind crumbs and broken windows. Gonzales police said Jamon J....

Wandering goat in Missouri gets Facebook fan page

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:29:00 EDT

A goat that has been wandering around the eastern Missouri town of Mexico has gained enough attention to have his own Facebook page. But animal control officers are not amused. KXEO reported that the goat was first seen by a...

Cops: Neighbor demands $150 to return missing dog

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:29:00 EDT

Flint police said a city resident has taken "finders, keepers" to a whole new level, by taking in a missing dog that belonged to a neighbor couple and demanding $150 for its return. When the wife learned Thursday the...

Cops nab man after finding cocaine in bologna

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:29:00 EDT

A Massachusetts man was arrested after a kilogram of cocaine hidden inside a hollowed-out chunk of bologna was delivered to his home. Holyoke police said they were tipped off by postal inspectors in Puerto Rico who had been...

Venezuela pol raffles breast implants for campaign

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:29:00 EDT

A Venezuelan politician is holding an unusual raffle to raise campaign cash. The grand prize: breast implants.

Baby tiger found stuffed in bag at Thai airport

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:09:00 EDT

Authorities at Bangkok's international airport found a baby tiger cub that had been drugged and hidden alongside a stuffed toy tiger in the suitcase of a woman flying from Thailand to Iran, an official and a wildlife...

Report of man with snake slows Boston train line

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:49:00 EDT

Snake on a train? Transit officials in Boston aren't taking any chances.

Police: Sneezing fit caused NY woman to crash car

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:48:00 EDT

Police in New York say a woman had a sneezing fit that caused her to drive off a road, crash into several trees and plow through a fence. Authorities said 62-year-old Mary Jane Amelio was driving Thursday morning in New...

33,000-penny property tax payment refused

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 08:28:00 EDT

A businessman who tried to pay a property tax bill with 33,000 pennies got turned down by a county treasurer in Washington state, who said she didn't have the staff to count them.

Meth defendant accused of going to court with meth

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:49:00 EDT

A Washington state man who went to court to face a methamphetamine charge is in more trouble after authorities say he showed up with a bag of meth in his pants.

Snake in electrical box causes NY hospital outage

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:48:00 EDT

A snake slithered into a switch box outside a New York hospital, where it met its maker and caused a 10-hour power outage. Officials at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie say backup generators kicked on Tuesday...

Torpedo found at Philadelphia construction site

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:08:00 EDT

A police bomb squad had to be called to a Philadelphia construction site after someone found an old, inert torpedo.

Feds fine Oregon company $30K over 3-letter word

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:29:00 EDT

A three-letter word may cost one of the nation's oldest air ambulance operators a $30,000 fine.

Ohio police chopper camera falls off, smashes cars

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:28:00 EDT

A camera mounted to a police helicopter in Ohio fell off mid-flight, striking at least three vehicles in a parking lot.

Mass. police: Shark sighting a practical joke

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:28:00 EDT

A practical joker in Massachusetts has taken advantage of recent shark sightings and caused a scare with a fake fin.

Man shot in head felt bullet only 4 years later

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:28:00 EDT

A 35-year-old man who walked around for five years with a bullet lodged in the back of his head says he suspected for a while something was there but only went to doctors after he started getting headaches.

Snake in electrical box causes NY hospital outage

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:28:00 EDT

A snake slithered into a switch box outside a New York hospital, where it met its maker and caused a 10-hour power outage.

2 arrested in Oregon at 'Shop With a Cop' day

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:28:00 EDT

Two men arrested in Oregon for shoplifting during a "Shop With a Cop" event for school children initially thought it was a bad time for stealing - with more than 60 uniformed officers on scene.

Settlement in suit alleging condom found in soup

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:28:00 EDT

A California man who says he ordered French onion soup and bit into a condom instead of melted cheese has settled his lawsuit against the Claim Jumper restaurant chain.

Tongue twist: NJ race call is merry, marital mess

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:08:00 EDT

A pair of dueling horses left an announcer at a New Jersey racetrack sounding more like a confused husband.

Colorado's once-missing moon rock to be unveiled

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:28:00 EDT

Colorado's once missing moon rock is about to go on public display.

Ohio office hides elephant, donkey after complaint

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:28:00 EDT

The elephant and the donkey are going into hiding at an Ohio voting board.

Sex video identifies suspects in break-in

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:08:00 EDT

It wasn't tough to identify the suspects in a break-in at a rural home at Washington state. The bare facts were right there.

Pa. woman blames gin-soaked raisins for violation

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:08:00 EDT

A Pennsylvania woman says she wasn't raising a glass, just raisins. Fifty-nine-year-old Judy Russo is accused of violating her probation by drinking and blames gin-soaked raisins she used to treat her arthritis.

'Robbery drill' creates real trauma for Fla. pair

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:47:00 EDT

A 72-year-old Florida woman was accidentally shot by her husband during a "robbery drill" the couple staged to practice how they'd respond to an intruder. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said Arnold and Patricia...

Gotcha! Vacationing family's photo captures thief

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:47:00 EDT

The camera of a vacationing New Jersey family who posed for a picture in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol captured more than smiles. It also caught a thief in the act.

Reptile experts get stray 'gator in Chicago River

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:07:00 EDT

The next time you feel like dipping your toes in the Chicago River - beware.

Maine family finds fake bomb in their new home

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:47:00 EDT

Police in Millinocket, Maine, are puzzled as to why the town's late police chief had a realistic looking fake bomb in his home. The device was found by the new owners of the home, which had remained empty for several...

Sheboygan woman, 79, kills snake with ice chopper

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:47:00 EDT

A 79-year-old Sheboygan woman who couldn't find any help when a rattlesnake showed up on her patio said it was no big deal taking matters into her own hands. Margaret Street said she used an ice chopper to kill the snake...

Police: Arm-wrestling loss sets off Fla. man

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:47:00 EDT

Police in South Florida say a 25-year-old man went into a violent rage after losing an arm-wrestling match.

Man shot in head, but notices only 5 years later

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:47:00 EDT

Police say a man living in Germany was shot in the back of his head, but that it took him five years to realize it.

Oregon boy takes family pickup on 100-mile joyride

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:27:00 EDT

A 12-year-old Oregon boy had permission to drive the family pickup truck to the end of the driveway to unload trash, but he kept going until he was stopped nearly 100 miles away in Lewis County, Wash.

Police: Pa. woman gave son, 6, to stranger on bus

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:07:00 EDT

A Pittsburgh woman faces charges after she allegedly left her 6-year-old son with a stranger on board a bus while she was being arrested on a shoplifting charge. Police said Portia Scoggins had two children with her Friday...

Authorities: Grandfather accused of smuggling pot

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:27:00 EDT

An 85-year-old Ohio man was arrested for trying to smuggle pot to his grandson in prison, authorities said. Prison records show Richard Heritz was arrested at the Warren Correction Institution in southwestern Ohio earlier...

Bill would give OK to 'Ne-VAH-da' pronunciation

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:27:00 EDT

The misuse of one little vowel frustrates a lot of Nevadans who get irritated by the mispronunciation of the state's name - using an "ah" instead of "a."

Iowa woman arrested for letting 12-year-old drive

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:27:00 EDT

Authorities say a woman has been charged for allegedly letting a 12-year-old child drive her and her family from Nichols to Iowa City. Twenty-one-year-old Melissa Garcia was charged with three counts of child endangerment...

3-foot alligator found crossing Mass. street

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:27:00 EDT

A three-foot alligator, sporting a collar around its neck, has been found aimlessly strolling a Massachusetts city. Firefighter Scott Hurst spotted the out-of-place tan reptile Sunday as it quietly crossed a street in...

Pig wrestling canceled after porkers elude capture

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:07:00 EDT

A pig wrestling competition at a county fair in northern Montana has been canceled after the porkers eluded fair officials trying to round them up for the event.

Moving sale planned at 'Amityville Horror' house

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:27:00 EDT

The owner of the New York house made famous in the 1979 film "The Amityville Horror" is holding a moving sale.

Baboon on the loose? Girl starts false frenzy

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:27:00 EDT

Police in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant spent a big part of the day looking for a baboon on the loose. A grade school went into lockdown. A woman scattered potato chips on the ground and made monkey sounds to try and...

Police: Pa. man admitted dropped heroin was his

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:47:00 EDT

A southeastern Pennsylvania man faces drug charges after police said he admitted the heroin discovered on the floor of a bank belonged to him. East Pikeland Township police said 25-year-old Justin Carbone, of Phoenixville,...

NV judge orders drug offender write report on pot

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:47:00 EDT

A Nevada judge has an unusual sentence for a 25-year-old Sacramento man who sold marijuana to a police informant in a casino parking lot at Lake Tahoe.

Doh! Upstate NY bank robber forgets to put on mask

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:47:00 EDT

Note to would-be bank robbers: when robbing a bank, be sure to put on your mask. Police said a robbery suspect had a dust mask around his neck but didn't pull it over his face when he walked into an HSBC branch Wednesday...

Dad buys newspaper ad after daughter breaks curfew

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:47:00 EDT

A Texas teenager who broke curfew is headed for a reluctant adventure in baby-sitting.

Driver fined $100 in Va. for having goat in trunk

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:27:00 EDT

A driver has been convicted of animal cruelty and fined $100 after Virginia authorities found a goat stuffed in the trunk of her car.

Crocodile tips Australian PM to win elections

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:06:00 EDT

A crocodile that picked the winner of the soccer World Cup has predicted Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be re-elected.

Wis. GOP candidate wins beer stein contest

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 11:26:00 EDT

If he doesn't win the Wisconsin governor's race, Republican candidate Mark Neumann may have a future in holding beer steins.

Meeting fails to end Ohio church-strip club feud

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:26:00 EDT

The leader of an Ohio church feuding with a nearby strip club says a meeting failed to bring a truce.

Police: DWI suspect drives 11 miles without tire

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:46:00 EDT

Authorities said a western New York man whose license expired 33 years ago has been charged with driving while intoxicated after police said he drove a van 11 miles without one of its tires. The Genesee County Sheriff's...

Thieves in Mexico end up with, literally, peanuts

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:46:00 EDT

A bold truck-jacking in Mexico has yielded thieves ... peanuts.

Wis. man cited for harassing woman at express lane

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:46:00 EDT

A man who berated a woman who had more than 10 items in the express lane of a Saukville grocery store has been given a disorderly conduct citation. The Port Washington woman said she asked the express lane clerk if she could...

Ky. family claims they found dead mouse in milk

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:26:00 EDT

A Kentucky family has sued Wal-Mart, saying they found a dead mouse in a milk container the family had been drinking from for three days. The Courier-Journal reported that Robert and Rosalind Grant and their 23-month-old...

Police call 'Ma' on dropped cell phone, ID suspect

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:26:00 EDT

Thanks a lot, Mom. Police seeking a man accused of breaking into an elementary school said they identified the suspect by calling "Ma" from the contact list of a cell phone he dropped as he fled.

Police: Man lived in NJ library for nearly 2 weeks

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:26:00 EDT

Police said a homeless man lived unnoticed in the basement of a New Jersey library for nearly two weeks. Police said a custodian saw Charles Jones Jr. peeking out a basement window of the Ocean Township library in Monmouth...

Banana-costumed man has little appeal

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:26:00 EDT

A man in a banana costume is accused of exposing himself and brandishing a shotgun while riding around with a bunch of friends in Washington state.

NYC bank jobs suspect: Flowers deflected suspicion

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:45:00 EDT

The city's so-called Bouquet Bandit told police he used plants as props to deflect suspicion in a series of bank robberies spurred by drinking and drug use, newly released documents show.

Police warn man against undressing while driving

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:05:00 EDT

A driver who tried to change his sweaty clothes while driving through a Milwaukee suburb was stopped by police but let off with a warning. Police said that when they pulled the 54-year-old over in Brookfield Aug. 13, he...

Drink, then drive? Whisky fuel could power cars

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:05:00 EDT

How about a whisky to go? Scientists said they have developed biofuel for cars from waste produced in distilling Scotch whisky. Researchers at Edinburgh Napier University produced a type of fuel called butanol using "pot...

Police: Man makes shrimp pizza, trashes restaurant

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:45:00 EDT

Police in a North Carolina city arrested a man for breaking into a restaurant, but not before the suspect filled his belly. Multiple media outlets reported that 22-year-old Bradley Michael was charged him with breaking and...

Police call 'Ma' to identify burglary suspect

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:25:00 EDT

Athens authorities looking for a man accused of breaking into an elementary school said they found him when they used his left behind cell phone to call his mother. Authorities responded to a burglar alarm at Howard B....

Pa. fan turns Paul McCartney autograph into tattoo

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:25:00 EDT

Call it a signature in very permanent ink.

Mother and son charged in theft of video games

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:05:00 EDT

Police in Salem, N.H., have charged a mother-and-son team with the theft of more than $1,600 worth of video games from a Best Buy store. Police said 64-year-old Luise LaQuerre and her 20-year-old son, Christopher...

Fla. mom arrested after pic of baby with bong

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:14:00 EDT

A central Florida mom who thought it would be funny to post a picture of her baby with a bong on her Facebook page has been arrested.

Mail collection box stolen in north Phoenix

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:54:00 EDT

Maybe the check REALLY was in the mail.

FBI: Suspect in Ohio bank robbery was customer

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:14:00 EDT

The FBI says a man arrested in an Ohio bank robbery looked familiar to bank employees. Turns out, he had an account there and was one of their customers. Agent Harry Trombitas said 43-year-old Alan Garrett turned himself in...

Pa. man, 78, rides roller coaster 90 times in day

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:14:00 EDT

A 78-year-old man rode a Pittsburgh-area roller coaster 90 times in one day - bringing his lifetime total to 4,000 rides. Vic Kleman spent about five hours on the Jack Rabbit roller coaster at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin.

Authorities: Mass. man fakes death to avoid trial

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 08:14:00 EDT

Massachusetts authorities are searching for a man they say faked his death to beat charges of driving without a license. The Gloucester Times reported that 42-year-old Michael Rosen of Salem sent a man to court last week to...

Zebras corraled after wandering Calif. streets

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:14:00 EDT

Two zebras are safe after a wild five-hour romp through the streets of a Northern California suburb over the weekend. The zebras were being loaded onto a truck Saturday evening in Carmichael, east of Sacramento, when they...

Court says California mall's chat policy illegal

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:14:00 EDT

A Northern California appeals court has struck down a shopping mall's policy barring people from approaching strangers to chitchat.

Plastic jar removed from Fla. bear cub's head

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:54:00 EDT

A black bear cub in Florida affectionately known as "jarhead" can finally enjoy a good meal.

Police nab man in church roof after burglaries

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:34:00 EDT

Atlanta police have arrested a man found in a crawl space on a church roof after a series of burglaries at the building. Pastor Robert Reed of Pleasant Word Christian Center says the arrest was made Sunday night. Reed said...

Power cutoff leaves salon customer bald on top

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:34:00 EDT

A beauty salon owner in in north Mississippi blamed an unexpected power cutoff for a customer's partial baldness. Tessa Mingo, owner of People's Choice Hair Salon in Bruce, told WTVA television that she paid her...

NY man finds prayer balloon sent from Pittsburgh

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:34:00 EDT

An upstate New York man says his family has been praying for a Pittsburgh boy after finding a note attached to a balloon that says the child needs a new heart.

Ala. man gets lost school ring back after 14 years

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:34:00 EDT

Thanks to his mail carrier, an Alabama man has his class ring back - 14 years after he lost it.

NC man sent to jail after laughing in courtroom

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:34:00 EDT

Court is no laughing matter as far as one North Carolina judge is concerned. A Fayetteville man who was waiting for his case to be heard Friday drew the ire of Judge Toni King after starting to laugh in a Cumberland County...

100-year-old Scotch pulled from frozen crate

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:14:00 EDT

A crate of Scotch whisky that was trapped in Antarctic ice for a century was finally opened Friday - but the heritage dram won't be tasted by whisky lovers because it's being preserved for its historical significance.

Dog chows down on SC man's school board petition

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:14:00 EDT

The dog really did eat the homework, or, in this case, the petition a South Carolina man was going to file to run for school board. The Beaufort Gazette reported Friday that Terry Thomas of Ladys Island had a petition with...

Police say W. Pa. couple robbed would-be 'John'

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:14:00 EDT

A Johnstown couple were jailed on charges they robbed a man who paid the woman $130 for sex after meeting her through an Internet chat service. Police said the alleged victim was at a residence Tuesday with 36-year-old...

P.U.! Wash. utility adds rotten egg smell to bills

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:34:00 EDT

Paying bills usually stinks, but gas bills from a utility in Washington state will include something truly odorous this month: the stench of rotten eggs.

Fla. pastor spends 3 days 50 feet in the air

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:34:00 EDT

A South Florida pastor who spent nearly three days living on a mechanical lift 50 feet in the air has come down from his lofty perch.

NYC executive gives panhandler a lot of credit

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:34:00 EDT

A New York City ad executive says she never doubted a homeless man would return the credit card she loaned him in lieu of change.

Police: Bandage-wrapped man robs Pa. pharmacy

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:34:00 EDT

A man was jailed on charges he robbed a southwestern Pennsylvania supermarket pharmacy while his face was wrapped in medical bandages and a surgical mask. State police said 52-year-old Edward Singer entered the Giant Eagle...

Dog chows down on SC man's school board petition

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:54:00 EDT

3 Fla. kids buy plane tickets, fly alone to Tenn.

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:10:00 EDT

Three Florida children bought tickets with baby-sitting money and flew to Nashville, Tenn., on Southwest Airlines - unbeknownst to their parents.

NY store hires bedbug-hunting beagle, just in case

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 10:50:00 EDT

High-end New York city retailer Bergdorf Goodman has hired a beagle to hunt for bedbugs - just in case.

2 NC men rescued after being trapped in hot dryer

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:50:00 EDT

Firefighters rescued two North Carolina men from an industrial clothes dryer after they were overcome by heat.

Pa. man's bid to change name to NBC mutt denied

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EDT

A judge has denied a Pittsburgh-area man's petition to legally change his name to Boomer the Dog.

Docs discover pea sprouting in Mass. man's lung

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EDT

The doctor confirmed the good news for Ron Sveden once the mass in his left lung came back from the lab: He didn't have cancer. He had a pea sprouting inside his chest.

Criticism leads Roethlisberger to alter hometown

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EDT

For Ben Roethlisberger, there really is no place like home.

North Dakota man swallows other inmate's glasses

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EDT

A North Dakota inmate was not afraid of making a spectacle of himself when he grabbed another suspect's glasses and started to eat them.

P.U.! Wash. utility adds rotten egg smell to bills

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EDT

Paying bills usually stinks, but gas bills from a utility in Washington state will include something truly odorous this month: the stench of rotten eggs.

NKorea wants to use ginseng to pay Czech debt

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EDT

North Korea has offered a unique way to repay nearly $10 million in Cold War-era debt - with ginseng, according to Czech officials.

4 sisters have 4 babies in 4 days

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:49:00 EDT

Four sisters from one family have each given birth within four days. That's four sisters, four babies, four days. The same obstetrician delivered the babies of three of the sisters - 27-year-old Lilian Sepulveda,...

Iowa chef licks 2 toads in kitchen, gets fined

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:49:00 EDT

Maybe he was testing a new recipe.

Pa. passengers call JetBlue flight attendant rude

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:49:00 EDT

A flight attendant was rude to passengers and instigated the confrontation with a traveler that led to his now-notorious slide down a plane's emergency chute at New York's Kennedy Airport and, ultimately, to his...

Cops: Drunken man marks prison release with crash

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:39:00 EDT

Police said a man who had been drinking alcohol to celebrate his release from prison crashed his bicycle into a railroad crossing gate in northwestern Indiana. The engineer on a South Shore commuter line train saw the...

Man sentenced for faking seizures at restaurants

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:19:00 EDT

A Baltimore man has been sentenced to a year and a half in jail for faking seizures to get out of paying restaurant bills. City prosecutors said 43-year-old Andrew Palmer pleaded guilty last week to one count of theft...

Man leaves Ky. bar, goes for swim in Ohio River

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:59:00 EDT

A group which had left a northern Kentucky bar with Christopher Luttrell feared the worst when their friend went for a late-night swim in the Ohio River. The friends called police at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday. Police called...

Flight attendant's grand exit draws charges, fans

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:39:00 EDT

No fed-up worker has ever said "I've had it" quite like Steven Slater.

Pa. man's bid to change name to NBC mutt denied

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:19:00 EDT

A judge has denied a Pittsburgh-area man's petition to legally change his name to Boomer the Dog.

Police say man wearing burqa robs Md. bank

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:59:00 EDT

Montgomery County police said a man wearing a burqa robbed a bank in Silver Spring. Police said the man who robbed a TD Bank branch on Briggs Chaney Road about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday was wearing a "long black burqa over his...

Dog surprises officer by giving birth in squad car

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:59:00 EDT

A pit bull delivered quite a surprise in the back of a Prescott Valley patrol car. Prescott Valley police said Tuesday that an officer picked up the pit bull on Friday from an area woman who had been watching the dog.

Men stopped from parachuting off Ind. cell tower

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:19:00 EDT

Police said two men climbed a central Indiana cell phone tower with plans to parachute from it before they were stopped by a sheriff's deputy. The Johnson County Sheriff's Department said the two men were spotted...

JetBlue plays coy about flight attendant fiasco

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:59:00 EDT

JetBlue is finally talking about its famously flippant flight attendant ... sort of.

Iowa restaurant ticketed for toad-licking chef

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:58:00 EDT

An Iowa restaurant owner said he'll pay a fine after his head chef was videotaped kissing and licking toads in the kitchen. The Scott County Health Department reviewed the video Wednesday and called in the chef and owner...

NY police find live cat 'marinating' in car trunk

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:18:00 EDT

Police say a traffic stop led to animal cruelty charges after they found a live cat "marinating" in oil and peppers in the trunk of a car.

Video shows woman smashing window over McNuggets

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:19:00 EDT

A security video from a McDonald's in Ohio shows a woman punching two restaurant employees and smashing a drive-thru window because she couldn't get Chicken McNuggets.

Idaho farmer unknowingly tends to 300 pot plants

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

Authorities say a southern Idaho farmer unknowingly watered and fertilized more than 300 marijuana plants while tending to his corn fields.

Man allegedly harasses nurse who laughed at name

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

An ex-convict was jailed on a charge that he harassed a nurse who laughed at his plan to name his newborn after late mob boss John Gotti. John Keinath allegedly told the nurse back in March he would strangle her for laughing...

Oregon residents report glow-in-the dark shrimp

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

People who bought pink shrimp at some Oregon stores are reporting that it glows in the dark. Experts told The Register-Guard that they shouldn't worry because it's due to certain marine bacteria that can cause shrimp...

Cat turns on vacuum, causes emergency alert

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

A cat home alone in Germany apparently turned on the vacuum cleaner, frightened itself half to death and wound up being attended to by emergency services. Police in the Bavarian city of Bayreuth said a neighbor heard the...

Strip club landlord accused of smashing windows

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

Connecticut police arrested the landlord of a Norwalk strip club after he threatened a patron with a metal pipe and smashed out windows of the building. Thirty-nine-year-old Christopher LaRose of Norwalk was charged with...

Police: W. Pa. woman used diaper in traffic beef

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:18:00 EDT

State police said a woman wiped a dirty diaper on the window of another woman's vehicle during a dispute in a traffic jam as both were leaving the Fayette County Fair. Jessica Hollis, 23, of Mount Pleasant, has been...

Krispy Kreme patron snags $5K worth of DOUGH-nuts

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:58:00 EDT

A customer at a North Carolina Krispy Kreme got something even sweeter than a dozen hot glazed doughnuts: $5,000 in cash.

Dancers from Ohio strip club protest at church

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:18:00 EDT

The owner of an Ohio strip club and some of his dancers have been protesting at a church that has done the same to them for four years.

Dog seeks help from neighbor after owner collapses

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:38:00 EDT

A small dog who refused to return home until a neighbor followed her helped rescue her owner after he collapsed at home following heart surgery. Charles Mitchell said he was working in his yard last week in the Oregon wine...

Fargo man sentenced in feces assault on police

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:58:00 EDT

A Fargo man who tried to kick his own feces at police officers who responded to a party at his home was sentenced to serve a year in jail. Dennis Fike, 66. also must complete alcohol treatment or he might face another year...

NY judge grants bail for angry flight attendant

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:58:00 EDT

A flight attendant accused of cursing out a passenger on an airplane passenger-address system, grabbing some beer from the galley and exiting on an emergency slide was suspended Tuesday. The attendant's lawyer said a...

Police nab Pa. woman alleged as clown bank robber

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

Police in northeastern Pennsylvania have arrested a woman they say robbed a bank in a clown costume.

Man goes naked in Neb. for spiritual experience

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

Lincoln police say a man was spotted walking naked near two churches and a parochial high school. Police said a passer-by called dispatch around 8:40 a.m. Sunday after seeing the man near Pius X High School. According to...

Store manager throws hot coffee in intruder's face

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EDT

An attempted burglary at a California supply store was thwarted when the manager threw hot coffee in the face of a masked intruder.

Oregon girl a success in 2nd lemonade stand try

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:38:00 EDT

The 7-year-old Oregon girl who found herself at the center of a national flap about childhood lemonade stands versus government bureaucrats is going to Disneyland.

Oregon girl not bitter after lemonade stir

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 22:18:00 EDT

After a county inspector squeezed out a kid's lemonade business, so many Oregonians puckered up in disgust that the county chairman had to pour on a little sugar.

Brazen black bear breaks into Montana houses

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 19:38:00 EDT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -A brazen black bear with a late-night hankering for supreme pizza surprised a Montana resident last week, and it's not the first time the animal has eluded capture.

Court rejects candidate's appeal over expletive

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:38:00 EDT

A candidate for the Wisconsin Legislature who wants to use an expletive and a racially charged phrase to describe herself on the ballot has lost an appeal of a federal judge's order dismissing her lawsuit.

Fed court bars candidate's lawsuit over expletive

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:37:00 EDT

A federal court has rejected a lawsuit filed by an independent candidate for the state Assembly in Wisconsin who wants to use a racially charged phrase to describe herself on the ballot.

Ark. gov. race all shook up: Elvis Presley running

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:37:00 EDT

Elvis Presley is running for Arkansas governor.

Romanian leader visits hospital for errant swab

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:37:00 EDT

The mystery of the Romanian president's unscheduled hospital visit has now been explained.

2 women charged in kindergarten graduation brawl

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:37:00 EDT

Two women have been charged with misdemeanors for a fight that led to a brawl during a Southern California kindergarten graduation ceremony.

Pa. brewery shuts down over stinky odor complaints

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:37:00 EDT

A brewery is being blamed for a Pennsylvania town's bad case of beer breath.

NY prosecutors not sure which twin to charge

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:37:00 EDT

Authorities trying to solve a shooting in New York have zeroed in on identical twin brothers - but now they have to figure out which one to charge.

Pa. woman's stripper job leads to fraud charges

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 09:37:00 EDT

A Pennsylvania woman is accused of illegally accepting workers' compensation payments while working as a stripper.

Tropical Storm Hermine crosses into Texas

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

Tropical Storm Hermine rolled into south Texas early Tuesday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to an area battered by Hurricane Alex earlier this summer.

ABC News president David Westin steps down

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

ABC News President David Westin, the longest-reigning network news division chief, with more than 13 tumultuous years on the job, told his staff Monday that he is resigning and will leave by the end of the year.

Oracle names ex-HP CEO Mark Hurd co-president

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

Oracle Corp. has hired former Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd to help lead the database software maker in a pivotal moment in Oracle's 33-year history as it tries to muscle in on more of HP's turf.

Obama assails GOP, promotes new jobs program

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

A combative President Barack Obama rolled out a long-term jobs program Monday that would exceed $50 billion to rebuild roads, railways and runways, and coupled it with a blunt campaign-season assault on Republicans for...

Indonesian volcano erupts again; strongest yet

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

An Indonesian volcano shot a towering cloud of black ash high into the air Tuesday, dusting villages 15 miles (25 kilometers) away in its most powerful eruption since awakening last week from four centuries of dormancy.

Iran says it has the right to bar UN inspectors

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

Iran's nuclear chief says Tehran has the right to bar some U.N. inspectors from monitoring its disputed nuclear program.

Australian Labor Party wins enough support to rule

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will lead Australia's first minority government in 67 years after two independent lawmakers threw their support behind her center-left Labor Party on Tuesday, ending two weeks of uncertainty...

Top US commander: Burning Quran endangers troops

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan warned Tuesday an American church's threat to burn copies of the Muslim holy book the Quran could endanger U.S. troops in the country and Americans worldwide.

Protest over fatal shooting by LAPD turns violent

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

A protest over the fatal police shooting of a Guatemalan immigrant turned violent when some demonstrators threw bottles at officers, set trash cans on fire and refused to disperse.

Plane crash on NV street kills 1, injures 3

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:50:00 EDT

A small plane crashed and burst into flames on a street in a southern Nevada residential neighborhood Monday, killing one person and badly injuring three others, authorities said.

Shooting leaves Columbus teenager dead

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 10:48:00 EDT

Columbus Police tell News Leader 9 that a Friday night shooting has left one teenager dead.

Hostage situation at Fort Stewart ends peacefully

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 11:29:00 EDT

Authorities at Fort Stewart are investigating a hostage situation that occurred Monday morning.

Marion County inmates captured after bold escape

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 18:27:00 EDT

MARION COUNTY, GA (WTVM) - Two Marion County inmates have been captured after officials say they got out of the front door of the county jail. For one of the men, this is his second failed attempt at freedom in the past several weeks.

Auburn woman dies following two-car wreck in E. Alabama

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 10:31:00 EDT

LEE COUNTY, AL - A female passenger that was involved in a two-vehicle accident on Saturday has died from her injuries.

Man killed in downtown Columbus

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:16:00 EDT

The search is on in Columbus for two suspects believed to be connected to a fatal shooting in the Downtown area. Investigators have launched the city's 7th murder investigation of the year.

Man beaten and robbed in the street

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 20:23:00 EDT

Columbus police are looking for the person who they say beat and robbed a man downtown.

Man indicted after wife eaten by maggots

Trina Edwards — Sat, 4 Sep 2010 08:23:00 EDT

A Madisonville man has been indicted after investigators say his wife was eaten by maggots as she lay in her bed dying.

Report: Van der Sloot concedes extorting Holloways

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:28:00 EDT

The Dutchman charged with killing a 21-year-old Peruvian woman and suspected in the disappearance of U.S. teenager Natalee Holloway has acknowledged extorting money from Holloway's parents and says he did it to get back...

Public invited to high-tech scavenger hunt

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 10:37:00 EDT

COLUMBUS, GA — Columbus State University's Department of History and Geography invites all ages from the community to join CSU students, faculty and staff for a high-tech scavenger hunt using Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

LaGrange woman shot, suspect behind bars

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 20:30:00 EDT

Police say a woman was shot Saturday night in the leg on McGregor Street in LaGrange, Georgia.