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Off
The Wall
A collection of the "off the
wall" stories that get reported by various news agencies
'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'
A man following the practices as a “peaceful Muslim” is in the news again for a father killing his daughter because she “offended” him and the family by “falling in love”. 17-year old student Rand Abdel-Qader was beaten to death by her father after becoming infatuated with a British soldier in Basra. In this remarkable interview, Abdel-Qader Ali explains why he is unrepentant - and how police backed his actions.
Clinton Library Won't Release Documents Sandy "Burglar" Berger stole from National Archives
(CNSNews.com) - The William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library will not make available to the public the documents that former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger illegally took from the National Archives in 2003.
Sheriff tells illegals to get out of town
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio still isn't saying when he will take his crime suppression patrols to Mesa. He says there's a reason for the delay -- he's giving illegal immigrants a chance to get out of town.
``I'm giving them a chance to pack up and leave, so when I do go in there, there may not be a big problem," he said.
500-pound defendant has court date in parking lot
It was a beautiful day for drive-through justice Thursday at the Suffolk County courthouse. Under a cloudless sky, the court stenographer sat in a padded office chair. The defendant, Bernard Musumeci, 44, sat in the passenger seat of his gray Ford F-350 truck, the window down. And the judge, wearing no jacket over his black robe, marked the 11 a.m. court appearance amid a backdrop of pine trees. "The record should reflect that this arraignment is taking place in the parking lot of the courthouse," said state Supreme Court Justice Robert W. Doyle
CBS reporter glad he was kidnapped by terrorists, not the US military
Butler said he felt it was better to be kidnapped in Iraq then taken into custody by Americans in Afghanistan. "I was pleased I wasn't being mortarboarded in Guantanamo or being held for six and a half years like an Al-Jazeera cameraman, for instance," he said.
308-pound inmate sues county over jail after losing 100 lbs
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - An inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge is suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds because of the jailhouse menu.
Liberal attacks handicapped teen during First Lady speech
A man heckling First Lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna outside the 92nd Street Y was arrested after he punched a wheelchair-bound girl whose parents had told him to shut up, authorities said. German Talis, 22, was shouting obscenities at the Bushes, who were leaving the building Tuesday, when he crossed paths with Wendy and John Lovetro and their daughter Maureen, 18, who has cerebral palsy.
Hamas Says They're For Obama, CNN Says 'McCain Says Hamas Wants Obama'
In a head spinning effort to make McCain the bad guy of a story, CNN has taken the voiced support for Barack Obama by the terrorist organization Hamas and turned it into a finger pointing at Republican John McCain for being mean to Obama. Talk about spin, CNN has really done a doosie here. Taking the words of the terrorists in Hamas and placing them in McCain's mouth is simply unbelievable. But that's exactly what they've done.
Dr. Phil Paid Bond For Alleged Ringleader In Taped Beating of Teen
LAKELAND -- One of eight teens charged with beating a 16-year-old cheerleader in Polk County got some high-profile help Friday from talk show host Dr. Phil. A bail bondsman Saturday said Dr. Phil McGraw paid the bond for Mercades Nichols, the alleged ringleader of the attack.
Target guard fired for stopping 16-year-old from stealing booze
"They fired me for stopping a 16-year-old girl from stealing alcohol."
Maine Middle School May Give 11 Year Old Girls Birth Control - without parent's consent
(NaturalNews) A middle school in Portland, Maine is considering a proposal to provide birth control pills and patches to students as young as 11 years old.
Bellevue man facing charges for having sex with a table
BELLEVUE -- Police say a man in Bellevue was caught on tape having sex with a picnic table.
Married man pregnant with his wife’s baby
A married man who used to be a woman says that he is pregnant and will give birth to a baby girl in July.
Boulder says no to pink poodle
Even in Boulder, there are some things that just aren't cool. Like coloring your poodle pink with beet juice to raise awareness of breast cancer. Joy Douglas, owner of Zing Hair Salon at 1100 Spruce St., has received a $1,000 ticket from an animal-control officer for coloring her white poodle, Cici, pink by using organic beet juice.
Picture of gun on T-shirt lands student, school in court
One day in December, Donald Miller III wore a gun to school. As you might imagine, it got him in trouble. But the gun wasn't loaded; indeed, it wasn't a real gun at all. It was the image of a gun, printed on the front and back of a T-shirt — a shirt the Penn Manor freshman wore to honor his uncle, a soldier in the U.S. Army fighting in Iraq.
Man swims for 12 hours in shark infested waters to get help for injured friend
THE sister of one of two fishermen at the centre of an amazing survival story has revealed new details of their fight for life as authorities called off the search for a third crewman.
Students Punished After Buying Lunch With Pennies
Got pennies! It's plastered on their shirts and these eighth graders wear it proudly because on Thursday they pulled a prank at the Readington Middle School, paying for their lunches entirely in pennies. "At first it started out as a joke, then everyone else started saying we're protesting against like how short our lunch is," student Alyssa Concannon said. In fact, the penny prank has earned 29 students two days of detention. "There was no rule in the rulebook about it," student Sarah Henschel said. "It was just unfair. It's U.S. currency."
Dem Debate Leads to Stabbing
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. (CBS 3) ― The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is investigating a politically motivated stabbing that left one in-law hospitalized and another in prison. Authorities said brother-in-laws Jose Ortiz and Sean Shurelds were involved in a verbal altercation over Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton when the argument escalated into a stabbing inside their family home on Honeylocust Court in Collegeville.
IRS wants taxes from 7-year-old due to illegal alien
Another Carpentersville resident has gotten a notice from the IRS, demanding back taxes on income. The IRS says the resident owes taxes on $60,000. Only this victim is 7. Yes, a second-grader.
Top psychiatrist concludes liberals clinically nuts
WASHINGTON – Just when liberals thought it was safe to start identifying themselves as such, an acclaimed, veteran psychiatrist is making the case that the ideology motivating them is actually a mental disorder.
N.C. hospitals bill rape victims for evidence
Rape victims across the state are paying for their ill fortune in the most tangible of ways: a bill for the evidence kit needed to lock up the rapist.
Retired Teacher Reveals He Was Illiterate Until Age 48
OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- John Corcoran graduated from college and taught high school for 17 years without being able to read, write or spell.
Department of Children and Families spokesman arrested on child pornography charges
A Department of Children and Families spokesman was arrested on child pornography charges Friday for allegedly offering at least two teenagers money in exchange for photographing them in sexual acts. Al Zimmerman, 40, was charged with eight felony counts of using a child in a sexual performance, but Tampa police said Saturday more charges could be filed in the next week. He was released from the Hillsborough County Jail this afternoon after posting $120,000 bail.
Noah’s Ark for world’s seeds
It's been called the Noah's Ark for plants and the planet's insurance policy. Now, after years of planning and construction the Svalbard Global Seed Vault will shortly open its armored doors on the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen.
Double-dog dare doesn't work out for 2 kids
CHESTERTON - Single-digit temperatures brought a scene right out of the movie "A Christmas Story" to two students at Jackson Elementary School on Friday morning. The two fourth-grade boys, who served flag duty to raise and lower the flag for the school, stuck their tongues to the flagpole and spent the rest of the day in pain and embarrassment.
Sister of dead teen says she takes comfort in brother drinking, going fast, and being together with friends
Lorie Flaherty, the sister of one of victims, told the Camera, "The thing that really makes me feel much better about this is they died doing what they loved to do -- they were drinking, they were going fast and they were together."
Not dead yet, Chilean man wakes up at his own wake
An 81-year old man in the small Chilean village of Angol shocked his grieving relatives by waking up in his coffin at his own wake, local media said on Sunday.
Sex in restroom stalls is private, ACLU says
ST. PAUL, Minnesota - In a legal effort to help a U.S. senator, the American Civil Liberties Union is arguing that people who have sex in public bathrooms have an expectation of privacy.
Clinton, Obama Clash Over who is best black candidate
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have become embroiled in racially tinged disputes as large numbers of black voters prepare to get their first say in the Democratic presidential campaign.
Big Brother: California wants to control home thermostats
SAN FRANCISCO: The conceit in the 1960s show "The Outer Limits" was that outside forces had taken control of your television set. Next year in California, state regulators are likely to have the emergency power to control individual thermostats, sending temperatures up or down through a radio-controlled device that will be required in new or substantially modified houses and buildings to manage electricity shortages.
Pair wheels dead man to store to cash his Social Security check, police say
NEW YORK - Two men wheeled a dead man through the streets in an office chair to a check-cashing store Tuesday and tried to cash his Social Security check before being arrested on fraud charges, police said.
180 feet too far for firefighters
FAIRBANKS -- A Fairbanks couple lost a home to fire Thursday because it was just outside the fire service area and firefighters turned back from the scene.
Alleged bank robber didn't notice uniformed policeman in line behind him
A man passed a note to a bank teller yesterday in a Dorchester bank, demanding large bills and no "funny money," police said. Little did he know, Officer Kamau Pritchard was standing right behind him, in uniform, about to pull out his service weapon and place the man under arrest.
The Loony Left counts on "Global Warming" to rid America of Conservatives
Say what you will about the looming catastrophe facing the world as the pace of global heating and polar melting accelerates. There is a silver lining... It should be considered acceptable, in this stifling new world, to say, “Shut up. We told you this would happen.”
Man arrested after shooting self with nail gun
An Eagle County man faces attempted murder and domestic violence charges after he shot himself with a nail gun by accident Monday while allegedly demonstrating how he was going to kill his companion, authorities said.
Couple forced to take in criminal lodger after he tells court their house is HIS home address
A convicted criminal has moved in with a married couple against their wishes after giving their address in court as his home.
Playing God? Synthetic DNA on the Brink of Yielding New Life Forms
It has been 50 years since scientists first created DNA in a test tube, stitching ordinary chemical ingredients together to make life's most extraordinary molecule. Until recently, however, even the most sophisticated laboratories could make only small snippets of DNA -- an extra gene or two to be inserted into corn plants, for example, to help the plants ward off insects or tolerate drought.
Boston firefighter stabbed by a group of Hispanic males who told him they "don't want any gringo here." Crime not “race related”
BOSTON — A Boston firefighter is mending from what could have been deadly stab wounds he suffered early yesterday morning when he was allegedly jumped in East Boston while off duty by a group of Hispanic males who told him they "don't want any gringo here." Though police are not classifying the incident as racially fueled, the Boston Police Department's Community Disorders Unit is investigating. The 32-year-old jake, whose name officials were not releasing, is white.
Woman beaten on bus not "hate crime"
BALTIMORE - As Sarah Kreager, 26, tried to sit down on a Baltimore City bus Tuesday, police say, a middle-schooler told her she couldn’t. When she attempted to take another seat, a middle-schooler wouldn’t let her. Finally, according to police, Kreager just sat down. She was “immediately attacked” by nine students, three females and six males, from Robert Poole Middle School. They punched and kicked her at 2:59 p.m. at the intersection of 33rd Street and Chestnut Avenue, according to Maryland Transit Administration police. Greene said the investigation into the incident was ongoing and she didn’t know whether the attack had anything to do with the victim’s race. The suspects in the incident are black. The victim is white, according to the police report.
Santa-bot gagged after teen sex talk
UK technology news site The Register was alerted to this problem by a reader whose two nieces, aged 11 and 13, allegedly received comments about oral sex after offering the chat-bot a virtual slice of pizza.
Homeless VT Man Kicked Out Of Shelter for Helping Those In Need
BARRE, Vt. (NBC) -- A 48-year old Vermont man who earns a modest daily stipend for manning a Salvation Army kettle at the local shopping center now faces eviction from a homeless shelter because of his work. He said he now earns a $20 stipend each day from the Salvation Army, which works out to $2 per hour.
Seventh-Grader Suspended For Writing List of Kids He Dislikes
PARKER, Colo. -- A seventh-grade Sagewood Middle School student is facing disciplinary action from school administrators for compiling a list of those he dislikes. “I can confirm to you that a student did indeed make a list that contained the names of fewer than five students. As a result, appropriate action was taken with the student, “ said Ralph Montgomery, Sagewood Middle School principal.Montogmery said the specifics of what disciplinary actions the student is facing will not be released due to privacy laws. School officials said, "We determined there apparently was no threat or intent to harm anyone.” But the student was suspended anyway.
9-year old suspended for 'hate crime' for saying “brown people”
A Glendale elementary school principal has admitted to telling a 9-year old boy that it is OK to have racist feelings as long as you keep them to yourself. “As we said to (the boy) when he was in here, in your heart you may have that feeling, and that is OK if that is your personal belief,” Abraham Lincoln Traditional School Principal Virginia Voinovich said in a tape-recorded parent-teacher conference. The boy was suspended for three days this month for allegedly committing a “hate crime” by using the expression “brown people.”
Chapin man's dog painted orange after USC-Clemson game
CHAPIN, SC (WIS) - One Chapin man says the big Carolina-Clemson rivalry was taken a little too far Saturday night when he woke up to find his dog spray-painted orange.
15-year-old girl jailed with 20 men
A 15-YEAR-old girl was put in a Brazilian jail cell with more than 20 men, and for a month was raped relentlessly and forced to have sex for food, human rights groups say. "She was raped from day one'' at the jail in Para state, a Children and Adolescent Defence Centre spokeswoman said.
Jim Rex Believes In “Hope …”
WELL, AS LONG AS SHE’S “PHOTOGENIC” AND BETWEEN THE AGES OF 4-6
FITSNews - We hate to spoil a nicely-themed press event for S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, but we figure the more time he spends fixing our state’s pathetic public schools as opposed to spoonfeeding meaningless drivel to a fawning press corps, the better off our state’s kids are going to be.
Nude Man Accused of Causing I-95 Crashes
BRANDYWINE HUNDRED, Del. (AP) - Delaware State Police have arrested a Chester, Pennsylvania, man who they said was running naked and drunk on Interstate-95 and caused three accidents.
Hispanic names surpass top 10 in US in births
Smith remains the most common surname in the United States, according to a new analysis released yesterday by the Census Bureau. But for the first time, two Hispanic surnames — Garcia and Rodriguez — are among the top 10 most common in the nation, and Martinez nearly edged out Wilson for 10th place.
Police to search for guns in homes without warrants
Boston police are launching a program that will call upon parents in high-crime neighborhoods to allow detectives into their homes, without a warrant, to search for guns in their children's bedrooms. The program, which is already raising questions about civil liberties, is based on the premise that parents are so fearful of gun violence and the possibility that their own teenagers will be caught up in it that they will turn to police for help, even in their own households.
Boulder School District Ends Valedictorian Honor
BOULDER, Colo. Boulder Valley School District will no longer give valedictorian awards to its top graduating seniors starting with the class of 2010. Boulder Valley had previously abolished class rankings to reduce "unhealthy competition," and the committee said keeping the valedictorian system no longer made sense.
Man Trying To Escape Police Killed By Gator
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. -- A man who allegedly was fleeing police was attacked and killed by an alligator in a pond, Local 10 reported. Miccosukee police, assisted by Sweetwater canine units, responded to a call on the Miccosukee Indian Reservation about vehicles being broken into. Local 10's Todd Tongen said police captured one man, but another fled on foot and dove into a retention pond. Signs warned of the danger of live alligators in the pond behind the casino and hotel.
The Islamic World’s Dirty Little Secret: They’re The World Champions When It Comes to Surfing Porn
Despite all their protestations of piety and clean living as well as their condemnation of anything they deem to be “Unislamic” it seems that our friends from the Religion of Peace have a keen desire to dive right in to internet porn In fact, it looks like they surf porn more than anyone else.
Dolphins save surfer from becoming shark’s bait
Surfer Todd Endris needed a miracle. The shark — a monster great white that came out of nowhere — had hit him three times, peeling the skin off his back and mauling his right leg to the bone. That’s when a pod of bottlenose dolphins intervened, forming a protective ring around Endris, allowing him to get to shore, where quick first aid provided by a friend saved his life.
Clinton Camp Admits To Planting Questions
The Clinton campaign has admitted to planting questions in Iowa. They have confirmed that a campaign staffer approached a student to ask Sen. Clinton a question about global warming during a campaign stop at a biodiesel plant in Newton, Iowa, on Nov. 6.
Teen Dies after being slapped by Teacher (Video) - High Speed Internet Suggested
According to reports, when the teacher noticed that the student had tried to forge his parent's signature with a blue ink pen, he became angry and slapped the boy, who fell down and sustained a fatal injury to his spine.
Mother says Student Disciplined for Hugging male friend who recently lost a parent
The debate of public displays of affection in school is hitting home in Alabama. The mother of a student in Autauga County says her daughter was disciplined for simply hugging a friend.
Man simulated sex act on pavement, has to register as sex offender
Steven Marshall, 18, of Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, admitted the offence in his home street on 17 June.
Oops! Seminole deputies flatten tires on wrong cars
Seminole County deputies blew out the tires of two cars Thursday while trying to stop a vehicle they thought was stolen. Neither, however, was the vehicle they were targeting.
Professor offered extra credit to class members if they burned the American flag or the U.S. Constitution
ORONO, Maine - A University of Maine student alleges her former professor offered extra credit to class members if they burned the American flag or the U.S. Constitution or were arrested defending free speech.
District Attorney says schools run afoul of Maine law with middle school birth control; schools must report anyone under age 14 who's having sex
After King Middle School moves to offer birth control, the District Attorney says schools must report anyone under age 14 who's having sex. Maine law prohibits having sex with a person under age 14, regardless of the age of the other person involved, Anderson said.
So much for a "higher education"
Higher education: Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, a University of Florida graduate, confessed today he didn’t know until Tuesday that people spoke English in London.
Obama: No flag pin and now no hand on heart for National Anthem
Newsbusters.org
Fake turf watered as supplies dry up
It's not even real grass. But in the midst of what may be the worst drought ever in North Carolina, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are watering the synthetic turfs used by their field hockey teams.
Maine school to offer contraceptives at Middle School
King Middle School will become the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available, including birth control pills, patches and condoms. There are no national figures on how many middle schools provide such services. Most middle schoolers range in age from 11 to 13.
6-year-old faces fine for sidewalk chalk “graffiti”
A 6-year-old Park Slope girl is facing a $300 fine from the city for doing what city kids have been doing for decades: drawing a pretty picture with common sidewalk chalk. Obviously not all of Natalie Shea’s 10th Street neighbors thought her blue chalk splotch was her best work — a neighbor called 311 to report the “graffiti,” and the Department of Sanitation quickly sent a standard letter to Natalie’s mom, Jen Pepperman
'Mom' and 'Dad' banished by California
"Mom and Dad" as well as "husband and wife" have been banned from California schools under a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who with his signature also ordered public schools to allow boys to use girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa, if they choose.
Cops Pull Over Boy, 3, Driving Along Highway in Toy Mustang GT
OMRO, Wis. — The candy-apple red Mustang GT is just a toy, but that didn't stop 3-year-old Jordan Will from taking his battery-operated wheels for a brief ride along a busy stretch of highway. Drivers stopped and neighbors chased down the car until an officer could pull over Jordan and his 2-year-old passenger on Sunday.
Democrat appointee refuses to allow “God” on certificates of flags flow over Capitol
Midland Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Camp is among lawmakers objecting because the U.S. Capitol's architect won't allow God to be mentioned in certificates of authenticity accompanying flags flown over the Capitol and bought by constituents.
52-cent doughnut may cost man 30 years to life
FARMINGTON, MO. — Shoplifters at Country Mart tend to favor cold medicines and packaged meats. They used to steal cigarettes, too, until tobacco was moved behind the counter. But the doughnuts were never a target for thieves. Country Mart's doughnuts — fried fresh daily in the store — sell for just 52 cents each.
Defendant does push-ups in court; charges against him dropped
A defendant dropped down and performed 50 push-ups in court Friday, and a prosecutor dropped the charges against him. The dismissal of Chase C. Allen's misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct charges apparently helped smooth the way for the 20-year-old Marine recruit to report to boot camp.
Seized 'art porn' owned by Sir Elton John
A photograph by a controversial American artist which is part of Sir Elton John's private collection has been seized by police from a gallery on suspicion it may have breached child pornography laws. The image, which featured two young girls one of whom was sitting down with her legs wide apart, was taken by the renowned photographer Nan Goldin.
Prayer nixed at rite for victims
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has removed religious content from a memorial service for murder victims planned for next week after a watchdog group complained. A religious hymn called "This Too Shall Pass" and a closing prayer by a Lutheran pastor will not be included in the ceremony as initially planned, department spokesman Kevin St. John said Friday.
Judge OKs 'Hitler Youth' Buttons
NEWARK, N.J. -- Two students in northern New Jersey can wear buttons featuring a picture of Hitler youth to protest a school uniform policy, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
Federal Prosecutor Arrested In Child Sex Sting
DETROIT -- A U.S. Justice Department official has been arrested on suspicion of traveling to Detroit over the weekend to have sex with a minor. The detective, acting as the child's mother, allegedly arranged a sexual encounter between Atchison and her 5-year-old daughter, police said.
High School Bans American Flag
SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C. – On the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, students at one high school were not allowed to wear clothes with an American flag.
Abuse of sanity: paedophile gay couple allowed to adopt, abuse boys
So politically correct has adoption become, a council allowed these gay paedophiles to foster young boys — even, as one mother reveals here, turning a blind eye when presented with evidence of their horrifying abuse.
No tolerance, no sense
If you want to understand why an Arizona child could get kicked out of school for sketching a gun, you've got to know how we got here.
100-year-old celebrates her birthday by smoking 170,000th cigarette
An iron-lunged pensioner has celebrated her 100th birthday by lighting up her 170,000th cigerette from a candle on her birthday cake. Winnie Langley started smoking only days after the First World War broke out in June 1914 when she was just seven-years-old - and has got through five a day ever since.
More "Thugs" and pit bulls: Pit Bulls, Guns Seized In Raid Of DMX's Home
PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 24, 2007) – Authorities raided the home of rapper DMX in Phoenix on Friday morning, Access Hollywood has learned.
Marbury Calls Dogfighting a Sport
NEW YORK (AP) - New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury defended Michael Vick, calling dogfighting a sport and comparing it to hunting.
Judge Has Unprepared Lawyer Arrested
An Ohio judge angered state and national defense lawyers after he had a public defender arrested for being unprepared for trial. Portage County Judge John Plough had assistant public defender Brian Jones arrested for contempt of court last week after Jones refused to begin a misdemeanor assault trial because he said he was unprepared. Jones was assigned to the case one day earlier.
Scientists hail ‘frozen smoke’ as material that will change world
A MIRACLE material for the 21st century could protect your home against bomb blasts, mop up oil spillages and even help man to fly to Mars. Aerogel, one of the world’s lightest solids, can withstand a direct blast of 1kg of dynamite and protect against heat from a blowtorch at more than 1,300C.
Global warming Oops!: Red faces at NASA over climate-change blunder
In the United States, the calendar year 1998 ranked as the hottest of them all – until someone checked the math. After a Toronto skeptic tipped NASA this month to one flaw in its climate calculations, the U.S. agency ordered a full data review. Days later, it put out a revised list of all-time hottest years. The Dust Bowl year of 1934 now ranks as hottest ever in the U.S. – not 1998.
Skydiver plans head-first freefall from the edge of space in dizzying bid to break Mach 1
He will leap head-first from a weather balloon 25 miles above Earth and plummet at more than 1,000mph with only a parachute for company. He will face external temperatures of minus 100c while inside his carbon-fibre suit it will be a stifling 65c - almost 150 fahrenheit. And most amazing of all, Michel Fournier is actually looking forward to it.
'Sexsomniac' cleared of raping girl in his sleep
An RAF mechanic who claimed he was sleepwalking when he had sex with a 15-year-old girl was cleared of rape yesterday. Senior Aircraftsman Kenneth Ecott, 26, broke down in tears after a jury took two hours to agree that he was not responsible for his actions.
Exotic dancer saves client with CPR
PORT ST. LUCIE -- - A 25-year-old exotic dancer is being called a "hero" after performing CPR on a client who apparently stopped breathing during one of her performances, police said Friday.
Cops Find 9 Adopted Kids Handcuffed, Starved
Nine adults and teenagers were held captive, abused and starved by their adoptive Florida mother for as long as 15 years, authorities tell ABC News. Judith Leekin, 62, allegedly duped four different New York City adoption agencies into allowing her to adopt 11 children, all of whom authorities believe she later abused.
Scientists breed world’s first mentally ill mouse
SCIENTISTS have created the world’s first schizophrenic mice in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the illness. It is believed to be the first time an animal has been genetically engineered to have a mental illness.
Grim rea-purr: The cat that can predict death
The footsteps down the corridor of the Steere House Nursing And Rehabilitation Centre are light but purposeful as Oscar makes his way towards the end of the hallway and stops outside room 310.
'Compliment Machine' Dispenses Kind Words
Harry Truman once said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." In the absence of a pet, Washingtonians can get their warm fuzzies on 14th and Q Streets NW, thanks to the newly installed interactive art piece, the "Compliment Machine."
Boxer shot in head after asking drinkers not to smoke at bar
A former heavyweight boxing champion was shot after asking three men to stop smoking in a wine bar. James Oyebola, 47, was having a drink in the garden area of the venue when a dispute erupted over the new smoking ban.
Shopping cart "road rage" - Cops: Man ran over woman with shopping cart at Somers supermarket checkout
SOMERS - Call it a case of shopping-cart rage. State police said a 45-year-old Dutchess County man became enraged at a 72-year-old woman who was in front of him at the checkout line of the Super Stop & Shop on Route 6 last night and ran her over with his shopping cart.
Teen Girls Accused Of Setting Kitten Ablaze
COTATI, Calif. -- A three-month-old kitten is fighting for his life after allegedly being set afire by two teenage girls last week. The male shorthaired kitten, named Adam, received second- and third-degree burns over 75 percent of its body and was being treated at an animal hospital in Cotati, in Northern California's Sonoma County, officials said.
Robber demands cash — but settles for a glass of wine and a group hug
WASHINGTON: A would-be robber was disarmed by hospitable hosts who offered him a glass of wine and sent him off with a group hug but no cash. A group of friends was finishing a dinner of marinated steaks and jumbo shrimp on the back patio of a Washington, D.C. home when a hooded man slid through an open gate and pointed a handgun at the head of a 14-year-old girl.
Fake cop arrested after pulling over police officer
BOHEMIA, N.Y. (AP) _ A driver posing as a police officer tried to pull off a bogus traffic stop, but he ran into trouble when the other motorist turned out to be a real off-duty detective, police said.
Global Warming? Buenos Aires sees rare snowfall
Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, has seen snow for the first time in 89 years, as a cold snap continues to grip several South American nations. Temperatures plunged to -22C (-8F) in parts of Argentina's province of Rio Negro, while snow fell on Buenos Aires for several hours on Monday.
Police arrest robber disguised as tree
MANCHESTER – Police said this morning a tip has led them to an arrest in the leafy robber case. The robber had duct taped tree banches to his head and torso to disguise himself, police said.
Unidentified sea creature captured near Hawaii
It's a squid, it's an octopus, it's ... a mystery from the deep. What appears to be a half-squid, half-octopus specimen found off Keahole Point on the Big Island remains unidentified today and could possibly be a new species, said local biologists.
Girl could give birth to her sister
A seven-year-old girl could one day give birth to her biological half-brother or half-sister after her mother became the first woman to donate eggs to her infertile daughter.
California Mom Charged in Gang Shooting
PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) - A mother faces firearms charges after she allegedly drove her son's friends to a rival gang member's house to take part in a shooting, authorities said.Michelle Wright, 37, pleaded not guilty Thursday to three counts of assault with a firearm and one count of shooting a firearm at a dwelling, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Detective Robert Gillis on Friday. She was held on $250,000 bail. Wright drove her son's two friends to a rival gang member's house in Palmdale early Tuesday, authorities said.
Dog Registered to Vote: It's So Easy!
The second time Duncan M. MacDonald sent in an absentee ballot, an election worker in Federal Way, Wash., called to ask about the paw print on the envelope. But it took three ballots before the prosecutor contacted the voting dog's owner. Jane Balogh said she registered the Australian shepherd-terrier mix to vote in protest of a 2005 state voter-registration law that she says makes it too easy for noncitizens to vote.
Two-year-old 'Matilda' becomes youngest ever girl in Mensa
Her parents knew Georgia Brown was bright. After all, she could count to ten, recognised her colours and was even starting to dabble with French. But it was only when their bubbly little two-year-old took an IQ test that her towering intellect was confirmed. Georgia has become the youngest female member of Mensa after scoring a genius-rated IQ of 152.
Man with marijuana tucked behind ear asks cop for directions
PORT ST. LUCIE — A 20-year-old ended up in jail Wednesday when the police officer whom he asked for directions noticed a marijuana "blunt" tucked behind his ear, police say. Maurice Stuckey, of Dolton, Ill., was arrested on a charge of marijuana possession.
Students take field trip to Planned Parenthood
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The YMCA's community outreach director is resigning after an after-school program run by the organization with the Manchester School District ended up taking some middle school students to visit Planned Parenthood.
Judge Suing Dry Cleaner Cries Over Pants
WASHINGTON— A judge had to leave the courtroom with tears running down his face Tuesday after recalling the lost pair of trousers that led to his $54 million lawsuit against a dry cleaner. Administrative law judge Roy L. Pearson had argued earlier in his opening statement that he is acting in the interest of all city residents against poor business practices. Defense attorneys called his claim "outlandish."
Two jailed after bridge built by blind man collapses
A Chinese court has jailed two officials after they let a blind contractor build a bridge which collapsed during construction and injured 12 people, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Man Says Home Depot Fired Workers For Catching Thieves
MIDWEST CITY, Okla. -- A former Home Depot employee said the company fired him and three other workers because they helped police catch several suspected shoplifters in May.Midwest City police said the men helped officers catch suspected shoplifters as they tried to run from a store with lawn equipment.
An internal memo from Home Depot outlines that associates cannot accuse, detain, chase or call the police on any customer for shoplifting.
Man in wheelchair takes 50 MPH ride down highway stuck to tractor-trailer
PAW PAW, Mich. -- A 21-year-old man was taken on a wild ride Wednesday afternoon when the wheelchair he was in became attached to the grille of a semi-truck and was taken four miles down a highway at about 50 mph.
Woman faced jail time for "staring" at police dog
CHELSEA – A woman facing jail time for "staring" at a police dog had charges against her dropped Monday after an Orange County prosecutor viewed videotape of the alleged crime. Jayna Hutchinson, now of Lebanon, N.H., was scheduled for a jury trial this week on a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals.
Google As Terror Tool? JFK terror plotter directed cohorts to use satellite mapping service
JUNE 4--One of the plotters behind the alleged scheme to explode gas pipelines at John F. Kennedy airport directed his co-conspirators to use Google Earth to obtain detailed aerial photos of the targeted facility. In a federal criminal complaint, an excerpt from which you'll find below, one of the accused, Abdul Kadir, reportedly told cohorts to use the popular satellite software after he determined that surveillance video shot by the men was "not sufficiently detailed for operational purposes."
'Monster Pig' Not a Wild Hog, But Pet Pig 'Fred'
FRUITHURST, Ala. — The Mystery of the Monster pig appears to have been solved. The 1,051-pound hog, shot and killed by 11-year-old Jamison Stone and the subject of a world-wide Web firestorm over the photo's authenticity, really is... Fred.
Mike Wallace hugs "Dr. Death" upon release from prison
A smiling Kevorkian said the release was "one of the high points of life" as he paused near a white van that was waiting for him. He was accompanied by "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace and wore a blue sweater, striped shirt, striped tie, gray slacks, white socks and black shoes.
Left freaks over student speech: Public School Valedictorian Quotes Scripture, Fuels Debate
High school valedictorian Shannon Spaulding never expected her graduation speech to create such debate. But the blond honors student, who graduated at the top of her 383-member class at Wolfson High in Jacksonville, Fla., gave a valedictory speech that some said sounded more like a sermon.
Judge just doesn't see failure to treat people with dignity, respect
The District Judge Elizabeth Halverson saga is starting to creep beyond the borders of Nevada and into the California news media, while locally the docudrama is the first thing many of us read each day. When they make a TV special of it, I'd like to suggest a name: Power and Paranoia.
Poland to probe if Teletubbies are gay
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's conservative government took its drive to curb what it sees as homosexual propaganda to the small screen on Monday, taking aim at Tinky Winky and the other Teletubbies. Ewa Sowinska, government-appointed children rights watchdog, told a local magazine published on Monday she was concerned the popular BBC children's show promoted homosexuality.
Tiny town worries feds
DERBY LINE, Vermont (AP) -- Step through the front door of the Haskell Library and you're in the United States. Walk across the carpeted floor to the circulation desk and you're in Canada. But if you sit down on the couch, you're back in the U.S.
Have sex, do drugs,' speaker tells students
A guest speaker at an assembly at Boulder High School in Colorado has told students as young as 14 to go have sex and use drugs, prompting school officials to say they will investigate.
Man arrested after microwaving baby
GALVESTON — Two weeks ago, the words “baby in a microwave” were the stuff of urban legend, the kind of thing that someone occasionally mentioned had happened to a friend of a friend, but which no one could verify. A week ago, urban legend turned into reality in a Galveston hotel room. Police said they learned that an infant girl’s injuries were not caused by scalding water, as originally claimed. On May 10, the 2-month-old girl was placed in a microwave oven and burned for 10 to 20 seconds.
Illinois issues gun owner card to 10-month-old baby
CHICAGO (AP) — Bubba Ludwig can't walk, talk or open the refrigerator door — but he does have his very own Illinois gun permit.
Illegal aliens sue U.S. factory after immigration raid
BOSTON (Reuters) - Workers including 361 illegal immigrants were cheated of hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay at a factory at the center of a high-profile raid in Massachusetts, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday.
Staged gun attack 'is beyond absurd'
A teacher and an assistant principal at a Tennessee school have been suspended for about two weeks because they staged a gunman's attack on their sixth-grade students for a "prank" or a "learning experience," depending upon the explanation.
Woman Survives Decapitation
DENVER, Colo. -- Miracles do happen. That's what doctors said about 30-year-old Shannon Malloy. A car crash in Nebraska on Jan. 25 threw Malloy up against the vehicle's dashboard. In the process, her skull became separated from her spine. The clinical term for her condition is called internal decapitation.
German man found after 7 years dead in bed
BERLIN (Reuters) - The decomposed corpse of a German man was found alone in his bed after nearly seven years, police in the western city of Essen said Thursday.
Gas station owner told to raise prices
MERRILL, Wis. - A service station that offered discounted gas to senior citizens and people supporting youth sports has been ordered by the state to raise its prices.
Anti-God Starbucks cup has customer steaming
An Ohio woman is steaming after reading an anti-God message published on the side of a Starbucks coffee cup.
Girl killed for "loving" the wrong boy
A 17-year-old girl has been stoned to death in Iraq because she loved a teenage boy of the wrong religion.
Brits regret "founding America"
After a raucous debate in front of a packed house, the motion - "this House regrets the Founding of America" - was overwhelmingly squashed.
Man Allegedly Takes Wallet, Leaves Phone with victim and leads to arrest
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A robber demanded his victim's wallet and car keys, then dumped him in the trunk of his car and withdrew cash with his bank card early Sunday, police said. Martino Williamson is wishing he had taken Ira Sully's cell phone, too.
Puppy Prozac to help stressed pets
If your doberman is a little down in the mouth or your poodle a bit peaky, help is at hand from the makers of Prozac who have developed the drug for dogs, with the canine version coming in chewable form and tasty beef flavour.
Man Not Guilty in 'Dungeon' Rapes
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) - A jury has found a convicted sex offender accused of raping two teen girls in an underground bunker not guilty of kidnapping, sex crimes and assault with intent to kill. Kenneth Glenn Hinson, 48, wiped his eyes and mouth and appeared to cry after the jury read its verdict, which followed about four hours of deliberations over two days.
Doctors want Pap test for gay men
Bay Area doctors are leading a campaign to bring gay men into their offices for a basic exam that women have been enduring for decades -- the Pap test.
Ohio Principal in Trouble for Kissing Feet of Teen Boys Over Volleyball Bet
LORAIN, Ohio — A former principal who kissed the feet of three male students to settle a bet on a volleyball game entered a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor sex charge.
Fire Station Burns While Firefighters at Call
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Firefighters returned from an emergency call on Saturday night to find their Westside fire house on fire.
Late Spring Snow won't dampen global-warming rallies
The weather forecast for Saturday's global warming rallies in Grand Rapids and Holland calls for snow and cold rain and temperatures in the 40s -- about 10 degrees below normal. For some, this might make global warming a tough sell. "I've thought of that," said Lisa Locke, associate director of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, which is organizing the three Grand Rapids "Step it Up" rallies.
Potential organ donor was wrongly declared brain-dead
A man whose family agreed to donate his organs for transplant upon his death was wrongly declared brain-dead by two doctors at a Fresno hospital, records and interviews show.
Planes wait while controller takes potty break
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two airliners had to circle for 18 minutes and a plane ferrying human lungs for transplant was briefly delayed Friday while an airport's lone air traffic controller took a bathroom break, the controller's union said.
Hero's tale is 'too positive' for the BBC
Amid the deaths and the grim daily struggle bravely borne by Britain's forces in southern Iraq, one tale of heroism stands out. Private Johnson Beharry's courage in rescuing an ambushed foot patrol then, in a second act, saving his vehicle's crew despite his own terrible injuries earned him a Victoria Cross. For the BBC, however, his story is "too positive" about the conflict.
The flying saucer snapped up by US army
The age of the British amateur inventor toiling away in his humble garden shed lives on - and Geoff Hatton is proof of it. The former hovercraft engineer has designed and patented a flying saucer from his workshop in Peterborough that has grabbed the imagination of the American military establishment.
Rapist spared jail as judge agrees girl, 10, looked older
A man who raped a 10-year-old girl was spared a jail sentence yesterday after a High Court judge agreed that the victim looked older.
New Jersey School Stages Practice Hostage Drill – Portrays Killers as Fundamentalist Christians
Superintendent says, “We need to practice under conditions as real as possible”
BURLINGTON, NJ, April 3, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On Thursday, March 22, officials at Burlington Township High School enlisted the help of two local policemen to carry out a mock ‘hostage situation’ drill at their school. The drill invoked disapproval from Christian students as the student body was told that the alleged gunmen were “members of a right-wing fundamentalist group called the 'New Crusaders' who don't believe in separation of church and state.”
Pastor: Idea Christ died for sins 'insane'
Calls Easter message 'repulsive' – makes 'God sound like a psychopath'
Molester gets 4 months jail
Prosecutors, neighbors blast light sentence: A real-estate agent from Severna Park who admitted molesting his daughter for seven years and also sexually abused two nieces over nearly 20 years was sentenced yesterday to four months in jail.
Officer tells college Christian literature team missions work 'shameful'
An officer with a state police force has confronted a team of college students on a spring break missions trip, telling them that handing out Christian literature is "shameful." In Pakistan? India? Perhaps Syria? Nope. In Utah
Mysterious hexagon spotted above Saturn
A mysterious giant hexagon lies above Saturn's north pole, captured by cameras on Nasa's Cassini Orbiter. Spanning 25,000km - equivalent to the width of two planet Earths - the bizarre geometric feature appears to remain virtually still in the atmosphere as clouds swirl around it.
Dog Performs Heimlich Maneuver on Owner
CALVERT, Md. (AP) - Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saw his owner choking on a piece of fruit and began jumping up and down on the woman's chest. The dog's owner believes the dog was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life.
US. Can't Account for 600,000 Fugitive Illegals
WASHINGTON (AP) - Teams assigned to make sure foreigners ordered out of the United States actually leave have a backlog of more than 600,000 cases and can't accurately account for the fugitives' whereabouts, the government reported Monday.
Housewife convicted of frying husband
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- A Brazilian housewife was convicted and sentenced to 19 years in prison Friday for killing her husband, chopping his body into small pieces and frying it. Rosanita Nery dos Santos, 52, drugged her husband in his sleep, then stabbed him to death two years ago in Salvador, about 900 miles northeast of Sao Paulo, said police spokesman Idmar Bonfim.
"Animal rights" activists claim baby polar bear should be killed, not saved
BERLIN (Reuters) - Berlin Zoo rallied to the defense of Knut, a three-month-old polar bear cub, Tuesday, rejecting demands that the animal be allowed to die after being abandoned by its mother.
British Airways sits corpse in first class
A BRITISH Airways passenger travelling first class has described how he woke up on a long-haul flight to find that cabin crew had placed a corpse in his row.
Global Warming group braves March snow storm to promote "warming" agenda
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. --As the world's warmest winter on record drew to an end with a weekend snow storm, a group of religious leaders started walking across the state Friday to bring attention to global warming.
Husband kills wife's student lover Police say
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a tragic twist to a familiar story, a teenager who had sex with his married 30-year-old teacher was fatally shot outside the woman's home, and authorities have charged the woman's husband.
13-year-old racks up 128 felonies during alleged crime spree
The multitude of charges filed recently against a Nelsonville teen has astonished prosecutors, some of whom have practiced law since before he was born.
Beer and the Bible
MAPLEWOOD - In a back room at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, about 50 people gathered on a recent Wednesday night to talk rock ’n’ roll. Why are Bob Marley and Kurt Cobain considered by some to be messiahs? When did rock music lose its edge and become another product manufactured and marketed by huge conglomerates such as Viacom? It was a conversation perfectly suited to the setting. Beer-stained wooden tables and the smell of hops complemented a free-flowing, spirited debate among hip young people in scruffy beards and T-shirts. In 2007, this is church.
Man took call from wife during rape, police say
Timothy Michael Seibert was in the midst of raping a 49-year-old woman, according to police, when he answered a cell phone call from his wife. The woman was so close to the phone she could hear Seibert's wife yelling at him, asking him where he was and what he was doing, according to arrest documents filed by Silver Spring Twp. police.
Teen Survives Shooting Nail Into Heart
ST. LOUIS -- When is a nail in the heart a good thing? Matt Robinson might say it's when the nail plugs its own hole.
12 Washington State High School Students Suspended for Public Prayer Group
VANCOUVER, Washington, March 6, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A number of students who formed an interdenominational prayer group at a Washington state high school were expelled by the administration last week over their refusal to hold a morning prayer session in a closed room, The Columbian reported March 2. Twelve students at Heritage High School in Vancouver, WA, were suspended last Friday after continuing to meet for morning prayer in the commons area of the school, despite a faculty order that they stop causing physical "disruption" to student traffic with public prayer.
"Big Brother" alive and well in UK; Children to be fingerprinted
CHILDREN aged 11 to 16 are to have their fingerprints taken and stored on a secret database, internal Whitehall documents reveal. The leaked Home Office plans show that the mass fingerprinting will start in 2010
Miracle baby comes back from the dead
After trying for 30 minutes to bring two-week-old Woody Lander back to life, doctors decided there was nothing more they could do and called in his parents to say their tearful farewells.
Al Gore's "Inconvient truth" is he uses more than 20 times more power in his home than most homes
Last night, Al Gore’s global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy. Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).
Al Sharpton claims ancestors were slaves of Strom Thurmond's family
In other news, my cousin's next door neighbor's sister-in-law's best friend's mother knew someone what kissed Elvis How long will it be before Al Sharpton files to be a long lost relative of Sen. Thurmond and want part of his estate? Maybe the crying Probate Judge in Florida can hear the case.
Hitler’s image on Croatian sugar packets
JERUSALEM, ZAGREB -- The Simon Wiesenthal Center has asked Croatia to stop the distribution of sugar packets featuring Hitler’s image.
Mummified body found in front of blaring TV
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Police called to a Long Island man's house discovered the mummified remains of the resident, dead for more than a year, sitting in front of a blaring television set.
Old Lady and Air Bag
VIDEO - One thing is for certain, don't mess with an old lady and her shopping bag as she tries to cross the street. High speed connection advised. Dial-up download of video estimated at 8 - 12 minutes at 56K connection.
Hearing on 'global warming' canceled by snowstorm
Mother kept girls locked away from the world for seven years
Three girls who were imprisoned by their mother in a house of indescribable filth for seven years may never recover from the ordeal, experts said last night. The girls were shut away from the outside world, existing in almost complete darkness, playing only with mice and communicating in their own language.
A sure bet that won't pay off: Virgin's Branson offers $25 mln global warming prize
LONDON (Reuters) - Airline tycoon Richard Branson announced on Friday a $25 million prize for the first person to come up with a way of scrubbing greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere in the battle to beat global warming.
TSA forces mother to throw out "mother's milk" to board flight
A local woman who was forced to throw away her breast milk at an airport last week is fighting to change the way nursing mothers are treated in the changing world of high-security travel.
Man flees Canada over bank fee
Law enforcement officials say paying a credit card bill may have been the reason a 40-year-old man from Fort Erie, Ont., hopped into his rubber raft in near-zero temperatures to get to the United States. But he ended up spending five hours on the Niagara River before he was rescued Monday morning near Grand Island.
Dad Accused of Using Stun Gun on Baby
ALBANY, Ore. (AP) -- An Albany father used a 100,000-volt stun gun on his 18-month-old son, police said Monday. Rian Whittman, 23, has been accused of assault and criminal mistreatment. Police said he used it "multiple times" over three weeks. A police spokesman said there were up to 10 instances.
Drunk driver "checks in" to police outpost thinking it was hotel
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- An intoxicated man who mistook an Indiana State Police post for a hotel, telling a dispatch he wanted "to get a room," got his wish -- but his lodgings turned out to be at the county jail.
Police Chief Writes Himself Ticket
KEWASKUM, Wis. -- It's not usually news when a police officer writes a ticket -- unless it's the chief and he gives the ticket to himself.
Meet the man that calls himself Jesus Christ
Feb. 5, 2007 issue - At first glance, the congregation gathered in a warehouse in Doral, Fla., seems like a typical Hispanic evangelical group. There's the 10-piece band, the singing and swaying, the whooping and hollering. But look a little more closely. There's not a cross in sight. The lectern is emblazoned with a near replica of the U.S. presidential seal, except that it reads in Spanish, government of god on earth.
Life Under Big Brother: ‘Fat police’ put children on abuse list
SOCIAL workers are placing obese children on the child protection register alongside victims thought to be at risk of sexual or physical abuse. In extreme cases children have been placed in foster care because their parents have contributed to the health problems of their offspring by failing to respond to medical advice.
Hospice helped dying man lose his virginity
A young disabled man who receives care for his life-limiting illness at a hospice run by a nun spoke yesterday of his decision to use a prostitute to experience sex before he dies.
Tailgating Forbidden On Super Bowl Sunday
(CBS4) MIAMI Die-hard football fans attending the Super Bowl game at Dolphin Stadium are getting a rude awakening after finding out that no tailgating of any type will be allowed within a one mile radius on game day.
Psychologist Evaluates 'Jungle Woman' discovered naked from jungle
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- A Spanish psychologist met Tuesday with Cambodia's "jungle woman," hoping to unravel some of the mystery surrounding the woman who emerged from the forest, naked and unable to speak, after what may have been nearly two decades in the wild.
Cruise 'is Christ' of Scientology
Tom Cruise is the new “Christ” of Scientology, according to leaders of the cult-like religion. The Mission: Impossible star has been told he has been “chosen” to spread the word of his faith throughout the world.
And leader David Miscavige believes that in future, Cruise, 44, will be worshipped like Jesus for his work to raise awareness of the religion.
Shooter sentenced to write essay on why he's sorry
An Orangevale youth who fatally shot a passing motorist with a hunting rifle had to write a 1,000 word essay on why he was sorry and will serve 30 days in juvenile hall.
Cell phone ignites in man's pocket
A Vallejo man was severely burned after an apparent cell phone malfunction ignited his pants pocket and touched off a fire in his hotel room. Luis Picaso, 59, suffered second- and third-degree burns over 50 percent of his body and is in critical condition at UC-Davis Medical Center.
Woman dies of water intoxication after radio stunt
A 28-year-old woman has died of water intoxication after taking part in a Californian radio station's water drinking contest. She was in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" competition trying to win a Nintendo Wii video game system.
Kids kicked off bus for speaking English
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A school bus driver let Rachel Armstrong's three children board the bus Monday morning, but he warned them that he wouldn't give them a ride home that afternoon, nor could they ever ride his route again. The problem: Armstrong's 10-year-old twin girls and 8-year-old son speak English. According to their mother, the driver told them the route had been designated for non-English speakers only.
World's Smallest 'Country' for Sale
The world's smallest "country" is going on the chopping block. The self-proclaimed sovereign principality of Sealand, built atop a World War II artillery platform in the North Sea, is for sale for the whopping price tag of $977 million.
Socialized healthcare: EU rule -- Ambulance crews take break while man dies
When a 73-year-old Londoner collapsed at a betting shop on New Year's Eve afternoon, his luck had run out – thanks to European Union rules that required two nearby ambulance crews to be kept on their 30-minute breaks.
Connecticut DMV Instructor Accused of Giving Passing Grade in Exchange for Striptease
NAUGATUCK, Conn. — A license inspector for the state Department of Motor Vehicles has been charged with persuading a woman to strip off some of her clothing in exchange for passing her driver's test.
Two faced cow photographed
A calf with two faces is photographed Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at Kirk Heldreth's dairy farm in Rural Retreat, Va.
Broken Recatal Thermometer Causes 100 to Respond
CARMEL, N.Y. (AP) - It was quite a New Year's Eve at the home of Richard Berger in Carmel - in Putnam County. Someone in the house broke a rectal thermometer and the family called 911 around 10:30 to report the small mercury spill.
He doesn't believe in UFOs; he's just building his own
Some people may call Alfie Carrington crazy or foolish. How else do you describe a man who has spent more than half his life building a flying saucer?
He doesn't believe in UFOs; he's just building his own
Some people may call Alfie Carrington crazy or foolish. How else do you describe a man who has spent more than half his life building a flying saucer?
Ancient pyramids discovered in Bosnia
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the sole survivor of the Seven Wonders of the World. An Arab proverb says that: "Man fears time, yet time fears the Pyramids", a reference to the fact that the pyramid has survived for about 4,500 years and, in that time, has lost a mere 10 metres off its incredible 145 metre height.
Ex-cop plans 'Never Get Busted Again' video
TYLER, Texas - A one-time Texas drug agent described by his former boss as perhaps the best narcotics officer in the country plans to market a how-to video on concealing drugs and fooling police.
Police want bullet from teen's forehead
PORT ARTHUR, Texas (AP) -- In the middle of Joshua Bush's forehead, two inches above his eyes, lies the evidence that prosecutors say could send the teenager to prison for attempted murder: a 9 mm bullet, lodged just under the skin.
School accuses 5-year-old of sex harassment
HAGERSTOWN - A kindergarten student was accused earlier this month of sexually harassing a classmate at Lincolnshire Elementary School, an accusation that will remain on his record until he moves to middle school.
School tells children Santa is a fraud
A primary school has been accused of spoiling Christmas for pupils after a lesson telling them that Santa Claus does not exist.
Disney World Tells Santa Lookalike to Hit the Road
The happiest place on Earth just said "no" to the jolliest man on Earth. Walt Disney World resort gave an ultimatum to a Santa lookalike who was visiting the park Sunday, warning him to ditch his festive gear or get out.
Web kid says no to billion dollar offer for web site
AT 22, Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard dropout, is being labelled as the next Bill Gates. But even the Microsoft founder might have hesitated before blowing the chance of a $1.6 billion offer for his fledgling business.
Man with no pulse considered a medical breakthrough
MONTREAL — A 65-year-old Quebec man who received a new long-term mechanical heart last month is being described as the only living Canadian without a pulse.
Hug lands 4-year-old in suspension
"When I got that letter, my world flipped," DaMarcus Blackwell said. The Nov. 13 letter from La Vega Independent School District stated his son, who was 4 years old at the time, was involved in "inappropriate physical behavior interpreted as sexual contact and/or sexual harassment" after the boy hugged a teacher's aide and "rubbed his face in the chest of (the) female employee" on Nov. 10.
No smoking - but killing teachers is fine, says new Taleban rulebook
Killing a teacher is no problem as long as they have received a warning and a solid beating, but taking a beardless boy into your private quarters or spending money without your commander's permission is likely to cause big trouble.
Global mooing? Cows named most dangerous to environment
Meet the world's top destroyer of the environment. It is not the car, or the plane, or even George Bush: it is the cow.
Woman passing gas forces airliner to land
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It is considered polite to light a match after passing gas. But not while on a plane.
Muslim lawmaker wants to swear oath to Muslims, not US Constitution
Rep.-elect Keith (Hakim-Mohammed) Ellison, D-Minn., has drawn fire for asking to take the constitutional oath on the Quran rather than the Bible at a swearing-in ceremony next month.
Owner: Man Tried to Hide Guitar in Pants
The guitar-shaped bulge in Morgan Conatser's clothing tipped off a music store owner that there might be a crime in progress. Clifton Lovell, owner of Guitars and Cadillacs on U.S. Highway 71 in De Queen, was talking with a customer last week when he saw Conatser, 29, walking out of the store.
Naked man smoking crack cocaine attacked by alligator
LAKELAND -- A man who was attacked by an alligator this morning was naked and smoking crack at the time, Polk County deputies who rescued him said today.
Baby killed in Microwave stove suspected
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - A microwave is suspected to have killed a month-old girl last year who had a high body temperature, and her mother has been charged in the death, authorities said Tuesday.
Danish officials use topless blondes for traffic control
Danish road safety officials have come up with a novel way of warning motorists about the dangers of speeding - by using topless blonde women.
Free baby offered in Web site ad
San Diego police yesterday started an investigation into a case of possible child endangerment after receiving tips from two concerned people regarding a posting on Craigslist, the online classified-ad service, that purported to offer a free baby to a good home.
Whites Only Scholarship Creates Outrage
BOSTON, Nov. 22, 2006 — Joe Mroszczyk, president of the College Republicans at Boston University, admits he set out to stir up a hornet's nest when he came up with the idea of offering a whites-only scholarship at the school. But he got a little more buzz than he bargained for.
Inmate "slips" out of prison with use of "Vasoline"
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 20 (Reuters Life!) - One of South Africa's most notorious criminals escaped from a high-security prison by greasing himself up with petroleum jelly and squeezing out of a tiny window, local news reports said Monday.
European Cities Do Away with Traffic Signs
"We reject every form of legislation," the Russian aristocrat and "father of anarchism" Mikhail Bakunin once thundered. The czar banished him to Siberia. But now it seems his ideas are being rediscovered.
Town gives women equal footing on road signs
MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish town council has vowed to banish sexism from street signage by demanding half of all road signs and traffic lights show female figures with skirts and ponytails.
Brazilian woman survives after being shot in head 6 times
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — A Brazilian woman who was shot six times in the head after an altercation with her ex-husband was out of the hospital and talking to the media on Saturday. "I know this was a miracle," 21-year-old housewife Patricia Goncalves Pereira told Globo TV. "Now I just want to extract the bullets and live my life."
'Aliens could attack at any time' warns former MoD chief
UFO sightings and alien visitors tend to be solely the reserve of sci-fi movies. So when a former MoD chief warns that the country could be attacked by extraterrestrials at any time, you may be forgiven for feeling a little alarmed.
Naked Man Arrested for Concealed Weapon
EL CERRITO, Calif. -- A man was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon after police found him outdoors -- naked -- and he told them he had a tool in his rectum, authorities said. The man was lying on a tree stump, masturbating beside a nature path, near a Bay Area Rapid Transit station Thursday, police said.
Man ordered to wear "sex offender" T-shirt
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Delaware judge on Friday ordered a man who twice exposed himself to a 10-year-old girl at his workplace to wear a T-shirt with the words: "I am a registered sex offender" in bold letters, a prosecutor said.
Misprint makes drivers punishable by arrest after even a shot of beer
ALBANY, N.Y. - Drinking a shot of beer in New York could get you arrested for drunken driving, thanks to a typo in a New York law passed this year.
Drunk man tried to get gas at nuke plant: police say
A highly intoxicated Oak Park man faces several charges after driving up to the Braidwood nuclear power plant in search of gasoline Saturday, police said.
Supercow and pigs that glow at night - an average day on the GM farm
Channel 4 is to unveil a shocking menagerie of genetically modified animals in a new show revealing the frightening leaps technology has taken. Among the bizarre engineered creatures from around the world is a giant cow, three times the size of ordinary cattle, reared without fat to produce gallons of milk.
Mayor distributes sex hot line number in door-to-door campaign on underage drinking
EDMOND - A telephone number distributed door-to-door Saturday led callers to a sex hot line instead of a place to report underage drinking.
Man costumed as Osama arrested in Maine
Attorney Tom Connolly was arrested by South Portland, Maine, police Tuesday morning, after motorists reported a man with a gun near Interstate 295. It turns out the gun was part of a Halloween costume, but it looked real enough to passersby and police.
Swedes think US 'greatest threat to peace'
Published: 29th October 2006 12:37 CET
Swedes think that the United States and North Korea pose the greatest threats to world peace, according to the results of a poll released on Sunday.
Dad says cop toy utters curse word
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- A father is asking Toys "R" Us Inc. to take a police toy set off the shelves because he says the one given to his 6-year-old son utters a curse word.
College removes cross – from chapel!
The cross from the altar area of the chapel at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., has been removed to ensure the space is seen as a nondenominational area, explains administrator Melissa Engimann.
Dutch mayor says to send prostitutes with troops
Amsterdam - A Dutch mayor has raised eyebrows by backing the idea of sending prostitutes to accompany Dutch troops on foreign missions.
BBC confesses bias on religion, politics
An internal British Broadcasting Corporation memo reveals senior figures admitted the national news agency was guilty of promoting left-wing views and anti-Christian sentiment.
Teacher had sex with 5th grader and father
SMITHFIELD - The Johnston County schoolteacher accused of raping an 11-year-old student in 2003 also had an affair with the boy's father, Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said Monday.
Media Matters: Reuters Cameraman jailed for Inciting Rock Attacks
On Tuesday, a Reuters cameraman was remanded to prison until trial for his part in rock-throwing attacks on security forces in Bil'in, where the separation fence is a constant target of protesters.
Woman gives birth to grandchild
A Japanese woman in her 50s gave birth to her own grandchild last year, using an egg from her daughter and sperm from her son-in-law, a doctor has revealed.
'Demon wife' earns husband a fortune
Six years and three million hits later, in oni-yome nikki ("demon wife diaries") Kazuma has created one of the most famous characters in Japan's blogland, and the monster he spawned has been turned into a best-selling book, a TV series, a video-game, and now a movie.
Schoolgirl arrested for refusing to study with non-English speaking pupils
A teenage schoolgirl was arrested by police for racism after refusing to sit with a group of Asian students because they did not speak English.
Prosecutor naked at work
HAMILTON - A top law-enforcement official in Hamilton, City Prosecutor Scott Blauvelt, is accused of "walking around the Government Services Center after business hours without clothing," the Butler County Sheriff's Office says.
Horse rider charged with DUI
CLAYTON - When a Rabun County woman recovers from an wreck Friday, she faces one count of DUI - for riding a horse while impaired, according to a Georgia State Patrol trooper.
Parents vouch for teacher caught with porn
A former teacher accused of possessing child pornography and running a Web site devoted to the topic of torturing and cannibalizing children was actually a caring and devoted teacher who wouldn't harm anyone, parents told a federal judge Wednesday.
Man appears in court with box over his head as part of defense
A man trying to challenge his accusers identification appeared in court with a box over his head as part of his defense.
Fla. Congressman Mark Foley Resigns Over E-Mails to Male Page
WASHINGTON — Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., abruptly resigned from Congress on Friday in the wake of questions about e-mails he wrote a former teenage male page.