Latest Oddities News
Indiana judge opens door for new eatery, finding `tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches'
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — An Indiana judge who declared that “tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches” has cleared the way for the opening of a new restaurant, delighting a restauranteur following a legal battle. Martin Quintana, 53, has been trying for about three years...
West Virginia candidate hospitalized after being bitten by snakes while removing campaign signs
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A candidate for West Virginia secretary of state said he has been hospitalized for copperhead snake bites sustained while removing election campaign signs. Doug Skaff said he was bitten in the left leg and the right foot Wednesday near U.S. Route 119 in...
Stolen antique weathervane recovered 40 years later and returned to Vermont
BARRE, Vt. (AP) — An antique copper weathervane that was swiped from a Vermont railway station 40 years ago has been found and was returned to the state last week, the Vermont Agency of Transportation has announced. “We are delighted to see this valuable historic artifact and...
A greasy, monumental ritual at the Naval Academy ends after more than 2 hours
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — It took Naval Academy plebes two hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds Wednesday to accomplish the ultimate in upward mobility: scaling a greased obelisk and swapping out a cup with a cap, this year with an unusual hitch. The annual grueling, slippery ritual...
A Chicago teen entered college at 10. At 17, she earned a doctorate from Arizona State
CHICAGO (AP) — Dorothy Jean Tillman II's participation in Arizona State University's May 6 commencement was the latest step on a higher-education journey the Chicago teen started when she took her first college course at age 10. In between came associate's, bachelor's and master's...
Punxsutawney Phil's babies are named Shadow and Sunny. Just don't call them the heirs apparent
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Punxsutawney Phil's offspring now have names that just might help the famed weather-forecasting groundhog to predict when spring will begin. Phil's human handlers chose Mother's Day to announce that the two kits born this spring to Phil and his partner,...
Most of 15 million bees contained after bee-laden truck crashes
CLINTON, Maine (AP) — A tractor-trailer hauling about 15 million honey bees to be used to pollinate blueberry fields crashed and overturned on Interstate 95, officials said. The driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution Thursday night while first responders worked to ensure...
Scammer who claimed to be an Irish heiress should be extradited to UK, judge rules
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A convicted scammer who claimed to be an Irish heiress and who is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from several victims should be extradited to the United Kingdom, a federal court has ruled. Marianne Smyth, who accusers say has also fashioned...
Colorado woman tried to steal a pickup, but couldn't handle the stick shift, police said
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado woman’s attempt to steal a pickup truck — shortly after she was released from jail on a car theft charge — was thwarted not by officers, nor the truck’s owners, but by her inability to drive a stick shift, Boulder Police said. The woman had...
Australian woman denies murdering her former husband's relatives with poisonous mushroom lunch
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A woman accused of serving her ex-husband’s family poisonous mushrooms pleaded not guilty in an Australian court on Tuesday to three charges of murder and five charges of attempted murder. Erin Patterson, 49, appeared briefly in Latrobe Valley...
