Latest Oddities News

706 people named Kyle got together in Texas. It wasn’t enough for a world record.

May. 18, 2024 19:27 PM EDT

KYLE, Texas (AP) — How many people named Kyle can fit in one place? For one Texas city, not enough. Another attempt by the city of Kyle, Texas, to break the world record for the largest gathering of people with one name fell short Saturday despite 706 Kyles of all ages turning up...

A college puts the 'cat' into 'education' by giving Max an honorary 'doctor of litter-ature' degree

May. 17, 2024 19:00 PM EDT

CASTLETON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont university has bestowed the honorary degree of “doctor of litter-ature” on Max the cat, a beloved member of its community, ahead of students' graduation on Saturday. Vermont State University’s Castleton campus is honoring the feline not for...

Up in smoke: Workers remove dozens of apparent marijuana plants from Wisconsin Capitol tulip garden

May. 17, 2024 17:06 PM EDT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Someone's plans to harvest dozens of apparent marijuana plants grown on the Wisconsin state Capitol grounds have gone up in smoke. The plants sprouted in a tulip garden outside the Capitol, WMTV-TV reported Thursday. Tatyana Warrick, a...

Indiana judge opens door for new eatery, finding `tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches'

May. 17, 2024 14:15 PM EDT

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

May. 16, 2024 14:14 PM EDT

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

May. 15, 2024 16:07 PM EDT

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

May. 15, 2024 13:09 PM EDT

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

May. 14, 2024 16:03 PM EDT

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

May. 13, 2024 12:56 PM EDT

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

May. 10, 2024 12:07 PM EDT

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...