Tabloid Archives

Thursday, October 22

Northwest Airlines Plane Overshoots Minnesota Airport by 150 Miles

Federal officials say a Northwest Airlines jet overflew the Minneapolis airport by 150 miles before crew members discovered their mistake. [More]

Man Robs Mich. Bank, Then Turns Himself In

A man robbed a Michigan bank and got away - but didn't stay away. WOOD-TV reported that a 40-year-old Comstock Park resident later called 911 and confessed. [More]

New York Boy Charged with Faking Suicide on Internet

A 17-year-old boy in western New York has been charged with a misdemeanor after he put ketchup on his arms and faked his suicide on a live video Web site, police said. [More]

Bands want to know if their music was used on Gitmo detainees

A coalition of top musicians, including R.E.M. and Pearl Jam, want to know if their music was used by the U.S. military as part of controversial interrogation methods at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. [D] [More]

74-year-old woman caught on tape torching competitor's restaurant

A 74-year-old New Orleans area restaurant owner was caught on videotape setting fire to a competitor's restaurant one block away, police said. [More]

Burglar Returns Ashes To Grieving Mom

A burglar with a conscience returned a keepsake containing a boy's ashes to his Orlando mother after seeing the woman talk about it on television. [More]

Ohio Teens Forced to Sleep in Cages Sue Adoptive Parents

Two Ohio teenagers forced to sleep in cages have sued their adoptive parents and caseworkers who arranged the adoptions. [More]

Ambulances start charging extra for obese patients

As the nation battles the obesity crisis, ambulance crews are trying to improve how they transport extremely heavy patients, who become significantly more difficult to move as they surpass 350 pounds. And caring for such patients is expensive, requiring costly equipment and extra workers, so some ambulance companies have started charging higher fees for especially overweight people. [More]

Man Accused of Feeding Girls Drug-Laced Ice Cream, Filming Them

Prosecutors say a Kansas City, Mo., man gave sedative-laced ice cream to several young girls and filmed them in pornographic poses while they were unconscious. [More]

Colorado Offering $42,000 Tax Break to Tesla Buyers

It sounds too good to be true, but here it is: You can buy a 2009 Tesla Roadster, with a list price of $109,900, and pay just $67,800 for it. At least, you can if you live in Colorado and buy it before December 31. [More]

Ice-Skating Bear Kills Worker

An ice-skating bear has turned on its trainers, killing one and wounding another. [More]

Newsday to charge $5 per week for Web access

Newsday plans to start charging $5 a week for access to its Web site in a move that could generate more revenue but risks driving away readers. [More]

Man pleads guilty to driving La-Z-Boy chair while drunk

A Proctor, Minn. man driving a motorized La-Z-Boy lounge chair hit a parked vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. [More]

Boy Scout or Eagle Scout?

The stars who made it to Eagle status and those stalled at Boy Scout may surprise you. [More]

President Obama on war against Fox News: 'I'm not losing sleep over it'

The White House's war on Fox News finally reached the Oval Office - but the president insists it's not a distraction. "I'm not losing sleep over it," President Obama said on Wednesday in an interview aired on NBC News. [More]

Teen Loses Hand After Shock, Fall

Doctors have amputated the hand of a Tampa Bay-area teenager who was shocked and fell from a telephone pole. Alexander Davidson had climbed a telephone pole to take pictures of the sunset when he was shocked and fell to the ground. [More]

Calif. pays billions in overtime to state workers

California auditors say some state employees earned more than $150,000 a year in overtime as the state paid out more than $2.1 billion in overtime during the past five years. [More]

Marine Gets 18 Months Confinement for Hero Hoax

A Marine Corps sergeant was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months confinement and fined $25,000 for pretending to be an injured war hero to get free seats at rock concerts and professional sporting events. [More]

California Attorney Charged With Killing Girlfriend in 1989

An attorney who wrote a book about Internet dating was arrested Wednesday for investigation of killing his girlfriend's daughter 20 years ago so the woman could gain custody of her granddaughter, authorities said. [More]

Body in Ga. landfill is missing girl, 7

Authorities have identified a child's body found in a Georgia landfill as missing 7-year-old Somer Thompson, NBC News reported Thursday. [More]

Judge orders retrial in Travolta extortion case

The trial of two people accused of trying to extort John Travolta following the death of his son in the Bahamas ended in a mistrial Wednesday after a lawmaker suggested the still-deliberating jury had acquitted one of the defendants. [More]

Vietnam Veterans Honored at White House Nearly 40 Years Later

For Army Capt. John Poindexter, being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for heroism Tuesday marked an "opportunity to close a chapter" in his life. [D] [More]

Wednesday, October 21

Future women will be shorter, fatter, and more fertile.

A study of the medical histories of more than 14,000 individuals since 1948 concludes that in 400 years women will be shorter, fatter, more fertile and will have healthier hearts. [More]

Woman in W.Va. torture case now says she lied

Megan Williams' shocking accusations initially strained the imagination: Seven white people beat her with sticks, forced her to eat feces, raped her and taunted her with racial slurs over several days in a West Virginia trailer. Now Williams, who is black, is taking it all back. Her lawyer released a statement Wednesday saying she had recanted her story. [More]

Fraud Charge for 'Disabled' Firefighter Who Entered Bodybuilding Contest

A Boston firefighter who participated in a bodybuilding contest after claiming he was permanently disabled has been charged with fraud in connection with his application for an accidental disability pension. [More]

MSBNC's Brewer introduces Jackson as Sharpton

MSNBC's Contessa Brewer has apologized for mixing up civil rights activists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. She made the slip-up Wednesday while introducing Jackson during a segment on homelessness. After the introduction, Jackson stared at the camera from a studio in Burbank, Calif., and said, "I'm Rev. Jesse Jackson." [More]

Police Searching for Missing Florida Girl Say Unidentified Body Found in Georgia Landfill

Investigators searching for a missing 7-year-old Florida girl said Wednesday that a girl's body has been found in a Georgia landfill, though the body has yet to be identified. [More]

Store Clerk Accused Of Stealing $1M Lotto Prize

Authorities say a 25-year-old Texas convenience store clerk claimed $1 million in lottery winnings that belonged to a customer and left town, perhaps back to his native Nepal. [More]

CBS News raises doubts over McNair murder investigation

Nashville police have some explaining to do after seriously botching their investigation into the murder of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. [More]

Teacher Threatened To Shoot Kids

A science teacher at a Winter Garden high school has been arrested on charges that he threatened to shoot students. [More]

Boy, 5, sleepwalked to his school at night

A 5-year-old Illinois boy who apparently sleepwalked to his elementary school was safely returned to his family, authorities said. [More]

Arizona Man Runs Down Daughter For Becoming 'Westernized'

Police in a Phoenix suburb are looking for a father suspected of running down his daughter because she was becoming too "Westernized" and was not living according to their traditional Iraqi values. [More]

Rosie O'Donnell, spouse having 'issues'

Rosie O'Donnell and spouse Kelli Carpenter "are working through their issues" and "nothing else will be said" about rumors the couple is splitting, according to O'Donnell's publicist. [More]

First sweat lodge survivor speaks out

A woman who took part in an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony tells The Associated Press that the spiritual guru who led the event pushed participants too far in what was supposed to be a life-expanding experience that culminated with people vomiting and passing out on the floor. [More]

New black Barbies get mixed reviews

The new black Barbies released by Mattel have fuller lips, curlier hair and other features that the company says more accurately represent African-American women. Some have cheered the new dolls. Others jeered them, saying they're not black enough. Critics say the dolls should have had more natural black hairstyles, such as afros or braids. [More]

Gunman runs away after Minn. bank teller says no

A St. Paul bank teller refused to hand over cash to a gunman and lived to tell about it. Authorities said the would-be robber walked into the Cherokee State Bank on Tuesday afternoon. He pointed a handgun at a teller and demanded money, but when she refused, he ran away with nothing. [More]

ESPN's Phillips admits affair, takes leave

ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips acknowledges having an affair with an assistant at the cable network, and has taken a leave of absence during the playoffs. [More]

Minnesota Governor Pulls Plug on Pricey TVs for Sex Offender Program

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he's ordering the removal of new flat-screen TVs from the Minnesota's sex offender treatment facility. [More]

Looking into the seventh Window

You can’t call most of the new features in Windows 7 revolutionary, but they’re well thought out, they work properly and prove that Microsoft has finally talked to some real users. Call them ‘nifty.’ [More]

Wal-Mart fires employee for chasing thief

Josh Rutner said he was just doing his job as a Wal-Mart "asset protection officer" earlier this month when he chased a knife-wielding theft suspect across the store parking lot. The next day, Wal-Mart fired Rutner. [More]

Colorado Newspaper Hiring Marijuana Critic

A Denver alternative newspaper recently posted an ad for what some consider the sweetest job in journalism — a reviewer of the state's marijuana dispensaries and their products. [More]

NY court upholds couple's split, aired on YouTube

The state Supreme Court's Appellate Division on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling that granted Philip Smith a divorce from ex-wife Tricia Walsh-Smith and declared their prenuptial agreement valid. She had savaged him in a widely viewed YouTube video. [More]

Beer-friendly church meets at bar

A Wisconsin woman who leads weekly church services at a pub where people can pray, drink and take a smoke too says it is perfect for preaching to the "wounded." [More]

Atheist ads to adorn New York subway stations

Some New Yorkers may want to reconsider exclaiming "Thank God" when arriving at their destination subway station beginning next Monday. [More]

Officer Charged With Sex With Minor

A Volusia County Beach Patrol officer has been arrested on charges that he had sex with an underage girl. [More]

Deadly chase brings new look at stun gun use

A fatal police chase involving a teenager on a bicycle has led the Pensacola, Florida, police department to revamp its policy on stun guns, officials said. [More]

Whoa! Man accused of horse-sex trouble again

A man who allegedly videotaped a friend having sex with a horse at a farm in Washington state in 2005 is now accused of performing sex acts with a horse in Tennessee. [More]

Man Wanted in Europe Found Working at Nebraska Prison

A simple Google search of Michal Preclik's name turns up an Interpol wanted poster from his native Czech Republic. So where was he arrested? In Nebraska's maximum-security prison, where he was not an inmate, but a guard. [More]

Woman Makes Fake 911 Call, Then Calls Again as Garage Door Crushes Her in Fatal Mishap

Police say an Idaho woman who made a false 911 call to lure paramedics out of their station made a real emergency call minutes later when she got trapped under the station's garage door. [More]

Judge Rules Against Sheriff in Jail Abortion Dispute

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the man who bills himself as “America's Toughest Sheriff“, has been dealt a stinging rebuke by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge who has ruled the Sheriff cannot demand inmates pre-pay the cost of transportation to the clinic. [More]

Tuesday, October 20

Teen dies after mom gives him heroin-use lessons

A 46-year-old Burlington woman accused of teaching her teenage son how to shoot heroin was charged Monday in connection with his death from an overdose. [More]

Court docs: Balloon boy's dad has long history of rage

Hot-tempered "balloon boy" dad Richard Heene once got so angry he trashed a Volkswagon while fighting with the car's owner, according to newly released court records. "Clearly, from all indications, Mr. Heene has somewhat of a temper," Larimer County (Colo.) Sheriff Jim Alderden said. [More]

Yahoo apologizes for lap dances at event

Yahoo has apologized to Taiwanese clients over a lap dance show organized during a brainstorming meeting for Internet engineers in Taipei over the weekend. [More]

Oklahoma to Release Abortion Patient Information

Abortion rights advocates are lashing out at a new law in Oklahoma that in less than two weeks will require doctors to release detailed information - which will be posted on a public Web site - about all women who have abortions in the state. [More]

Man accused of printing fake $50 bills to pay for lap dances

A Cheyenne man has been charged in federal court with counterfeiting money, allegedly to pay an exotic dancer for a private session at a motel. [More]

Gunman prays with clerk, then finishes robbery

Police said a gunman spent nearly 10 minutes on his knees praying with the clerk at an Indianapolis check cashing business before fleeing with her cell phone and $20 from the register. [More]

Controversial Imam to Join Jesse Jackson at Muslim Group's Banquet

A radical New York imam who was once investigated as a possible co-conspirator in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center will share the stage Saturday night as a featured guest and speaker when the Council on American-Islamic Relations celebrates its 15th anniversary in Washington. [More]

Ex-NYC Police Chief Bernard Kerik Sent to Jail

A federal judge on Tuesday revoked bail for former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and sent him to jail to await a corruption trial scheduled to start next week. [More]

Doc Prescribed 93,000 Prescriptions in 3 Years

Indiana’s Attorney General wants to yank the license of a doctor who allegedly prescribed 93,000 prescriptions in just three and a half years – with the majority of them being narcotics. [More]

More Texts Between McNair, Girlfriend Released

Text messages between a woman and former NFL quarterback Steve McNair made in the hours before police say she shot him to death and turned the gun on herself support authorities' contention that she was spiraling out of control. [More]

Teen Wearing Headphones Killed By Train

An 18-year-old Central Florida high school student walking on a railroad track was hit and killed by an Amtrak train. Investigators said Robert Lopez was wearing headphones and apparently didn't hear the train's many whistles before the Monday accident. [More]

Florida Man Caught Sleeping in Pub He Was Trying to Rob

A Gulf Coast man was arrested after falling asleep in the freezer of a shuttered pub he was trying to rob. [More]

Man Charged After Making Coffee Naked

A Springfield, Virginia man is facing an indecent exposure charge after a passerby spotted the man naked in his kitchen and reported it to police. "Yes, I wasn't wearing any clothes but I was alone, in my own home and just got out of bed. It was dark and I had no idea anyone was outside looking in at me," Eric Williamson, 29, said. [More]

Octomom’s Fertility Doctor Ousted From Medical Society

Dr. Michael Kamrava, who treated Nadya “Octomom” Suleman for infertility, was ousted by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said Sean Tipton, an organization spokesman. [More]

Underweight Girl Denied Insurance Coverage

A 2-year old Colorado girl has been denied coverage because she doesn't weigh enough, KMGH-TV in Denver reported. Aislin Bates weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. She now tips the scale at 22 pounds. [More]

Miss California Organization Countersues Carrie Prejean

The franchise that operates the Miss California Organization countersued former Miss California Carrie Prejean on Monday, alleging in Los Angeles Superior Court that the lawsuit she has filed against it is merely an attempt "to extend her notoriety." [More]

In Hawaii, school's out for recession

At a time when President Barack Obama is pushing for more time in the classroom, his home state has created the nation's shortest school year under a new union contract that closes schools on most Fridays for the remainder of the academic calendar. [More]

Investigation reveals final hours of McNair, girlfriend

The girlfriend of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair had grown frustrated with their relationship and was struggling with financial difficulties in the days before she killed him and herself over the summer. [More]

Internet alters older brains in just one week

Adults with little Internet experience show changes in their brain activity after just one week online, a new study finds. The results suggest Internet training can stimulate neural activation patterns and could potentially enhance brain function and cognition in older adults. [More]

Nev. man accused of DUI for 3rd time in 17 days

A 50-year-old Reno man has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving for the third time in less than three weeks. [More]

32 planets discovered outside solar system

Thirty-two planets have been discovered outside Earth's solar system through the use of a high-precision instrument installed at a Chilean telescope, an international team said. [More]

TMZ founder vows fight against sheriff's office

The founder of celebrity news site TMZ.com is promising a fight after he says the Los Angeles County sheriff's department illegally obtained his phone records in its investigation into who leaked a report on Mel Gibson's 2006 drunken driving arrest, including details on the actor's anti-Semitic tirade. [More]

Settlement offered in Phoenix airport strangling case

More than two years after her death, Carol Anne Gotbaum's children are expected to receive a $250,000 settlement from an insurance company on behalf of the city of Phoenix, Arizona, and its police department. [More]

California Toddler Survives 30-Foot Fall From Window

Talk about a tough kid: A California toddler is alive after falling 30 feet from an apartment window and landing on concrete and rocks. [More]

Doctor found guilty of attempting abortion by poison

A doctor in London, UK, has been found guilty of trying to poison his lover in an attempt to abort the baby she was carrying. [More]

Monday, October 19

Charge Dismissed in Wisconsin Assault on Cheating Husband

A judge has dismissed a felony charge against a Wisconsin woman accused of plotting with her husband's lovers to lure him to a motel where he ended up tied to a bed with his penis glued to his stomach. [More]

Man stabbed son over toilet clog

Vermont State Police said they arrested a man who allegedly stabbed his 19-year-old son during an argument about a clogged toilet. [More]

White House aide says Obama team 'controlled' the media

Anita Dunn, a senior White House aide, has boasted of how Barack Obama's presidential campaign managed to "absolutely control" the press during the 2008 election. "Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," she said. [More]

Georgia Supreme Court Rules Against Millionaire's Mistress

The Georgia Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday against the mistress of a millionaire, saying she is not entitled to receive $7,900 a month for the rest of her life as provided under amendments to his will. [More]

Jockey Dies After Falling Off Horse in Oklahoma

A jockey has died after falling off his horse during a race this weekend at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla. [More]

Man escapes injury under train

Authorities said a New York man who fell onto train tracks at a New Jersey transit station escaped injury when a train rolled over him. [More]

Customer Subdues Robber With Applesauce

A customer at a city grocery tackled an armed robber and beat him with a can of applesauce when he refused to drop his gun, police said. [D] [More]

Suspect in Actor's Beating Pleads Not Guilty

A man accused of badly beating a teenage actor on a San Francisco bus has pleaded not guilty to felony assault and robbery charges. [More]

Nobel winner slams Bible as 'handbook of bad morals'

Speaking at the launch of his new book "Cain", Jose Saramago, who won the 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature, said "the Bible is a manual of bad morals (which) has a powerful influence on our culture and even our way of life." [More]

No winner for African leadership prize

The backers of a $5 million prize celebrating good governance in Africa said they can't find anyone to award this year. [More]

Swine flu provides foolproof excuse for slackers

Some slackers among us see a silver lining to the global swine flu pandemic: a rock-solid excuse for getting out of absolutely anything. [More]

92 year old in wheelchair found importing cocaine

A 92-year-old wheelchair-bound woman has been arrested by Spanish police who found packages of cocaine attached to her body at Madrid's main airport. [More]

Robber fled when clerk demanded gun proof

Police in Massachusetts said a would-be robber abandoned his plans when a clerk demanded to see the gun he claimed to be concealing. [More]

Polanski out of jail; undergoing medical treatment

Film director Roman Polanski, arrested in Switzerland three weeks ago to face extradition in a U.S. sex case, has been moved from jail for medical treatment, his French lawyer said. [More]

Pre-approved credit card with 79.9% APR?

For Gordon Hageman of San Diego, the Premier card offered by First Premier Bank came with a 79.9 percent APR. While it looks like an attempt to gouge the consumer, it is perfectly legal. [More]

Model Endures 30 Surgeries After 'Horrific' Acid Attack

Katie Piper was beaten and raped by her jealous boyfriend at a London hotel in March 2008. Daniel Lynch then arranged for another man to throw sulphuric acid in her face as she walked along the street. [More]

Feds: No more arrests for pot-smoking patients

Federal drug agents won't pursue pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers in states that allow medical marijuana, under new legal guidelines to be issued Monday by the Obama administration. [More]

Sheriff: Balloon boy hoax may have conspirators

Investigators say they want to question an associate of Richard Heene after e-mails surfaced showing the two had discussed a balloon hoax months ago as part of a public relations campaign for a reality TV show. [More]

Pioneering hardhat who sued for $20M in sexual harassment case dies in fire

A pioneering female hardhat who was suing her construction company employer for sexual harassment was killed in a fire that ripped through her Queens home Sunday, neighbors and officials said. [More]

Mother's final duty to soldier son - escort his body home

When the Army flew home the body of Spc. Stephan Mace from Afghanistan, his mother climbed aboard a small jet with the flag-draped coffin for the last leg of his trip. [More]

Sex case Catholic diocese files for bankruptcy

Delaware's Catholic Diocese of Wilmington filed for federal bankruptcy protection on Sunday night, on the eve of a civil trial in a high-profile sex abuse case against the diocese and a former priest. [More]

Elvis hair sells for $18,300 at auction

A clump of Elvis Presley's hair has sold for 18,300 dollars, while one of his shirts has raised 62,000 dollars at an auction of memorabilia belonging to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. [More]

Sunday, October 18

Convicted Priest Says He Didn't Kill Nun

A Roman Catholic priest imprisoned for killing a nun 29 years ago told a Columbus newspaper that he is innocent, but a prosecutor and the victim's nephew wondered why he is only making the claim now. [More]

Picking a fight: Obama vs Fox News

President Barack Obama's communications director says it was Fox News Channel, not the White House, that picked a fight. Yet it was Anita Dunn's words during a CNN interview last week, saying Fox is like "a wing of the Republican Party," that ignited an unusual verbal volley between a presidential administration and journalists. [More]

Accountants Sue 'Feed The Children' for Wrongful Dismissal

Two accountants are suing Feed The Children for wrongful dismissal after they notified the charity's board that the organization owed $1.1 million in taxes and that an official had tried to cover it up. [More]

Sheriff: Balloon incident was publicity stunt

Authorities announced Sunday what millions already suspected: The whole thing was staged. "It has been determined that this is a hoax," the sheriff said, adding police "believe we have evidence at this point that it was a publicity stunt." [More]

Birmingham Mayor Accused of Taking Rolex Watch

The mayor of Alabama's largest city is facing a federal bribery trial that could drive him from office and send him to prison if he's convicted. [More]

Teen Dies After Officers Use Taser to Subdue Him

Police say a 19-year-old man has died in California after officers used a Taser to subdue him at a board-and-care facility. [More]

Restaurant critics struggle to stay anonymous

Restaurant owners do everything to spot a critic in the crowd. And in a cat-and-mouse game, critics try every trick in the book to go unnoticed, so they'll be treated like anyone else. [More]

Police: Girl Admits To Killing Grandmother

A Naugatuck, Conn. teen was arrested Friday in connection with the death of her grandmother. [More]

Boca Raton chef threatens to shoot waitress over too many salad orders

One too many orders for mozzarella caprese was apparently the breaking point for a Boca Raton chef who threatened to shoot the waitress who placed the order, according to police. [More]

65-year-old woman tasers trooper

A 65-year-old Maine woman was jailed for allegedly assaulting a state trooper with a stun gun during an investigation into whether she was hoarding animals at her house. [More]

Ohio Doctor Found Guilty of Sex Charges Involving Patients

A jury has found a southwest Ohio pediatrician guilty of 16 sex-related charges involving former patients. Dr. Mark Blankenburg's twin brother, also a pediatrician, faces trial on 22 similar charges in April. [More]

Black bear chills in Wis. beer cooler

Shoppers in a Wisconsin grocery store got an unexpected surprise when a 125-pound black bear wandered inside and headed straight for the beer cooler. [More]

12 killed in Rio clashes with police, drug gangs

At least 12 people were killed and a helicopter was downed Saturday in fierce clashes between drug gangs and police in Rio de Janeiro, weeks after the city won its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. [More]

Bus driver suspended over ice scraper

A Minneapolis Metro Transit driver will be suspended without pay for 10 days for wielding an ice scraper in reaction to an abusive passenger, officials said. [More]

Aussie girl, 16, sets off on round-world sail

An Australian schoolgirl bidding to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world began her journey Sunday, despite urgings from officials to abandon the perilous endurance test. [More]

Authorities search house in 'balloon boy' case

Hours after Colorado authorities said they expect to file charges in the "balloon boy" case, sheriff's deputies and detectives were seen entering and leaving the house of Richard Heene early Sunday. [More]

Sheriff: Charges will be filed in balloon saga

Authorities are pursuing criminal charges in the case of a boy who vanished into his parents' garage while the world feared he was trapped aboard a helium balloon — prompting speculation of a hoax. [More]

Experts fear effects of media spotlight on 'balloon boy'

The young child known as the "balloon boy" appeared sickly on NBC's "Today" show Friday morning. With his eyes adrift, 6-year-old Falcon Heene leaned his tiny head against his father before he vomited - right in front of the cameras. [D] [More]

Third person dies in Arizona 'sweatbox' case

A woman hospitalized after spending time in a sauna-like "sweatbox" has died, bringing the total fatalities to three, authorities said late Saturday. [More]

Deemed criminally insane, but out on the street

Phillip A. Paul's escape during a recent field trip to a county fair exposed a little known truth: The criminally insane often live among us, with little or no supervision. [More]

Climate concerns turn city’s smell into cash cow

The smell of manure hangs over Greeley, Colorado as it has for half a century. These days the stench smells like an opportunity. [More]

1 in 8 Female Students Pregnant at Chicago High School

The number of teenage moms has increased in recent years — and one Chicago high school has reportedly become a shocking example of that, revealing that one in eight of its female students are pregnant. [More]

Debbie Rowe Sues 'Friend' Over Comments Made About Jackson Kids

A Florida woman who told a television interviewer that Michael Jackson's ex-wife was only interested in getting money from the singer's family and wasn't interested in gaining custody of her two children is being sued. [More]

L.A. woman shoots her young sons, killing 1

A woman shot her two young sons Saturday, killing a 5-year-old boy and critically wounding his 1-year-old brother, police said. [More]

Chicago Police in Trouble Over Photo

The Chicago Police Department is investigating several officers accused of forcing a college student they arrested during last month's G-20 summit in Pittsburgh to pose for a group photo with them. [More]

Charges Refiled Against Dad Who Tattooed Gang Sign on Son

A prosecutor has refiled charges of aggravated mayhem against two men accused of tattooing a gang sign on a 7-year-old boy, raising the possibility again that they could face life in prison if convicted. [More]

Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker

A Pennslyvania firefighter was suspended without pay for refusing to remove an American flag sticker from his locker. [More]

New Mishap Found in Chandra Levy Case

Attorneys handling the Chandra Levy murder case say an FBI forensic analyst mistakenly contaminated evidence from the site where the federal intern's body was found. [More]

Saturday, October 17

'Ho White' Beer Ad Incurs Disney's Wrath

A beer advertisement featuring Snow White blowing smoke rings while lying in bed with seven semi-naked dwarves has reportedly left Disney fuming. [More]

New Orleans mayor learns about disaster response in Cuba

New Orleans, Louisiana, Mayor Ray Nagin arrived in Cuba late Friday on a mission to learn about how to deal with storms, a spokeswoman said. [More]

Florida Woman Dies After Losing Control of Golf Cart

Authorities say an Ormond Beach woman died after being thrown from a golf cart in a gated community. [More]

Neighbors Thought Dead Man Was Halloween Display

Residents of a Southern California apartment complex say they saw a lifeless body slumped on a neighbor's patio, but didn't call police because they thought it was part of a Halloween display. [More]

'Illegal Alien' Halloween Costume Sparks Ire

A Southern California immigrant rights group on Friday asked Target stores and a costume company to stop selling an "illegal alien" Halloween costume it said is offensive to immigrants. [More]

Nicolas Cage sues ex-manager for "financial ruin"

Actor Nicolas Cage filed a $20 million lawsuit against his former business manager on Friday, accusing him of negligence and fraud that sent the "National Treasure" star "down a path toward financial ruin." [More]

Dad, 83, accused of opening fire on drumming son

San Antonio police are investigating the wounding of a man after his elderly father allegedly opened fire when the victim refused to stop drumming. [More]

Federal deficit triples from year ago

The federal budget deficit has surged to an all-time high of $1.42 trillion as the recession caused tax revenues to plunge while the government was spending massive amounts to stabilize the financial system and jump-start the economy. [More]

Catholic Priest Suspended for Fathering Child

A Wisconsin diocese late Friday suspended a Roman Catholic priest who fathered a child during a five-year relationship in Illinois and may have been involved separately with a minor. [More]

Mass. police: Victim finds robber applying for job

Police said a man accused of stealing a woman's wallet was tracked down by his alleged victim after he made his getaway on a bus and later tried to fill out a job application. [More]

Teen Shot Dead After Stabbing Police Officer at School

A coroner says a South Carolina police officer shot and killed a 16-year-old student who stabbed him at a high school. [More]

Peanut products doing just fine after health scare

Food makers processed more peanuts over the past year than nearly any other time on record despite a national salmonella outbreak blamed for killing nine people and scaring consumers away from peanut products for months. [More]

Friday, October 16

Balloon Boy: Child Protective Services to Check Out Falcon Heene's Family

Police have asked child protective services to investigate the Colorado family of a boy who was believed to have been aboard a runaway homemade flying saucer, but was later found to be hiding in his family's garage. [More]

School Chief Sticks By 'Zero Tolerance' Ruling for Eagle Scout

The New York school superintendent who suspended an Eagle Scout for 20 days for keeping a 2-inch utility knife locked in his car is unwilling to speak to the teen's family or bend in his ruling. [More]

Stepdad Shot Boyfriend Over Sex

A Central Florida man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of shooting an 18-year-old who was having sex with his 16-year-old stepdaughter. [More]

Richard Hatch ends federal evasion sentence

“Survivor” winner Richard Hatch was released from a Massachusetts jail early Friday after completing a federal sentence for evading taxes on the $1 million he won during the CBS reality show’s first season. [More]

TLC Network Is Suing Its Star Jon Gosselin

The TLC network has sued Jon Gosselin for allegedly breaching his contract as a star of the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8.". [More]

Interracial couple in Louisiana denied marriage license

Civil rights advocates in eastern Louisiana are calling for a justice of the peace of Tangipahoa Parish to resign after he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward, said that he was concerned for the children who might be born of the relationship and that, in his experience, most interracial marriages don't last. [More]

Balloon family was featured on 'Wife Swap.'

The family behind a dramatic flight of a helium balloon that floated free appeared on a reality show that highlighted concerns about the children's safety. [More]

'Balloon Boy' Says, 'We Did This for a Show.'

The 6-year-old Colorado boy thought to have floated off in a homemade balloon has raised questions whether it might have been an elaborate attention-getting family stunt. During a live interview on CNN Thursday night, Falcon Heene's father asked, "Why didn't you come out?" The boy answered, "You had said we did this for a show.". [More]

Berlin brothel cuts rates for 'green' customers

Part of Berlin's red-light scene is going green. One bordello, hoping to stave off falling demand in the economic crisis, has begun offering discounts to customers who pedal bicycles to the door. [More]

Sex Offender Freed in Budget Cut Program

Colorado authorities said they inadvertently released a sex offender from prison under a moneysaving early release initiative, prompting Republican lawmakers on Thursday to urge the state's Democratic governor to suspend the program. [More]

Driver suspended for wearing pink tie for cancer

A Springfield Mass Transit District bus driver has received a one-day unpaid suspension for wearing a pink necktie to help raise awareness for breast cancer. [More]

Boy to Obama: Why do people hate you?

President Barack Obama got a blunt question from an unexpected quarter - a daring nine-year-old boy who asked; "Why do people hate you?". [More]

300-lb man in dress tries to steal rum, cola

A person believed to be a man disguised as a woman in a black dress tried to steal a bottle of rum and cola drinks from a local drug store. [More]

Willingham juror no longer sure of his guilt in Texas case

At least one member of the jury that sentenced Cameron Todd Willingham to death in the arson homicides of his three children says she is struggling with the idea that she might have convicted an innocent man. [More]

Texas police find woman, 45, living with corpse

A 45-year-old Texas woman has been committed for mental evaluation after authorities say she lived in an apartment for a week with her dead boyfriend's body. [More]

Deaths at Arizona Sweat Lodge Ruled Homicide

The deaths of two people during a sweat lodge ceremony led by self-help expert James Arthur Ray are being investigated as homicides, authorities said Thursday. [More]

Senate proposals put premium on healthy living

Get in shape or pay a price. By more than doubling the maximum rewards and penalties that companies can apply to employees who flunk medical evaluations, the bills could put workers under intense financial pressure to lose weight, stop smoking or even lower their cholesterol. [More]

Texas man finds a rocket launcher on his property

A man who found a green metallic tube while cutting trees on his Comal County property thought it had a military look, like a rocket launcher. He was right. [More]

McCain daughter sorry for Twitter cleavage snap

Meghan McCain, one of the daughters of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, has apologized for using Twitter to post a picture in which she displayed an ample amount of cleavage. [More]

Baby OK after train hits stroller in Australia

Police in Australia say a 6-month-old baby has miraculously survived a train hitting his stroller that had rolled onto the tracks. The train pushed the stroller about 130 feet along the tracks before it stopped. [More]

David Letterman extortion suspect threatened to write book

A television producer charged with attempting to extort $2 million from U.S. talk-show host David Letterman threatened to write a book about the TV star's affairs with employees, court documents showed on Thursday. [More]

Man says cat stolen, chlorine dumped in fish tank

Police said a man reported a strange burglary in which the property involved had four legs and fins. Police Lt. Randy Ziegler said the man reported that whoever broke into his home dumped chlorine in his fish tank, killing the fish, and made off with his cat. [More]

Motorcyclist Drives Over Fellow Biker

A motorcyclist is in critical condition after flying off his bike and being run over by another motorcycle. [More]

Okla. mom charged with locking son in closets

The mother of a 14-year-old Oklahoma boy who says he was locked away in apartment closets over four years was charged Thursday with 29 counts of child abuse for allegedly torturing and imprisoning the teen. [More]

Thief takes $60, but Ga. man just wants penny back

Ralph Baker isn't too upset that he lost $60 when someone broke into his Macon apartment and stole his wallet. It's the penny that was tucked inside the black billfold that really has him riled. [More]

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Update: Missing Boy Found Safe

CNN is reporting that the 6-year-old thought to be riding in a run-away balloon was found hiding in the family's garage attic - in an apparent attempt to avoid punishment for releasing his dad's balloon. [Developing]. [More]

Crypt above Marilyn Monroe back up for auction

The crypt above Marilyn Monroe is going back on the auction block. Bidding for the marble mausoleum crypt will start at $500,000 beginning Oct. 19, according to organizer Eric Gazin of AuctionCause.com. A previous $4.6 million bid for the space fell through. [More]

Mexican rock star infected after buttock injections

Doctors operated on Mexican rock star Alejandra Guzman Thursday after she contracted an infection from injections in her buttocks, her family told media here. Guzman told Televisa beforehand that she regretted opting for plastic surgery to enhance her buttocks, and said that she now risked being paralyzed. [More]

Developing: Balloon lands empty; search on for boy

A balloon that was set adrift today by a 6-year-old boy from his parents' Fort Collins, Colorado, home was empty when it landed, but authorities said they were searching for the boy on the ground. Police said a sibling had reported seeing the boy on board. [More]

Ark. officer forced to use stun gun on brother

Authorities said a Vilonia police officer involved in a fracas at a private club in Conway has been taken into custody only after he was Tasered by his own brother, who is a Conway officer. Vilonia officer Jeremy Smith, 32, faces charges of disorderly conduct and public intoxication. [More]

Mother Takes Blame For 400-Pound Teen

There was widespread reaction to a story first aired on Local 6 Tuesday about a 400-pound 13-year-old. Doctors contacted state officials and the boy's mother was fearful the Department of Children and Families might take him away. [More]

Shriver apologizes for breaking cell phone law

California first lady Maria Shriver says she's sorry for breaking a state law that requires drivers to use hands-free devices while talking on cell phones. [More]

Pregnant teen graces cover of Teen Vogue

A representative for Teen Vogue said that they didn’t know Dunn was pregnant until after the photo shoot, and production schedules, among other factors, led to the decision to keep the cover in place. [More]

Boy, 14, accused of coercing girls into sending him nude photos

A 14-year-old Whitnall High School student who was found guilty earlier this year of sexually assaulting a child is now accused of coercing teen girls into sending him sexually explicit photos of themselves. [More]

Limbaugh dropped from group seeking to buy Rams

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been dropped from a group seeking to buy the St. Louis Rams. [More]

Polanski said working to finish new movie from jail

Director Roman Polanski is finishing work on his latest film from a Swiss jail where he is fighting extradition to the United States on a 1977 sex charge, writer Robert Harris said Wednesday. [More]

Train derailment victims settle for $30 million

A commuter rail agency agreed to pay about $30 million to settle most of the lawsuits from a derailment that killed 11 people and injured another 180 after a driver trying to commit suicide parked his gas-drenched SUV on the tracks, attorneys said Wednesday. [More]

CBS Show On Casey Causes Controversy

A CBS News special featuring Casey Anthony is creating a controversy before it airs, with some calling for a boycott of the network's sponsors. The special, which will air Saturday night on "48 Hours Mystery," promises to deliver exclusive interviews and shocking new clues that could change the investigation into Anthony, who is charged with murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee. [More]

Sheriff: Drunk dad, son rob home, son passes out

Officials say a drunk father and son burglarized a home and were caught after the son was found passed out under the invalid homeowner's bed. DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said Wednesday that a 37-year-old man and his 19-year-old son were arrested Sunday. [More]

British singer Leona Lewis 'punched' at book signing

British singer Leona Lewis was punched in the head during a book signing in London on Wednesday. Lewis, 24, had been signing copies of her autobiography for around 90 minutes at a book store in the upmarket Piccadilly district of London when "a guy came up and punched her to the side of the head," the spokesman said. [More]

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Robber loses wallet, then asks victim to return it

Police said a would-be robber was in jail after losing his wallet during the attempted robbery then phoning the victim and asking for it to be returned. Little Rock police said the 23-year-old man was arrested on robbery charges Tuesday. [More]

Mom Put Dead Girl In Trash

A Bellview, Florida woman has been charged in the death of her 18-month-old daughter after the girl was found dead in a trash can. [More]

Two Madoff victims file lawsuit against the SEC

Two victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, seeking at least the $2.4 million they lost in the fraud. The victims, believed to be the first to sue the SEC over the $65 billion fraud, said in court papers the agency was negligent and breached its duties by failing to investigate Madoff, despite numerous warnings and tips. [More]

Portland man gets probation after stabbing ex-girlfriend's pet fish

A 27-year-old Southeast Portland man who beat his ex-girlfriend and then stabbed her pet fish and left it impaled in her apartment has been sentenced to two years of probation and a psychological evaluation. [More]

Police arrest woman after she reports stolen marijuana

Saginaw County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 54-year-old woman Sunday after she reported the theft of several marijuana plants from her Brant Township home. [More]

86-year-old charged with cat theft

Neighbors say it’s a case of a cat-napping. But the suspect – an 86-year-old woman – says she took in a stray cat, cared for it for almost a year and then was charged with theft. [More]

First photo: Jaycee Dugard as she is now

The hair is darker, bordering on brown, but Jaycee Dugard’s clear blue eyes still sparkle in a face lit by a brilliant smile. Looking out from the cover of People magazine, the young woman who was kidnapped at the age of 11 appears to be 10 years younger than her 29 years. [More]

UPS adds carbon offsets to shipping menu

UPS is offering customers a chance - for a fee - to offset the environmental effect of shipping their packages across the country or around the world. [More]

Amish man crashes car while driving for the first time, kills friend

An 18-year-old Amish man who got behind the wheel of a car for the first time is charged in a crash that killed his friend. [More]

She's A Doll: First Lady Is An Action Figure

Standing six inches tall the First Lady figure comes with a choice of three outfits, each showing off her trademark bare arms. On the toymaker's website, they say the Michelle doll is a 'must have.'. [More]

Woman Arrested For DWI Twice In One Night

A 33-year-old upstate New York woman has been charged with driving while intoxicated twice in less than five hours. [More]

Teacher could face death for killing lover's pregnant fiancé

A Mississippi middle school teacher could face the death penalty after she was found guilty Tuesday of fatally shooting and stabbing her lover's pregnant fiancé in 2006. [More]

Detroit Woman Charged With Murdering Her Two Children

A woman intentionally set a fire at her boyfriend's mobile home in suburban Detroit, killing two of her young children while fleeing with a third, a prosecutor said Tuesday in filing murder charges. [More]

Kentucky girl loses state golf title after admitting scorecard error

Emma Talley wants people to know that she didn't try to cheat. In fact, she'd probably be a two-time state golf champion right now if she didn't turn herself in for a scorecard mistake. [More]

Firefighter Badly Burned as Safety Demo Goes Horribly Wrong

D.C. Fire and EMS Department Chief Dennis Rubin apologized for the incident, in which firefighters set a mock dorm room on fire in what was supposed to be a safety exercise on the campus of Galludet University. When the firefighters started to put the fire out, a plexiglass curtain went up in flames, melted, and began to drip fire on the men. [More]

Man Tried To Eat Evidence In Pot Bust

Deputies said an upstate New York man has been charged with evidence tampering after he was busted for growing marijuana - and then tried to eat the evidence. [More]

Ala. Party Mistakenly Taps Dead Man For Panel

Reynolds Smith Jr. was a stalwart Democratic voter in Alabama. But the Alabama Democratic Party overlooked another fact when it appointed Smith to an interim party panel: He died in November. [More]

Boy Born Without Hands Leads Soccer Team on Road to World Championships

An 11-year-old North Carolina boy isn't letting his disability get in the way of his dreams. [More]

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