LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — History bumped into modern times when a covered wagon overturned on a busy Arkansas interstate, snarling traffic for a short time. Arkansas State Police say the wagon being pulled by Karen Robertson of El Dorado had a mechanical malfunction a little before 3 p.m. Monday, and took a spill…
Senator with son named McKinley decries mountain name change
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut state senator has personal reasons for opposing the name change of North America’s tallest mountain peak from Mount McKinley to Denali. Republican Sen. L. Scott Frantz says four of his children are named for mountains, including 17-year-old son McKinley. Hunter Frantz is named for a mountain near McKinley,…
China enlists monkeys to keep birds from spoiling big parade
BEIJING (AP) — China is leaning on the animal kingdom — including a squad of nest-wrecking monkeys — to ensure its military parade commemorating the end of World War II goes smoothly. To minimize the chances of birds striking engines during the many airplane flyovers connected to the Beijing parade, state media reports say,…
London’s car-melting skyscraper wins Carbuncle Cup
By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) – A London skyscraper that made headlines for reflecting sunlight at an intensity that melted parts of a Jaguar car in the street below has been awarded the annual Carbuncle Cup that highlights perceived architectural horrors. Officially called 20 Fenchurch Street, the 37-storey office tower in the City of…
Fox News anchor sues Hasbro over toy hamster with her name
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — An anchor for Fox News is suing Hasbro for more than $5 million over a toy hamster that shares her name — and possibly even her resemblance. Harris Faulkner sued Hasbro this week over its plastic Harris Faulkner hamster, sold as part of the Pawtucket, Rhode Island-based company’s popular “Littlest…
Texas teen fatally shoots himself while taking selfie
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – A 19-year-old Texas man who was posing with a gun for a social media selfie photo accidentally shot himself and died from the wounds, Houston police said on Wednesday. “A witness told police he was taking a selfie with a gun and the gun accidentally discharged,” Houston police spokeswoman Jodi.
Police: Man huffed keyboard spray after crash as cop watched
TOPSHAM, Maine (AP) — Police say a Maine man crashed his SUV into a guardrail on an interstate and then inhaled computer keyboard cleaner in front of the officer who pulled him over. Topsham Sgt. Robert Ramsay tells the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1JxG2kp) that 44-year-old John Yates was arrested Monday night on Interstate 295…
Connecticut Gov. Malloy is photobombed by beluga whale
MYSTIC, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has found himself upstaged by a beluga whale during a tourism news conference at the Mystic Aquarium. Malloy was standing in front of the Alaskan Coast exhibit Wednesday touting an increase in summer tourism in Connecticut when a whale named Juno swam over to the…
Odd ancient lizard-like reptile called earliest-known turtle
By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) – It was a creature that one scientist said resembled “a strange, gluttonous lizard that swallowed a small Frisbee.” But a sophisticated skull analysis showed that this reptile called Eunotosaurus africanus that lived in southern Africa 260 million years ago is actually the earliest-known turtle, even though it had…
Sasquatch sighting! Maine police say Bigfoot artist nabbed
KENNEBUNK, Maine (AP) — Authorities have nabbed a man who’s accused of spray-painting images of Sasquatch on public property in Kennebunk, Maine. Police in the picturesque coastal town didn’t find the graffiti featuring Bigfoot all that amusing and charged 36-year-old Freeman Hatch with criminal mischief and possession of drugs. He’s due in court in…