Offbeat News

BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) — Oregon police say a car thief who found a toddler in the backseat of a stolen vehicle returned and chastised the mother for leaving the child unattended before driving away again. Beaverton police

By ELAINE GANLEY Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Jeanne Pouchain has a problem. The Frenchwoman is officially dead according to a court ruling but has been trying for three years to prove that she is alive. The

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) — Members of the Church of Satan are grieving the destruction of a historic “Halloween House” that authorities say was set ablaze this week by an arsonist. New York’s Poughkeepsie Journal reports the historic

PERINTON, N.Y. (AP) — An animal protection group says nearly 100 cats have survived a house fire in a town outside Rochester, New York. Workers from the Lollypop Farm shelter had been told Thursday that as many

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A pigeon that Australia declared a biosecurity risk has received a reprieve after a U.S. bird organization declared its identifying leg band is fake. The band suggested the

ROME (AP) — The vaunted Mediterranean diet and French gastronomy are getting some competition: The European food safety agency says worms are safe to eat. The Parma-based agency published a scientific opinion Wednesday on the safety of

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — A pet cat believed killed along with her owner in a huge mudslide has been found three years later. The Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Santa Barbara County says the calico named

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — French wine and grapevines are headed back to Earth after a year aboard the International Space Station. SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule undocked Tuesday with 12 bottles

FAIR HAVEN, Vt. (AP) — A goat and a dog who were each elected mayor of a Vermont town have helped raise money to renovate a community playground. The Fair Haven town manager came up with the

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — In the “gamblers will bet on absolutely anything” category, here’s a new one: A major sports book is taking bets on aerial drone races. DraftKings says it

By CHRISTINA LARSON AP Science Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A new study shows that differences in the DNA of identical twins can show up within the first two weeks after an egg is fertilized. Scientists in Iceland

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (AP) — A passerby spotted a wandering llama in a field off an interstate in Massachusetts and with the help of an animal control officer, brought it to a farm for safekeeping. The Boston Globe

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Two fishermen have rescued a naked fugitive who they found sitting on a tree branch in Australian crocodile habitat. Cam Faust says he and fellow recreational fisher heard

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Utah man has pleaded guilty after authorities said he was caught digging in a Yellowstone National Park cemetery in search of hidden treasure. Federal prosecutors say 52-year-old Rodrick Dow Craythorn of Syracuse,

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts state lawmaker is asking for the public’s help to select an official state dinosaur. State Rep. Jack Lewis tweeted Monday that he plans on filing the legislation on Jan. 15, adding that