2 arrested for shoplifting at ‘Shop with a Cop’ event in Oregon

2 accused of shoplifting at shop with cop event

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two men are accused of using the Portland Police Bureau’s annual “Shop With a Cop” back-to-school event as a chance to shoplift.
Police spokeswoman Kelli Sheffer says roughly 60 officers were helping 155 children pick out clothes at a local store Wednesday when the suspects …. Source  : 2 arrested for shoplifting at ‘Shop with a Cop’ event in Oregon.

Snake on a train: Report of passenger with scaly reptile around neck stalls Boston rail line

Report of man with snake slows Boston train line

BOSTON – Snake on a train? Transit officials in Boston aren’t taking any chances.
A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority spokesman says a train was temporarily stopped after riders reported a man aboard had a snake around his neck.
The man had already left when police arrived Thursday afternoon at … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Snake on a train: Report of passenger with scaly reptile around neck stalls Boston rail line.

A wild and woolly ride: Truck overturns on I-80 in NJ, setting loose scores of sheep

Lambs on the lam: Sheep get loose in I-80 in NJ

KNOWLTON, N.J. – Traffic is flowing again on Interstate 80 in New Jersey after a truck carrying sheep overturned and set scores of them loose.
The sheep were on their way to a slaughterhouse when they were tossed out of the overturned tractor-trailer near the New …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : A wild and woolly ride: Truck overturns on I-80 in NJ, setting loose scores of sheep.

Authorities search for answers after yacht stolen from Mexico runs ashore on Fla. Gulf Coast

Yacht stolen from Mexico washes up on Fla. coast

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Authorities are investigating who stole a 48-foot luxury yacht from a marina in Mexico and how it ended up on a Florida beach almost 500 miles away.
The yacht called “Makin’ Waves” was found beached with its engines running on Wednesday near St. Petersburg.
Yacht owner … Read : Authorities search for answers after yacht stolen from Mexico runs ashore on Fla. Gulf Coast.

High-end ham: Ky. donors offer $1.6 million for champion ham; proceeds will go to charity

Ky. champion ham fetches $1.6 million for charity

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Start baking those biscuits and stirring that red-eye gravy. Two donors have pledged a record $1.6 million for Kentucky’s grand champion country ham.
That works out to about $100,000 a pound for 16 pounds of Kentucky’s favorite cured meat.
The auction is the highlight of the Kentucky …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A fish out of water: Flying Asian carp ends Missouri River endurance race for Texas kayaker

Flying fish knocks paddler from Mo. river race

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A fish out of water sent a Texas kayaker onto dry land instead of the finish line at an annual Missouri River endurance race.
Houston resident Brad Pennington was considered one of the favorites among men’s solo racers in the Missouri River 340, a canoe and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : A fish out of water: Flying Asian carp ends Missouri River endurance race for Texas kayaker.

$250K dance: Caesars Palace fined for letting high-limit player boogie on baccarat table

Card table dance costs Caesars Palace $250K

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada’s gaming board has fined Caesars Palace $250,000 for allowing a high-limit baccarat player to dance on a Las Vegas casino card table while the game was being played.
Caesars Palace agreed to the fine announced this week by the state Gaming Control Board. Final Gaming …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : $250K dance: Caesars Palace fined for letting high-limit player boogie on baccarat table.

Swiss firm recalls ‘Liechtenschwein’ piggy banks, a pun unappreciated in the principality

Swiss firm recalls ‘Liechtenschwein’ piggy banks

GENEVA – No jokes about Liechtenstein, please.
A Swiss company has been forced to apologize and pull its piggy banks off the market after heavy criticism from the tiny Alpine principality known for its private banking industry.
The offense was all in the name, “Liechtenschwein,” turning the last syllable into the German …. Original source  : Swiss firm recalls ‘Liechtenschwein’ piggy banks, a pun unappreciated in the principality.

Police: Massachusetts shark sighting turns out to be joker’s fin made of foam, duct tape

Mass. police: Shark sighting a practical joke

SOMERSET, Mass. – A practical joker in Massachusetts has taken advantage of recent shark sightings and caused a scare with a fake fin.
Police say about 50 people were drawn to a Somerset, Mass., cove on Wednesday night after someone reported seeing a shark fin in the water. Police tell … Read : Police: Massachusetts shark sighting turns out to be joker’s fin made of foam, duct tape.

Snake slithers into electrical box outside upstate NY hospital, causes 10-hour power outage

Snake in electrical box causes NY hospital outage

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – A snake slithered into a switch box outside a New York hospital, where it met its maker and caused a 10-hour power outage.
Officials at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie say backup generators kicked on Tuesday afternoon when a common-variety snake got into the switch box … Read more : Snake slithers into electrical box outside upstate NY hospital, causes 10-hour power outage.

Pricey infrared camera falls off in-flight Ohio police helicopter, damages vehicles on ground

Ohio police chopper camera falls off, smashes cars

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A camera mounted to a police helicopter in Ohio fell off mid-flight, striking at least three vehicles in a parking lot.
No one on the ground was hurt when the infrared camera valued at roughly $100,000 came crashing down around noon Wednesday in Columbus. One vehicle …. Read the original article  : Pricey infrared camera falls off in-flight Ohio police helicopter, damages vehicles on ground.