Off the Beat

July 22, 2008

• Men arrested in Wash. department store break-in found sleeping on stolen hammock, pillows

July 21, 2008

• California men behind bars after allegedly setting drinking buddy's crotch ablaze

July 22, 2008

• Ind. pastor breaks with convention, breaks his wrist by using dirt bike as prop during service

July 21, 2008

• The 'doctor fish' are in: Tiny carp nibble away at scaly feet of Va. spa's pedicure clients

• It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at World Santa Claus Congress in Copenhagen

July 20, 2008

• New baggy pants law in Chicago suburb: Can't show more than 3 inches of underwear in public

July 21, 2008

• Gun group tours Boise zoo in southwest Idaho while openly carrying handguns

July 18, 2008

• Daytona Beach police officer fired for demanding free coffee at Starbucks

• Texas highway reopens after 5,000 gallons of molasses create sticky 'all natural' mess

• Parachutist lands on band at Kansas military ceremony, hurting 3; and yes, the band played on

July 17, 2008

• Flush with frustration, Seattle sells 5 of its public toilets on eBay for $89,000 each

• Kentucky boy, 11, in reflective vest tracks down speeders with toy radar gun

July 16, 2008

• Judge: NY man must apologize for donning giant offensive costume at high school graduation

• Fla. cancer survivor celebrates another victory _ a $100,000 dream wedding

• Mich. cities say hundreds of manhole covers stolen

July 17, 2008

• Hobart, Ind., police officer's squad car wrecked less than half-hour into his 1st day on force

July 16, 2008

• Man wore 'World's Greatest Dad' shirt while planning sex with minor

July 15, 2008

• Wis. woman accused of placing dead rat in restaurant food, demanding $500,000 in hush money

• Texas homeowner chats with intoxicated burglary suspect until officers arrive to arrest him

July 14, 2008

• Dallas police find cocaine in car used by officers

July 15, 2008

• Common cents: Kansas community unites to break 2 world records for laying pennies

July 10, 2008

• Mo. gov. cancels ceremony after honorees a no-show

July 09, 2008

• Smell Tells The Story: Corpse Flower Blooms

• Colorado book borrower must spend time in prison

• Man robbed buying crack calls cops who arrest him

• 'Beer Pong' game's teen-friendly rating criticized

July 08, 2008

• Judge tells verbose lawyer to make it snappy

• Fake bouts showing men kissing draw suspicion

• Truck rams Concorde, knocks off its nose in NYC

• Ala. police nab Mercedes-climbing goat

July 07, 2008

• Man out-spits father, claims pit-spitting title

• Man accused of faking heart attacks to avoid bills

July 03, 2008

• Oregon lawn-chair pilot plans 300-mile flight

July 16, 2008

• Dolphins drawing crowds in N.J. waterway move into different river instead of heading seaward

July 03, 2008

• New Zealand man puts up his soul for auction

• Courthouse with dead opossum almost free of fleas

• Woman seeks $30K after her home mistakenly razed

• Man accused of hitting mom with Polish sausage

• Australians making odd choices for funeral songs

• More than 2,000 guitarists appear to set record

• Runway tractor carrying potatoes mashes car

• Nowthen, Minn., I think our city has a name

• Woman crashes into store then tries to buy beer

July 02, 2008

• Arkansas thieves take bank ATM -- but not its cash

July 01, 2008

• British student gets credit for expletive on exam

• Giraffe helps camels, zebras escape from circus

• Pair caught skinny dipping in Portland reservoir

June 30, 2008

• Man auctions life, but disappointed at bid price