KMOV Weird World

Authorities: Man stole car to face theft charge

2009-11-07T22:33:17Z

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) -- The California Highway Patrol say a man stole a car to make a court appearance on a previous auto theft charge.

Patrol investigator Chris Linehan says he arrested Samuel Botchvaroff Tuesday as he sat inside a stolen 2000 Range Rover at the Vallejo courthouse. The 24-year-old Botchvaroff had just left his arraignment on auto theft charges stemming from an Oct. 31 arrest.

Linehan said the Range Rover's LoJack system helped him locate the vehicle, which had been stolen from Oakland earlier Tuesday morning.

Authorities say Botchvaroff told officers his car had been impounded, and he had no other way to get to his arraignment.

He was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of auto theft and possession of stolen property.

Medical marijuana shops growing like weeds

2009-11-07T02:53:48Z

SEBASTOPOL, Calif. (AP) -- It could be easier to find pot than a cup of coffee in L.A. Los Angeles has more pot shops than Starbucks and almost as many as public schools.

]]> In California, medical marijuana dispensaries are growing like -- well -- weeds. California voters approved medicinal marijuana more than a decade ago. But many communities have yet to regulate the budding industry -- including L.A. The pot shop in the wine country town of Sebastopol is in a former auto dealership and will soon open a second location. Local officials are high on medical marijuana as way of increasing tax revenue during these tough times.

Public restroom needs professionals

2009-11-07T00:57:19Z

NEW YORK (AP) -- It may not be your dream job, but it does have perks.

]]> Lots of T-P. Charmin is looking for greeters for 20 public restrooms in New York's Times Square. Five so-called Charmin Ambassadors will entertain the potty patrons over the holiday season. The job pays $10,000 for six weeks. Hundreds of would-be bathroom entertainers showed up for auditions yesterday in New York. Charmin advises their would-be temps must "really, really enjoy going to the bathroom."

Chunk some pumpkins

2009-11-06T22:00:29Z

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. (AP) -- Incoming!

]]> The pumpkins will be flying this weekend near in Bridgeville, Del. The 24th annual world Punkin Chunkin contest will have the orange gourds soaring over a field. Inventors and garage mechanics are putting the finishing touches on their compressed air cannons. Last year's event was won by 21-one-year-old Jake Burton. His team set a new distance record by blasting their pumpkin more than 4,483 feet.

The police have my homework

2009-11-06T20:36:47Z

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) -- The dog didn't eat one kid's homework.

]]> The cops have it -- as evidence. Police in Rhode Island report two 15-year-old boys skipped class one day this week and broke into a home near their high school. Lt. Eugene Jalette says after stealing some video game systems, the boys grabbed their backpacks and headed back to school. But the homework of one of the boys apparently fell out of his school bag, near a broken basement window. The assignment had the kid's name on it. Police report arresting the boys at their school and recovering the stolen stuff. The names of suspects aren't being released because of their age.

Man calls 911 over missing McDonald's drink

2009-11-06T18:38:07Z

ALOHA, Ore. (AP) -- No, an incorrect order in a drive-through lane isn't a 911 emergency.

]]> A 20-year-old man who called 911 to complain about his missing McDonalds orange juice now has to pay a $300 fine. Deputies in Washington County, Ore., tried to explain to Raibin Raof Osman that such disputes don't qualify as a police matter. Deputies say when Osman insisted he had the right to police help -- he was read his rights, then taken off to jail. The Oregonian newspaper reports Osman has pleaded guilty to improper use of 911.

Bus drives 3 miles per hour

2009-11-06T14:40:00Z

NEW YORK (AP) -- If you're going crosstown in the Big Apple, you might be better off walking.

]]> The Straphangers Campaign is giving its annual "Pokey" award to Manhattan's crosstown 42nd Street bus. The transit watchdog group says the M42 bus averages just 3.7 mph on weekday afternoons.

Wild dogs nurse at zoo

2009-11-06T02:28:33Z

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Honey, the mommy mutt, is nursing a litter of wild dogs.

]]> Officials at the Pittsburgh Zoo brought in Honey from the city animal shelter. The zoo has a litter of nine African painted dogs whose mother died shortly after their birth. Zoo vet Dr. Stephanie James says the only other litter of wild dogs hand-raised in captivity was in the United Kingdom. Honey
recently had a litter of her own. Zoo officials hope to be able to wean the wild pups in a couple of weeks.

Arthritis patient wants to carry gun

2009-11-06T00:16:25Z

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Puffing pot and packing heat.

]]> That issue is now before the Oregon Court of Appeals. The sheriffs of Washington and Jackson counties are appealing a lower court order that medical marijuana users have a right to concealed gun permits. Attorneys for the sheriffs say that marijuana
possession is still a violation of federal law and the permits should be
denied. Voters in the state legalized medical use of pot more than a decade
ago. Steven Schwerdt uses marijuana for his arthritis and gout. He says he
should also be allowed to carry a gun because he can't run away from a
dangerous situation.

Image of Jesus appears on truck window

2009-11-05T18:25:52Z

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- Move over Joe Isuzu -- here comes Jesus Isuzu.

]]> Jim Stevens says nearly every morning an image of Jesus appears in the condensation on the driver's side window of his Isuzu pickup. Stevens says he's not particularly religious. A photo of what looks like a face on Steven's truck is published in the Johnson City, Tenn., Press. Stevens figured it would evaporate. But he says it's been reappearing for two weeks. He's decided not to wash his truck for a while.

Woman with road-rage throws ranch dressing at car

2009-11-05T16:23:04Z

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- It's an order of road rage -- with ranch dressing on the side.

]]> Tiffany M. Wallace is pleading guilty to ramming her pickup into a car, then throwing ranch dressing at it. The 18-year-old entered her plea in an Iowa courtroom this week as part of a deal with prosecutors. Wallace is to be sentenced Dec. 11 on a charge of aggravated battery. The Idaho Statesman reports the driver of the other car told police he was cut off twice by Wallace. He says she also threw coins and plastic containers of ranch dressing at his car. The victim adds that Wallace rammed her truck into his car at least three times in a parking lot.

18-year-old joins school board

2009-11-05T14:27:31Z

MASSILLON, Ohio (AP) -- Kathryn Knowles is anything but an apathetic teen.

]]> Not only did the 18-year-old vote for the first time this week, she was also elected to an Ohio school board. The high school senior won a four-year term on the board of the Jackson Local district. She says the experience of the campaign was "phenomenal." Kathryn adds that she wants to help her school and her community.

Bear attacks hunters' raft

2009-11-05T14:18:39Z

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Sometimes you get the bear -- and sometimes the
bear gets your raft.

]]> Alaska State Troopers report several members of a bear-hunting party found themselves up a creek without a paddle or a raft. The hunters were stranded early yesterday on a river in southeast Alaska, after a momma bear with two cubs shredded their Zodiac inflatable. Troopers say the hunters walked upriver and fired their rifles to attract attention. A local resident came to their rescue in a canoe. No one was hurt.

7-year-old becomes mayor

2009-11-05T02:30:11Z

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) -- Amphibiville has a new mayor.

]]> But 7-year-old Claire Kozal wasn't voted into office. She becomes mayor of Amphibiville thanks to an essay contest. Amphibiville is the Detroit Zoo's habitat for frogs, toads and other amphibians. The contest was open to school kids in Michigan ages 6-12. Claire serves a two-year term as mayor. She'll even get her name and picture on a plaque at the amphibian center. Claire says she loves all animals, "even the slimy ones."

Bathroom monitor for doctors

2009-11-05T00:27:41Z

CLARKSVILLE, Md. (AP) -- You might think kindergarteners need supervision while washing their hands.

]]> But doctors and nurses? State officials in Maryland are creating teams of hospital hand-washing monitors. They'll be hospital staff members who'll secretly keep tabs on their colleagues' hand-washing habits. The idea is to prevent infections from spreading because of improper hand-washing technique. The first-of-its-kind program is funded with $100,000 in federal stimulus money.