Offbeat

Offbeat Grocer tries to profit off botched burglary that went viral

By Associated Press Published: Apr 24, 2013 at 2:33 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 24, 2013 at 3:44 PM PDT

A Northern California grocery store owner is trying to profit from a suspected thief's botched burglary attempt that was caught on video and went viral.

Offbeat Giant elephant bird egg fetches $101,813 at auction

By Associated Press Published: Apr 24, 2013 at 9:25 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 24, 2013 at 9:44 AM PDT

A massive, partly fossilized egg laid by a now-extinct elephant bird has sold for more than double its estimate at a London auction.

Offbeat Mormon bishop with Samurai sword runs off attacker

By BRADY McCOMBS Associated Press Published: Apr 23, 2013 at 8:02 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 24, 2013 at 7:41 AM PDT

A Samurai sword-wielding Mormon bishop helped a neighbor woman escape a Tuesday morning attack by a man who had been stalking her.

Offbeat More than 100 'Zombies' invade college campus (Photo Gallery)

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER Associated Press Published: Apr 23, 2013 at 9:27 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 23, 2013 at 9:26 PM PDT

You can learn a lot from a zombie.

Offbeat Will copycat 'Kitten Bowl' outdo 'Puppy Bowl'? Stay tuned

By SUE MANNING, Associated Press Published: Apr 23, 2013 at 11:50 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 23, 2013 at 2:36 PM PDT

The Puppy Bowl, a fixture on Animal Planet during the Super Bowl for nearly a decade, will have new competition next year from the Kitten Bowl, the Hallmark Channel announced this month.

Offbeat 5 years later, man reunited with bird he lost in divorce

By Associated Press Published: Apr 23, 2013 at 9:01 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 23, 2013 at 12:07 PM PDT

A Great Falls man who lost his macaw in a divorce more than five years ago has been reunited with the bird, thanks to an observant friend.

Offbeat Huckleberry crowned most 'Beautiful Bulldog' (Photo Gallery)

By BARBARA RODRIGUEZ Associated Press Published: Apr 22, 2013 at 1:03 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 22, 2013 at 2:36 PM PDT

If at first you don't succeed, wipe the slobber off and try again. Just ask 4-year-old pup Huckleberry, who's been crowned this year's "Beautiful Bulldog."

Offbeat Nike yanks 'Boston Massacre' shirts after bombings

By Associated Press Published: Apr 22, 2013 at 12:26 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 22, 2013 at 2:54 PM PDT

Nike Inc. says it has pulled from the market T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Boston Massacre" in the aftermath of last week's bombing during the Boston Marathon that killed three people and left dozens injured.

Offbeat Woman has close encounter with circus tiger in bathroom

By Associated Press Published: Apr 22, 2013 at 11:22 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 22, 2013 at 11:22 AM PDT

A central Kansas woman likely won't remember her first circus for the clowns or performances - it'll be the tiger in the bathroom.

Offbeat Affidavit: Maine hermit carried bacon, syrup, $395

By Associated Press Published: Apr 21, 2013 at 11:48 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 21, 2013 at 11:48 AM PDT

Since his arrest, accused burglar Christopher Knight has attracted a telephoned marriage proposal and a stranger's offer to bail him out.

Offbeat Police: Thief snares unsuspecting woman's purse - with a cane

By Associated Press Published: Apr 20, 2013 at 10:51 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 20, 2013 at 10:51 AM PDT

Nancy Thompson thought she must have just misplaced her credit cards when she opened her purse on March 30 at a Portland restaurant to pay for her adult daughters' meals and found the cards were gone.

Offbeat Having a ball: Fan catches 2 homers at single game

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer Published: Apr 19, 2013 at 3:52 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 19, 2013 at 3:52 AM PDT

Zack Hample leads the majors in hogging home run balls.

Offbeat Wallabies on the loose in Austria - yes, Austria

By Associated Press Published: Apr 18, 2013 at 4:12 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 18, 2013 at 4:12 PM PDT

Volunteers are searching for a pair of wallabies hopping through Austria - yes, Austria.

Offbeat For state bean-counter, a pot education (Photo Gallery)

By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press Published: Apr 18, 2013 at 7:56 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 18, 2013 at 1:05 PM PDT

Mike Steenhout knows spreadsheets, statistics and bean-counting. He has worked as a budget assistant to the governor, managed local operations for the U.S. Census Bureau and analyzed juvenile crime databases.

Offbeat New app helps Icelanders avoid accidental incest

By JENNA GOTTLIEB, Associated Press Published: Apr 18, 2013 at 9:12 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 18, 2013 at 9:12 AM PDT

In Iceland, a country with a population of 320,000 where most everyone is distantly related, inadvertently kissing cousins is a real risk.