At the busy New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan, everything came to a screeching halt on Aug. 17 after a pair of scissors went missing from a store near the boarding gates, the BBC reported. The airport canceled 36 flights and delayed more than 200 others, leaving hundreds of travelers doing repeat security checks. Flights eventually resumed, but the scissors weren't found until the next day -- at the store where they went missing. Social media users were strikingly complimentary and upbeat about the delays, though: "This incident showcased the safety of Japanese aviation," one posted. [BBC, 8/19/2024]

Unclear on the Concept

-- An Applebee’s restaurant in Portage, Indiana, became the site of a scuffle on Aug. 2, USA Today reported. According to the Portage Police Department, officers arrived in response to a report of a verbal disturbance. There they found Shawneesha Cobbs, 28, who had been loudly arguing with the store manager. Cobbs' companions were under the impression that the restaurant’s $15.99 all-you-can-eat deal applied to the whole group, and when the manager explained that the deal was per person, Cobbs said the menu didn’t specify that. (It did.) The rabble-rouser then verbally assaulted another couple leaving the restaurant; that’s when she was placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct. [USA Today, 8/18/2024]

-- Jeff Daniels lookalike Mayor Benji Cranford of Thomson, Georgia, was arrested on Aug. 14 after a grand jury indicted him for allegedly supplying a 750 ml bottle of Seagram's Extra Dry Gin to prisoners on a roadside work crew, WRDW-TV reported. The indictment said Cranford bought the bottle on June 4 and left it in a ditch along the path of the work crew from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution. Cranford was charged with furnishing prohibited items to inmates and criminal attempt to commit a felony. He bonded out three hours later. [WRDW, 8/14/2024]

It's Come to This

Students are headed back to school at H.E. Charles Middle School in El Paso, Texas, with a fresh restriction on the clothes they can wear, KVIA-TV reported on Aug. 2. Principal Nick DeSantis sent a letter to families stating that students would no longer be able to wear "black tops with black bottoms," saying the look can be "associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality." Sarah Venegas, executive principal for the district, backed DeSantis up: Students will be allowed to wear only blue jeans or khaki pants. Some parents don't agree: "I don't think we should be grouping, and red-flagging kids that just like to wear black," said Stephanie Rascon. Mental health expert Krista Wingate suggested that educators might instead "be looking out for different signs of stress or ... anxiety." [KVIA, 8/2/2024]

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Jose Marti-Alvarez of Miami Gardens, Florida, came up with a shady plan to make some dough, Local10-TV reported. Marti-Alvarez, 55, was in court on Aug. 19 facing felony charges of running "an elaborate scheme to defraud tourists staying in the hotels of Miami Springs," police said. He had distributed flyers to hotels near Miami International Airport, advertising "Roman Pizzeria" -- a name dangerously close to Roman's Pizzeria, which has had a loyal following in the area for four decades. Marti-Alvarez's pizzas were delivered "bad, uncooked, sometimes in a box with a piece of raw dough," said Jesus Roman, the real pizza man. Marti-Alvarez had been duping folks for several years, garnering bad reviews and customer complaints for the real Roman's. Finally Roman went to the police. Marti-Alvarez was held on fraud charges, along with aggravated battery after he hit a hotel worker with his car while trying to flee. [Local10, 8/20/2024]

Dastardly

Russian chess player Amina Abakarova, 40, of Dagestan could be banned from competition for life after she was accused of poisoning another player at the Dagestan Classical Chess Championship on Aug. 2, Oddity Central reported. Surveillance video captured Abakarova stopping at a table and spreading a substance on the board and pieces where her competitor, Umayganat Osmanova, 30, soon would be playing. Her behavior could have been innocent, but about 30 minutes later, Osmanova started experiencing nausea and dizziness. Doctors confirmed she had been poisoned with mercury; Osmanova ended up in the hospital. "I felt a lack of air and a taste of iron in my mouth," she said. Abakarova confessed to using mercury from an old thermometer to soil the board, hoping to "knock her (opponent) out of the tournament." She will likely also lose her job and may face criminal prosecution. [Oddity Central, 8/15/2024]

Animal Antics

Taboo, a black-and-white 12-year-old cat from West Yorkshire, England, has made a name for herself in the neighborhood, People reported. She's a cat burglar. Taboo's owner, Sandra Danskin, said she steals clothing and gardening equipment from nearby households, forcing Danskin to post them on social media to reunite them with their owners. "This morning, I had four pairs of socks and a pair of underpants," Danskin said. "Also, we've had mopheads and kitchen rolls." She suspects the kitty grabs items off laundry lines or sneaks into homes where the door is left open. Helpfully, she always brings both socks of a pair, carrying one at a time. [People, 8/20/2024]

News You Can Use

Homeowners who don’t want to advertise the details of their property can blur their homes on Google Street View, MSN reported on Aug. 22. “Would-be thieves certainly want to scout their locations before they hit them,” said Christopher Herrmann, a professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Criminals might look for security barriers, front-door cameras or exterior surveillance systems. But, he warned, “It may be more of a red flag,” alerting thieves that there is something worth stealing. “We make it easy for anyone to blur their home if they prefer,” said a Google spokesperson. “Just click on the ‘Report a Problem’ button and submit a request.” [MSN, 8/22/2024]

Smooth Reaction

Folks are having some fun in Morehead City, North Carolina, with a clever "sign war" outside popular businesses, WCTI-TV reported. It all started with a birthday message at Ioanni's Bar and Grill: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF." After the message remained up for 26 days, Dank Burrito posted: "IOANNIS QUIT BEING LAZY CHANGE YOUR SIGN." Them were fightin' words, so Ioanni's spelled out: "DANK WE ARE NOT LAZY JUST BUSIER THAN YOU." Carteret County resident Peyton Draper said the feud "started with these and now it's all the way down (the highway), all the different restaurants messing with each other." The sign war has even spread to flower stores and churches. Ioanni's offered a truce: "LET'S DUKE IT OUT NOT TACO BOUT IT." [WCTI, 8/19/2024]

Buh-bye

The Bollinger (Missouri) County Sheriff's Office revealed that on Aug. 19, the entire police department of Marble Hill, the county's largest city, resigned, effective Aug. 24. KOMU-TV reported that chief Kristin Nenninger told Facebook followers that she could no longer "faithfully support my officers and provide you ... with law enforcement services you all deserve due to the city putting constraints on the budget and cutting into the police budget. ... The Bollinger County Sheriff's Office is committed to finding a viable solution." [KOMU, 8/21/2024]

Randol White lives adjacent to a parking lot full of driverless Waymo cars in San Francisco, KGO-TV reported on Aug. 13. And he's a big fan of the autonomous vehicles. But over the last few weeks, White has been assaulted by the sounds of car horns. "I was like, where is that coming from? And I looked down, and I was like, I think it's coming from the Waymo cars," he said. Sure enough, the "smart" cars have become confused and all started honking at each other, both during the day and at night. "I could not be more cranky today," said neighbor Russell Pofsky. "It affects the way you feel." Waymo said it has identified the glitch and is working on a fix. [KGO, 8/13/2024]

You Can't Make This Up

Richard E. Brown of Kershaw County, South Carolina, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 1 against Buc-ee's, the convenience store chain, WBTW-TV reported. Brown was walking on a sidewalk at a store in Florence County, South Carolina, in 2022 when he tripped over a rope that was holding down the large inflatable beaver mascot, which caused him several injuries, including to his right shoulder. The lawsuit claims that Buc-ee's was "aware of the dangerous condition of the rope that was holding the inflatable beaver in place." Brown is suing for negligence and seeking unspecified financial damages. Buc-ee's has not responded. [WBTW, 8/11/2024]

It's a Dirty Job

In Pittsburgh on Aug. 12, the Allegheny River was the site of a massive dredging and cleanup conducted by Three Rivers Waterkeeper, an environmental group. TribLIVE reported that in just four hours, the operation pulled about 50,000 pounds of vehicle parts from the river, along with an intact Volkswagen Beetle, bicycles, skateboards and a mattress. "If you were to dive down there right now, you'd see a solid tangle of vehicles," said Capt. Evan Clark. Many of the cars were thought to be from a long-closed downtown parking lot. "To see this cleanup work, it shows that people care about the rivers, and they're getting better," Clark said. [TribLIVE, 8/12/2024]

Unclear on the Concept

Even after Cody Mortensen, 28, of Lucerne Valley, California, was told that he would "probably die," he insisted on biking across Regent's Slide, a massive landslide near Big Sur. The Mercury News reported that on Aug. 9, Mortensen talked with a construction worker who said the road was not passable, but the biker "said he was going to try anyways." Sure enough, Mortensen fell more than 100 feet toward the ocean, abandoned his bicycle and climbed down toward the beach, where he was rescued by Bettencourt and Big Sur Fire. He had hit his head and seemed confused, witnesses said, and his arm was cut. Mortensen faces charges of wanton disregard to obey a person directing traffic and failing to obey traffic signs. [Mercury News, 8/13/2024]

Nope

Thrill-seekers will want to put Berlin, Germany, on their list of spots to visit, Yahoo! News reported on Aug. 10. Atop a 40-story hotel near the former East Berlin's famous TV tower is the highest swing in Europe, which allows riders to soar out over the city about 400 feet below. "It feels a bit like flying," said Victoria Voigt, 34. Riders pay about $22 for five minutes on the swing, which opened in June and has thrilled more than 100 riders per day. Pascal Vent, 36, tried the swing for his birthday: "I came here to feel a bit younger." [Yahoo! News, 8/10/2024]

Recent Alarming Headline

Residents of Feather Falls, California, are barking mad over an incident that took place on Aug. 8, KCRA-TV reported. The Butte County Sheriff's Office said Davina Corbin, 56, was found dead on the Black Hawk Trail after apparently being mauled by a pack of dogs. Max Hecker, who lives in the area, said the dogs are Great Danes that are known to terrorize people. "They'd be out here in the road, and you would have to wade through 'em," Hecker said. He said he and other neighbors had repeatedly contacted Butte County Animal Control, to no avail. "They didn't do anything about any of this," he said. "That lady should have never died." Officials rounded up the dogs, and a search warrant was issued at a property across from where Corbin was found. [KCRA, 8/12/2024]

Clothing Optional

Harley Walters of San Antonio, Texas, was working at home on Aug. 13 when he looked out a window and saw a naked man walking down the sidewalk with his dog by his side. KENS5-TV reported that Walters worried the man was suffering some kind of physical or mental health issue; a group of neighbors decided to confront the man. "The other gentleman that stopped him on the street ... said, 'Hey, are you aware that you don't have pants on?'" Walters said. "He said, 'Yeah,' like it was no big deal." Police who responded to the scene said the man was high on mushrooms; officers gave him a courtesy ride home and did not charge him. [KENS5, 8/13/2024]

Oops

Auckland City Mission in New Zealand is trying to recover more than its reputation after the charity accidentally distributed fake candy that was actually chunks of methamphetamine, The New York Times reported on Aug. 14. The candies looked like individually wrapped pineapple sweets and had been donated by a member of the public, said Helen Robinson, the group's chief executive. Each block of meth weighed about 3 grams, packing up to 300 doses of the drug -- enough to potentially be lethal. Three people were treated after tasting the candy, but it was so unpleasant they didn't eat the whole thing. Auckland police were hoping to recover all the candy and were looking into the origins of the donation. [NY Times, 8/14/2024]

What’s in a Name?

Elaine Salmon, a teacher at Peak to Peak Mountain Charter School in Pine Mountain Club, California, was readying her classroom for the new year on Aug. 4 when she left for a moment to make some copies. KERO-TV reported that when Salmon returned, she found an unexpected visitor in the room: a bear. Salmon called her husband, who got the bear's attention and held the classroom door open for it to rush back outside. The animal didn't do any real damage, but the school plans to change the door handles, since a bear was able to maneuver the latch. The bear is persistent: Salmon said it came back again. Maybe it was just looking for a fish? [KERO, 8/9/2024]

Questionable Judgment

(See what we did there?) On Aug. 13 in Detroit, 36th District Judge Kenneth King got a little carried away while “trying to serve as a deterrence” to a teenager in his courtroom, the Detroit Free Press reported. The 16-year-old girl was in court on a field trip when she fell asleep during King’s 45-minute address to the group between hearings. King threatened her with jail and contempt of court and forced her to wear a jail uniform and handcuffs before ultimately freeing her. “I wanted to instill in this kid that this is not a joke, this is a very serious situation,” King said. Marissa Ebersole Wood, the leader of the nonprofit group that organized the trip, said, “We have spoken to the student and her parents, and the young lady was traumatized by the judge’s unnecessary disciplinary treatment and scolding. ... The group of students should have been simply asked to leave the courtroom if he thought they were disrespectful.” King said he has reached out to the family with an offer to mentor the girl, but has not received a response. [Detroit Free Press, 8/15/2024]

Lalita Kayi, 50, was discovered on July 27 in a forest about 280 miles from Mumbai, India, the BBC reported, chained to a tree. Kayi initially told her rescuers that her husband had shackled her to the tree and "left her in the forest to die without food or water." But police and her doctor say the American woman tied herself to the tree. After treatment in a psychiatric hospital, Kayi admitted that she is not married and was distressed because her visa and money were running out. Her doctor, Sanghamitra Phule, said Kayi's condition is improving and she has been in touch with her family in the U.S. [BBC, 8/6/2024]

Do. Not. Insult. The. Chef.

Georgetown County (South Carolina) Sheriff's officers were called to a home on July 28 on reports of an assault in progress, Fox59-TV reported. Deputies were told that the fight started while siblings Anthony Harper and Hope Harper were cooking chicken. Hope Harper allegedly asked her brother "why he didn't season the chicken ... so it could crust up," the report said. When Hope called Anthony a "dumb dog," he pushed her into a table and punched her. Someone else in the home fired a 9mm handgun into the ceiling, hoping to stop the brawl, but no -- Hope retrieved a steak knife and started swinging it at her brother. Next, their grandmother swatted Hope with a broom until she backed off. But Anthony, his chef cred cruelly questioned, picked up a can of Raid bug spray and sprayed Hope on the neck and face until she grabbed the can and sprayed him back. Each of the siblings is pressing charges against the other; both were released on bond. [Fox59, 8/1/2024]

Feeling Eel

About 150 people in and around Tokyo were stricken ill, and one person died, in late July after eating grilled eel sold at a department store, the Associated Press reported. The eel was prepared by a local restaurant chain and sold in the grocery area of the Keikyu department store, officials said. Roasted eel is considered a tonic against the summer's extreme heat; more than 1,700 servings of the dish were sold at the shop. [AP, 7/30/2024]

Fine Points of the Law

Evans Lee Jr. of Atlanta passed away on Oct. 26, 2022, the Atlanta Black Star reported. Because he left no will, Georgia law called for the nearest living relative to ask the probate court to make them an administrator, which is just what Randy Watson, 48, did. The problem: Watson was not related to Lee. Georgia's probate court does not require proof of being a rightful heir to an estate, so Watson became the executor, filling in false details on Lee's death certificate and listing Watson as the decedent's son. In response, Lee's nephew, Trahan Brown, was granted a court-ordered paternity test that confirmed Watson was not related to the dead man. But before the court could reverse his executorship, Watson had cleared out most of Lee's belongings, sold his home, and collected his urn of ashes. "There was never an opportunity to go in the home, clean the home, none of that," said Brown's wife, Renee. Authorities have opened an investigation into Watson and the funeral home. [Atlanta Black Star, 8/6/2024]

Bright Idea

On July 31, police responded to a fire in the early morning hours at a U-Haul business in Roseburg, Oregon, KEZI-TV reported. One van was fully engulfed in flames, and the fire was spreading to a second vehicle. Security footage from the area identified Jennifer Denise Holmes, 47, whose van with Nana's Sweet Treats on the side could be seen in the area. When officers spoke with Holmes, she admitted to siphoning gas from the U-Haul and then lighting a cigarette. She was charged on Aug. 3 with first-degree criminal mischief and reckless burning. [KEZI, 8/6/2024]

Haute Dog

CBS News reported on Aug. 7 that fashion house Dolce & Gabbana is going to the dogs. The designer has launched a perfume for dogs called Fefe in honor of Domenico Dolce's poodle. A 3.4-ounce bottle will set you back $108, and the company claims veterinarians approve of the alcohol-free scent. But apparently not ALL veterinarians. Federico Coccia, a vet in Rome, isn't a fan: "Dogs recognize themselves by smells, they recognize a person by smell. ... This world of smells should not be changed," he said. He also noted that some diseases are made apparent by their odors, and the perfume could mask those. Dog owner Francesca Castelli agrees: "It seems to be a very exaggerated process of humanization," she said. [CBS News, 8/7/2024]

Field Report

Visitors to downtown Orlando, Florida, might be used to seeing pigeons on the rooftops -- but not THESE pigeons. ClickOrlando reported on Aug. 6 that giant, brightly colored, inflatable pigeons are about to be installed on several of the city's rooftops. Creative City Projects, an arts group, is bringing the birds in to draw more visitors downtown. At 21 feet long and 16 feet high, the neon pigeons are expected to "foster a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living beings in an urban environment," said Ashley Papagni, a city spokesperson. [ClickOrlando, 8/6/2024]

It's a Mystery

Officials in Sioux City, Iowa, are stumped by the appearance of several blue crabs around the city, Oddee reported on Aug. 5. The first incident happened at the Sioux City Public Library on July 30, when a crabby visitor was found in the computer lab (which is on the second floor). Circulation services manager Jenn Delperdang said the crab "must have been hungry for knowledge. We really have no idea the journey that this crab had to get to the library." The staff called Sioux City Animal Adoption and Rescue Center to retrieve "Chester," but he passed on two days later. Another crustacean pinched customers of a vending machine in a neighboring downtown building as they tried to retrieve their soda. [Oddee, 8/5/2024]

Latest Religious Message

Katie Moran, president of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA, was taking pictures of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 2, when she witnessed a miracle, she said. WJW-TV reported that Moran took two subsequent photos, then saw that in the first one, Mary's eyes were open, and in the second, they were closed. The statue travels the world spreading the message of Our Lady of Fatima. "According to theologians, mystically her presence is there with the statue," said Moran. Larry Maginot, the statue's custodian, elaborated: "We know that she's wept 15 times." Moran believes Mary is sending a message to the world, but didn't specify what the message might be. [WJW, 8/6/2024]

It's Good To Have a Hobby

Handyman and electrician Steve Wainwright, 61, of Cambridgeshire, England, needed a project in his retirement, Metro News reported. "I felt a bit lost," he said. "I looked at my tape measure and I thought, 'I wonder if I can build this 10 times its size?'" And he could -- even with a giant retractable measuring tape. Wainwright's wife suggested a 10x lipstick, so he obliged, then went on to build pencils, keys, clothespins and a three-prong plug. He notices a difference in reactions between men and women; men love his creations, and women say, "What on earth are you going to do with that? Where are you going to put that?" he said. [Metro News, 8/1/2024]