NYC's famed Algonquin cat, Matilda, is back

Matilda the cat is back at work at New York City's Algonquin Hotel.

Streaker at Cardinals game says he lost a bet

A streaker who ran naked onto the field during a Cardinals game says he did so because he lost a bet.

Priest apologizes for unholy language on Facebook

ROBERT BARR

A British priest has apologized for some unholy language on his Facebook page, his bishop says.

City of Pied Piper fame again faces rat problem

The German city of Hamelin may be in need of another Pied Piper _ it seems the rats are back.

Ill. man who renamed himself Led Zeppelin II dies

He was known as George Blackburn for most of his life, but after his divorce last fall he wanted to start life over. So Blackburn changed his name to Led Zeppelin II.

Upstate NY biker loses license for 170 mph ride

A 25-year-old upstate New York man has admitted driving his motorcycle at 170 mph as he tried to get away from police who caught him speeding on the Thruway.

STORY REMOVED: BC-US-ODD--Massive Oyster

The Associated Press has withdrawn its story about a California man finding a massive oyster. The story is outdated and based on information originally published in 2008. No substitute story will be filed.

Police say roving cows drank Mass. backyard brews

Police say a roving group of cows crashed a small gathering in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer.

Tornado doesn't stop Kansas couple's wedding day

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH

In the plains of central Kansas, tornadoes are so unremarkable that guests barely flinched as a barrel-racing bride wed her bull-riding groom with a twister dropping from the sky just miles away.

Mass. woman finds bike she lost 42 years ago

The little girl thought she had lost her new bike forever when she tumbled off a rickety bridge over a muddy stream in Wellfleet, Mass., 42 years ago.

Cougar reluctant to leave cage in Wash. state

Wildlife agents in Washington state were ready to release a captured cougar back into the wild, but it didn't want to go.

Police: British bandits foiled by glued-up bills

By RAPHAEL SATTER

Three bandits were foiled in Britain when their attempt to pry open a stolen cash box ran up against a new security system that slathered the bills with glue.

Cops: Pa. men mistook Bible for purse in snatching

Police say two western Pennsylvania men mistook a woman's Bible carrying case for a purse when they tried to snatch it from her, knocking her to the ground.

SF official says Ouija board comment was joke

A San Francisco supervisor who said he consulted a Ouija board before a vote now says he was joking _ and the only spirit he was summoning was the spirit of humor.

Wis. theft victim uploads video of suspected thief

By DINESH RAMDE

A Wisconsin man whose camcorder was briefly stolen has found a way to get back at the suspected thief: He uploaded to YouTube a video that the suspect took with the camera, a clip in which the man reveals his name, shows his face and admits h…

Wanted: Bigfoot hair samples for European study

By MARIA CHENG

European researchers are planning to use new techniques to analyze DNA that could help crack the mystery of whether Bigfoot exists.

Iowa man with zebra, parrot in truck gets DUI

An Iowa man stopped outside a Dubuque bar with a small zebra and a parrot in his truck has been charged with drunken driving.

6-year-olds wander from Pa. school to museum

Pittsburgh Public Schools officials are investigating an impromptu field trip of sorts that occurred when two 6-year-old students wandered away from their school and walked to the city's Children's Museum a few blocks away.

Silicon Valley tech exec accused of Lego thefts

A Silicon Valley software executive put fake bar codes on Lego sets at various Target stores, bought the toys at a steep discount, then sold them online for thousands of dollars, authorities said.

Ohio family's stolen swine statue is returned

A life-size swine statue is back at home after disappearing in the city once dubbed "Porkopolis."

SEC reviewing JPMorgan's filings after $2B loss

By MARCY GORDON

Federal regulators are reviewing what JPMorgan Chase told investors about its finances and the risks it took weeks before suffering a multibillion-dollar trading loss.

Ore. workers awarded $332K in onsite toilet fight

Two workers who claimed they were forced to urinate in a bucket have been awarded $332,000 after a jury found they were fired for complaining to Oregon regulators about the lack of an onsite toilet.

Mafia-style end for Australia's flawed Obama mugs

By ROD McGUIRK

Australian officials wanted to get rid of some commemorative mugs that misspelled President Barack Obama's name. And boy, did they ever.

Tons of pot found floating off Southern Calif.

Authorities say three and a half tons of marijuana have been found floating in the ocean off Southern California.

Ohio pair get engaged after running half-marathon

An Akron couple is celebrating after their half-marathon ended up being a sort of race to the altar.

Ouch! Dog bites politician but she gets a vote

A woman running for the Michigan Legislature was bitten by a dog while going door to door. The dog's distressed owner has made amends: Ann Doyle can put a campaign sign on his property.

Heads wins coin toss for Texas City Council seat

By BETSY BLANEY

City Council candidate Bruce MacNair watched the coin rise into the air Friday. His opponent, Bryan Studer, kept his gaze on the carpeted floor to see how it landed.

Man's defibrillator stops knife during attack

A man's implanted heart defibrillator may have saved his life in an unexpected way _ by stopping a knife.

Man wears briefs on head during Idaho burglary

Police in southwest Idaho say a man chose briefs over boxers to wear on his head as he held up a coffee shop and stole a safe.

Phosphorous may have been on hot beach rocks in CA

By ROBERT JABLON

Beach rocks that caused a California woman's shorts to catch fire and severely burn her legs and hands appeared to be coated with phosphorus, but it was unclear how the flammable chemical got onto the stones found near a military base, author…

Moose on the loose triggers police chase in Utah

Utah wildlife officials say a moose went on a jaunt through neighborhoods north of Logan and triggered a police chase.

Police on swallowed diamond: This, too, shall pass

Police in Canada say they are waiting for a man accused of stealing a $20,000 diamond and swallowing it to produce the evidence.

Seattle car vandal takes nothing, leaves tortillas

Seattle police are scratching their heads about this one.

Authorities: Trooper gets text seeking illegal buy

Two women face possible charges after authorities say a text message seeking the illegal purchase of alcohol was errantly sent to an Alaska State Trooper.

Horse runs into sea, rescued a mile offshore

Maybe he should be named Bob.

Baby red crabs invade Cayman Islands

Hundreds of thousands of baby red crabs are invading the Cayman Islands in an annual migration that residents say is more pronounced this year.

NJ gov., mayor channel Seinfeld in video parody

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the mayor of New Jersey's largest city are channeling the Seinfeld-Newman rivalry in a video parody that spoofs the mayor's heroics and Christie's vice presidential potential.

Workers go trash-picking for Mass. woman's rings

An Attleboro, Mass., woman is praising the city's trash collection company after its workers helped her dig through mountains of stinking garbage to find five valuable rings she inadvertently threw away, including her engagement and wedding bands.

Dozens of flyswatters wash up on Alaska beaches

Dozens of fly swatters bearing logos of collegiate and professional sports teams have been washing up on the beaches of an Alaska island.

Man freed on bond but must write book reports

A man charged in an undercover sting operation in Northern California that ended in gunfire has been ordered released on bond on the condition that he read and write book reports.