"Pro-family" groups want racy films out of Marriott rooms

They're (allegedly) not watching them, and they don't want you to, either. Focus on the Family and other groups met with Marriott execs this week to persuade them to remove in-room adult movies from their hotels. (Colorado Springs Gazette | Meeting called "productive")

Man bites into bolt while dining at Outback Steakhouse

James Fetters was enjoying a cup of potato soup at an Outback Steakhouse when he bit into a 2-inch industrial bolt, which chipped Fetters' left front tooth. He wants Outback to pay for the damage, and says he feels the restaurant hasn't made much of an effort to help him. A phone call from a reporter changed Outback's attitude; it's now taking care of the dental work. (Naples Daily News)

Woman escapes attacker by biting off part of his genitals

Police say they are checking local hospitals to see if a man has sought medical attention for the bite. They're also looking for anyone walking with a limp. (Charlotte Observer)

Photos show Colorado governor's son partying at mansion

Big deal or no? (The "kid" is 22.) Some of partying occurs on the mansion's first floor, which is filled with historic art and antiques. (Denver Post)

Parents of cyberbullying/suicide victim react to charges

The charges against Lori Drew made national news, so it's hardly an obscure story, but here's a local article -- with quotes from Megan Meier's parents -- on the somewhat unexpected development. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Man pledges not to use a drop of gas for 31 days

To keep his pledge, Brian LaFave will have to bike to his third-shift job, which is a 9-mile commute. "I did like a practice run … two days in a row to make sure I could do it," he says. "I'm not in the greatest shape. The mornings are the worst. It feels like it takes forever. I get like a mile down the road and I want to die." (Sheboygan Press)

Boy says teacher forced him to unclog toilet with his hands

The third-grade teacher was arrested and charged with cruelty to a juvenile. (Baton Rouge Advocate | Photo and story)

Cops find 800 Ecstasy pills in men's car during routine stop

The pills have a street value of $20,000. This is kind of a ho-hum story,I'll admit, but I love this guy's mug shot. Was he under the influence of pills? you have to ask. (Journal News)

Sheriff says he's doing a public service by plagiarizing

An Arizona sheriff has plagiarized more than a dozen times in his monthly letters since taking office three years ago, lifting text from numerous Web sites, journalists, lawmakers and even President Bush. "You can call it plagiarism if you want," he says. "I'm just providing a public service." (East Valley Tribune)

Woman charged after taking photos of bathing boy

Walgreens turned the photos over to cops. "I didn't do it as a bad thing," says the woman who photographed a 4-year-old boy. "I was doing it as a game. He was taking a bath, and when he took his clothes off, I took pictures." She lives with the boy's father and often takes care of the child. (WMUR.com)

Burglars really screw things up for wedding cake bakers

They stole a safe that contained orders and drawings of wedding cakes that have been ordered for the next two summers. "All of a sudden, as of next week, we have 200 wedding cakes out there and we don’t know who’s getting them or where they’re going or what date," says the bakery owner. "My wife just about screamed. I mean, she just went nuts." (AP via Oshkosh Northwestern)

Kids suspected in defacing of portraits of ex-Gov. Ventura, others

The official state portrait of former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and those of two other former governors were found defaced with felt markers. Suspects? Officials figure that it was probably schoolkids who have jammed the Capitol on field trips this week. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Pity the kid who's going to be parented by this couple

Cheyenne Blanton, 17, and Joseph Nagle, 16, are accused in the hours-long torture of a mentally disabled teen girl. I'm sorry to report that the young couple already have a kid. (Cincy Enquirer)

Woman expects to get "a lot of money" for her Virgin Mary rock

I hate to disappoint a 79-year-old woman, but... Dena Patterson believes eBayers will bid furiously for the rock she found that kind of shows the image of a veiled Mary cradling the baby Jesus in her arms. "I expect to get a lot of money," she says. "This is a rock. It's not like it's a piece of cheese [with the image of Mary]." (Tampa Tribune)

Can you blame a substitute teacher for showing up drunk?

An officer began testing the junior high school substitute teacher, but he "was so intoxicated that all further testings had to be stopped for [Mr. Brownlee's] safety," a report says. The teacher says he just had wine at lunch. Or would that be wine for lunch? (Dallas Morning News | Associated Press)

Teens buy brownie for $10, become disoriented after eating it

"Not a crumb of the brownie was left to examine," notes a school spokeswoman. (Houston Chronicle)

Doctor gets "demand and final notice" for 51-cent tax bill

The city spent $5.21 to send the letter via certified mail. "This is the most ridiculous thing a government agency would do," he says. (Livingston Daily Press & Argus)

Drunk dad charged with letting 9-year-old son drive

Police noticed the gray Honda swerving and, thinking it was a drunken driver, tried to pull it over. Officers were shocked when they discovered that sitting in the driver's seat was a 9-year-old -- who was very adamant that he was 91/2. "He wanted them to know he wasn't just 9," says a cop. (Pennlive.com)

School placed in lockdown after raccoon bites crossing guard

You just can't take any chances these days. (Itemlive.com)

Oops!: Boater pumps 100 gallons of gas into the wrong hole

He pumped the gas into his fishing rod holder instead of his gas tank. A Hazmat team had to deal with the clean-up. (TCPalm.com)

All pennies?: Man accused of stealing $450K from Coinstar kiosks

When police arrested Michael Burns, they found around $125,000 cash in his bedroom and bathroom, $4,000 cash stuffed in a console of his truck and $350 in his pockets.
(Everett Herald)

Man claims he's a firefighter so he can give school safety talks

Police are investigating Gregory Pillow for impersonating a firefighter and entering schools and day cares to give fire safety presentations. "We actually heard he's done a good job," says Nashville's Fire Department spokeswoman. (Tennessean.com)

It wasn't a very pleasant Mother's Day at this Wisconsin home

A drunk and loud Jamie Arens bit her teenaged daughter, then told a cop that "you should die." And how was your Mom's Day? (Sheboygan Press)

Postal worker quits after 100,000 pieces of undelivered mail found

Postal inspectors were tipped off by a meter reader who became suspicious after discovering a lot of undelivered mail -- some of it six years old -- on the back deck of the employee's residence. The mail will be delivered after the US Attorney is consulted. (Raleigh News & Observer)

Update: Man who allegedly stole war vets' 52-inch TV is caught

Family members turned him in after seeing surveillance footage. The guy showed up for his court hearing wearing Green Bay Packers slippers. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | WTMJ-TV)

What the...?!: Sikh student's turban set ablaze during fire drill

The 16-year-old boy's mother is understandably furious. "The fact that something like this could have happened is beyond comprehension, especially in this day and age with the diversity we have and the way we are taught," she says. An 18-year-old student has been charged. (Newark Star-Ledger)

SF hopes its new "homeless meters" will reduce panhandling

San Francisco is taking ten old parking meters and using them as homeless meters in some of the most heavily panhandled areas. Money deposited in the meters would go directly to charities that help the homeless. The goal, officials say, is to reduce panhandling and to educate people about the problem of giving money directly to street people. Good luck, but I have my doubts. (San Francisco Chronicle)

College student arrested after tossing M&M candies at cop

The police officer took Sean McGuire, 20, to the Polk County Jail, but not before McGuire urinated all over the back seat of the squad car. (Des Moines Register)

Airplane passenger cited for refusing to get off the phone

The incident occurred during a Southwest flight from Austin to Dallas. "After multiple requests, the flight attendants were not successful in getting the passenger to get off the phone," says a Southwest spokeswoman. (Dallas Morning News | AP brief)

Couple new to town make a habit of waving to everyone

Their non-stop waving seems odd to some residents. "Isn't it interesting that this couple is friendly and people think they are nutty?" asks the mayor. On one recent walk, they offered 45 waves and got 21 wave-backs. (Des Moines Register)