How Not To Fly (about)

Fliers Drop 'Confederate' From Name

[Norfolk, VA] As of January, the Confederate Air Force will be known as the Commemorative Air Force.... The organization's members... were concerned that the old name didn't reflect the group's objectives of restoring, maintaining and flying World War II vintage aircraft and preserving the stories of the men and women who built, serviced and flew them.

Santa Involved In Lehigh Fisticuffs

Jonathan Tyler Danzey, 20... says he started out kidding around when he approached a man wearing a Santa suit in a Burger King drive-through Saturday in Lehigh [FL]. Santa, who was in a convertible with two women, told sheriff's Deputy Lenny Gould that Danzey became belligerent after Santa said he didn't have any gifts for him.

Olympic Organizers Say No Lockers For Guns At 2002 Games; Gun-rights Activists Object

Spectators are being told to leave firearms behind, perhaps at home or in their cars, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee said. Utah has some of the nation's most lenient firearms laws.

"They have not been very friendly to us at all," said Winton Clark Aposhian, leader of a concealed-weapons instructors group that planned to staff and pay for the storage. He called the final regulations "unfair and inconsistent."

Suspended Priest 'Does Not Believe In Xmas'

[Dublin, Ireland] "I don't believe the traditional understanding of Christmas, that God took human form and was born as a babe in Bethlehem," [Andrew Furlong] told Reuters on Monday. Furlong, 54, who was ordained in the Anglican Church of Ireland in the early 1970s, said he has held his unorthodox beliefs for more than 30 years but had not shared them previously with his parishioners....

But his views have gone down badly with the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Richard Clarke, who has ordered the priest to take a three-month leave of absence to "facilitate a period of quiet reflection during which he may reflect on his statements."

Teens Nabbed In Alleged Hooker Kidnap Try

"She told the two men [both 19] they looked too young and they were not going to have her services," said [Suffolk County Massachusetts DA David Procopio.] "It appears they wouldn't take no for an answer...."

Chelsea patrolman Anthony Ortiz saw the foot chase and after speaking briefly to the woman, began a pursuit of the suspects' Acura... Ortiz and other officers were able to arrest the men at gunpoint after their car struck a jersey barrier...

Springfield [OH] Family Nabs Teen-Age Suspects

...when [Lisa Boggs] and her family discovered about $2,400 in electronic equipment missing from their home Monday, they knew something was awry. "There were cartons of cigarettes laying around... The entry had been gained through my daughter's bedroom window. They left a footprint on the bed."

...Boggs and her family pulled their cars out of the driveway and down the street to make it appear as though nobody was home.... One of the juveniles, a 14-year-old Lakemore boy, forced his way through a window and was grabbed by the homeowners and held until police arrived...

Pastor's Surprise: Crucifix In Cabbage

[Salem, OR] As [Rev Wesley Marcle] was eating his meal, he forked some cabbage aside and uncovered the gold Jesus on a cross, pressed into part of a leaf. It appears to be the setting of a man's ring that fell into the growing cabbage.

Mother Sues Wal-Mart, Says Worker Fondled Girl

[Columbia, SC] The suit says Randall approached the 10-year-old from behind while she browsed through the electronics section.... The girl and her mother later returned to the store to report the incident after the girl told a relative. In response, the store gave the girl's mother a $25 gift certificate, the lawsuit says....

Wal-Mart spokesman Bill Wertz said the company is investigating the incident. "The accusation of negligence indicates we would somehow have known this individual would commit this act, and I don't know we could have known that," he said.

Saudi Princess Charged In Orlando With Beating Servant

Deputies contacted the Saudi Embassy in Washington after [Princess Buniah] al-Saud told them she had diplomatic immunity and embassy officials backed her claim. "The information that we received from the Saudi Embassy was inaccurate information," [Orange County, Florida, Undersheriff Malone] Stewart said. "The information they gave to us was not the truth."

Convicted Urine Salesman Says He'll Fight On

A Greenville County [SC] jury decided Friday afternoon that Kenneth Curtis is guilty of illegally selling his own urine to help people beat drug tests....

The trial [established] new legal ground, as the first test of the 1999 state law that made it illegal to sell urine.

Stuffed Rat 'Kidnapped;' Police To Pay Ransom

[Bentonville, AR] The police department's annual Christmas toy drive for underprivileged children took a new twist last week when one of the toys was "kidnapped" and a ransom sought -- payable in the form of more donations....

The silent video shows the 4-foot toy rat handcuffed and wearing a blindfold. The note attached to the rat warns, "Unless every employee of the Bentonville Police Department brings three items for the Christmas Toy Collection project... You will never see this rat again."

Ex-Husband Testifies At Transsexual's Castration Trial

A transsexual who was once Tammy Felbaum's husband said Tuesday that she castrated him years ago with his consent, as Felbaum's murder trial continued at the Butler County [PA] Courthouse. Tammy Felbaum, 42, is charged with third-degree homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and practicing medicine without a license in the Feb. 25 death of her husband, James, who was found castrated.

Empty Room Wins Art Prize

[London, England] The $45,000 annual Turner Prize, sometimes also known as the Prize for the Emperor's New Clothes, was awarded yesterday to an artist who exhibited an empty room with lights that flicker on and off every five seconds.

Condit Files To Run For 7th Term

[Modesto, CA] "It's been a tough decision," Condit told reporters about entering the race. "I've been through a very tough three or four months.... You guys will have to decide if you're going to be fair to me or not and whether that [missing intern Chandra Levy] is your main issue."

Condit entered the county office about 4:20 p.m. yesterday with his two children, Cadee and Chad Condit, and handed over 1,500 signatures from voters to nominate him for re-election.

Hollywood [FL] Police Investigate How Officers Ended Up Guarding Sex Club

The police department has launched an investigation into how some of its officers ended up providing security for what they thought was a catering business but is really the site of an unlicensed swingers club.

Mayor-Elect Bloomberg May Be Fudging Height On Driver's License

Bloomberg's driver's license says he is 5 feet 10 inches tall, Newsday reported Wednesday. But he is noticeably shorter than Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who has been reported as 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10. Bloomberg also appears to be slightly shorter than his press aide Jerry Russo, who is 5-foot-8, according to the newspaper.

Asked on Tuesday how tall he is, Bloomberg answered by asking two reporters how tall they were. One reporter replied, "6-1," while the other said, "About 6 feet."

"I'm in that ballpark," Bloomberg said before hopping into his car, according to Newsday.