strange stuff

From strange crimes to strange celebrity deaths, read all of the latest weird and strange stuff news stories on Newser.com

Stories 781 - 800 | << Prev   Next >>

Lawmaker Arrested Over Bizarre Stint as School Sub

Kansas state Rep. Mark Samsel allegedly struck a student

(Newser) - A state lawmaker in Kansas faces battery charges following an encounter with a high school student while he was substitute teaching. Per the Kansas City Star , state Rep. Mark Samsel was arrested on charges of misdemeanor battery on Thursday, in part amid an outcry from Wellsville secondary school parents who...

In a London Parking Lot, a 6-Year-Long 'Magnum Opus'

Gareth Wild was determined to park in 211 separate spaces at supermarket

(Newser) - If you took a survey on people's favorite things to do, finding a parking space likely wouldn't rank very high—unless you're Gareth Wild, who just finished his "magnum opus" related to the activity, reports the BBC . In a Tuesday Twitter thread , the 39-year-old production director...

First, a Cow Held Up Traffic. Then Came the Alligator

Houston-area cops have an eventful day with wayward animals

(Newser) - Some days, Houston-area traffic can be a nightmare. Other days, it can be a zoo. A cow and an alligator caused traffic delays on Wednesday during separate incidents in which the animals took themselves for a spin on local roadways, per the AP . Around 8am, the cow was spotted moving...

Possible 'Havana Syndrome' Attack Hit Near White House

Federal agencies investigating at least 2 incidents in the US

(Newser) - Last year, GQ reported that strange, apparent attacks like those that sickened diplomats in Cuba had taken place inside the US . A month later, one such incident occurred just outside the White House. A National Security Council official was sickened near the Ellipse, the oval lawn on the White House'...

America's 'Worst Dog' Has Found His Forever Home

Prancer, described in viral ad as a 'demonic' Chihuahua, has found his 'perfect match'

(Newser) - Is Prancer really the "worst dog in America" ? Not according to Ariel Davis, the 2-year-old Chihuahua's new owner, who answered a viral adoption ad that didn't exactly make Prancer sound like a great catch. NPR notes that while ads trying to adopt out rescue dogs usually...

Guy 'Trapped' in Boy Band Contest Begged Viewers to Boot Him

Vladislav Ivanov made the mistake of agreeing to be on Chinese reality TV and instantly regretted it

(Newser) - Many people eagerly allow themselves to be subjected to unpleasant situations in the name of reality television. For Vladislav Ivanov, that wasn't quite the case. Thanks to his Mandarin skills, the 27-year-old from Russia had originally been recruited to serve as a teacher and translator for Produce Camp 2021,...

Internet Down for 'Uniquely Canadian' Reason

Beavers chewed through cable

(Newser) - About 900 customers in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, lost internet, cellphone, and cable TV service for nearly 12 hours over the weekend thanks to what a telecom company spokesperson refers to as a "uniquely Canadian turn of events." Namely, beavers. Some of the critters chewed through crucial fiber...

Hundreds Gather in Nebraska to Battle Over the Name Josh

#JoshFight happened Saturday in Lincoln

(Newser) - A fight over the name of Josh drew a crowd from around the country to a Nebraska park Saturday for a heated pool-noodle brawl. It all started a year ago when pandemic boredom set in and Josh Swain, a 22-year-old college student from Tucson, Arizona, messaged others who shared his...

Couple Plans Lavish Wedding at Someone Else&#39;s Mansion
Couple Plans Lavish Wedding
at Someone Else's Mansion
in case you missed it
Apr 25, 2021 1:00 PM CDT

Couple Plans Lavish Wedding at Someone Else's Mansion

They allegedly crashed 'IHOP Mansion' in Florida

(Newser) - Courtney Wilson and Shenita Jones had an elaborate wedding weekend planned at a luxurious Florida mansion over the weekend. Just one problem: The 16,313-square-foot Southwest Ranches home belongs not to them, as they claimed it did in their online wedding invitation, but to Nathan Finkel, son of early IHOP...

Severed Digit, Trail of Blood Lead Police to Suspect

Found at the scene

(Newser) - Authorities in Arizona have arrested a man who police believe severed his finger while slashing his neighbor’s car tires after an argument. Per the AP , Maricopa Police Department spokesman Hal Koozer said Kevin Johnson was arrested and identified as the owner of the finger found on his neighbor'...

Arrests Made in Disappearance of $160K Big Bird

7-foot-tall costume swiped from Aussie circus, then returned with apology note: 'We had a great time'

(Newser) - They may not have known how to get to Sesame Street, but two suspected Aussie thieves apparently knew how to get back to the venue where they allegedly swiped a Big Bird costume. The Guardian reports that the nearly 7-foot-tall, $160,000 outfit, said to be made of ostrich feathers...

Nuclear Fallout From Long-Ago Tests Show Up in US Honey
Newest Ingredient
in US Honey:
Nuclear Fallout
NEW STUDY
Apr 23, 2021 12:50 PM CDT

Newest Ingredient in US Honey: Nuclear Fallout

Scientists say we shouldn't be worried about radioactive traces from bomb tests in '50s and '60s,

(Newser) - Some cesium with your chamomile tea? If you use honey, there's a distinct possibility you may have ingested the radioactive version of the element, thanks to nuclear fallout from decades-ago bomb tests that's showing up in US honey, per Science . In research published last month in Nature Communications...

High School Track Meet Has Surprise Winner
Runner Overtaken by
Dog at High School Meet
VIDEO
Apr 23, 2021 9:34 AM CDT

Runner Overtaken by Dog at High School Meet

Holly jumped onto the track and sprinted to finish line at Utah sporting event

(Newser) - A high school track meet in Utah notched a relay time over the weekend just short of a Usain Bolt record—but the victor was on four legs, not two. During a 4x200 Grizzly Invitational race Saturday that Logan High School runners seemed set to win, senior Gracie Laney was...

He Bought Lettuce at Store, Found This Creature

That would be a venomous snake, in Australia

(Newser) - Alex White thought he was watching a huge worm writhing in plastic-wrapped lettuce he’d just brought home from a Sydney supermarket—until a snake tongue flicked. “I kind of completely freaked out," recalls White, per the AP . It was a venomous pale-headed snake that authorities say made...

Florida SUV Driver Jumps Drawbridge
Florida SUV Driver
Jumps Drawbridge
Apr 16, 2021 8:27 AM CDT

Florida SUV Driver Jumps Drawbridge

Police say driver plowed through traffic arms

(Newser) - A driver who didn't want to wait for a drawbridge in Daytona Beach to open and close apparently decided to pretend it was the county line and Boss Hogg's men were in hot pursuit. Video released by police shows the driver smashing through a traffic arm on the...

Clock Stopped by Earthquake a Decade Ago Restarts

After another earthquake in Japan

(Newser) - A clock that stopped working after the catastrophic 2011 earthquake in Japan has resumed ticking a decade later—after another strong earthquake. The BBC reports that the century-old, spring-driven clock in a Buddhist temple stopped keeping time when the temple was damaged by the quake and ensuing tsunami. The temple'...

Facebook Is Sorry for Messing With Bitche

The social media giant's profanity algorithm flagged a small French town's page

(Newser) - Facebook is sorry that its notorious algorithm hounded a small French town. Ville de Bitche's official page disappeared without warning on March 19. Facebook restored it Tuesday, with a personal apology from the head of Facebook France to Benoit Kieffer, mayor of the town of 5,000, per Newsweek ...

Seeking &#39;Paul&#39; and &#39;John,&#39; Who Shipped Pal in a Crate in 1965
Seeking 'Paul' and 'John,' Who
Shipped Pal in a Crate in 1965
in case you missed it
Apr 11, 2021 12:00 PM CDT

Seeking 'Paul' and 'John,' Who Shipped Pal in a Crate in 1965

Brian Robson looking for men who helped him pull off 'terrifying' trip from Australia to London

(Newser) - A Welsh man is on a quest to find two long-lost friends he hasn't seen in more than 50 years—and the last time he saw them, they were cramming him into a crate and nailing it shut. The BBC reports on the strange tale of Brian Robson, who...

Nurse's Beach Misadventure Is 'Metaphor for the Year'

Boston's Camille Coelho got hopelessly stuck in mud, needed rescue

(Newser) - Camille Coelho just wanted to take a stroll on the beach and look for some sea glass. Instead, the Massachusetts nurse ended up feeling the way so many have felt during the pandemic: she was stuck in the mud, per the AP. The 54-year-old was taking a walk at Boston’...

After 'Mrs. Sri Lanka' Is Named, a Weird Turn of Events

Mrs. World 2020 declared Pushpika De Silva ineligible and removed her crown

(Newser) - It's an event that's high-profile enough that the prime minister's wife attended. The "Mrs Sri Lanka" pageant unexpectedly ended up being high-drama as well on Sunday night. The BBC calls it the country's "biggest beauty prize," and reports Pushpika De Silva was named...

Stories 781 - 800 | << Prev   Next >>