Offbeat

Offbeat 'Mata Hairi,' the hitchhiking cat, headed home to Ore.

By Associated Press Published: Jun 18, 2013 at 8:37 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 18, 2013 at 8:37 AM PDT

A well-traveled cat named "Mata Hairi" will soon be reunited with her owner after spending nearly 10 months traveling thousands of miles with a hitchhiker who rescued her from the rain.

Offbeat Police chief gives criminals a public scolding on Facebook (Photo Gallery)

By KANTELE FRANKO Associated Press Published: Jun 17, 2013 at 2:51 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 17, 2013 at 2:53 PM PDT

If you're up to no good in this pocket of northeast Ohio, especially in a witless way, you're risking not only jail time or a fine but a swifter repercussion with a much larger audience.

Offbeat Miss Utah latest beauty queen to botch answer on national TV

By HANNAH DREIER Associated Press Published: Jun 17, 2013 at 3:11 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 17, 2013 at 3:22 PM PDT

Miss Utah Marissa Powell is the latest beauty queen to trip on national television, not over her gown, but during the interview segment.

Offbeat NYC airport barrier protects against turtles, not terrorists

By Associated Press Published: Jun 17, 2013 at 8:10 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 17, 2013 at 8:11 AM PDT

Officials are building a 4,000-foot-long barrier to protect a runway at New York City's Kennedy Airport. But the obstacle isn't for terrorists. It's for turtles.

Offbeat Company seeking tequila-drinking, Sanskrit-speaking CEO

By MAE ANDERSON AP Retail Writer Published: Jun 14, 2013 at 5:18 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 14, 2013 at 5:41 PM PDT

If you can hold a headstand for at least 10 minutes, communicate in Sanskrit and enjoy downing wheatgrass and tequila shots on Fridays for work-life balance, Lululemon has a job for you.

Offbeat $82k for SF parking? Chump change. Try $560k for 2 Boston spots

By Associated Press Published: Jun 14, 2013 at 9:30 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 14, 2013 at 11:59 AM PDT

Parking is such a precious commodity in Boston that one woman was willing to pay $560,000 for two off-street spaces near her home.

Offbeat Man stabs brother over missing mac and cheese

By Associated Press Published: Jun 14, 2013 at 8:15 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 14, 2013 at 8:15 AM PDT

Authorities say two Florida brothers got into a tussle over missing macaroni and cheese that ended with one stabbing the other in the stomach.

Offbeat Man stumbles upon reptile near sewer, offers gator aid

By Associated Press Published: Jun 13, 2013 at 9:30 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 13, 2013 at 9:30 AM PDT

A Philadelphia man has offered a little gator aid — calling animal control authorities to help rescue a juvenile alligator he found near a sewer grate on his street.

Offbeat San Francisco parking spot sells for $82,000

By Associated Press Published: Jun 13, 2013 at 8:21 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 14, 2013 at 8:39 AM PDT

It seems parking spots aren't immune from the recent surge in San Francisco real estate prices.

Offbeat NJ man sets house on fire trying to kill bedbugs

By Associated Press Published: Jun 13, 2013 at 8:57 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 13, 2013 at 8:57 AM PDT

A New Jersey house fire is being blamed on a homeowner's battle against bedbugs.

Offbeat Wyoming police respond to call about botched exorcism

By Associated Press Published: Jun 12, 2013 at 4:01 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 12, 2013 at 4:01 PM PDT

Authorities in central Wyoming say they received a 911 call reporting that a woman involved in an exorcism had stopped breathing and had gone into cardiac arrest.

Offbeat Danish supermarket got cocaine instead of bananas

By Associated Press Published: Jun 12, 2013 at 10:06 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 12, 2013 at 10:06 AM PDT

Drug traffickers back in Colombia must be going bananas over how their shipment ended up at Danish supermarkets and not on the streets.