UNDATED (AP) - Something stinks in Washington -- and it has nothing to do with politics. The culprit is the ginkgo tree. The tree is popular in urban areas because of its hardiness. A few even survived an atomic bomb blast. But the ginkgo has a downside -- the smell. Some people say the ginkgo stinko is something like rotten eggs or even vomit. Iowa City is ripping out its ginkgo trees. But in Washington, the female trees are being replaced by males. The experts note its the large seeds produced by the female ginkgo that produce the odor.
IOWA-JUMPY CLERKS
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - Clerks at one Iowa convenience store are quick to give up
the cash. Police in Waterloo report workers at Five Star Snacks and More threw
money at man, fearing they were being robbed. But it was no stick-up. Police say
the man was drunk, rambling and had his hand in his pocket. Police Capt. John
Beckman says the clerks put money in a bag and threw it at the man. But the
non-robber just left the cash and walked out. The place has been robbed twice in
recent months. The man mistaken for a crook is in a bit of trouble, though. He
was busted for public intoxication, disorderly conduct and interference.
TOUR DE DONUT
EUREKA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - There's the Tour de France -- and then there's Le
Tour de Donut. The latter was held in Greenville, Mich., recently. About 150
cyclists began the 30-mile ride, with doughnut stops every 10 miles. For every
doughnut eaten, organizers deduct three minutes from the riders overall time.
And if you toss your cookies -- or doughnuts -- you're disqualified. Ryan King
of Grand Rapids might have to bike a few extra miles, to work off all the
goodies. He got the award for most doughnuts eaten. He and two others ate 10
each, but a local paper (The Daily News Greenville) reports King had the overall
fastest time.
PIZZA HUT-WINGS
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Pizza with wings doesn't fly. But it could give a pizza
chain a boost. Pizza Hut has launched national ads for its WingStreet brand of
chicken wings. The spots are running on sports and prime-time TV shows, in Pizza
Hut's largest ad campaign of the year. Pizza Hut estimates the market for wings
at a juicy $2.4 billion dollars. But there's a downside to wings. Some industry
analysts say Pizza Hut could risk losing a slice of the pizza pie by heavily
promoting other products.
LARGE SNAKE
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Fluffy isn't a cuddly little pet. Fluffy just might be the
world's longest snake, at more than 24 feet. The python was sold to the
Columbus, Ohio, Zoo and Aquarium last year. It was raised from a hatchling by
Oklahoma snake breeder and herpetologist Bob Clark. Researchers visited the zoo
last week to measure Fluffy on behalf of the Guinness records people. Zoo
officials feel their python is now the longest snake in captivity.
CORN MAZE CAPTURE
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (AP) - Running into a corn maze probably isn't the best move
for a wanted felon. Jefferson County, Tenn., authorities report assault suspect
Daniel Lockheart and his girlfriend were spotted at the Echo Valley Farm corn
field. Police say they ran into a 32-acre maze, but they didn't make an amazing
escape. Police evacuated the area and started looking for the couple. It took
officers and police dogs about two hours to find the pair. The maze was reopened
later that same evening.