COVENTRY, R.I. (AP) - Texting while driving is bad enough. But texting while driving and hitting a police cruiser is even worse. Rhode Island State Police charge David Mercer did just that. Troopers tell The Providence Journal that Mercer admits to texting when he crashed into an empty patrol car Wednesday night on I-95. The police cruiser had its lights flashing to divert traffic from an earlier accident. No one was seriously hurt, but both cars were totaled. Texting while driving isn't against the law in Rhode Island. But police say Mercer is being cited for several traffic violations, including failure to maintain control of his vehicle.
PASTRANA-CAR JUMP
UNDATED (AP) - Travis Pastrana has big plans for New Year's Eve. He's going to
try to set a new world record for the longest jump in a car. And if he fails,
he's going to get all wet. Pastrana is a freestyle motocross star and rally car
champion. He'll make his record attempt at the Pine Street Pier in Long Beach,
Calif., jumping the car onto a barge anchored in the harbor. Pastrana says he'll
try to clear about 250 feet over water. The current record is a jump of 171
feet. The jump will be the latest in Red Bull's New Year, No Limits series.
POWERBALL WINNER
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Winning a multimillion dollar Powerball jackpot can be
hazardous to your health. Just ask Doug Miron of Marinette, Wisc. He says he
jumped for joy and pulled a leg muscle, when he learned he had the winning $31.4
million Powerball ticket. His ticket for Wednesday's drawing was validated
yesterday and Miron will get his check Monday. State lottery officials say he's
opted for the lump sum pay out of 16.7 mil.
PETS-AP POLL-HALLOWEEN
UNDATED (AP) - So, what's Fluffy going to be for this Halloween? Dave Heuer of
Roseville, Minn., says his black cat, named Black Cat, will either be a witch or
a skunk. But the vast majority of pet owners won't be dressing up Rover or
Tabby. An Associated Press-Petside.com poll finds only 8 percent of pet owners
plan to put costumes on their animals for Halloween. Bill Mc Nutt of Scottsdale,
Ariz., has four dogs and two cats. They'll be wearing just their own fur. But Mc
Nutt says he and his wife often dress up as Sylvester the cat and Tweety Bird
for Halloween. She's the cat and he's the bird.
TASTING FIZZ
WASHINGTON (AP) - Some scientific whizzes are studying the fizzes. Turns out the
tongue's sour-sensing taste buds are what's sensitive to the carbonation in
everything from soda to champagne. The research is detailed in the journal
Science. The researchers say the tingly taste is actually caused by carbon
dioxide, not the bubbles themselves. So why would we humans be sensitive to
carbonation, when soda water was invented only about 250 years ago? The
scientists say it might have been a protective mechanism, to avoid spoiled,
fermenting foods.
LESBIAN YEARBOOK FLAP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Ceara Sturgis wants to be in a tuxedo for her senior
yearbook picture. And the ACLU is threatening legal action if her photo isn't
accepted. Everyone at Ceara's Mississippi high school knows she's a lesbian.
She's an honor student, trumpet player and goalie on the school's soccer team.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi says it will take the school
district (Copiah County Schools) to court if Ceara can't wear a tux, which is
traditionally worn by boys for their yearbook headshots. Ceara's mother notes
the girl doesn't even own a dress. District officials are declining comment on
the threatened suit.
