OFFBEAT NEWS

Last Update on September 03, 2010 05:32 EDT

WOMAN STUNS SELF

NORTH EAST, Pa. (AP) -- It's shocking! Police in Pennsylvania say a woman somehow managed to zap herself and her brother with a stun gun. State police went to an Erie-area store after reports of a disturbance. Troopers say Darlene Newara was drunk and had been arguing with her brother. Authorities say Newara stunned her brother, then accidentally shocked herself with the stun gun. She's due in court next month on a number of charges, including driving under the influence and disorderly conduct.

MARIJUANA BOAT

HUTCHINSON ISLAND, Fla. (AP) -- Someone's missing a boat -- and a lot of pot. Authorities say an abandoned boat has drifted ashore on a Treasure Coast island in Florida. A witness first thought the boat might have been having engine trouble. But the Stuart News reports the woman told the Coast Guard she saw a man jump off and run away. St. Lucie County deputies and federal officials say they found more than a-half ton of marijuana on the 33-foot boat. Authorities say the marijuana is in neatly wrapped packages and is worth more than a million bucks.

POT TEXT-SHERIFF

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- A Montana lawman thought someone was playing a joke on him. Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton got a text message from a teenager wanting to buy pot. But the teen hit a wrong number when sending the text. Dutton turned the text over to a detective, who arranged a meet. Dutton tells the Helena Independent Record two teenaged boys turned pale when the detective showed his badge. One of the teens even fainted. Dutton says deputies decided not press charges when the parents of the teenagers got involved. He says facing their parents was probably worse than facing the law.

SENATE CANDIDATE-ARREST

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- It's no way to win votes. A Democratic candidate for the New York state Senate has been busted on charges of stalking a former girlfriend. Police say David Mejias followed the woman in her car. Authorities charge he then yelled and screamed at her after forcing her to pull over. Court documents show the candidate's girlfriend was driving with her new boyfriend. In a statement released by his political campaign, Mejias says he'll be "completely exonerated of the charges."

DOG ALERT-ALLIGATOR

TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) -- Sir Harley Rhodes was barking up a storm. At first, Tina Brewer didn't know why her Great Dane was making such a racket. Then, Brewer saw something big and dark moving on her driveway in the middle of the night. It was a six-foot-long alligator. Brewer called the cops in Texarkana, Arkansas, who contacted a game warden. The creature was captured and released near the Red River.

NATIONAL HEADLINES

Vt. judge to expedite Dem. gubernatorial recount

Pilot injured in chopper crash on Calif. highway

Drake University's 'D+' logo earns failing grade

Obama: New jobs numbers 'positive' but not enough

Earl heads for Northeast after sideswiping NC coast

Cutter sees no sign of leak

Service sector grows at slower pace in Aug

Stocks extend September rally after jobs report

Oars stolen in Ohio from youngest Atlantic rower

Stock futures rise sharply after jobs report

CENTRAL OHIO WEATHER

TODAY: Few scattered showers, much cooler afternoon.  High 79.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy, much cooler.  Low 54.

SATURDAY: Partly cloudy, breezy, quite cool.  High 70.


There's a big change out there today. ...

BUSINESS NEWS

Stocks rise ahead of key report

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock prices edged higher in the latest session, ahead of today's key report on the job market.

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SCIENCE/TECH NEWS

IN THE NEWS: FACEBOOK ROLLS OUT NEW SECURITY FEATURE

NEW YORK (AP) -- Facebook has launched a new security feature.

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WOMAN STUNS SELF

NORTH EAST, Pa. (AP) -- It's shocking!