This seat taken? Thieves busted for stealing over 1,000 restaurant chairs in Spain
MADRID (AP) — Spanish police have arrested seven people suspected of stealing over 1,100 chairs from outdoor seating areas at restaurants and bars. The thefts occurred in Madrid and a nearby municipality over two months. The group, consisting of six men and a woman, targeted 18 establishments in August and September. Police estimate the stolen property is worth around $69,000. The suspects face charges of theft and belonging to a criminal organization. They allegedly resold the chairs in Spain, Morocco and Romania. In Spain, outdoor furniture is often left outside overnight, usually stacked and chained.
An elephant family smashed pumpkins at the Oregon Zoo. But this baby just wanted to play ball
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — During an annual fall event where giant elephants smash massive pumpkins, a baby elephant was too small to crush the largest gourds, which weigh around 1,000 pounds. Baby elephants like Tula-Tu are a few hundred pounds lighter. Instead zookeepers gave her a small pumpkin which she dribbled like a soccer ball. The event, called the “Squishing of the Squash,” took place on October 16. It’s a tradition that started decades ago when a farmer donated a giant pumpkin. Asian elephants like Tula-Tu are considered highly endangered, but there have been successful conservation milestones in recent years.
Giant, floating pumpkin races draw large crowds to annual event in Oregon
TUALATIN, Ore. (AP) — Giant, floating pumpkin races have drawn large crowds to the Oregon city of Tualatin. The Portland suburb has hosted the event since 2004. In Sunday's event, giant pumpkins that originally weighed roughly 1,000 pounds were carved out, allowing them to float. People dressed in costumes then sat in the hollowed-out pumpkins and used kayak paddles to race around a small human-made lake. Gary Kristensen won the first race of the day in a 936-pound pumpkin that he grew himself. Earlier this year, Kristensen earned a Guinness World Record for longest journey by pumpkin boat after paddling over 58 miles on the Columbia River.
Madrid's annual 'Transhumance' festival of sheep and goats draws huge crowds
MADRID (AP) — Madrid's streets have been filled with sheep and goats in an annual festival celebrating rural heritage. The Transhumance Festival recreates the tradition of moving livestock to new grazing grounds. On Sunday, thousands watched as 1,100 Merino sheep and 200 goats paraded through the city. The event highlights the environmental benefits of traditional grazing, which helps reduce wildfires by clearing flammable undergrowth. The festival has been held since 1994, with a symbolic fee paid for the animals' passage. Last year, however, it was canceled due to disease concerns.
Dozens of costumed canines get their chance to trick-or-treating at Howloween event in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Dogs dressed up as everything from Elvis Presley to Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine went trick-or-treating in Michigan. It was part of the annual Howloween event organized by a local pet store. The costumed canines made a loop through Lansing’s Old Town arts district, stopping outside restaurants, gift shops and jewelry stores, where owners were waiting to provide treats and a scratch behind the ears. The event is organized each year by Preuss Pets, an Old Town fixture. The number of dogs is capped at 200, and they have to preregister. It is part of an effort to keep the numbers down for safety’s sake.
Ah, rats! Researchers say some other critter likely created Chicago's 'rat hole' sidewalk landmark
Ah, rats! Researchers have debunked the origin of Chicago's so-called “rat hole," concluding some other critter was likely responsible for creating the macabre sidewalk landmark. The rat hole was a full-body impression of a small creature crossing wet cement in the city's Roscoe Village neighborhood 20 to 30 years ago. The imprint closely resembled a rat, hence the namesake. It became a tourist attraction in 2024 after comedian Winslow Dumaine tweeted about its existence. Someone filled it in later that year, but the city preserved the slab. A team of researchers published a study Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters saying they measured the imprint and concluded a squirrel or muskrat — not a rat — likely created it.
200-1 shot Powerful Glory becomes most unlikely winner in elite horse racing in Britain
ASCOT, England (AP) — Powerful Glory has become the most unlikely winner in elite British horse racing. The 3-year-old horse, ridden by Jamie Spencer for trainer Richard Fahey, won the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot at remarkable odds of 200-1. That made him the longest-priced winner in Group One races in Britain, the Press Association reported. Powerful Glory made up a huge amount of ground to beat Lazzat, the 2-1 favorite. Quinault was third at odds of 66-1. It was one of the races on British Champions Day, the final day of the flat season and Britain’s richest race day.
Firefighters rescue stranded pup from rising floodwaters in Southern California
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — A firefighter has rescued a stranded pup from rising floodwaters in Southern California. Video captured the Ventura County firefighter climbing down a ladder to reach the dog during Tuesday's rare October storm. The pup was stuck on reeds on the edge of a flood channel northwest of Los Angeles. Officials said the 19-pound female pug or French bulldog mix was cold but otherwise unharmed. She did not have a tag or microchip. According to the Ventura County Animal Services' website, the dog is staying at the Camarillo Animal Shelter. She could be adopted as soon as Saturday if her owners are not identified.
California engineer wins pumpkin contest with 2,346-pound gourd
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) — A California engineer and gardening enthusiast has won the top prize at a pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California. Brandon Dawson of Santa Rosa clinched victory Monday at the 52nd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay. His giant pumpkin weighed 2,346 pounds. That's roughly the same weight as a small sedan or a large bison. Dawson celebrated by sitting his two children on top of the massive gourd and pumping his arm in the air for photos. He says his 4-year-old son now pays attention to the growing process, especially since giant pumpkins can grow 50 to 70 pounds a day. Dawson, who works at Rivian Automotive, has been growing massive pumpkins for five years.
