A class to die for: Zombies 101 at U. Baltimore

Call it Zombies 101.

Police arrest man who scaled San Francisco tower

San Francisco police have arrested a man who scaled the exterior of a 58-story downtown skyscraper and unfurled an American flag at the top.

Philly cyclists bare all to promote cleaner air

Hundreds of naked and partially nude cyclists have pedaled their way through Philadelphia to promote bicycling awareness and cleaner air.

Va. woman devours 181 chicken wings in NY contest

The Black Widow of eating contests gobbled up nearly 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes, devouring the national championship record in Buffalo on Sunday.

Nevada candidate touts speedy fix to budget crisis

One Nevada gubernatorial hopeful sees a speedy fix to Nevada's budget crisis. Nonpartisan candidate Eugene "Gino" DiSimone believes people would pay for the privilege to drive up to 90 mph on designated highways _ and fill the state's depleted coffers.

Iowa State carillon lets Lady Gaga hit chime

An Iowa State University music professor says the Lady Gaga club anthem "Bad Romance" translates better than you might think into the 110-foot-tall, organ-like instrument known as a carillon.

NM Goodwill collection box turns up inert grenade

Just in case it wasn't clear: Weapons and drugs don't make good charitable donations.

Police: Pa. woman zaps self, brother with stun gun

Police said an Erie-area woman somehow managed to zap both herself and her brother with a stun gun during a drunken dispute. Darlene Newara, 45, will have a hearing Oct. 18 on charges including driving under the influence, disorderly conduct for fighting, and public drunkenness in the Aug. 8 incident.

Montana teen accidentally texts sheriff to buy pot

General rule of thumb: when looking to buy marijuana, don't text the sheriff. Authorities said a Helena teen hit a wrong number and inadvertently sent a message to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, saying "Hey Dawg, do you have a $20 I can buy right now?"

Mich. man gathering corn confronted by alligator

A man gathering sweet corn in southern Michigan is the latest to have an unexpected encounter with an alligator. The animals have been showing up far north of their traditional habitats this summer. Jeff Adamski of Burr Oak said he was picking corn near the Michigan-Indiana border when two women who were a few rows over came running and screaming, saying they had seen an alligator.

Conn. driver falls from car on I-95, Dodge goes on

Connecticut State Police say a man fell out of his car onto Interstate 95 and watched his vehicle drive on for about two-tenths of a mile before it crashed into a pole. Troopers said they're not sure why 51-year-old Robert Craig of Killingworth fell out of his 2006 Dodge Charger late Tuesday morning in Darien near Exit 10. Police said Craig was treated for minor injuries at Stamford Hospital.

For 2nd time, Ohio woman gives birth in vehicle

For a second time, an Ohio woman has given birth to a baby who couldn't wait and arrived on the drive to the hospital.

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

A "D+" campaign logo aimed at encouraging recruitment at Drake University is getting a failing grade from some faculty, students and alumni.

Plumbers help Tenn. newlyweds find flushed rings

Diane Buckalew said she felt sick when she woke up and realized two rings she'd left on the bathroom counter the night before were gone. She and husband Carl, married in Las Vegas a month ago, realized Thursday their cat Jinxe had batted into the toilet an amethyst ring and Diane's 4-carat, $40,000 diamond engagement ring.

Wyo. troopers examine human ashes in traffic stop

The powdery substance that Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers found in a zip-close bag during a recent traffic stop didn't turn out to be drugs after all. Sgt. Stephen Townsend of the patrol said then when troopers pulled over two men in a car Wednesday, they found small amounts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and thought the bag might hold illegal drugs. Troopers contacted the car's owner _ the girlfriend of one of the men _ and asked her.

Goats rescued after 2 days on 6-inch ledge in Mont

Two young goats wandered onto the thin ledge of a railroad bridge and spent nearly two days high above the ground until rescuers in a towering cherry picker plucked them from their perch, hungry but safe.

Police say man leads hour-long chase in dump truck

Police said a 37-year-old man driving a dump truck led them on an hour-long chase over roads, rails and yards in the Syracuse area that ended with the suspect being shot. The Onondaga County Sheriff said Stanley Lostumbo jumped into a dump truck Tuesday night after being accused of stealing from vending machines at a mall.

Cell phone left in Ala. burglary leads to arrest

Police investigating a home burglary in Russellville found a surprising clue _ a cell phone that got left behind. Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the phone was left near where a computer was taken in the weekend burglary. Investigators began calling some of the phone numbers and determined the phone belonged to a 19-year-old who was on probation for a previous burglary.

Insurance company: Flowers started Ark. house fire

A fire that did $20,000 in damages to a northeast Arkansas home wasn't caused by an electrical problem or burning food or arson, an insurance investigator concluded. Instead, the dead plants did it, according to a report summary provided to the homeowner, Brian Duncan. "The fire was caused by self-heating through decomposition of organic materials contained within a plastic flowerpot," the Aug. 25 letter from State Farm Insurance Co. said.

Swing sets removed at some W.Va. schools

Elementary school playgrounds in one West Virginia county are losing their swing sets.