oddly enough

oddly enough

California prison bans visitor hugging and kissing

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.

A minimum-security prison in California has banned hugs and kisses because authorities fear visitors are sharing a lot more than affection.

Concerns about contraband have prompted officials at Lerdo Minimum Facility in Bakersfield to stop allowing inmates and visitors to share one brief hug and kiss.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Ian Silva tells the Bakersfield Californian that in August, four visitors were found with contraband, including a knife, a handcuff key, marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Horizon Air to paint plane in University of Idaho colors

BOISE, Idaho

University of Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear’s flight options may have just opened up.

It’s been almost a year since Spear declined to get on a Horizon Air plane painted in rival Boise State’s colors, vowing he would board only after the company painted an aircraft for his Vandals.

On Monday, Spear finally got his wish.

Horizon Air has announced that a Q400 aircraft will be painted in Idaho silver and gold. The plane will be available for service in November.

In a statement, Spear called the Vandal plane a “bold recognition of Idaho’s flagship university.”

Times Square cowboy has naked ambition: presidency

NEW YORK

New York City’s most-famous cowboy has been seized by naked ambition.

Robert Burck, known far and wide as the Naked Cowboy, intends to announce Wednesday that he plans to enter the 2012 presidential race.

Burck is a tourist attraction known for strumming his guitar in Times Square wearing only white underwear, boots and a cowboy hat.

It’s not his first time around the political block.

Burck had barely entered the mayoral race when he dropped out in 2009, complaining about the amount of red tape involved.

Washington state farmers adopt cats to hunt mice

SPOKANE, Wash.

An effort by some Washington state farmers to adopt wild cats is good for the felines but bad for mice.

The farmers are adopting cats from a Spokane shelter to hunt rodents.

KHQ-TV reports that SpokAnimal came up with the idea after it received a $13,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in June to pay for spaying, neutering and rabies shots.

SpokAnimal’s director says the program mainly focuses on wild cats that were trapped and had little chance of going to homes.

Associated Press