Monday, February 23, 2015
ODDLY ENOUGH
Wild boar causes flight delays at Spain’s main airport
MADRID
Spain’s airport authority says a wild boar that broke through a perimeter fence at Madrid’s international airport caused runways to be shut briefly and two landings to be delayed. The beast set off security alarms recently and when cameras focused on the spot, operators observed it turning around and loping off through the hole it had made.
The incident happened 330 feet from the nearest stretch of runway. It delayed an incoming flight from London 20 minutes and a domestic flight from A Coruna 10 minutes, the airport authority’s statement said.
Newspaper El Pais reported the captain aboard Iberia flight 3179 inbound from London told passengers an animal had “surprisingly” forced him to abort a landing approach. The hole was repaired later.
Winking congressman steals spotlight in House floor speech
WASHINGTON
A Maryland congressman has taken the photo bomb to the next level.
Republican Rep. Andy Harris was caught recently on C-SPAN winking and grinning behind a fellow lawmaker speaking from the floor of the House of Representatives. A video of the winks was making the rounds on national news sites and blogs.
The video shows Harris purposefully sit behind Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia as he speaks from the floor. Harris looks directly at the camera, winks, grins and then starts texting on a cellphone. He winks again 30 seconds later, and continues to grin and text for another minute.
Harris’ spokesman, Chris Meekins, says the 58-year-old congressman was winking at and texting with his mother, saying she “gets a big kick when she sees her son” on C-SPAN.
Florida police dog fired from force after biting 2 people
COCONUT CREEK, Fla.
A Florida police dog is being kicked off the force after biting a doughnut-shop worker and an officer in separate incidents.
Officials say 4-year-old Renzo had been with the Coconut Creek Police Department for more than a year. The Belgian Malinois bit an officer in November while tracking a suspect. Recently, he burst out of a patrol car and bit a Dunkin’ Donuts worker in the calf.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that Renzo and Officer Carl DiBlasi went to the doughnut shop Feb. 11 to meet a police sergeant. The sergeant approached the patrol car and began to pet Renzo. The dog lunged at her and DiBlasi struggled to restrain him. Renzo broke away and bit the worker who was nearby.
The retired dog will live with DiBlasi.
Associated Press