ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Man in profane ambush on Pa. TV reporter is fined $300

SCRANTON, Pa.

An 18-year-old man who grabbed a Pennsylvania television reporter’s arm and yelled obscenities during a live broadcast has pleaded guilty to harassment.

Police say former Lackawanna College student Tyrone Parker ran up to WNEP’s Stacy Lange during a November news report and yelled a profane phrase that’s been used periodically by people ambushing television reporters over the past year.

Unflustered, Lange continued with her report about Scranton’s budget.

Parker, of Pottstown, must pay a $300 fine plus $163 in fees after pleading guilty recently. He could have faced jail time under an original charge of lying to police.

Lange says Parker has called her to apologize.

Woman plunging San Diego toilet pulls up 51/2-foot snake

SAN DIEGO

Officials in San Diego are trying to sort out how a 51/2-foot snake wound up in a toilet at an office building.

Stephanie Lacsa told San Diego County authorities she noticed the water level in the toilet was higher than usual when she went to the second-floor restroom Tuesday. When she plunged it, a snake popped up and flicked its tongue.

She ran out, taped the door shut and called Animal Services.

The department says an animal-control officer found a giant Columbian rainbow boa on the floor. The snake was shedding and slightly underweight.

It was taken to an animal care facility and bit a handler.

If the owner doesn’t show up soon, the snake will go to a rescue group.

How it got in the toilet remains a mystery.

Bucharest metro officials vow to fight ‘no pants’ stunt

BUCHAREST, Romania

Romanian subway officials have gotten their knickers in a twist over a planned stunt in which people will ride the Bucharest subway without their pants.

Briefed about plans, the Metrorex subway managers said Friday that those “who disturb public order or are indecent will be fined,” and reported to the police.

The No Pants Subway Ride began in 2002 in New York as a stunt and has taken place around the world since then. Organizers call it “an international celebration of silliness” and were organizing it in dozens of cities Sunday.

Sub-zero temperatures were forecast for Sunday in Bucharest, when participants were expected to turn up at a downtown subway station wearing coats, hats, scarves and gloves — but no pants.

Associated Press