ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Real $2 bill leads to cash confusion at school in Houston

HOUSTON

Danesiah Neal wanted chicken tenders for her school lunch. Instead, the Houston-area eighth-grader got a grilling from police over whether she used a fake $2 bill to pay for it.

KTRK-TV reported that a Fort Bend Independent School District police officer questioned the girl before taking the $2 bill to a bank, which verified the currency.

The district said on its website recently that nobody was charged and that it will continue investigating other potential counterfeit cases.

Neal was getting lunch last school year at Christa McAuliffe Middle School when a cafeteria worker used a pen that mistakenly identified the bill as counterfeit.

The girl’s grandmother says Danesiah had no other money and missed lunch.

KTRK-TV reports the case is among eight counterfeiting investigations against students at Fort Bend since the 2013-14 school year.

‘Bathroom bandit’ pilfers plumbing at Ohio businesses

COLUMBUS

Police in Ohio’s capital are searching for a man who’s been pilfering plumbing from stores, hospitals and restaurants.

Dubbed the Bathroom Bandit, Columbus police say he enters various local establishments, visits the men’s restroom, disconnects the plumbing and leaves with the stolen parts in his backpack.

A police department spokeswoman says the businesses won’t only have to replace the parts, but hire a plumber to repair the man’s toilet tinkering. She said his crimes may be unusual, but they’re still felonies.

The thief has struck a Kmart, several restaurants and the Mount Carmel West Hospital, all on the city’s west side.

He is described as a white male between 40 and 50 years old, 5’7” to 5’11” and 180 to 200 pounds. He’s been seen driving a black Honda Accord.

30-year-old Siamese cat is named world’s oldest living cat

MANSFIELD, Texas

A Siamese cat born during President Ronald Reagan’s administration has been named by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living cat.

Guinness says Scooter celebrated his 30th birthday March 26. He lives in Mansfield, Texas.

Owner Gail Floyd attributes Scooter’s longevity to staying active. She tells Guinness he keeps busy by traveling and has visited 45 of the 50 states. Some of his favorite activities include getting blow-dried after baths and snacking on chicken every other day.

Scooter isn’t Guinness’ oldest cat of all time, though. That mark belongs to a fellow Texas cat, which lived to be 38.

Associated Press