James Patterson has renewed a most welcome holiday publishing tradition — bonuses for independent bookstore employees. The best-selling author announced Tuesday that 333 workers each will receive $750. The winners, nominated by customers and colleagues among others, are listed on the web site of the American Booksellers Association. Patterson has… Read More

A Missouri poacher has been ordered to repeatedly watch the movie “Bambi” as part of his sentence in a scheme to illegally kill hundreds of deer. David Berry Jr. was ordered to watch the Disney classic at least once a month during his year-long jail sentence in what conservation agents… Read More

After raising five kids and retiring at age 77 from her secretarial job, Janet Fein couldn’t be blamed for finally relaxing, but that’s not her. Fein, now 84, went to back to school and just graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree. “I didn’t have… Read More

A pickup truck has smashed through a home in Massachusetts, barely missing a woman who was asleep on her couch. Police say the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Templeton. Tracy Samuels, who was sleeping on the couch, says she heard a loud bang, woke up and said, “Why… Read More

A Dutch appeals court has upheld a prison sentence of nearly 11 years for a man convicted of cyberbullying dozens of young women and gay men around the world. And he likely has more prison time coming in Canada. Amsterdam Appeals Court on Friday confirmed the maximum 10 years and… Read More

Father Jim Sichko has a 50-state congregation and a simple mandate from the pope: Go forth and do good deeds. That’s why the Roman Catholic priest found himself standing by the drive-thru of a popular Hollywood fast-food joint on a recent windy, rain-swept afternoon buying lunch for everyone who stopped… Read More

It’s a busy time for Santa Claus, but he’s making time to feed some fish in San Francisco. The California Academy of Sciences launched its holiday festivities Thursday by having a scuba diver dressed as St. Nick submerge into a coral reef exhibit while dozens of children watched from behind… Read More

Odean Cleckler, 89, said she has been doing her best to help run her husband’s used-appliance business since he died a decade ago. This week, that work landed her and her son in jail. City officials arrested the pair for disobeying a court order to clean up Cleckler’s Appliance and… Read More

Customs officials at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport say they found 70 live finches hidden inside hair rollers. Authorities say a passenger arriving from Guyana on Saturday had the songbirds in a duffel bag. The New York Times reports officials believe the birds were brought to the U.S. to participate… Read More