(UPI) Authorities in Connecticut came to the rescue of a mother duck and 11 ducklings found stranded in an isolated downtown plaza.

The Stamford Police Department said Lynne Colatrella of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District teamed up with Animal Control Officer John Franzetti, security guard Omar Riofrio and a crew of gardeners when...Read more

(UPI) A Michigan woman said her need for a car wash led to her winning a $1 million lottery prize from a Mega Millions drawing.

Louise Adams, 77, of Jackson, told Michigan Lottery officials she stopped at Kelly's Express Mart on Horton Road in Jackson because she needed to wash her car.

"I play Mega Millions here and there, so when I stopped ...Read more

(UPI) Firefighters in Minnesota used a super-sized ladder truck known as the "Tower" to rescue a cockatiel that escaped from her owner and became stranded on a hospital window ledge.

The Duluth Fire Department said on social media that the cockatiel, named Nina, escaped from her owner and was located on a sixth story window ledge at St. Luke's ...Read more

(UPI) A Canadian city's attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as dinosaurs was disqualified due to the unexpectedly high turnout.

Travel Drumheller, the tourism organization for the Town of Drumheller, Alberta, said in a Facebook post that the April 27 record attempt in the city's downtown ...Read more

(UPI) An Indiana judge resolved a legal dispute surrounding a Fort Wayne strip mall by ruling that tacos and burritos "are Mexican-style sandwiches."

Martin Quintana, the developer behind the new Quintana Plaza strip mall on Jefferson Boulevard in Fort Wayne, entered into a written agreement with the Covington Creek Condominium Association that...Read more

(UPI) A wildlife hospital in Britain said a rescuer came to the assistance of a curious young fox that poked its head through the drain hole of a disused sink and became stuck.

The South Essex Wildlife Hospital said on social media that veterinarian Tom Linsel was summoned to "help a fox cub who had somehow managed to get his head stuck in the ...Read more

(UPI) A North Carolina woman won a $736,874 lottery jackpot when she played an online game by accident.

Cynthia Harris, of Cary, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials she didn't realize she had placed a $2 bet when she tried out Bison Bonanza, a digital instant game available on the lottery's website and mobile app.

"I thought I was ...Read more

(UPI) The live stream video Portal connecting New York to Dublin has been temporarily switched off due to what organizers described as "instances of inappropriate behavior."

The Portal, designed by artist Benediktas Gylys, went live Wednesday and streamed real-time video between New York's Flatiron South Public Plaza and North Earl Street in ...Read more

(UPI) A Wisconsin sheriff's office is warning residents to be on the lookout for a bison spotted wandering loose along a highway.

The Waupaca County Sheriff's Office said the bison was spotted on County Highway E north of Ogdensburg.

"Use caution when driving on the roadway in the area," the sheriff's office said on social media. If you see...Read more

(UPI) Serial record-breaker David Rush recaptured one of his lost Guinness World Records titles by inserting 243 thumbtacks into a cork board in one minute.

Rush, who had held the record twice previously, aimed to break the record of 191 tacks in one minute, which was set by fellow serial record-breaker Andre Ortolf.

The latest attempt saw ...Read more

(UPI) The East Japan Railroad Co. said about 2,700 passengers experienced delays when a snake was spotted about a commuter train.

The company said a passenger on a JR Yamanote Line train in Tokyo informed personnel at Shibuya Station on Sunday that a snake had been spotted in the eighth car of the 11-car train.

The train was stopped at ...Read more

(UPI) A Virginia man made a stop at the grocery store to buy some chicken and walked out with a scratch-off lottery ticket worth $500,000.

Russell Gomes of South Boston told Virginia Lottery officials he had just finished work when he stopped at the Food Lion on Halifax Road in South Boston to buy some chicken.

Gomes decided to buy a ...Read more

(UPI) An Indiana couple earned a Guinness World Record for their collection of 2,022 jigsaw puzzles.

Carmel resident John Walczak and his wife, Kyle, started collecting jigsaw puzzles in 2019, and they soon found themselves addicted to buying, solving, selling and trading the puzzles.

"We did that first one and it was fun, so we decided to ...Read more

(UPI) Authorities in New York's Long Island region said a man who jumped into the water to rescue his dog ended up needing to be rescued by firefighters.

The Nassau County Police Department said in a news release that the 34-year-old man was walking his service dog in Oyster Bay on Sunday evening when the canine ran into the water for a swim.

...Read more

(UPI) The Force was strong with a Massachusetts man when he scored a $5.37 million lottery jackpot on Star Wars Day.

James Jorgensen of Northborough told Massachusetts State Lottery officials he was celebrating the May 4 holiday when he found out the Megabucks ticket he bought from Lowe's Variety Market and Meat Shop on West Main Street in ...Read more