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La Crosse, Wisconcin - No doubt. The nines have it. Chuck Berendes of La Crosse said he will never forget the birthday of this third child, born Wednesday on the ninth day of the nine month in the year 2009. Nor will Berendes and his wife, Polly, forget Henry Michael's arrival time - at 9:09 a.m. by Cesarean section at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse.
A northwest Ohio judge has added neon green T-shirts to his sentencing repertoire.
Western District Court Judge Jeff Robinson in Fulton County is requiring some defendants to wear shirts announcing "I'm a thief" while they perform court-ordered community service.
The judge said public punishment can serve as a deterrent, especially during tough economic times when theft crimes seem to rise.
The shirts have mainly been ordered for convicted shoplifters.
Western District Court Judge Jeff Robinson in Fulton County is requiring some defendants to wear shirts announcing "I'm a thief" while they perform court-ordered community service.
The judge said public punishment can serve as a deterrent, especially during tough economic times when theft crimes seem to rise.
The shirts have mainly been ordered for convicted shoplifters.
Columbus - Ohio police said a suspect in a robbery was arrested when he returned to the home about two hours later to ask the victim out on a date. Police say 20-year-old Stephfon Bennett of Columbus was among three men who robbed a couple late Sunday.
Columbus police Sgt. Sean Laird said the woman recognized Bennett as one of the robbers when he returned to ask her out. She had a relative call 911.
Columbus police Sgt. Sean Laird said the woman recognized Bennett as one of the robbers when he returned to ask her out. She had a relative call 911.
© REUTERS/Ciro De Luca/AgnfotoAssisted by Cardinal Crescienzo Sepe, Orthodox Archbishop Sergij Viktor Poljotkin (L) of Samara kisses a phial of what local Roman Catholics believe is the blood of Saint Gennaro at the Duomo in Naples in this May 2, 2007 file photo. Fear of H1N1 flu will stop devout Neapolitans from performing the time-honoured ritual of kissing the blood of their patron Saint Gennaro when the city's annual festival begins later this month.
The decision to forbid kissing of the glass vial containing the saint's blood was taken reluctantly by ecclesiastical and city authorities Monday, and has brought protests from local politicians.
The vial will be put on display in the city's cathedral for a week from September 19 and the faithful will be allowed to touch it only with their foreheads.
The offering baskets at a North Little Rock church were operating in reverse. Summit Church on Sunday dished out $5,000 to needy members of its congregation. Pastor Bill Elliff says worshippers received cash to pay medical and electric bills, buy children's school clothes, make a security deposit for an apartment and replace a broken washing machine.
At the end of Sunday's service, Elliff says baskets with small bills were laid out at the front of the sanctuary, and he told members to take it.
Elliff says leaders at the Southern Baptist church decided on the act a few weeks ago as part of a sermon series on giving. He says the church had studied first-century Christians in Asia Minor and Jerusalem who shared money and possessions despite their own poverty.
At the end of Sunday's service, Elliff says baskets with small bills were laid out at the front of the sanctuary, and he told members to take it.
Elliff says leaders at the Southern Baptist church decided on the act a few weeks ago as part of a sermon series on giving. He says the church had studied first-century Christians in Asia Minor and Jerusalem who shared money and possessions despite their own poverty.
An illegal immigrant who scored a big win with a lottery scratch card in Sweden appeared on television on Saturday to collect his winnings even though authorities have been trying to deport him.
Tesfaldet Tesloy, a 28-year-old Eritrean who has lived in the immigrant-friendly Nordic country for six years, won a tax-free prize of 1.2 million Swedish crown (101,654 pounds).
But Sweden's attempts to deport the man have failed due to his country's refusal to take him back, highlighting a common problem for immigration officials.
Sweden says it has about 12,000 people awaiting deportation. Of those, Tesloy is one of hundreds living illegally in Sweden who cannot be sent home because their home countries refuse to have them back unless they agree to being deported.
Tesfaldet Tesloy, a 28-year-old Eritrean who has lived in the immigrant-friendly Nordic country for six years, won a tax-free prize of 1.2 million Swedish crown (101,654 pounds).
But Sweden's attempts to deport the man have failed due to his country's refusal to take him back, highlighting a common problem for immigration officials.
Sweden says it has about 12,000 people awaiting deportation. Of those, Tesloy is one of hundreds living illegally in Sweden who cannot be sent home because their home countries refuse to have them back unless they agree to being deported.
© NASA The view shows gullies near the edge of the Hale crater on southern Mars
Now the surface of the planet Mars can be added to this list.
If looked at from the right angle - and with disbelief suspended - this photo released by Nasa can appear to show the face and robed body of Christ.
© Martin Poole / Istock
The Boston Globe reported Harvard religion don Harvey Cox, who holds the Hollis Research professor of divinity chair, endowed in 1721, also holds grazing rights at Harvard Yard for any cows he might possess. He intends to exercise those rights in a formal ceremony at Memorial Church across from Widener Library on Sept. 10, the newspaper reported.
"I'm reclaiming a tradition that almost got lost," he said. "Why can't we have cows grazing in Harvard Yard? People started saying to me, 'Why don't you do it?' I finally said to myself, 'I'm going to do it.'"
© REUTERS/Stringer
Zhang Tingting completely shaved off the hair that she says has "kung fu power" and extraordinary strength so that she can enter a temple as a nun.
"I really always wanted to cut my hair off, but I couldn't because of the performances. But this time I've given it up for good," Zhang told Reuters. "It feels great."
