WEIRD NEWS

Eating Competitions Are Killing People

Caitlin Nelson was just 5 years old when her father, James Nelson, a Port Authority police officer, was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack. Sixteen years later, tragedy has visited the Nelson family again when Caitlin, a student at Connecticut's Sacred Heart University, died after apparently choking during a pancake-eating contest. Per the Connecticut Post, Nelson had eaten four or five pancakes during the March 30 event when she started shaking uncontrollably and collapsed. Police officers were not able to successfully use the Heimlich maneuver but did physically remove food from Nelson's throat and performed CPR. Nelson was initially said to be in critical but stable condition and was transferred to a New York hospital Friday, but died Sunday. Meanwhile, 42-year-old Travis Malouff choked to death at a Voodoo Doughnuts shop in Denver while trying to wolf down a giant half-pound doughnut during a food-eating challenge. The cause of death was "asphyxia, due to obstruction of the airway." Malouff was taking the shop's "Tex-Ass Challenge," which requires participants to consume the colossal doughnut -- the equivalent of six regular doughnuts -- within an 80-second time limit. Winners get a free meal and a button. (Hartford Courant)

Frog Crossing

If you're driving through Vermont these days, watch out for the frogs! Seriously, it's that time of the year in which the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning motorists to drive with caution due to the seasonal migrations of frogs and salamanders. A DFW rep says, "Frogs and salamanders become active on rainy spring nights" as they search out breeding pools. These amphibian 'hotspots' can lead to the death of thousands of animals on a single night." Officials and volunteers will work to slow traffic and manually carry the amphibians across the roads during spring nights. Vermont also is working to build culverts and wildlife barriers around hotspots to avoid unnecessary amphibian deaths. Vermont works to track the animals' movement, but officials request that drivers call in if they see a large migration. (Burlington Free Press)

Guess Where the President's Q1 Salary Went

Well here's some good news. President Trump has followed through on at least one campaign promise: to donate his presidential salary. The President of the United States is paid $400,000 per year and Trump donated the $78,333 he received for the first quarter to the National Park Service. Sean Spicer handed over the check at Monday's daily briefing, at which Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he was "thrilled" at the move. (Reuters)

Stop Calling 911...Police Said to the Now Dead Woman!

Body cam video released by police in Sanford, Fla., after a man allegedly went on a shooting spree last week that killed his girlfriend and her 8-year-old son, shows cops scoffing at the woman's "false accusations" and telling her to "stop calling 911." In the early morning of March 27, police responded twice to an altercation between 35-year-old Latina Herring and 31-year-old Allen Cashe. In the first encounter around 3:20am at a gas station, Herring and Cashe are seen screaming at each other. Less than half an hour later, officers were called once again - this time to a residence - but they don't appear to be taking Herring seriously. "It's the second time she's done it," one officer is heard saying about Herring's so-called "false accusations," with another telling her that police were going to "handle" the situation but that she should "just stop calling 911." How they handled it: Cashe was cuffed and placed in the back of a police vehicle, but then let go after cops determined the incident was a "civil matter." Just a few hours later, Cashe reportedly opened fire, killing Herring and her son. Herring's 7-year-old son and father were injured in the attack, as were two bystanders. Cashe is now in jail without bond until his first arraignment on April 17 for parole violation, followed by a May 2 appearance on charges of premeditated murder, attempted homicide, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. (WESH)

No Good Deed is Left Unpunished

Six teens found themselves in trouble when their Jeep rolled over early Sunday on I-96 in Detroit, but help came quickly in the form of two Good Samaritans who were driving past the scene around 7:30am. But those two helpers ended up in the hospital themselves when they were struck by a teen driver of that car accused of drunk driving. Dr. Cynthia Ray, 47, is in critical condition after surgery at a local hospital, while 17-year-old Sean English, a student at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, had to have his foot amputated after a tourniquet applied by a Michigan State Trooper cut off blood flow to his limb - but likely saved his life. The 17-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck the pair is also said to be in critical condition, with Michigan State Police noting in a statement that "alcohol may be a factor," based on evidence they noted at the scene. The teens in the Jeep, who ranged in age from 14 to 19, escaped serious injury; no word on what caused that initial rollover that led to the crash chain effect on the roadway. (WDIV)

Most of Us Waste Close to $10K Because of Financial Incompetence

According to a new survey, we could all do with a brush up on our financial smarts. The latest data says the average person will waste about $9,700 in their lifetime because of financial mistakes - or incompetence. That brings the national total to a whopping $2.3 TRILLION of money we've just blown! The top four ways we blow money are: Bank fees, credit card interest, paying higher interest rates than we should, and investment losses. (PR Newswire)

Like They Were Really Gonna Punish Hans Solo

Federal authorities have decided not to penalize Harrison Ford for an incident that caused him to tell air traffic controllers that he was a "schmuck." Ford's lawyer says that after a full investigation of the Feb. 13 incident, the Federal Aviation Administration has decided not to fine the 74-year-old actor, require remedial pilot training, or impose any restrictions on his license. Ford mistook a taxiway for a runway while trying to land his single-engine Aviat Husky at California's John Wayne Airport and went over the top of an American Airlines 737. Sources tell NBC that Ford was "extremely apologetic" after the incident and willingly met with FAA investigators to discuss it. (BBC)

What the What?

So there's a new video going viral - one posted by WorldStarHipHop - of a preacher looking at "booty" videos on his cell phone-- WHILE HE'S SITTING IN CHURCH! The video has racked up almost half-a-million views and our pastor is seen devoutly watching his phone as distinctive females are shaking their booties! Although it is not exactly clear when the video was filmed, it has resulted in some amusing comments online. We'll let you read those for yourself. (Daily Mail)

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