RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is still for lovers. The state is rolling out a new tourism pitch using its familiar "Virginia is For Lovers" theme. Governor Bob McDonnell announced the new commercials yesterday. He says the spots are aimed at families. They'll promote Virginia history, amusement parks and outdoor recreation. The new ads will air in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina and three cities in Ohio.
TRUCK ATOP CRUISER
FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - Police charge Brian Head didn't just hit another car.
Officers say his Ford pickup ended up on top of a police cruiser. Witnesses tell
police in Frederick, Maryland, Head followed a Volkswagen Cabriolet after
arguing with the driver in a tavern parking lot. Police say he rammed the VW
from behind, then accelerated rapidly in reverse. Officers say Head's truck came
to a stop on the hood on an unmarked cruiser. Police say Head apparently wasn't
aware the cruiser was behind him. He's now facing drunk driving charges and
other counts.
SODA TO ETHANOL
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Someday you might be running your car on soda pop.
Oklahoma State University researchers say they've found a way to turn waste from
pop production into ethanol. The sugar in the leftover pop is fermented and
converted to alcohol. The OSU researchers say they're now trying to scale-up the
process to make it commercially viable.
DOG DOOR-BURGLARY
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - It wasn't a bad dog getting through the doggie door.
Deputies say it was a bad guy. Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff Steve Prator
says deputies have busted a 21-year-old suspect (Timothy Sepulvado), who was
breaking into a woman's home. Prator says the 5-foot-10, 165-pound suspect was
getting in through a doggie door. The woman set up a video camera after noticing
things missing and other stuff moved around while she was at work. The doggie
door suspect is being held on more than $50,000 bond.
BEER MAN TRIAL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Wally "The Beer Man" McNeil is taking his chance with a jury.
He's to go on trial for selling suds to a minor at a Minnesota Twins game at the
end of last season. He was one of eight vendors fired. But the Beer Man contends
it's a case of police entrapment. The Pioneer Press reports McNeil turned down a
plea deal of a $300 fine and one-year suspension from selling alcohol. The Star
Tribune reports the trial was delayed until tomorrow because of the judge's
schedule. The Beer Man is a celeb in his own right, with trading cards and even
a bobblehead doll.
PANDA BITE
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Those cute, cuddly pandas aren't so cuddly after all. Officials
at the San Diego Zoo report a giant panda has bitten a caretaker. The San Diego
Union-Tribune reports the female panda was wandering out of her habitat. The zoo
worker was treated at a hospital. Zoo officials say a safety barrier wasn't
properly secured. The worker was bitten as the panda was being herded back to
her living quarters. The zoo was closed at the time.
