VENTURA, Calif., July 3 (UPI) --
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been selected as winner of the 2009 Sitting Duck Award, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists announced Friday.
The award is given annually to the person who provides the best material for columnists facing deadlines. Palin, who became a national political figure overnight last year when Sen. John McCain selected her as his running mate, beat out former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 3 (UPI) -- Scotland has the highest skin cancer rate in the United Kingdom due to widespread unsafe tanning practices, British medical experts said.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, July 3 (UPI) -- The Alaska Department of Transportation said a dog that escaped from its kennel at an Anchorage airport was recaptured two days later.
ATLANTA, July 3 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network the Weather Channel has announced an end to the smooth jazz playing in the background of its "Local on the 8s" segments.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 3 (UPI) -- A travel Web site has picked the Pasadena, Calif., Doo Dah Parade as the top "quirky" parade in the United States.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 3 (UPI) -- A Stockholm, Sweden, museum said a decorative Mongolian silver crown that was stolen in 1984 has spent more than 20 years in police storage.
SALT LAKE CITY, July 3 (UPI) -- Officials at Utah's Hogle Zoo said a capuchin monkey thought to be among the world's oldest has died from cancer in its jaw.
Columnists name Palin 'Sitting Duck' … Man crosses Canada handing out underwear … Career expo called off due to job shortage ... Police: Man bit wife during dog argument … UPI Quirks in the News.
ST. CHARLES, Ill., July 3 (UPI) -- A 51-year-old man bit his wife during an argument about custody of a dog, police in suburban Chicago said.
MARIETTA, Ga., July 3 (UPI) -- Organizers of a Georgia career expo said the event has been canceled due to a lack of available jobs at the companies planning to attend.
CARLSBAD, Calif., July 3 (UPI) -- Officials at the Legoland theme park in Carlsbad, Calif., said plans for a Michael Jackson tribute have been put on permanent hold due to legal issues.
MONTREAL, July 3 (UPI) -- A Canadian man drove into Montreal Friday to deliver 2,500 pairs of white underwear to homeless men as part of his cross-country Underwear Tour.
CALGARY, Alberta, July 3 (UPI) -- Canada's annual Calgary Stampede got under way Friday as divorce consultants prepared for their own surge in unhappy couples after the 10-day event.
BARRIE, Ontario, July 3 (UPI) -- A Canadian radio station north of Toronto is offering a $1,000 reward for a pig blimp that slipped its tether and began floating toward the nation's capital.
Office workers asked to go naked … T-shirts demand Pitt for New Orleans mayor … U.K. police chiefs wrote 102-word sentence … Gas sold for $1.49 for two hours … Watercooler stories from UPI.
Baseball cards bring windfall to church … 'Rock of Ages' breaks air guitar record … Conn. 'Sasquatch' a costumed teen … Experts disagree on YouTube organism ID … The world as we know it from UPI.
