Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Band sickened by laxatives in cookies CONNELLSVILLE, Pa., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Members of a Pennsylvania high school band who ate laxative-loaded cookies gave the song "Band on the Run" fresh meaning. Advertisement An undisclosed number of Connellsville Area High School Band members were sickened Thursday after eating cookies received from former band members, who now face criminal charges, said Superintendent James Duncan. "We know who did it," Duncan said. "It's in the hands of the school security department now, and the people responsible will be charged when all is said and done." While the incident abruptly ended band practice Thursday, Duncan said he was not aware of any students sick enough to require medical treatment, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday. Baby boa abandoned in booze bag BOSTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- An abandoned baby boa constrictor in a purple velvet Crown Royal bag has joined the scaly troupe of performers in Boston's Rainforest Reptile Show. Advertisement The 30-inch long Colombian red-tail snake was in a pouch given to a police officer at Boston's St. Anthony's Fest celebration, the Boston Herald reported Monday. The black-tongued baby boa will be about 12-feet when mature, police dispatcher and herpetologist Christina Pagliuca told the newspaper. "He’s only a few months old," Pagliuca said. "He’s very nice -- a very calm animal." The snake dubbed "Velvet" will live out his years as part of the Reptile Rainforest Show, which will use him as part of their education program. Fleas bring new kind of circus to D.C. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The circus of politics in Washington was joined by a miniature variety allegedly involving two hardworking female fleas. The Acme Miniature Circus run by clown college graduate "Professor" A.G. Gertsacov of New York attracted several people on Sunday for the show. Advertising said only those over 21 could enter the evening performace, as the fleas perform entirely naked, the Washington Post reported. The show featured a race in which fleas named Midge and Madge pulled tiny chariots across a stage as big as a school desk. Gertsacov also coaxed Madge through a solo tightrope-walking act while shining a flashlight on her. The finale went wrong in the afternoon however, when the fleas were to be shot out of a tiny cannon through a ring of fire. The fire wouldn't stay lit and the cannon wouldn't fire, so Gertsacov encouraged his audience to visualize the stunt instead. Asked if there were really any fleas performing, the 42-year-old at first appeared shocked. Advertisement "It wouldn't be much of a flea circus without the fleas," he said. More Md. schools say hello to cell phones GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Middle school students in Montgomery County in Maryland can now have cell phones at school, as long as they don't make any phone calls. A new policy allows middle schoolers to have phones, as long as they keep it turned off during the school day, The Washington Post reported Monday. Some parents asked the school board to revoke a previous ban so they could reach their children in case of an emergency, like the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, the newspaper said. Others said they just wanted it to be easier to schedule a time to pick up their children after soccer practice or theater rehearsal. High school students in the district were already allowed to carry their phones, the Post said, and the Montgomery County policy is in line with rules changes already adopted by other school systems in the area.
