UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Wall Street added to prayer topics

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Wall Street was among the recipients of prayers for divine guidance in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday at an annual high school prayer gathering.

More than 50 students at Millbrook High School gathered around the campus flagpole as part of the nationwide "See You at the Flagpole" event, the Raleigh News & Observer said.

The students took turns reading Bible passages and also offered up prayers for guidance through the ongoing U.S. financial turmoil.

"Everything going down with Wall Street falling and crumbling, the Bible

tells you … that the Lord leads us through all that," Derrick Credle, 17, told the newspaper.

The markets were also brought up at nearby West Johnston High in Benson as was the speedy recovery of senior Cameron Vanderboom, who was on crutches after slicing open his foot while working on a project for the upcoming homecoming festivities.

Ben & Jerry's asked to use breast milk

MONTPELIER, Vt., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokeswoman says her U.S.-based organization wants human breast milk added to Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

The PETA spokeswoman said in a statement the animal rights group has asked Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield to use human breast milk instead of cow's milk an all of their products, New York's WPTZ-TV, Plattsburgh, reported Wednesday.

"PETA's request comes in the wake of news reports that a Swiss restaurant owner will begin purchasing breast milk from nursing mothers and substituting breast milk for 75 percent of the cow's milk in the food he serves," the spokeswoman explains in the statement.

PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman told WPTZ-TV her organization's suggestion is merely common sense.

"The fact that human adults consume huge quantities of dairy products made from milk that was meant for a baby cow just doesn't make sense," she said.

WPTZ-TV said a representative for the ice cream group has rejected the proposal, but thanked PETA officials for their concern.

Lawsuit: Gym grudge sparks reunion beating

NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A New Jersey man is suing two high school classmates on the grounds they conspired to punch him out at a class reunion over a gym-class altercation.

Adam Lynn, 24, Hoboken, said in his lawsuit Lucas Robak and Jacob Namer attacked him without provocation during a gathering at a New York bar last fall.

The New York Post said Robak and Lynn had gotten into a couple of schoolyard scuffles after a gym-class handball game at their Long Island high school in 2002.

Lynn alleged the he was shaking hands with Namer at the reunion when Robak allegedly grabbed him from behind, according to the Post. The two defendants then allegedly took turns pummeling him and leaving him with jaw injuries that resulted in a chronic pain condition.

Parents asked to back pants initiative

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Parents of teenagers in Fort Worth, Texas, should become actively involved in a city-wide campaign against saggy pants, officials say.

City Councilman Frank Moss said city officials want parents to play more of an active role in the ongoing "Pull Em' Up" campaign aimed at eliminating the youthful fashion trend from Fort Worth, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram said Wednesday.

"We're going to continue to encourage parental involvement," Moss said Tuesday. "They don't know it's hampering their (children's) opportunities."

City officials allege the fashion trend, which involves wearing oversized pants that are worn low, is indicative of prison and inappropriate for general society.

Mayor Mike Moncrief told the Star-Telegram posters supporting the city campaign could soon appear at area sports venues, amusement parks and the Fort Worth Zoo.

"So wherever they go with their pants down around their ankles, they're going to see signs that say 'Don't do that,'" he said, referring to the teenagers following the controversial trend.