UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Knife was in man's head for four years

YUXI, China, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Doctors in China said they worked for four hours to remove a 4-inch knife blade that spent four years lodged in a man's head.

Surgeons at the People's Hospital of Yuxi said they removed the blade Saturday after Li Fu, 37, came into the hospital Jan. 24 complaining of headaches, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported Monday.

"A miracle of miracles: A knife pierced his skull and stayed in the nerve and vascular intensive area," neurosurgeon Luo Zhiwei said after the surgery.

Doctors said the blade apparently entered through Li's right lower jaw and lodged itself with the tip nearly touching his brain.

Li's brother said the man was stabbed during a robbery four years ago and police discovered a knife with no blade when they arrested the robber.

"The wound healed well, so he did not accept further examinations. We never thought the blade was left in his head," the brother said.

Experts: Punishment sign may be abuse

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Experts said a punishment involving a Florida 15-year-old wearing a sign detailing his scholastic missteps may be considered maltreatment.

Ronda Holder, 33, said her 15-year-old son, James Mond III, was made to wear the sign on a Tampa street corner for about 4 hours Wednesday after he did not respond to previous attempts to make him focus on his schoolwork, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported Monday.

"I did 4 questions on my FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) and said I wasn't going to do it ... GPA 1.22 ... honk if I need (an) education," the sign read.

"He'd tell us, 'That school doesn't give homework' or 'That teacher has a problem with me,'" the boy's father, James Mond Jr., said.

However, experts said the punishment could be considered maltreatment. Terry Field, a spokesman for the Department of Children and Families, said officials are investigating the case.

"It definitely would fall within the category of emotional abuse. It's shame, embarrassment and humiliation. This will be a lifelong memory for him," said Arlinda Amos, a clinical psychologist and ombudsman for the Hillsborough Children's Board.

Healthier lunches unpopular with students

CHICAGO, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Officials with Chicago Public Schools said school lunch sales have dropped about 5 percent since the introduction of a healthier menu.

The officials said the district stopped offering daily nachos, doughnuts and Pop-Tarts in favor of healthier options at the start of the school year and figures from September to December 2010 show lunch sales dropped about 5 percent, about 20,000 lunches per day, from the previous year, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday

The caterer employed by the district, Chartwells-Thompson, said the new meal options exceed U.S. Department of Agriculture meal standards. However, the meals have proven unpopular with students.

"If they're going to feed us healthy, they need to feed us something good that's healthy," said Mijoy Roussell, a Claremont Academy sixth-grader who replaced lunch with a candy packet. "This food is disgusting, which is why I'm not eating lunch."

Louise Esaian, who oversees CPS' food service program, said it is challenging to introduce new concepts to students.

"We are thrilled that 70 percent of CPS students choose to eat lunch at school," she said. "While there has been a slight decline in participation, it does not reflect the measurable and positive gains we have made as a school district in making improvements to the nutritional quality of our school breakfast and lunch programs."

No charges for uphill skier

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Officials with a Wyoming ski resort said no charges will be filed against a 78-year-old man arrested while trying to ski uphill.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort officials said Ronald Fleck was arrested Feb. 5 after ski patrol members spent 3 1/2 hours attempting to convince the man to turn around while he was trying to ski uphill to watch his granddaughter's ski race, the Jackson Hole Daily reported Monday.

Fleck was arrested on suspicion of trespass, interference, unsafe skiing and theft of services. However, Jerry Blann, president of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, said no charges will be pressed.

"Once he was removed, the safety issue, which was our primary concern, was removed," Blann said Friday.

Teton County Sheriff Jim Whalen said his department is dropping the matter.

"Pretty much from the beginning of this thing, we didn't see any reason to move forward with the criminal prosecution," he said. "We're fine with it."