Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Cab driver refuses to pick up shoplifters SALEM, Mass., April 26 (UPI) -- Police in Massachusetts said two suspected shoplifters were busted when a taxi cab driver refused to give them a ride home with their ill-gotten gains. Advertisement Salem police said they were called to the Walmart store about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on a report of two shoplifters fleeing the store with four cases of beer, two cases of diapers and a case of baby formula, the New Hampshire Union Leader in Manchester reported Wednesday. Investigators said the men had called a cab to pick them up at the store, but the driver, sensing something was up, refused to give them a ride. Officers chased Shaun Klier, 29, of Lawrence, Mass., to the parking lot of a nearby gas station and John Murphy, 46, of Lawrence, was arrested in the parking lot of a nearby fitness center. Advertisement Klier was charged with theft and a probation violation. Murphy, who allegedly lied to officers about his name, was charged with theft, false reports to law enforcement and resisting arrest. More than 100 turn out for dog wedding PALM DESERT, Calif., April 26 (UPI) -- More than 100 people turned up at a California country club to witness the unusual wedding of a pair of small and furry lovers -- two dogs. Ernie Rubin's dog, Scruffy, donned a custom couture dress, leash and veil made by Jan Farber for the canine wedding Sunday at the Palm Desert Resort Country Club; while Ann Carter dressed her dog, Snickers, in a doggie tuxedo designed by Spoiled Dog Design, The (Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun reported Wednesday. The wedding came complete with a cake, open bar and a reception following the ceremony. Rubin and Carter, who used the ceremony to collect donations for the Orphan Pet Oasis Humane Society of the Desert in North Palm Springs, said they originally planned a small wedding, but the event grew as more and more people asked to attend. "The whole thing just took on a life of its own and kept growing and growing," Rubin said. "But that was OK because the donations we collected for the shelter were just amazing." Advertisement Ice breaks, contest winner not yet known NENANA, Alaska, April 26 (UPI) -- Officials with Alaska's Nenana Ice Classic, which asks people to guess when the Tanana River ice will go out, said it will be a week before the winner is known. The officials said the ice went out at 8:39 p.m. Monday, making the winning guess 7:39 p.m., as the contest does not go by daylight time, the Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner reported Wednesday. Ice Classic manager Cherrie Forness said workers were still taking down all the names and guesses from more than 200,000 tickets sold from February to April. "It will be about a week before we know how many winners there are," Forness said. Forness said the board of directors will meet Thursday night to decide what the cash jackpot will be for this year's winner or winners. Woman gets ex-official's dinner invite STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 26 (UPI) -- A Swedish woman with the same name as a former government minister attended a formal government dinner when she was invited by mistake, officials said. Margareta Winberg, 67, of Sundbyberg, received an invitation to the dinner hosted by Environment Minister Lena Ek but the invitation had been meant for Margareta Winberg, 64, who formerly served as agricultural minister, deputy prime minister and ambassador to Brazil, The Local reported Wednesday. Advertisement "I received an invitation; it had my name and my address on it. I didn't really think too much about it," said Winberg, a retired occupational therapy assistant. A spokesman for Ek said the minister was amused when Winberg arrived and the mistake was noticed. "When Lena realized the mistake she did everything she could so that the lady wouldn't feel uncomfortable," spokesman Erik Bratthall said. Winberg said she was treated like any other guest at the function. "I was allowed to take part anyway. The food was nice and there were a lot of people talking and talking," Winberg said. The Margareta Winberg who used to work for the government said she was not upset about the incident. "I hope my namesake had a lovely dinner. She has never attended a government dinner, and I have," she told the newspaper.
