Watercooler Stories

Kahne apologizes for breastfeeding tweets

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne has apologized for Twitter postings in which he criticized a mother for breastfeeding a baby at a North Carolina grocery store.

The (Norfolk, Va.) Virginian-Pilot reported Thursday Kahne, who lives in Mooresville, N.C., deleted some of the comments for which he had been criticized and apologized on Facebook.

"I understand that my comments regarding breastfeeding posted on Twitter were offensive to some people," he said. "For that, I apologize. It was in no way my intention to offend any mother who chooses to breastfeed her child, or, for that matter, anyone who supports breastfeeding children."

He said reading Twitter followers' "feedback" gave him a "better understanding of why my posts upset some of you."

Kahne, 31, said his posts were "just a reaction to the location of that choice [to breastfeed], and the fashion in which it was executed on that occasion," but added, "I respect the mother's right to feed her child whenever and wherever she pleases."

Kahne was shopping Tuesday at a grocery store when he spotted the woman breastfeeding and said on Twitter: "Just walking through supermarket. See a mom breastfeeding little kid. Took second look because I was obviously seeing things. I wasn't!"

He then said on Twitter, "I don't feel like shopping anymore or eating."

Fox Sports reported somebody responded on Twitter, "I hope someday you have a kid and someone tells your wife that feeding your child looks nasty."

His response included an expletive, Fox Sports said.

Montreal nixes topless breakfast servers

MONTREAL, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- After 11 years of serving breakfast by topless waitresses in see-through skirts, a restaurant has been ordered by the city of Montreal to require clothing.

The owner of the Restaurant Les Princesses d'Hochelaga, Raynald Morissette, told CTV News he has spent some $200,000 in legal fees since 2004 fighting the city order, but has decided to have the waitresses wear miniskirts and small vests instead.

The city originally argued the restaurant wasn't in an area zoned to "exhibit eroticism," The (Montreal) Gazette reported.

In the midst of the legal zoning wrangling, the restaurant's liquor license was revoked in 2008 for serving alcohol without food, although it was restored this year, CTV said.

One waitress who asked not to be identified told the broadcaster since having to cover up, business and tips have fallen off.

"Before, when it was topless service, we made more money because there were more customers, especially tourists," she said.

Car trashed in futile search for drugs

POMPTON LAKES, N.J., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A New Jersey man whose car was impounded by police who suspected drugs were hidden inside said officers did $12,636.42 worth of damage.

Darren Richardson, 28, of Wanaque, said police called in a sniffer dog when he was pulled over by Pompton Lakes officers Sept. 23 and an officer claimed to detect a strong scent of marijuana, The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Thursday.

Richardson, who was charged with disorderly conduct after arguing with the officers, said the 2004 BMW 325i was impounded and he received it back three weeks later to find the car had been destroyed by the search for drugs. Police said no marijuana was found.

Geico, Richardson's insurance company, estimated the damage at $12,636.42 and declared the car a "total loss."

The Pompton Lakes Police Department said an internal affairs investigation has been opened into the incident.

Richardson has filed a notice of claim against the department alleging false arrest and malicious prosecution. He said Geico may sue the department to recoup the cost of his claim, which has been paid.

Police: Passenger attacked over 'disease'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Florida police said they arrested a man accused of attacking a woman at Jacksonville International Airport for "spreading disease" on the plane.

Investigators said Patrick White "continually harassed and chastised (the woman) for coughing and 'spreading disease'" during the American Airlines flight Monday, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, reported Thursday.

The arrest report says White hurled obscene insults at the 19-year-old woman while deplaning and told her she had "infected everyone" with her coughing.

While the woman was exiting the plane, White "yelled and charged toward her striking her chest with his right shoulder and arm, driving her back and slamming her into the wall," the report states.

The woman, who suffered bruising to her back, was treated at the scene.

White was arrested on a battery charge.