Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Church investigates reported resurrection

BOLZANO, Italy, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- An Italian bishop said he is investigating a reported resurrection miracle carried out by a nun in the 1960s.

The bishop of Bolzano said he is looking into whether Sister Lucia Ripamonti performed a miracle in bringing a 6-year-old girl back to life following a car crash in 1967, ANSA reported Tuesday.

The girl, Irene Zanfino, is now a mother of three children.

A confirmation of the miracle would move Ripamonti a step closer to beatification, the third of four steps in the Roman Catholic Church's canonization system.

Swede finds artillery shell in yard

TRELLEBORG, Sweden, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A man, mowing his lawn near Trelleborg, Sweden, found what police said was a 110-pound artillery shell protruding from the ground.

"We think it is live, and that is also the information we have received from the military," police spokeswoman Ewa-Gun Westford told Sveriges Swedish Radio.

Police evacuated the area within 900 meters (2,952 feet) of the shell, and closed a nearby highway until the explosive device could be disarmed or detonated, the Swedish new agency The Local reported Tuesday.

"It could be as old as dating back from the First World War," said Mia Sandgren of the Skane County police, adding it is unusual to find such a device in a private yard inland from the coast.

British Legion apologizes to dancer

SHERBORNE, England, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The Royal British Legion has apologized to a burlesque dancer who was asked to stop seeking donations in character as "Major Outrage."

Josephine Freestone, 47, who solicits donations for the legion on the streets of Sherborne, England, while wearing a corset, fishnet tights and a modified military costume as "Major Outrage," said her local RBL branch contacted her and members decided to ask her to stop her activities, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.

However, Freestone said the RBL headquarters has since contacted her to apologize, saying the local branch had no right to ask her to stop collecting.

"The decision of organizers in Sherborne has no validity and Mrs. Freestone is absolutely welcome to collect for the welfare of our proud British Armed Forces wherever, whenever, and in whatever outfits she pleases," an RBL spokesman said. "We apologize to Mrs. Freestone for any upset that may have been caused and look forward to seeing her collecting on the streets of Sherborne come November."

Freestone said she was overjoyed to receive the apology.

"I think it is delightful that someone saw fit to have the common courtesy to let me know that what the Sherborne branch said had no validity," she said. "I am overjoyed. I was devastated at the thought that I couldn't do it any more due to some small minded people, but I am really pleased to find out I can carry on."

Man disappointed with police reward

SKANE, Sweden, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A Swedish man filed a complaint with officials because he wasn't satisfied with the size of the reward he received for recovering a lost bike.

The Skane, Sweden, man filed a report with the Parliamentary Ombudsman saying he found a bicycle Saturday and took it to the police station, where it was claimed by its owner, The Local.se reported Tuesday.

The man said he received a notice from police that he could collect a finder's fee of about $6.

The complaint argues finder's fees should amount to about 10 percent of the value of the lost or stolen object.

"To underestimate the value of people's time in this manner is risking decreasing the rate of solving cases. Many (myself included) will leave bikes lying in a ditch rather than turn them in if the finder's fee isn't more substantial than this," the man said in his complaint.