UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Maker's Mark won't cut alcohol content

LORETTO, Ky., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The distillers of Maker's Mark bourbon whiskey say they have decided not to cut the Kentucky-produced beverage's alcohol volume from 45 percent to 42 percent.

The company released a statement saying production of its 45 percent alcohol whiskey would resume Monday after widespread criticism of its plans to cut the alcohol content to prevent shortages amid increasing demand, CNNMoney reported Monday.

"You spoke. We listened. And we're sincerely sorry we let you down," the company's statement read. "While we thought we were doing what's right, this is your brand -- and you told us in large numbers to change our decision."

Rob Samuels, chief operating officer of Maker's Mark, said thousands of customers contacted the company with phone calls, emails and social media posts to make it "very clear" that they disagreed with the company's planned move.

English bulldog tapped as Marine mascot

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps said the 9-week-old English bulldog selected to become the corps' newest mascot arrived at the Marine Barracks in Washington.

The bulldog, scheduled to be dubbed Pfc. Chesty XIV March 29, arrived at the Marine Barracks Thursday and will undergo obedience training ahead of officially becoming the corps' mascot, ABC News reported Monday.

Chesty, the latest mascot to be named for late Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, will have responsibilities including marching in the Friday Evening Parades and attending supporting events around Washington.

The puppy is currently in the care of Staff Sgt. Jason Mosser, a member of the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, and his wife Christine.

Commonly called an English bulldog, the breed's name is simply the bulldog.

'Amorous' couple crash into house in car

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The Florida Highway Patrol said a driver lost control of her car while getting "amorous" with her boyfriend and crashed the vehicle through a vacant house.

Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes said Asia Walker, 30, was at the wheel Friday when her car hit the house in Daytona Beach, WESH-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Monday.

Walker was injured by falling debris and taken to Halifax Medical Center to be checked out; her boyfriend, Charles Phillips, was not hurt, the spokeswoman said.

"She told the investigating trooper that her and the boyfriend were getting a little amorous and the trooper suspects that's probably why she lost control of the vehicle," Montes said.

Police said the vehicle went all the way through the unoccupied house, causing major damage.

Walker was charged with careless driving.

Wrong winner announced in Python Challenge

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A University of Florida professor said he made a mistake leading to the wrong winners being announced in the Python Challenge's longest captured snake category.

Frank Mazzotti, the University of Florida professor of wildlife who helped design the challenge with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said he made an error in declaring Ruben Ramirez the winner in the longest Burmese python captured category with his 10-foot, 7-inch snake, when an 11 foot, 1 inch python was nabbed by Blake Russ, 24, and Devin Belliston, 26, The Miami Herald reported Monday.

"I am the one who made the mistake that prevented Blake and Devin from getting the recognition they deserved," Mazzotti wrote in an email to the Herald. "I know how important, and rightfully so, the recognition of who got the longest was."

Mazzotti said more than 1,600 people took part in the monthlong event in the Florida Everglades, which offered cash prizes for capturing the invasive species.

"It's pretty exciting," Belliston said of being recognized as a winner.

"The mix-up might have come up because that was the python that we didn't euthanize so that scientists could place a radio transmitter in it," Belliston said.

A total of 68 pythons were killed or captured during the challenge, organizers said.