“An investigation is under way after an SUV crashed through the front wall of an Alaska house, missing the homeowner by inches. Nadine Lefevre of Anchorage was still in her bathrobe, sitting in an easy chair when the SUV crashed through the front wall of her house. By the time it stopped, the vehicle was entirely inside Lefevre’s living room, and barely missed her purple chair. Police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker says, ‘Someone was looking out for her.’ Authorities say the vehicle’s driver was southbound on a major thoroughfare, lost control of the SUV and went east, straight into Lefevre’s home. The driver had minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The cause of the crash is under investigation.” w/ photo

“A Montana woman says she knows it sounds mean, but she hopes her horse at least tried to kick the person that cut the hair off her tail. Belgrade-area resident Alisha Novotny tells KTVM-TV that she noticed her mare, Raz, was missing the hair from her tail last Sunday morning. She says it looks like whoever did it ‘just grabbed pretty fast and chopped.’ Novotny says horse hair can be valuable — especially white hair like Raz’s — for making belts and bridles and key chains. She says she felt ‘violated’ when she realized a stranger had been in the horse’s pen. Gallatin County authorities say this isn’t the first time a horse owner in the area as found an animal missing hair from its tail. Officials with the Police Department say it’s been an ongoing issue for about 6 months.” w/ photo

“Tomato ketchup has been banned in primary schools in France – except with French fries – amid concerns that pupils may distance themselves from traditional cuisine. The primary school children will be allowed either ketchup or mayonnaise once a week, but only when they’re having French fries for lunch. Christophe Hebert, chairman of the National Association of Directors of Collective Restaurants, said: ‘Canteens have a public health mission and also an educative mission. ‘We have to ensure that children become familiar with French recipes so that they can hand them down to the following generation. ‘We have to stop children from being able to serve those sauces. Children have a tendency to use them to mask the taste of whatever they are eating,’ he added.” w/ photo

“Dorset dairy farmer Mark Baggs has grown a pumpkin that weighs as much as a small car. The 28-year-old used his cows’ manure to grow the 1,334lb vegetable, which has taken top honors at a show in Netley, Hampshire. The super-squash eclipsed the man’s son Jack, two, who was plopped atop the Halloween monster to give an idea of its scale. Specialist lifting equipment had to be used to move the pumpkin to the site of the annual Pumpkin Festival. Mr Baggs, who has also grown a world record-breaking marrow in excess of 140lb, grew the orange giant at his home in Wareham, Dorset.” w/ photo

“A schoolboy has been suspended for selling chocolate and crisps to pupils. Tommie Rose, 12, set up a playground business after being inspired by TV shows Dragon’s Den and The Apprentice. His family say he was making up to $82 a day selling chocolate, crisps, and drink at Oasis Academy in Salford. But the school has a strict healthy-eating policy and teachers say sales between students are banned. Tommie, of James Henry Avenue, Ordsall, began selling the snacks at the start of this term. He was sent home for a day and given a warning by teachers, but the budding businessman has persisted in smuggling goods into the school – and has racked up 10 days of suspensions. Parents Gary, 30, an office worker, and gym manager Tracy, also 30, say they have tried to stop their son from selling the sweets – but believe his punishment is too harsh. Gary said: “We are supporting the school but I think he is only selling chocolate and the way they have dealt with it is far too harsh.” w/ photo

“Instead of the bad guys, it was Seattle’s most prolific self-styled superhero that ended up in handcuffs. Police officers arrested the 23-year-old man who calls himself Phoenix Jones early on Sunday after he was accused of assaulting several people with pepper spray. He was booked in county jail on four counts of assault, with arraignment set for Thursday. ‘Our message has been the same from the beginning, if you see something that warrants calling 911, call 911,’ said Seattle police spokesman Det Mark Jamieson. ‘Just because he’s dressed up in costume, it doesn’t mean he’s in special consideration or above the law. You can’t go around pepper spraying people because you think they are fighting.’ But Jones, who wears a black mask with yellow stripes and a bulging muscle bodysuit, said he was only trying to stop a street brawl.” w/ photos + video

“A fast-food restaurant in China has had to change its name from Obama Fried Chicken to UFO after KFC threatened legal action, saying the logo infringed on its trademark rights. The restaurant sign mimics KFC’s famous Colonel Sanders logo – but instead of the colonel, it’s Barack Obama dressed in a bowtie and suspenders, accompanied by the tag-line: ‘We so cool, aren’t we?’ The owners were forced to change the name from OFC, but the copyright-infringing logo still remains. The restaurant, which serves hamburgers, chicken pieces and chips, was set up in Beijing by 3 university students. One of the owners, Zhu Baolai, decided to change the name after he became concerned that KFC would pursue their threat of legal action against the shop. Zhu revealed he was the architect of the original Obama logo, but it was not his intention to violate any copyright laws. The college student opened UFO with 2 of his fellow pupils in order to support their families. KFC were said to be very unhappy with the Beijing restaurant.” w/ photo

“Keej the canine had finished posing for photos Tuesday on the roof of a downtown parking garage when, instead of getting back into his McLean County squad car, he leapt off the five-story building. ‘My first thought was, ‘He’s dead.’ I didn’t even have time to say his name. I will never forget him leaping that wall,’ said Deputy Jon Albee, who rushed downstairs to find the 4-year-old Belgian Malinois walking into the garage after hitting the roof and windshield of a car. Tina Braden of Peoria was returning from the adjacent McLean County Law and Justice Center when she saw several officers standing near her Kia Amanti. She feared for the worst when she saw the extensive damage and learned of the dog’s 60-foot fall. Albee and the dog’s veterinarian say Keej suffered some bruises but no serious injuries. He will be off work for about five days.” w/ photos

“The first thing that people notice about Brahim Takioullah is not his feet – which he hopes will make him famous – but his enormous height. He stands more than 8-foot-tall. As he strolls through downtown Paris people gasp, stare, take his picture and ask: ‘Are you the tallest man in the world?’ He’s not, not quite, but he does have the biggest pair of feet on the planet – and that’s official. Judges from Guinness World Records came to France to measure him and confirmed his suspicion that he had record-breaking feet – his left measuring 38.1 inches in length and his right, 37.4 inches. Takioullah cannot stand up straight in the small flat he shares with his mother in the Paris suburbs, has difficulty getting into a taxi or the Metro, and can never move around without attracting attention.” w/ photos

“Anke Domaske, 28, has developed a fabric called QMilch made from high concentrations of the milk protein casein – the first man-made fiber produced entirely without chemicals. “It feels like silk and it doesn’t smell – you can wash it just like anything else,” Domaske told Reuters. Made from all natural materials, the QMilch fabric is ecological but also has many health benefits, said Domaske, who also said the amino acids in the protein are antibacterial, anti-ageing and can help regulate both blood circulation and body temperature. Domaske’s fashion label Mademoiselle Chi Chi – a favorite among the likes of Mischa Barton and Ashlee Simpson – has now started weaving the milk fiber into its collection. Currently the MCC clothes – which feature flowing wrap dresses with edgy cuts and bright patterns – are made from a combination of various fibers, including QMilch. But Domaske plans to design a collection made entirely from the milk fiber. Milk fabric has been around since the 1930s but was always produced in unecological ways that used a lot of chemicals. Unlike earlier prototypes, QMilch is made almost entirely from casein.” w/ photo