Rants

A Spokane man is under investigation for celebrating his 43rd birthday in an unusual and illegal way — by committing two robberies. He spent the rest of his special day in prison.

An Australian woman reported her parents missing when they went on an impromptu holiday and failed to tell her. They came back to find the police preparing to hold a news conference in their house.

Raves

A firefighter saved a terrier’s life after the dog was caught in a house fire. The firefighter performed CPR on the pup, even using his facemask to administer oxygen.

Knitters in the small Ohio town of Yellow Springs are keeping the trees that line their streets warm. They have dressed the trees in colorful, hand-knit sweaters, complete with pockets filled with tiny treasures. They’re the most fashionable trees on the block.