Wild chickens take over Miami while some embrace roosters as a cultural symbol

MIAMI (AP) — Flamingos, pelicans, herons and parrots are just a few of the wild birds that call Miami home. But it’s the roosters, hens and baby chicks that have come to rule the roost in recent years. And they're not only found in residential neighborhoods like Little Havana, Little Haiti and Wynwood. The fowl families are also making their home among the high-rises and government buildings downtown. While some people find the crowing to be a nuisance, many have adopted the rooster as an unofficial mascot for the city.

An Oregon man who quit his job to set sail with his cat arrives to cheering fans in Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP) — An Oregon man who quit his job at a tire company and liquidated his retirement savings to set sail for Hawaii with his cat reached his destination Saturday. His arrival on Oahu ended a weekslong journey that he documented for his mass of followers on social media. Oliver Widger was greeted by a throng of fans — as well as Hawaii Gov. Josh Green — at the Waikiki Yacht Club. He became an online sensation with his story, which followed a diagnosis four years ago with a syndrome that carried a risk of paralysis and made him realize he hated his job. He quit his job with the goal of buying a sailboat and sailing around the world.

Hot diggity dog! Wienermobiles put on riveting race in Wienie 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The top dog in a race among the six iconic Wienermobiles from Oscar Mayer proved to be the one representing the Southeast. The hot dog-on-wheels known as Slaw Dog passed the Wienermobile representing Chicago at the finish line to win the inaugural Wienie 500 on Carb Day, the final day of practice ahead of Sunday's running of the Indianapolis 500. It was one of the rare times in which all six Wienermobiles in the Oscar Mayer fleet were in one place at one time.

A Norwegian man awoke to find a grounded cargo ship had narrowly missed his home

OSLO, Norway (AP) — A Norwegian man awoke to discover that a cargo ship had run aground and narrowly missed crashing into his home along the Trondheim Fjord’s coast. Johan Helberg told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he’d slept through the whole thing Thursday morning and only woke up when a neighbor started ringing his doorbell. Authorities say they received reports that the NCL Salten had run aground shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. No injuries or oil spills were reported. Efforts to refloat the ship were unsuccessful Thursday. Shipping company NCL said in a statement it was aware of police statements saying they had one suspect. A police spokesperson could not immediately be reached Friday.

Panda wins the 2025 Palm Dog award at Cannes — and a look-alike accepts

CANNES, France (AP) — It’s called the Palm Dog contest, but the winner of the annual Cannes Film Festival tradition was a Panda. Icelandic sheepdog Panda from “The Love That Remains” was awarded the top honor in a beachside ceremony Friday. The 25-year-old tradition honoring the best in canines at Cannes comes at the tail end of the festival, a day before the Palme d'Or and other awards are handed out. Panda appeared virtually in an acceptance video while a look-alike and human producer were on hand to collect the award. Other winners included long-haired dachshund and rottweiler from “Pillion” and a Jack Russell terrier and Podenco cross from “Sirât.”

Pregnant news anchor stays on air during labor. ‘If I disappear, that’s what’s going on,’ she says

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Local news co-anchor Olivia Jaquith went ahead with her three-hour morning newscast even after her labor contractions began and her water broke. And she kept viewers updated about the coming birth of her first baby. Jaquith's co-anchor announced that she was in labor at the top of the CBS6 Albany broadcast Wednesday morning. Jaquith had the option of going home, but she said that she decided to pass the time at her job. The birth of her baby boy Quincy was announced Thursday.

'Leap together,' Kermit the Frog tells University of Maryland graduates

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Kermit the Frog has some advice for the University of Maryland’s class of 2025: “Life is better when we leap together.” Graduates wore Kermit T-shirts and showed off Kermit stuffed animals while listening to the beloved Muppet speak at their commencement Thursday evening. Muppets creator Jim Henson graduated from Maryland in 1960 with a degree in home economics. The university says he fashioned the original frog puppet from one of his mother’s coats and a Ping-Pong ball cut in half in 1955. A bronze statue of Henson and Kermit sitting on a bench is a well-known feature of the College Park campus.

In New Zealand's Parliament, a battered cookie tin decides which new laws get debated

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — In New Zealand’s Parliament, every legislator has the chance to advance a proposed law, no matter how unpopular, thanks to an unusual lottery where bills are selected by random draw from a cookie tin. The ceremonial ballot from what’s known as “the biscuit tin” in local parlance is a serious affair, with a black-robed clerk presiding. Bills are selected for debate using the quirky method whenever there’s an empty slot on Parliament’s agenda. Marriage equality and voluntary euthanasia laws are among bills passed after selection from the cookie tin before. Visitors to Parliament can buy “biscuit tin” mugs and socks.

Costa Rica police seize 5 capybaras, crack cocaine and marijuana from fleeing vehicle

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Costa Rican police seized five capybaras, crack cocaine and marijuana after chasing down a fleeing vehicle on a highway along the Central American country’s Pacific coast. The large rodents are a semi-aquatic South American relative of the guinea pig and happen to be having a moment on social platforms. But they are not native to Costa Rica. So the Public Security Ministry said Thursday that possessing, transporting or trafficking them is illegal. The agency said it had never recorded another seizure of the animals. Two men in the vehicle, who both had criminal records, were arrested.