A church in England opens its doors to pro wrestling in a bid to attract converts

SHIPLEY, England (AP) — Sitting under stained glass windows around a wrestling ring, churchgoers roared as burly wresters body-slammed and threw one another to the floor. This is Wrestling Church, which takes place each month inside St. Peter’s Anglican church in the northern England town of Shipley. It’s the creation of Gareth Thompson, a charismatic 37-year-old who says he was saved by pro wrestling and Jesus. He wants others to have the same experience. The Rev. Natasha Thomas, the priest in charge, says it's bringing new communities of people to the church. Church attendance in the U.K. has been declining for decades, and churches are having to get creative to survive.

Cheeseburgers and chicken so far fail to entice a rescue dog who's spent weeks on the run in Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A German shepherd-husky dog has evaded capture for nearly two months after being rescued from a California shelter and running away from her adoptive home in Alaska. The search for the shy and elusive Jackie has been something of a painstaking, trust-building exercise for those trying to bring her home. And time is of the essence: The pocket of forest in which she has seemingly settled since breaking free of her collar in mid-February isn’t far from a busy road. And black bears are emerging from hibernation, prompting a shift in strategy away from leaving food such as cheeseburgers or chicken out for her.

Bodega cats make New Yorkers' hearts purr, even if they violate state regulations

NEW YORK (AP) — Bodega cats in New York City are widely loved feline workers in the Big Apple's convenience stores. Most store owners keep them for companionship, and as little salesmen that bring customers in and build rapport. Some say they keep the mice and rats at bay. But the cats lounging on convenience store shelves and basking in the warmth of sun-soaked storefronts don't always get the respect of city and state health officials. Under state law, shop owners can be fined for having cats in any building where food is sold. Despite the legal hurdles, a petition movement driven by social media influencers is calling for social support like vet care to make sure bodega cats and bodega owners can thrive.

Escaped otter is home safe but zoo says her pal is still on the loose

One of two North American river otters who escaped from a Wisconsin zoo last month has returned home safe and sound. Louie and Ophelia got through a hole in a fence at the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Green Bay during a snow storm. The zoo said in a Facebook post Tuesday that Ophelia was picked up Friday night. She was held for observation and a veterinarian's exam cleared her for return to her enclosure. Louie has likely traveled farther than Ophelia. It's otter breeding season right now, so he might be in search of a mate. Otters are native to the area so Louie is safe and doesn't pose any harm to humans.

Dog of captain who lost boats in Lahaina wildfire barks with delight during whale encounter

HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii boat captain who rebuilt her whale-watching tour business after losing three boats in the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire captured iPhone footage her of golden retriever barking excitedly when a humpback swam near them over the weekend. Chrissy Lovitt's video shows the whale poking its head out, seemingly greeting Macy the golden retriever. Lovitt had just started a whale-watching tour business when massive inferno wiped out most of Lahaina, including her three boats, equipment and vehicles. Lovitt has relaunched her business and sets aside free seats on tours for fire survivors. She says Macy grew up on the ocean and is obsessed with whales.

'The Friend': When the star of the movie is a very good boy

NEW YORK (AP) — The star of “The Friend” has the loping stride of Robert Mitchum and the droopy, melancholy eyes of Peter Lorre. He has those classic instantly accessible, forever unknowable Hollywood features and when he walks down the street with co-stars Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, people’s heads turn. A harlequin Great Dane and star of “The Friend,” Bing is the latest in a long line of four-legged, big-screen breakout stars. But unlike canine idols before him, the Iowan is gigantic. Toto would fit in his paw and Asta could comfortably sit on his head.

Athletics bat boy Stewart Thalblum takes down drone in left field

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — When a drone suddenly appeared near the left-field wall at Sutter Health Park, Athletics bat boy Stewart Thalblum decided to help thwart it. The drone tried to lift him off the grass but Thalblum used a bat and brought it down, careful not to cut himself with the spinning blades. Once the device had been corralled, Thalblum handed it off to a security guard. The drone appeared with Seth Brown batting for the Athletics in the seventh inning of the Chicago Cubs’ 18-3 rout and it delayed the game for a few minutes.

Scientists hope a newly discovered flower will return after rain in West Texas

DALLAS (AP) — Scientists who want to learn more about a tiny, newly discovered flower in West Texas are hoping it will bloom again in a couple of weeks after rain finally fell in the area. Dubbed the wooly devil, the flower with furry leaves, purplish-striped petals and pops of yellow is a new genus and species in the same family as sunflowers and daisies. It was discovered last year in Big Bend National Park, known for its rugged landscape of desert, canyons and mountains, on the border with Mexico. A Big Bend botanist says there's still “a lot to learn” about the wooly devil.

First disappointment and then a celebration as video captures high school band's big surprise

SNOW HILL, N.C. (AP) — A small high school in eastern North Carolina is celebrating the highest ranking its band has won at a statewide musical competition. The surprise reaction of the students learning they had won a superior ranking was captured on video. It started when band director Andrew Howell solemnly stepped onto the bus and told his students what they had gone through was a learning experience. Some of the students groaned or dropped their heads. Then he pulled out a plaque awarding the band with the competition’s highest ranking. The students erupted with screams and cheers. The video of their celebration has been seen by millions after being posted on TikTok and social media sites.

It was bacteria — not a miracle — on a Communion wafer in Indiana church

MORRIS, Ind. (AP) — It turns out there's nothing miraculous about red marks found on a communion host at a Catholic church in Indiana. The discovery at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Morris was unusual enough for a formal inspection. But the Archdiocese of Indianapolis says a biochemical analysis shows fungus and bacteria commonly found on human hands. The Catholic faith teaches that consecrated wine and a bread wafer signify the body and blood of Jesus Christ at Mass. The host with red marks had fallen out of a Mass kit at St. Anthony Church.