A woman who disappeared from Wisconsin more than 6 decades ago has been found safe

Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin 62 years ago after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis. Last week, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office announced that the 20 year old who disappeared around a corner at the bus stop had been found alive and safe in another state. A detective with the sheriff’s office said Monday that she chose to leave likely due to an abusive husband. He was assigned the case in February and soon found an address where a woman was living that shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg.

Did you steal the sign? German pop star asks his fans to return hometown symbol

TOETENSEN, Germany (AP) — German pop star Dieter Bohlen is asking his fans to return a sign spelling out the name of his hometown of Toetensen. The village in northern Germany outside Hamburg is famous, well, because of Bohlen. He's a singer, music producer, judge on Germany’s version of “American Idol” and formerly half of German pop duo Modern Talking. German news agency dpa reports that Bohlen believes the sign was taken by a fan as memorabilia. He posted a video on Instagram Saturday where he stood in front of the empty signpost and promised a reward for its return. One fan’s suggestion? Rename the town: Bohlensen.

World's tallest and smallest dogs meet up for a playdate

Size differences didn't cause any issues when the world's tallest and smallest dogs met up for a playdate last month. Reginald is a 7-year-old Great Dane from Idaho who is the size of a small horse. Pearl is a 4-year-old chihuahua from Florida the size of an apple. Both are certified winners in their respective height titles by Guinness World Records. Pearl stands at 3.59 inches. Reginald measures in at a whopping 3-foot-3.

Burro racing wins over runners in backcountry ode to mining history

CERRILLOS, N.M. (AP) — The backcountry sport of burro racing is a grueling feat of endurance that tests the sudden urge to stand still. Hundreds of cheering spectators watched Saturday as runners and their burros raced through turquoise-mining country in northern New Mexico. The racers completed in either 3- or 6-mile courses on single-track desert trails. Other seasonal races can extend for nearly 30 miles. The burros carry a pick, shovel and pan in homage to a bygone era of Old West gold panning and the mythical sprint to a claims office by miners and beasts of burden. Semi-pro enthusiasts adopt wild burros. Novices can rent an ass to try it out for kicks.

Alligators, snakes, biting insects: Small plane crash survivors recall 36-hour ordeal

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — It was after their tiny plane crashed into the Bolivian jungle earlier this week that their problems really began. The aircraft flipped over into a lagoon infested with anacondas and alligators. It plunged the pilot and four passengers, including a 6-year-old boy, into a harrowing 36 hours spent clinging to the plane’s wreckage before being rescued on Friday. The doctor who treated them told The Associated Press on Saturday that all five survivors were conscious and in stable condition, with only the young boy’s 37-year-old aunt still hospitalized for an infected gash to her head. The rest are recovering from dehydration, minor chemical burns, infected cuts, bruises and insect bites all over their bodies.

How the democracy sausage, a polling day snack, became Australia's election symbol

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Many Australians arriving at polling places on Saturday followed their civic duty with a democracy sausage. It's a cultural tradition as Aussie as koalas and Vegemite that for some is as important as casting their vote. The grilled sausage wrapped in a slice of bread is offered outside voting places. Its popularity has prompted the creation of a crowdsourced, real-time website tracking democracy sausage offerings and variations at polling places throughout the country and overseas. Australia’s compulsory voting laws ensure high turnout and make democracy sausage sales lucrative fundraisers for schools and community groups.

Never argue: 115-year-old British woman, now the world's oldest, gives her recipe to long life

LONDON (AP) — For Ethel Caterham, the trick to a long life is not to argue. Caterham, who is 115, became the world’s oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group, after Sister Inah Canabarro, a Brazilian nun and teacher, died on Wednesday at the tender age of 116. She said the secret to her longevity is “never arguing with anyone.” The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.

Nigerian teenager sets world painting record with canvas that's bigger than a soccer field

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A 15-year-old Nigerian has set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest art canvas in a bid to raise awareness for autism. Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who is autistic, set the record in Nigeria, where people with the spectrum disorder face stigma and limited resources. Kanyeyachukwu’s record attempt also sought to raise funds for those on the spectrum and their families. His artwork was unveiled in April in Abuja. It spans 12,304 square meters. While there are no official records from within Nigeria, about 1 in 100 children worldwide is autistic, according to the World Health Organization.

Kentucky man who won Powerball jackpot lands in Florida jail days later

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky Powerball winner has been arrested and charged with kicking a police officer in Floridadays after he won a $167 million jackpot. The Kentucky Lottery says James S. Farthing found out Sunday he won the state’s biggest ever jackpot after his mother called him. But the 50-year-old Farthing was in a Florida jail by a few days later. He is charged with battery of a police officer and resisting arrest. A Pinellas County, Florida, deputy wrote in a report that he was attempting to break up a fight between Farthing and another person when Farthing kicked the officer in the face.

Scientists once thought only humans could bob to music. Ronan the sea lion helped prove them wrong

Researchers say Ronan the sea lion can still keep a beat after all these years. Ronan burst to fame about a decade ago after scientists reported her musical skills. At age 15, she's still got it. And researchers say she was better than people at keeping rhythm. Findings were published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports. Ronan joins a select group of animal movers and shakers -- which also includes Snowball the famed dancing cockatoo -- that together upended the long-held idea that the ability to respond to music and recognize a beat was distinctly human.