Chicken plays chicken with drivers on busy street

GLENDALE: A chicken playing chicken? That’s what’s happening on a busy Glendale street where a black hen has been dodging cars, captors and coyotes for two months. Officials say the bird has been darting into traffic outside Glendale Community College since it was first reported on Nov. 20. The chicken has drawn a growing crowd of photographers and journalists as animal control officers struggle to catch it. A spokeswoman for the Pasadena Humane Society, which handles animal control in Glendale, said the bird either runs onto the street or flies into a tree when officers approach. Hillary Gatlin said a humane trap has not worked because the chicken doesn’t weigh enough to trigger it or she isn’t interested in the feed used as bait.

Truck driver chokes on chili, crashes into home

LOWELL: Police said a Massachusetts lumber truck crashed into a home after the driver was knocked unconscious by a small chili from Wendy’s. Lowell police said Eric Gremm reported that he choked on the chili when the truck hit a bump, causing him to pass out as the flatbed truck veered off the road and slammed into the home. The man, 59, said emergency workers at the scene told him that he had passed out, but he could not remember losing consciousness. Police said the truck hit the foundation of the home, and authorities were worried that the home might collapse when the truck was pulled out. Gremm was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Police said he could be cited for eating while driving.

Pastor accused of pulling gun on son in church

ALCOA: The son of a well-known Alcoa pastor has taken out an order of protection against his father, claiming he was threatened with a gun during an argument at a church over his lack of church attendance. The order of protection was filed by 32-year-old Michael Louis Colquitt against 60-year-old Joe Colquitt, pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The young man told police his father pulled out a handgun when they met at the church to discuss church attendance. He told officers his father pointed the gun at him and threatened to kill him, his wife and family. Joe Colquitt declined to comment when contacted by The Daily Times of Maryville.

Fire blamed on inflatable gorilla in Houston

HOUSTON: Fire Department officials said an out-of-control inflatable gorilla was blamed for a rooftop blaze at a Houston shopping center. No injuries were reported in the fire early Thursday. The remnants of the inflatable gorilla were seen at the site. District Chief Fred Hooker said some type of a “blowup doll” was on the roof, the item deflated and landed on some lights, leading to the fire. Fire authorities said two stores suffered minor water damage.

— Compiled from agencies