Hilarious (But True) News Stories

I think we could all use a few laughs during these difficult days, so below please find a collection of hilarious but true news stories from recent months. I have done my best to thoroughly (if not especially scientifically) vet these stories, and to the best of my knowledge, they really are all true. Happy reading! (They're also very animal-heavy, so go hug your pets, too.)

The Great Hamster Escape

A plane traveling from Lisbon, Portugal carrying among its cargo 132 hamsters destined for a pet store in the Azores was grounded for four days when it was discovered that the hamsters had chewed through their carrying cage and were roaming freely about the cargo hold. Baggage handlers noticed the damaged cages, as well as a severe lack of hamsters, when the plane landed. Due to concerns that the gnawing rodents could damage electrical wiring and other crucial components of the plane, the plane was grounded until all 132 animals were recaptured and the plane was thoroughly inspected for safety. 

References:
CBS News
People Magazine

Rhode Island Considers Discontinuing "Mr. Potato Head" License Plates

Toy maker Hasbro had been headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, since its founding in 1923, and to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the state of Rhode Island began issuing license plates bearing the image of Hasbro's iconic "Mr. Potato Head" toy, with part of the fees supporting the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. But since the company's 2025 announcement that they are moving their headquarters to Boston, two local lawmakers have filed a proposal to end the Mr. Potato Head license plate option, citing the economic harm to the community resulting from the move, and stating that "There is no reason we should be advertising their products on our license plates." The words, "Bah, humbug," may or may not have been uttered. 

References:
Rhode Island Community Food Bank

WBUR News

Hawk Traps Itself in Batting Cage

Animal control officers in Virginia responded to a call of "a bird in distress" to find that a hawk had flown into a batting cage and was unable to free itself. The officers were able to quickly free the bird and release it back into the wild. There was no word on either the species of the hawk or its batting average. 

References
UPI
Fairfax County Animal Shelter

Second Annual "Wienie 500" Race at the Indianapolis Speedway

Six of Oscar Meyer's "Wienermobiles" will race at the Indianapolis Speedway this summer, two days prior to the famous "Indy 500." Each Wienermobile is custom designed with regional toppings and decorative decals, such as "Slaw Dog" from the southeast (the winner of last year's inaugural race), "Chili Dog" from the south, and "Seattle Dog" from the northwest. Last year's "Sonoran Dog" may be replaced this year, with fans voting for a choice between seven dogs (Puka, Denver, Plain, Idaho, Veggie, Ripper, Corn, and Sonoran) on Instagram and TikTok in "Pick Your Dog" brackets. The "Wiener Song" will be played during the race, as well as when the winner drives into the...ahem..."Wiener's Circle."

References
AP
Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Battery with a Disgusting Weapon

Florida police officers responding to a report of battery of a health inspector who was conducting a routine inspection of a massage parlor were greeted by a hostile female parlor employee. When the officers attempted to detain the employee, she "defecat[ed] towards officers to evade arrest." She was arrested for battery, resisting arrest, and other charges and held without bond. Or the immediate need for a bathroom, one assumes. 

References
Shepherd Express
WSFA Channel 12

Emu Vs. Train (No, NOT in Australia)

Train service in East Yorkshire, England, was briefly interrupted when a driver spotted an emu near the train tracks. Train personnel captured the rogue emu and returned it to its home on a nearby farm, and service was resumed approximately 2-1/2 hours after the initial sighting.  

References:
UPI

"Museum of Personal Failure" Opens in Vancouver

Inspired by a romantic breakup, a man from British Columbia has founded the pop-up "Museum of Personal Failure," seeking out exhibits by posting "Failures Wanted" notices throughout the area. One exhibit is a "Wall of Reject," which is a display of employment application rejections and termination letters. Other exhibits include a wedding gown submitted by a divorcee; a would-be auto mechanic submitted car parts from a failed repair; and a number of people submitted photos and mementos of failed relationships of various kinds. Each item is displayed along with an explanation of its significance written by its donor. 

References:
UPI
CBC

New Guinness World Record for Dog with Longest Tongue

Ozzy, a French and Bull Mastiff cross from Oklahoma, has taken on the title of "World's Longest Dog Tongue," with a tongue measuring 7.83 inches, eclipsing the previous record of five inches held by a boxer from Illinois named Rocky. 

References:
Sky News
Guinness World Records

Drunken Father Asks 12-Year-Old Son to Drive Home

Belgian police stopped a car at a sobriety checkpoint and discovered that the driver was a 12-year-old boy. The father, who was in the front passenger seat, explained that he had had too much to drink so he asked his (presumably sober, although unlicensed) son to drive home. The father was cited for entrusting the car to someone without a license, and the son was cited for driving without a license. The mother, who was in the back seat with their two other children and who was sober, drove the car home after the stop. It is not clear why the mother was not the original second choice to drive. 

References:
Shepherd Express
The Brussels Times

Clearly, You Shouldn't Smoke in the Bathroom

A Chinese shopping center has solved the problem of smoking in public bathrooms by installing cubicle walls that become transparent when exposed to smoke. The bathrooms are clearly marked with signs stating, "Smoking makes the glass transparent, Hold your urge to smoke if you do not want to become famous online." and when the glass becomes transparent an audio announcement states loudly, "This is a public place where smoking is prohibited. For your own health and the health of others, please do not smoke here." There is no word on whether anyone has tested its efficacy. 

References:
Shepherd Express
South China Morning Post

Neighbors Complain About Overwhelming Smell of Donuts

It is always "time to make the donuts" in Haverhill, Massachusetts, location of the largest Dunkin' Donuts bakery in the United States. But area residents are tired of the cloyingly sweet smell of baked goods that constantly hangs in the air. "My house smells like donuts all the time," complained one resident at a recent City Council meeting. Another reported a "carnival smell" reminiscent of fried dough. A representative of Cafua Management Company, which owns the factory, admitted, "We make one million donuts a day," but also stated that the facility has new equipment which is regularly cleaned and maintained and meets all regulatory standards. City Councilors have requested that health inspectors visit the plant to check the air quality. 

References:
CBS News

"Stupid" TikTok Trend Endangers People and Cows

A recent TikTok trend of people filming themselves with Highland cattle has resulted in emergency services needing to rescue three people in Butser Hill in Hampshire, England, when they became lost and disoriented while looking for the shaggy beasts as dusk and cold temperatures approached. In addition, local farmers are annoyed with TikTokers whose cars block access to their fields and damage the soil and crops. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services has warned the public against the viral trend, for their own safety (and that of the cattle, presumably).