A night of drinking left a man with such a heavy buzz, he hopped into a police patrol car thinking he had hailed a cab. The 20-year-old man was arrested Saturday soon after he sat inside Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Deputy Esther Beckman's car, as she was questioning a bicyclist. The suspect's name has not been released.

A judge has ruled singer Courtney Love can leave rehab and enroll in an outpatient program. Love has been at a live-in drug treatment facility since September. Superior Court Judge Rand Rubin cut short Love's sentence for violating probation in three criminal cases, including two drug-related charges. The judge ordered Love, the former lead singer of the band Hole and widow of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, to submit to random checks twice a week for drugs and alcohol. She also must continue therapy and avoid any business that primarily sells alcohol. Although Love will be now have more freedom to finish up her sentence for violating probation in three different criminal cases, she will still be under watchful eyes. The judge extended her probation to March 2007 and set her curfew at 10 p. m.

The number of people dying in Russia from alcohol poisoning is on the rise, with a recent 33 people dying in Russia's Siberian region from homemade alcohol that contained a poisionous substance. The region's deputy governor, Yuri Muromtsev, says the victims, mostly men between the ages of 45 and 60, died between Oct. 28 and Nov. 6 after being poisoned by methanol, a common industrial substance used as a transportation fuel.

A former Kansas bar owner is sentenced to nearly four years in prison, after a woman dies of alcohol poisoning from a signature drink. Prosecutors say 31-year-old Juanita Goodpasture died after she was served a red, yellow and green mixed drink called the "Stoplight Challenge. "

A Roman Catholic priest is taking a new approach to expanding his congregation, by booking four talks at a local bar in a bid to reach out to 20-and 30-somethings who do not go to church. Yes, alcohol will be served. The St. Marie Parish's first presentation, "Naked and Without Shame," took place Thursday and dealt with the Catholic views on sexuality, contraception and sex and marriage.