St. Joseph resident Lori Felzien had to face one of the most embarrassing situations of her life when her sixth-grade son dialed the number printed on a bookmark he received during a health lesson and it connected to a hardcore sex hotline. The teen handed over the phone to his mother saying, "Mom, listen to this. " Felzien then immediately contacted authorities at Bessie Ellison Elementary School who distributed those HIV/AIDS - awareness bookmarks.

A Vancouver woman admitted on Monday that she taught her two children to fake mental retardation in order to obtain state benefits on their behalf. Rosie Costello, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government and Social Security fraud. The U. S. District court heard that Costello, 46, collected more than $280,000 in benefits in over 20 years. Costello said she first filed for federal benefits in 1985 when her daughter, Marie, was 4 years old. Thereafter, she filed for her son Peter's benefits in 1987, when he was 8, according to the Washington newspaper The Columbian.

More than lifting and support, a woman was saved by her bra from a falling bullet during New Year's celebrations. The bra strap on her left shoulder had slowed down the bullet and prevented serious injury. In town to visit family, Debbie Bingham, 46, had gone outside with her daughter and son to celebrate New Year and watch the local fireworks display. At 11:40 p. m. she reported feeling a sharp pain in her left shoulder.

Japan has two new residents. Mei Mei, a giant panda, has given birth to twins at a western Japanese zoo. Officials say mom and babies are doing well. The babies were born Saturday at Adventure World in Wakayama to Mei Mei and her partner Eimei. Both of the pandas are on loan from China. One of the twins weighs just three ounces. Their sexes are not known.

One police officer didn't know if people should call him the grinch after arresting a man for stealing Christmas gifts for his "Honey Bunny. " Richard Perez, 43 was caught stealing items from the hotel where he works as a security guard. A surveillance camera caught him leaving a hotel room with a covered cart.