A history book that was taken by a Union soldier from a Lexington, Virginia college's library in 1864 was returned in February by the inheritor of the item.

The Leyburn Library of Washington and Lee University, formerly Washington College, did not charge fines for the first volume of W.F.P. Napier's "History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France," which was 145 years overdue.

Greenpeace International is urging the U.S. to take a second look at its toilet paper manufacturing industry for its use of virgin material on something that is flushed after a few seconds of use.

Lindsey Allen, forestry campaigner of the global environmental group, took to task Americans' preference for extra-soft, quilted and multi-ply toilet paper made from virgin wood.

To help the British government fight the national battle against obesity, the council of Waltham Forest in east London is set to ban the setting up of fast food outlets 400 meters from schools, parks and youth centers.

Waltham Forest will make history by being the first local authority in U.K. to make the prohibition after a public consultation indicated 93 percent of residents are in favor of the ban.

Thousands of used picnic tables are up for sale on eBay by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County for $15 to the general public or $10 to non-profit organizations.

All wooden picnic tables are being sold in 'as-is' condition. The tables cost $300 new and are being replaced by cheaper, heavier, harder to vandalize models.

About 100 college presidents from universities across the U.S. are asking legislators to lower the legal drinking age to 18 from 21.

The officials organized a movement called Amethyst Initiative a year ago to push to amend current drinking age laws, which they said leads to dangerous binge drinking on college grounds.