LITTLE MISS ROADKILL

MARLINTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Meet Little Miss Roadkill, Baylee Blankenship. The 9-year-old has a new title to add to her growing collection. The beauty pageant was part of the recent Roadkill Cook-off and Autumn Harvest Festival in Marlinton, West Virginia. Her mom, Stephanie, says she had some reservations about entering her daughter in the roadkill beauty contest. Baylee has won a number of other titles, including Little Miss Dandelion and Little Miss Greenbrier County. But mom tells The Washington Post being Little Miss Roadkill is "actually a pretty cool deal."

POPULAR COSTUMES

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Expect to see plenty of Angry Birds and super heroes this Halloween. The price-comparison website sortprice.com is tracking online costumes. The survey finds interest in Wisconsin is high for the likes of Captain America, Wolverine and Buzz Lightyear. Costumes based on the iPad app Angry Birds are also attracting a lot of attention. Adults seem to be interested in dressing up as sexy cops or French maids. Lady Gaga and zombie get-ups are also hot.

STATE RECORD PUMPKIN

STILLWATER, Minn. (AP) -- It's a monster Minnesota pumpkin. Chad Revier has broken the state record with a giant gourd that weighs 1,630 pounds. It beats the old mark by 51 pounds. But even that's not good enough to win the grand prize at the Stillwater Harvest Fest. An out of state grower takes the five grand. Kevin Marsh of Parker, South Dakota, brought in a pumpkin that hit 1,657-pounds on the scale.

HUNGRY BANK ROBBER

YUMA, Ariz. (AP) -- Police charge Henry Elmer didn't go very far for beer and pizza. According to authorities, Elmer robbed a Yuma, Arizona, bank. Police say he used some of the stolen loot at a nearby restaurant. But he was busted before he could down his brewski and a couple of slices. And the bank that was hit is right across the street from the Yuma Police Station. Elmer was booked into the county jail on a number of charges, including robbery and theft.

COW RESCUE

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- Lucky the cow is just that. The pregnant heifer fell through a wooden well cover in the Boulder, Colorado, area. Firefighters, neighbors and animal control officers in Mountain View managed to get the cow out of the well. Rescuers looped fire hoses under Lucky's belly and pulled her up with a crane. The Denver Post reports a veterinarian checked her out and says Lucky looks to be OK.

VEGETABLE THEFT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- As if battling bugs and weeds isn't enough. Now, urban gardeners in Indianapolis face veggie-nappers. The Indianapolis Star reports the Grassroots Community Farm has been hit by thieves. Organizers say putting a fence around the three-acre plot isn't an affordable option. But they say they'll have a bigger security effort for the next growing season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.