MARIJUANA EVERYWHERE

SEBASTOPOL, Calif. (AP) -- It could be easier to find pot than a cup of coffee in L.A. Los Angeles has more pot shops than Starbucks and almost as many as public schools. In California, medical marijuana dispensaries are growing like -- well -- weeds. California voters approved medicinal marijuana more than a decade ago. But many communities have yet to regulate the budding industry -- including L.A. The pot shop in the wine country town of Sebastopol is in a former auto dealership and will soon open a second location. Local officials are high on medical marijuana as way of increasing tax revenue during these tough times.

ODD JOB

NEW YORK (AP) -- It may not be your dream job, but it does have perks. Lots of T-P. Charmin is looking for greeters for 20 public restrooms in New York's Times Square. Five so-called Charmin Ambassadors will entertain the potty patrons over the holiday season. The job pays $10,000 for six weeks. Hundreds of would-be bathroom entertainers showed up for auditions yesterday in New York. Charmin advises their would-be temps must "really, really enjoy going to the bathroom."

PUNKIN CHUNKIN

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. (AP) -- Incoming! The pumpkins will be flying this weekend near in Bridgeville, Del. The 24th annual world Punkin Chunkin contest will have the orange gourds soaring over a field. Inventors and garage mechanics are putting the finishing touches on their compressed air cannons. Last year's event was won by 21-one-year-old Jake Burton. His team set a new distance record by blasting their pumpkin more than 4,483 feet.

HOMEWORK EVIDENCE

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) -- The dog didn't eat one kid's homework. The cops have it -- as evidence. Police in Rhode Island report two 15-year-old boys skipped class one day this week and broke into a home near their high school. Lt. Eugene Jalette says after stealing some video game systems, the boys grabbed their backpacks and headed back to school. But the homework of one of the boys apparently fell out of his school bag, near a broken basement window. The assignment had the kid's name on it. Police report arresting the boys at their school and recovering the stolen stuff. The names of suspects aren't being released because of their age.

911 JUICE BOX

ALOHA, Ore. (AP) -- No, an incorrect order in a drive-through lane isn't a 911 emergency. A 20-year-old man who called 911 to complain about his missing McDonalds orange juice now has to pay a $300 fine. Deputies in Washington County, Ore., tried to explain to Raibin Raof Osman that such disputes don't qualify as a police matter. Deputies say when Osman insisted he had the right to police help -- he was read his rights, then taken off to jail. The Oregonian newspaper reports Osman has pleaded guilty to improper use of 911.