BRITAIN-POTATO HEAD

(Belper, England-AP) -- A visiting American is under attack in England. Some kids have roughed up a giant Mr. Potato Head in the town of Bleeper, north of London. Officials say youngsters pulled off the arms of the seven-foot-tall Mr. Potato Head and knocked off his hat, too. The sculpture was a gift from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the home of Hasbro toys. But it's been the subject of controversy. Some locals have complained the giant fiberglass toy is out of place in the historic village. One local official says they wouldn't mind sending Mr. Potato Head back home to America. BRITAIN-PINT

BRITAIN-POTATO HEAD

(London-AP) -- British beer drinkers will be getting a bit more ale. The government says when a patron orders a pint, bartenders must make sure the glass is 95 percent full. The current minimum is 90 percent. Pubs that fail to pour a full measure could face charges. Pulling a pint of beer is more art than science. Britain's trade secretary says foam can take up a lot of room in the glass, depending on the skill of the bartender. The new 95 percent standard means Brits will drink about 60 (m) million more pints of beer this year.

WASHINGTON-CIRCUS PARADE

(Washington-AP) -- There's nothing political in the parade of elephants past the U-S Capitol. Even though the elephant is the symbol of the G-O-P, the pachyderms marching down Independence Avenue just means the circus is in town. Yesterday, officers stopped traffic as the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus took the giant animals past the Capitol and Washington Monument. A street sweeper brought of the rear of the parade -- to make sure nothing was left behind.

TEACHER CANDIDATE

(Dayton, Ohio-AP) -- Government teacher James Whitman is practicing what he teaches. His students dared him to run, so now Whitman is a candidate for governor of Ohio. Whitman teaches at Sidney High School, about 30 miles north of Dayton. He says he has about two-thousand of the five-thousand signatures he needs to get on the ballot as an independent. Whitman knows he's a long-shot, but says he's teaching the kids a valuable lesson. Whitman figures even if he loses, his students will be the winners.

FAT BROOKLYN?

(Brooklyn, New York-AP) -- Should Flatbush be called Fatbush? Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz feels his corner of New York is getting a little too big for its own good. Markowitz is urging his fellow Brooklynites to go on a two-month diet. Starting next month, weigh stations will be set up at hospitals and government offices all around Brooklyn. The slightly pudgy Markowitz won't let his constituents go it alone. He says he'll be the first to weigh-in. But losing weight could be tough in the borough famous for its rich foods. The cheese cake and Nathan's hot dogs may be a little too tempting.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

(Lincoln, Nebraska-AP) -- It was a case of mistaken identity for Hishan Alsaad. He borrowed his cousin's van for a run to the store in Lincoln, Nebraska. But when he drove the van back, Alsaad wondered what happened to his cigarettes. It turns out he was driving the wrong van. The make and color were the same -- and even the keys worked. But the van belonged to someone else. Alsaad and his cousin reported the weird coincidence to police. Meanwhile, the owner of the van had reported it stolen. Officers tested the keys and found they worked in both vans. Alsaad says everyone laughs when they hear his story.

by Jamie Friar (Associated Press.)

Updated at 5:37 pm (11-20-2002)