PARTY CRASHERS
UNDATED (AP) - Those uninvited White House guests aren't the only party crashers. Event organizers from New York to Beverly Hills say party crashers are a growing problem. Some do it for the thrill, others want to mingle with celebs. Leslie Stevens is a partner at the communications firm of LaForce+Stevens in New York. She and her staff study pictures of well-known gate-crashers to try to I-D them at events. And there are some telltale signs of a crasher. They try avoid the check-in line, they don't make eye-contact, and they often don't have coats in case they need to make a quick exit.

UPSIDE-DOWN FLAG
PORTERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - David Rice says he didn't mean to disrespect the flag. The western Pennsylvania man has been cited for "committing insults" to the national flag. Rice says it was dark when he put up Old Glory and didn't realize it was upside down. Troopers say someone driving by was offended and called police. An upside down flag is often considered a visual form of S-O-S. Rice is apologizing. And he hopes to settle the issue by paying a small fine next week.

SPEEDING MOTORCYCLIST
WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) - Andrew Seekings admits doing 140 on his motorcycle is "really stupid." Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to speeding and a related drug charge in an Illinois courtroom. He was arrested after voluntarily stopping for officers in the June incident. He says he was blowing off steam after having a fight with his girlfriend. But he faces some serious jail time for his high-speed stunt. Authorities say because of a prior arrest record, Seekings could get up to six years behind bars when he's sentenced next month.

STING FAILS
ALCOA, Tenn. (AP) - A police sting with no arrests? You might think it was a dud, but police don't. Officers in Alcoa, Tenn., are happy their undercover beer buy was a bust. Authorities had an underage person try to buy brew from 27 businesses, from convenience stores to restaurants. But the kid was 86'd by all of them. The Daily Times in Maryville reports police call the operation "a pleasant failure."

RECRUIT'S TATTOO
IRWIN, Pa. (AP) - A tattoo won't be keeping Kayla Bresnan out of uniform. The Air Force says a new anti-ink reg will be waived in her case. The young Pennsylvania woman enlisted prior to the new regulation taking effect. She has a tat of a theatrical mask on her right forearm. It wouldn't be entirely covered by the uniform sleeve on her saluting arm, so her tattoo would be in violation. Yesterday, Air Force officials said the 19-year-old will be grandfathered in and can report for basic training later this month. But Bresnan won't be taking any chances. She says she's going to have the tattoo removed when she's on leave.

HIDING IN WAL-MART
FAIRFIELD, Ala. (AP) - Police in Alabama charge James Jefferson Jr. spent the night in a Wal-Mart. But it wasn't to get a jump on his holiday shopping. According to authorities, Jefferson hid in the discount store after closing and took $54,000 in cash and checks. According to investigators, Jefferson had money bags strapped to his chest. But the money bags started falling off as Jefferson shook the locked doors. Police say Jefferson might have escaped if he'd waited just 20 more minutes when the doors are opened. Jefferson now faces robbery and burglary charges.

by Jamie Friar

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)