Stuck on the stairs, 21 valedictorians

Stuck on the stairs, 21 valedictorians

Author: Ben Hooper May 18, 2026 Duration: 2:36

A Massachusetts 2-year-old gets his head stuck between the balisters on the stairs in his family's home and a New York school's graduating class boasts 21 valedictorians on today's UPI Odd News Minute.

For these stories and more, visit UPI.com/Odd_News.

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Each weekday, Ben Hooper sifts through the global newsfeed to find those peculiar gems that make you pause and smile. UPI Odd News Minute delivers exactly that: a brief, daily dose of the wonderfully strange and unexpectedly uplifting stories happening around the world. You’ll hear about animals getting into improbable situations, ordinary people stumbling upon extraordinary luck, and discoveries that defy easy explanation. This isn't your typical news cycle; it's a curated collection of moments that highlight the curious, heartwarming, and downright bizarre side of human and animal endeavor. Tuning into this podcast offers a refreshing break, a reminder that amidst the usual headlines, there's always room for a tale that inspires a chuckle or a sense of awe. It’s the kind of content that sparks conversation, perfect for a quick mental reset during your commute or afternoon. Think of it as your daily allowance for delight, a guaranteed highlight in your news consumption that proves truth is often stranger and more entertaining than fiction.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

UPI Odd News Minute
Podcast Episodes
Odds and Ends: Museum's 'Knight Rider' car gets a speeding ticket [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:28
The UPI Odd News Minute presents weekend odds and ends, our weekely roundup of the missed odd-portunities that didn't quite make this week's podcasts. Today's stories include an Illinois museum getting a speeding ticket…
Pregnant cheetah escapes zoo, bear's breakfast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02
A pregnant cheetah escapes from a zoo in the Netherlands and a New Mexico resident catches a bear feasting on an "all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet" of bird seed on today's UPI Odd News Minute. For these stories and more,…
Drunk deer, Ohio zebra, dog on the roof [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:38
Police in France warn drivers to beware of drunken deer, police wrangle an escaped zebra in Ohio and a stranded dog is rescued from the roof of a two-story townhouse on today's UPI Odd News Minute. For these stories and…
Special episode: Wildlife Wanderlust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:50
The UPI Odd News Minute presents five stories of stowaway animals that would up hundreds, or even thousands, of miles from home. For these stories and more, visit UPI.com/Odd_News. Follow the UPI Odd News Minute on YouTu…
Water monitor takes a swim, world's largest dog pool party [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:26
An Arizona man finds an Asian water monitor swimming in his pool and a Florida park hosts the world's largest dog pool party on today's UPI Odd News Minute. For these stories and more, visit UPI.com/Odd_News. Follow the…
Odds and Ends: Bear's attempted break-in, world's strongest hair [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:57
The UPI Odd News Minute presents weekend odds and ends, our weekely roundup of the missed odd-portunities that didn't quite make this week's podcasts. Today's stories include a bear that attempted to break into a Tenness…
Philadelphia sewer bees, alligator brawl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:33
A hive of up to 10,000 bees is found living in a Philadelphia sewer and a Florida woman finds two alligators fighting on her screen porch on today's UPI Odd News Minute. For these stories and more, visit UPI.com. Follow…
Man pulls bus with his neck, bear naps in window well [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:33
An Aruba man uses a rope around his neck to pull a 21,737-pound bus and Colorado wildlife officers remove a bear found taking a nap in a home's basement window well on today's UPI Odd News Minute. For these stories and m…
Dog runs mini-marathon, New Jersey wallaby, missing ice cream cone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:33
A dog joins in an a mini-marathon race in Indianapolis, a wallaby briefly escapes from a New Jersey zoo and a Boston bakery seeks the return of its plastic ice cream cone mascot on today's UPI Odd News Minute. For these…
Robot passenger delays flight, cat vs. coyote [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:44
A robot passenger delays a Southwest Airlines flight out of Oakland, Calif., for more than an hour and a pet cat is caught on camera fighting off a coyote on today's UPI Odd News Minute. For these stories and more, visit…