Community Corner
Fan Who Made Twitter Tattoo Promise Is A Man Of His Word
Your 5-minute read to start the day: "Parody" proposal sparks controversy; Southwest denies vaccine sickout; Al Capone's gun sold.

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, Oct. 12. Let’s catch up on what’s going on around the country as some return to work from a three-day weekend.
- Southwest Airlines has addressed the cancellation of hundreds of flights in recent days, as officials deny a “vaccine sickout” led to staffing shortages.
- A “parody” bill introduced in Pennsylvania that would restrict the number of children men would be allowed to father has stirred quite a bit of controversy.
- Low pay and staffing shortages have led to numerous worker strikes across the country.
- A Chicago White Sox fan promised Twitter he’d get a tattoo if the player at bat at the time hit a home run. A day later, he did just that.
A Promise Is A Promise
Things looked bleak for the Chicago White Sox baseball team as they faced elimination and trailed the Houston Astros, when Leury Garcia came to bat Sunday night during Game 3 of the American League Division Series.
Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
But the team was in a position to take the lead if Garcia — not someone known for his home run-hitting — knocked one out of the park.
That’s when White Sox fan Gilbert Redman tweeted a prayer, offering the baseball gods a deal: “If Leury hits a homer here, I’ll get a tattoo in his honor.”
Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Garcia hit the home run, and the White Sox won. Then on Monday, Redman showed he’s a man of his word.
He now has a tattoo recognizing Garcia’s big hit on his right thigh. Read the full story from Chicago Patch
3-Child Limit ‘Parody’ Proposal
A state representative in Pennsylvania has introduced “parody” legislation that would restrict the number of children a man could father.
State Rep. Chris Rabb said it has stewed plenty of controversy in the week since it was introduced. And that's exactly the point, he says. Read more from Across Pennsylvania Patch
Southwest Denies Vaccine Sickout
Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights were cancelled from Saturday through Monday, but airline officials and its pilots union have denied rumors of a “vaccine sickout” leading to staffing shortages. Read more from Across America Patch
Worker Strikes Mount
More than 700 nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Massachusetts are in the midst of the longest worker strike in the state’s history. Begun over continued staffing shortages and pay issues, it’s a similar story throughout the country. Read more from Across America Patch
Gabby Petito Memorial Coming Down
Items left at the makeshift memorial to Gabby Petito in North Port, Florida, are to be removed by Tuesday as many of them have become damaged by the weather in the Sunshine State.
"The family of Gabby Petito and the city of North Port have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support shown by residents of the city and beyond," the city said on its Facebook page. "The physical memorial set up at city hall has been a shining example of that support, but items have become damaged in the Florida sun and rain." Read more from Sarasota, Florida, Patch
Accused Store Shooter Deemed Incompetent For Trial
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the man accused of killing 10 people at a King Soopers store in Boulder, Colorado, in March, has been deemed incompetent to stand trial, court documents show.
But the evaluation is a separate legal issue than a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, which hinges on whether someone's mental health prevented them from knowing right from wrong when a crime was committed. Read more from Boulder, Colorado, Patch
Spider Bite Causes Hallucinations
A Virginia woman said she hallucinated off and on for several days after a venomous brown recluse spider bit her face while she was on a recent kayaking trip.
Sherri Maddox told WFRX, "I was just praying I wasn't going to die." Read more from Fredericksburg, Virginia, Patch
Ex-Green Beret Charged In Capitol Riots
Jeremy Brown, a former Green Beret living in Tampa, Florida, is the 69th Floridian to be charged in connection with the Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol. Read more from Tampa, Florida, Patch
Framed?
A Pennsylvania woman accused of murdering her father and his girlfriend said she is “being framed.” Read more from Barnegat-Manahawkin, New Jersey, Patch
Pot And COVID-19: New Study Revealed
A study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse involving Connecticut residents heavily dependent on marijuana suggests they may be more susceptible to breakthrough coronavirus cases. Read more from Danbury, Connecticut, Patch
Marathon Monday Winners
The 2021 Boston Marathon is in the books. The winners have been crowned in the most distinctive race in the event’s 125-year history. Read more from Boston Patch
See The Photos
Check out photos from the Boston Marathon.

ICYMI: Couple Saves Chihuahua From Coyote, via Northridge-Chatsworth, California, Patch
Today In History
In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially changed the name of the president’s residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C., from the Executive Mansion to the White House.
More On ‘The Patch’
- PPP Loan Fraud Leads To 2 Arrests: Cops, via Joliet, Illinois, Patch
- Lawsuit Claims Sexual Harassment Prevalent At Company, via Parsippany, New Jersey, Patch
- Murder Charge For Accused Cop Killer, via Atlanta Patch
- Human Remains May Belong To Missing Woman, via Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Patch
- Parent Sues School Board Over Possible COVID-19 Violations, via Across Wisconsin Patch
- Teen Walks On Subway Tracks From Manhattan To Queens: Cops, via Upper East Side, New York, Patch
- Al Capone’s Gun Sold At Auction, via Chicago Patch
Find Your Local Patch
Patch is in more than 1,000 communities across America. Find your community and see what's happening outside your front door.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.