And we thought the Suns Gorilla’s high-flying trampoline act was cool. Check out what the Milwaukee Bucks’ mascot, Bango is up to.

Coast Guard to Try Burning Oil Slick off Louisiana Coast [CNN]

Southwest Nonstops Hit Boston, Minneapolis [Phoenix Business Journal]

Sandra Bullock Shockers! Adopted a Son, Divorcing Jesse James [E Online]

The first image of the Earth from the surface of another planet. Taken from Mars rover Spirit in 2004.

[Buzz Feed]

The Childhood Root Beer Float Gets a Lift [Tasting Table]

Malcolm X Assassin Freed After Four Decades [NY Post]

Cook Tells of Escape from Exploding Oil Rig [MSNBC]

Coyotes Want to be More Than ‘Nice Story’ [East Valley Tribune]

Why are we writing about some microscopic horse in New Hampshire? Have you even looked at that picture? Named Einstein, the pinto stallion weighed just 6 pounds and measured 14 inches tall when he was born. May be a new Guinness Book of World records title-holder … Blah, blah, blah. Have you seen that pic?

[AZ Central]

Photo via Gawker

This picture says so much about the wonder that is Paris Hilton. So we ask how would you caption this photo?

Send an email to Dawson@ScoopFactory.com and we will publish the best one Friday.

He’ll be embarrassed when he reads this, but DLT owner, John McDonald just wrote an opinion piece for the The Huffington Post. The AZ native and NY-based publisher/restaurateur wrote about the “Death of Dinner” for the renowned news/opinion portal.

[Huffington Post]

Either TV producers have officially run out of ideas, or this is the most brilliant concept in history. Premiering tomorrow on WE tv, “Sunset Daze” is a new reality series featuring a group of “boozy, party-loving” retirees cruising the streets of Sun City in “pimped-out” golf carts.

»READ MORE

Our editorial staff is breathing a deep sigh of relief as fellow journalist Timothy Lawrence Hendricks was found Monday afternoon in the Sacremento, California area. Although we were hoping for a more exciting turn of events, it seems as though ol’ Larry has had enough of Flagstaff and simply took off for the land of promise. That being said, next time he sneaks off for a secret rondezvous, it might be best to let someone know.

[AZ Family]

Original story: [Desert Living Today]

The hits keep coming for the senior Senator from AZ. First came the news that John McCain is rapidly losing ground in his Republican primary tussle with former sportscaster/professional rabble-rouser, JD Hayworth. Now comes word that his office was invaded by activists. GAY activists! »READ MORE

Considering all the national drive-by commentary on AZ’s stringent new anti-immigration law, it’s refreshing to see one local’s take. We say if anyone appreciates irony, it’s those boys in blue. What say you AZ?

[Early Onset of Night]

S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2010 [Eater]

South Korean is First Woman to Scale 14 Highest Mountains [LA Times]

Rumor Mill: Gay Celeb To Come Out On Cover Of People [Gawker]

Jailed rap-star, DMX is keeping busy while spending time inside Sheriff Joe’s Motel. According to the BBC, he’s filed a lawsuit against the company he hired to collect royalty payments on his records.

»READ MORE

Jalopnik has a great report on Alexander Surin, an international crime boss who had a serious love of exotic cars. And we thought (PV resident and Campbell’s Soup heir) Bennett Dorrance was a big collector. Check it out. [Jalopnik]

A few days ago we jokingly called chef Justin Beckett a restaurant wrecker after word broke that he was launching another new eatery. Turns out chef’s sense of humor is as sharp as his knives, and instead of throwing a frying pan through our office window, he had his business partners reach out to us to give us the inside scoop on his new project.

»READ MORE

Jenna Jameson, a part-time AZ fixture, is being blamed for taking a beating by her UFC boyfriend Tito Ortiz. Now that takes some serious nerve to make such a claim considering she weighs in these days at around 100 lbs.

Jameson, 36, said she was “completely shocked” that the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Ortiz would assault her.

“Tito is a loving, sweet man. I’ve always supported him,” said the former XXX-rated leading lady. “For him to lash out at me is shocking.”

Asked if she was going to press charges, the buxom beauty responded, “Oh, yeah!”

“You have to press charges,” said Jameson, who is 5-feet-7 and weighs 110 pounds. “This isn’t something you can just get over.”

Jameson’s father, Lawrence Massoli, an ex-Las Vegas cop, said his daughter immediately got a restraining order against Ortiz.

American Missionary to Stand Trial in Haiti [CNN]

Phoenix Suns Fend off Portland Trail Blazers’ Quick Start, Then Roll [AZ Central]

To Beat the Heat, Drink a Slushie First [NY Times]

While at first we thought this had no chance for success after watching this trailer we might just tune in for the first episode.

Drink of the Day: Cape Cod [Extra Tasty]

Police Seize PCs of Editor Who Posted iPhone Prototype Pics [FOX News]

Motorcyclist Loses Part of Leg After Hit By Car In Tempe [AZ Central]

Our favorite day drinking spot RnR is getting a new wine cellar on Wednesday. Good for us, bad for them. While they’re clearing out the inventory, facebook fans get any bottle of wine or champagne for $10. »READ MORE

Sorry for the childish headline, but that was our honest reaction when we saw the report that John Travolta was spotted dining at P.F. Chang’s. The Business Journal (yes, you read that right) scooped everyone on the “Looks Who’s Talking Now” star’s weekend visit »READ MORE

Meet 10^th generation glass guru, Georg Riedel this Tuesday (April 27), at Morton’s The Steakhouse’s in Phoenix. Famed for being the first glassmakers to study how the shape of the glass affects the taste of wine, Riedel will personally lead guests through a sipping tutorial featuring fine wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle. Morton’s signature hors d’oeuvres will be served, and guests will receive a special parting gift valued at $116 – a four-piece Riedel Vinum wine glass tasting set. A nice takeaway considering tix to the wine tasting are $90.

2501 E. Camelback Rd., 602-955-9577

We loved him in the original Vacation but Randy Quaid has pretty much come un-glued, along with his wife, and a judge has sent him to jail. [People]

[Randy Quaid Bio]

What’s in a name? Apparently, a lot. A group of Dutch researchers have recently discovered that women who change their last names after tying the knot make $400,000 less in their lifetime. »READ MORE

via EATER AZ

And it’s on! Last summer, after the iconic Richardson’s restaurant burned to a crisp, EATERAZ’s, David Tyda did some on the spot reporting as the place was still smoking, and later posted a few follow-ups on his blog. Well, it appears that the mystery man behind the long-standing restaurant at the corner of 16th and Bethany Home was none to pleased with what he was reading, and fired back a sharp response to the EAZ crew:  »READ MORE