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N.J. mother, child born on leap day

SADDLE RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey mother born on February 29 beat 2 million-to-1 odds when she had her daughter — who was also born on leap day.

Michelle Birnbaum said she’ll use the occasion to teach her 4-year-old daughter Rose about science and the Earth’s cycles around the sun.Birnbaum turned 32 Wednesday, but celebrated for only the eighth time on the actual date. It comes once every four years as the result of a system intended to keep the seasons, years, months and days in working order.

Birnbaum went into labor on Feb. 28, 2008, but Rose was born the following day.

Hank the cat makes run at U.S. Senate

SPRINGFIELD, Va. (AP) — A new U.S. Senate candidate in Virginia wears a tie, has a campaign website and even launched an ad. One big difference? He has a thick coat of fur.

Hank the cat has thrown his paw into the race, running to mock the political status quo.

Hank’s owner, Anthony Roberts, says he and his partner set up the campaign as a joke. But the campaign’s website has crashed after a recent spate of publicity. An ad says Hank, a moderate, will work to make sure America stays the greatest land of all.

Hank is running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. James Webb, a Democrat.

N.J. mother, child born on leap day

SADDLE RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey mother born on February 29 beat 2 million-to-1 odds when she had her daughter — who was also born on leap day.

Michelle Birnbaum said she’ll use the occasion to teach her 4-year-old daughter Rose about science and the Earth’s cycles around the sun.Birnbaum turned 32 Wednesday, but celebrated for only the eighth time on the actual date. It comes once every four years as the result of a system intended to keep the seasons, years, months and days in working order.

Birnbaum went into labor on Feb. 28, 2008, but Rose was born the following day.

Hank the cat makes run at U.S. Senate

SPRINGFIELD, Va. (AP) — A new U.S. Senate candidate in Virginia wears a tie, has a campaign website and even launched an ad. One big difference? He has a thick coat of fur.

Hank the cat has thrown his paw into the race, running to mock the political status quo.

Hank’s owner, Anthony Roberts, says he and his partner set up the campaign as a joke. But the campaign’s website has crashed after a recent spate of publicity. An ad says Hank, a moderate, will work to make sure America stays the greatest land of all.

Hank is running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. James Webb, a Democrat.