LAS VEGAS (AP) - These photos may have happened in Vegas. But they definitely won't be staying there. Contestants in this year's Miss USA pageant took part in a racy photo shoot in Sin City. And the shots of the ladies in their lingerie are generating heated opinions on whether the pageant is going too far in search of TV ratings. A YouTube video of the photo shoot posted by the pageant this week had been viewed more than 4,600 times as of Tuesday afternoon. So far, those behind the pageant see nothing wrong with the photos. Donald Trump owns the Miss Universe organization. He says he has no problem with them, though he does describe them as "a little bit sexy." He hopes the shots will boost the audience for the show. And a pageant spokeswoman calls the photos tasteful. The pageant will be broadcast Sunday night on NBC.
ARGUMENTS FULL SPEED AHEAD
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) - They aren't going to use speed cameras - but there does need
to be some police presence at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for this year's
NASCAR race weekend in Loudon, New Hampshire. And there's the rub. Police say
they are having trouble agreeing on the cost of providing coverage for next
month's event. The Concord Monitor newspaper says the police chief and race
organizers are about $100,000 apart. The chief says he expects providing police
and fire coverage will cost $174,500 - same as last year. But the head of the
speedway says the same job can be done for $75,000.
SHOREBIRDS MAKE A HOME AT BEACH
CAPE HENLOPEN, Del. (AP) - It was a storm that messed up part of the beach at
Delaware's Cape Henlopen. But the same storm has turned out to be a boon for
some birds called piping plovers. They are listed nationally as a threatened
species, though in Delaware, they're considered endangered. None of that kept
the shorebirds from taking advantage of the storm to create nests out of a
natural breeding ground crafted by the bad weather. Environmental officials say
six pairs of piping plovers have scraped away the sand and built nests. And
earlier this week, all six nests had eggs in them. Wildlife biologist Matthew
Bailey says piping plovers like flat beaches for nesting because they provide
clear views of approaching predators. Workers are helping the birds against
would-be predators by building wire enclosures around of the nests to keep out
foxes, cats, and sea gulls.
BOY MAKES UP ABDUCTION TALE
STILLWATER, N.Y. (AP) - He was in trouble at home and wanted to get out of it in
the worst way. And authorities in Stillwater, New York say the 13-year-old boy
did get out trouble in the worst way - by making up a story about being
kidnapped. Police say the boy told police he was forcibly abducted last week by
a pair of men in a pickup truck. He claims he was able to escape unhurt. Police
distributed a sketch of a suspect and after a witness came forward, police spoke
to the boy again. When they did, he admitted the kidnapping never happened - and
he made up the crime to get out of trouble at home. He was charged with a
misdemeanor of falsely reporting an incident - and released to his mother.
HONOLULU DRIVERS CONFISCATING FAKE BUS PASSES
HONOLULU (AP) - Trouble in Paradise? Some people in Oahu are trying to save on
transportation costs - by using fake bus passes. But they are finding that bus
drivers are on to the scheme. In the past two weeks, drivers have confiscated
nearly 200 fake monthly passes. They look like the real ones - but go for half
the price. An official with Oahu Transit Services says people have counterfeited
city bus passes before but never on such a large scale. Those caught joy riding
with fake passes will have a less-than-joyous outcome. Police say those caught
using the bogus passes face up to a year in jail - and a $2,000 fine.
