Miss USA Pageant is moving to Vegas

Miss USA Pageant
is moving to Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Another beauty battle is moving to Las Vegas, at least for the time being. This year’s Miss USA pageant will be held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, pageant executives said Thursday. The rival Miss America pageant crowned its 2008 queen in the same casino two weeks ago. “What happens in Vegas won’t be staying in Vegas as the Miss USA telecast is viewed in more than 80 countries around the globe on live television,” said Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, in a statement. NBC will air the competition live April 11. The network owns the pageant with real estate mogul Donald Trump. Reigning Miss USA Rachel Smith of Tennessee was crowned last year in Los Angeles.

Today’s birthdays

Football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton is 68. Football Hall-of-Famer Bob Griese is 63. Singer-guitarist Dave Davies (The Kinks) is 61. Singer Melanie is 61. Actress Morgan Fairchild is 58. Actor Nathan Lane is 52. Rock musician Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) is 52. Actor Thomas Calabro is 49. Actress Maura Tierney is 43. Actor Warwick Davis is 38. Reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee is 32. Musician Grant Barry is 31. Rapper Sean Kingston is 18.