Reports: Paul McCartney’s girlfriend free to marry

Reports: Paul McCartney’s girlfriend free to marry

NEW YORK — Paul McCartney is free to marry his girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, because New York courts have issued a final decree in her pending divorce, two British newspapers reported Sunday.

The Sunday Mirror and the Sunday Telegraph reported that McCartney had gotten the approval of his children.

A search of New York State public records Sunday did not turn up a notice of the divorce.

New Miss America eager to get started

LAS VEGAS — Katie Stam always dreamed of becoming Miss America, but she bypassed the kiddie pageants and waited until she was more mature. Her view of Miss America changed in that time too, and made her want her new title even more.

A day after Stam was crowned Miss America 2009, she told The Associated Press that as a little girl, she considered Miss America more of a figure than a full-fledged job.

Stam said that view changed as she aged. “As soon as I found out the job description of Miss America, it only attracted me further.”

The platform for the 22-year-old University of Indiana student is community service, and she says she’s eager to start in that role.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Anne Jeffreys (“Topper,” “General Hospital”) is 86. Sports announcer-actor Bob Uecker is 74. Actor Scott Glenn is 70. Singer Jean Knight is 66. Actor David Strathairn is 60. Singer Lucinda Williams is 56. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen is 54. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres is 51. Guitarist Andrew Ridgeley (Wham!) is 46. Gospel singer Kirk Franklin is 39.