NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Ciara joins celebrity judges’ panel for Miss America pageant

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.

Ciara is the final member of the celebrity judges panel for the 2017 Miss America competition.

The Miss America Organization made the announcement Wednesday.

The singer will join Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, musician and actress Laura Marano, NBA team owner and businessman Mark Cuban, actress Sara Foster, singer-songwriter Cole Swindell and former Miss America Sharlene Wells Hawkes.

The panel will evaluate the contestants’ performance in swimsuits, evening wear, talent, interviews and answering onstage questions.

The pageant finale will be broadcast live from Atlantic City on ABC on Sept. 11, hosted by Chris Harrison and Sage Steele.

KISS almost gets bussed by tornado

Toledo

Not even KISS could rock ‘n’ roll all night with tornado sirens blaring.

Frontman Gene Simmons tweeted that the band’s show in Toledo, was stopped briefly Wednesday night during a tornado warning.

He says some people went into the arena to seek shelter until the storm passed.

Though no tornadoes touched down in Toledo, there was a long line of damage across the northwestern part of Ohio from the storm that first hit central and northern Indiana.

About six trailers were damaged at a mobile-home park near Hicksville, Ohio.

Officials in Van Wert County say at least two tornadoes touched down about 2 miles apart, tearing roofs off homes and flattening barns.

WGN hit series ‘Underground’ moves production to Georgia

ATLANTA

The second season of WGN America’s drama series “Underground” has moved filming to southeast Georgia.

Sony Pictures Television and WGN announced in a statement Thursday that the new 10-episode season will begin production in Savannah, Ga., on Monday after filming its first season in Baton Rouge, La.

The series delves into the challenges and dangers for slaves during their journey on the Underground Railroad.

“Underground” stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Alano Miler and Christopher Meloni. The second season is expected to premiere early next year.

The Savannah Morning News reports that production will take four months and is expected to cost close to $50 million.

Associated Press