Miss Nevada takes Miss USA crown
Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez, a fourth-degree black belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo, was crowned Miss USA 2014 on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old from Las Vegas beat out 50 other contestants from all the states and the District of Columbia for the title of 63rd Miss USA. First runner-up was Miss North Dakota Audra Mari.
Erin Brady, of South Glastonbury, Connecticut, the 2013 winner, gave up her crown to Sanchez after a three-hour telecast from the Baton Rouge Civic Center in Louisiana.
Other runner-ups, judged on interviews, evening gowns and swimsuits were: home state beauty queen, Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry; Miss Georgia Tiana Griggs, Miss Florida Brittany Oldehoff and Miss Iowa Carlyn Bradarich.
Bradarich got a second chance when the viewing audience gave her the most votes on Twitter in the pageant’s first-ever “Save the Queen” option.
Sanchez will go on to represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe competition later this year.
Baldwin gets key to Rhode Island city
Actor Alec Baldwin has received the key to Rhode Island’s smallest city for his donations to help reopen the financially struggling city’s library.
Baldwin donated $10,000 to the Adams Memorial Library in Central Falls in 2011 after he read a New York Times story about how it was forced to close because of financial problems. He gave another $5,000 in 2012. The 1-square-mile city emerged from bankruptcy that year.
Baldwin’s visit Saturday was his first to the library.
Library director Joel Pettit said Baldwin accepted the key from the mayor on the library steps. He was headlining a fundraiser Saturday night in nearby Providence for the library. Pettit said Baldwin is a great guy, and he’s hopeful the event will bring attention to the importance of libraries.
The birthday bunch
Actress Mona Freeman is 88. Comedian Jackie Mason is 86. Sports commentator Dick Vitale is 75. Retired MLB All-Star Dave Parker is 63. Actor Michael J. Fox is 53. Writer-producer Aaron Sorkin is 53. Actor Johnny Depp is 51. Country musician Shade Deggs is 40. Actress Natalie Portman is 33.