Current events for people.

'Sopranos' question angers Miss N.J.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) - A Miss America pageant judge was wrong to ask Miss New Jersey about her views on "The Sopranos," the contestant and some Italian-American groups said.

The judge asked Alicia Renee Luciano what she thought about the show during an interview segment of Saturday night's pageant in Atlantic City. The HBO drama focuses on fictional mob boss Tony Soprano as he juggles organized crime and his family life in suburban New Jersey.

Luciano, 19, answered that people shouldn't take television shows seriously, and that good parenting should offset violence on TV.

"It was a question that I don't think they would ask of anyone, other than someone with my background," she told The Daily Record of Parsippany for Tuesday's editions. The Byram resident is believed to be the first Italian-American to represent New Jersey in the pageant.

"I wasn't expecting that," Luciano said. "Everyone else was getting questions about how they felt about performance dance and the arts."

Several Italian-American groups agreed, calling the question insensitive and insulting. Miss America officials did not immediately return a message left at their office early Tuesday.

"I don't think it was appropriate," said Anthony Marci, vice president of the North Jersey chapter of Fiery, a group of students and young adults that celebrates Italian culture.

"It's a television show that should be taken with a grain of salt," he said. "But at the same time, Italian-Americans should be cognizant that it adds to the stereotypes in this country."

LOS ANGELES (AP) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy dedicated the latest creation from architect Frank Gehry, the Loyola Law School's Albert H. Girardi Advocacy Center.

Kennedy said Monday that his profession and Gehry's are similar. "We ... recognize the need for experimentation, creation and new ways of doing things."

The center is the latest in a series of contemporary buildings in a central plaza on campus, each of which Gehry designed over the past two decades.

The three-story rust colored structure with its 65-foot conical silver tower contains a 90-person courtroom for mock trials, a jury deliberation room, a 70-person appellate courtroom, a 36-person Center for Ethical Advocacy classroom and video training labs. It's already booked for lectures and an upcoming moot court later this week.

"The greatest thrill for me is when I run into graduates and they tell me how important the architecture has been for them," Gehry said. "Building this campus has been a great journey, we have become a family."

The award-winning architect designed seven of the downtown law school's buildings and renovated two existing ones.

HOUSTON (AP) - "We're lucky to get to Mars in 2020," Arthur C. Clarke said, lamenting the progress the world has made in space exploration.

The science fiction writer, who spoke by telephone from his home in Sri Lanka, was among the participants in an event Monday commemorating the 40th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's speech at Rice University, where he set forth his goal of landing on the moon.

A panel discussion took place at Rice Stadium, where Kennedy spoke on Sept. 12, 1962. Clarke spoke about how Kennedy's words, which once inspired the race to space, now have fallen on deaf ears.

"The end of the Cold War removed one of the main motivations for the space race," he said. "We've reached the stage where not one nation, not even the United States can do it alone. (Space exploration) should be a global enterprise."

The 84-year-old writer, best known for the novel and film "2001: A Space Odyssey," said "the cost of taking human beings to the space station in orbit could be $200" one day.

California businessman Dennis Tito, who became the world's first space tourist when he paid $20 million for a ride on a Russian rocket to the international space station, joked, "Did Arthur Clarke say $200 to go into space? I wonder if I can get my money back?"

Tito said he's disappointed that 'N Sync singer Lance Bass wouldn't be the latest space tourist, because his flight would have inspired a great amount of interest by young people. Bass trained for months but his trip fell through because of a funding snag.

"I think we will see more citizens flying. The public can identify more with private citizens flying," Clarke said. If the cost drops, "we will see space flight become more a part of our culture."

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Fred Rogers, Bill Cosby and Art Linkletter will lead the 114th Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day.

"These three personalities have spent a lifetime entertaining children of all ages, offering insight into their imaginations, and in turn, serving as advocates for child welfare and development," tournament President Gary Thomas said Monday.

"We are honored to have them serve as grand marshals and we celebrate both their work with children and unique perspective on children's lives," Thomas said.

The theme will be "Children's Dreams, Wishes and Imagination."

"I'm especially honored to share the role of grand marshal with Bill Cosby and Art Linkletter, who are such advocates for children," said Rogers, host of the PBS show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for 34 years.

Cosby starred in "The Cosby Show" from 1984-92. Linkletter has been an entertainer for more than 65 years, including his "People Are Funny" and "House Party" shows.

Former parade grand marshals include Regis Philbin, Carol Burnett, Jimmy Stewart, Walt Disney, Shirley Temple, Hank Aaron, Bob Hope, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gregory Peck, John Glenn, Erma Bombeck and Kermit the Frog.

On the Net:

Tournament of Roses Web site: http://www.tournamentofroses.com

LONDON (AP) - At least one lawmaker welcomes Prince Charles' reported threat to leave Britain if it bans fox hunting.

"I think it's wonderful," Dennis Skinner of the governing Labor Party said Monday. "I was keen to vote to get rid of fox hunting. I'm doubly keen now - what a bonus."

Several newspapers reported Sunday that Charles wrote a strident letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair accusing the government of destroying the countryside.

Charles reportedly passed on remarks made to him by a Cumbrian farmer that "if we, as a group, were black or gay, we would not be victimized or picked upon" - a statement the prince apparently agreed with.

The Mail on Sunday newspaper also said that an unidentified senior politician had claimed to have heard the prince on some unspecified date threaten to emigrate if hunting was stopped.

Downing Street and St. James's Palace both declined to say whether the letter existed or the meeting had taken place.

"The Prince of Wales is perfectly entitled to his views. The prime minister and the prince have a very good relationship," said Blair's official spokesman, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

Tony Banks, a Labor Party candidate for London mayor and a prominent animal welfare campaigner, said the reported comments were offensive to true minority groups.

"If this is true - and no one knows whether it is true or not - I think quite a lot of people will find it both invidious and offensive to talk about minorities, whether they are ethnic minorities or minorities based on sexual orientation, and to compare that with a minority of people who want to carry on ripping wild animals to pieces," Banks said.

Charles' comments were reported on the day that more than 400,000 farmers, gamekeepers, hunting enthusiasts and rural residents gathered in London for a rally in support of fox hunting and their rural way of life.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Merle Haggard canceled 11 concerts this month because of back trouble, a spokesman said.

"Merle said he is sorry about this inconvenience ... and he hopes everyone understands," said Lance Roberts, his booking agent.

The 65-year-old country singer has four herniated discs in his back and was at home in California resting and getting medical care, Roberts said Friday. More concerts could be canceled, depending on what treatment is prescribed.

September concerts had been scheduled in Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn.; Washington; Atlanta; and other cities.

Haggard's hits include "Mama Tried" and "Okie From Muskogee."

He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

On the Net:

Merle Haggard Web site: http://www.merlehaggard.com

Country Music Hall of Fame Web site: http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/