State fairs try to bring back honest shows, end cheating

It has been a quiet summer so far on the state fair circuit, andthat is exactly what the people who run the fairs have been prayingfor. The one thing they cannot afford is a repeat of the disastrous1994 publicity that threatened to cost them the apple-pie reputationthey spent years building up.

Two years ago, contestants were caught administering illegaldrugs to livestock in show competition at the Ohio State Fair, theTulsa State Fair in Oklahoma and Denver's National Western StockShow. Seven of the top 10 steers at the Ohio fair tested positivefor clenbuterol, a potentially dangerous muscle-growth stimulant, orwere found to have had vegetable oil or air injected under …

Kneller and Smith win freestyle World Cup events

SAN CANDIDO, Italy (AP) — Scott Kneller of Australia and Fanny Smith of Switzerland earned their first freestyle World Cup victories Sunday by winning ski cross events.

In the men's final, Kneller finished ahead of Switzerland's Alex Fiva and John …

Obama inspects beach threatened by Gulf oil spill

Intent on showing firm command of a deepening Gulf Coast crisis, President Barack Obama inspected a fouled beach, took in what he called "heartbreaking stories" of the catastrophe and declared "we're going to keep at it" until the America's largest-ever oil spill is stopped and cleaned up.

"It's an assault on our shores, on our people, on the regional economy and on communities like this one," said Obama, from this small barrier island town south of New Orleans that is threatened by the massive oil leak. "People are watching their livelihoods wash up on the beach."

With more than 20,000 people already in the region …

People

Gwen Stefani going demure for concert set for Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Gwen Stefani will not wear revealingcostumes during her Aug. 21 concert after Muslim students protestedher sexy outfits and steamy performances.

Show organizer Maxis Communications Bhd. said the 37-year-oldsinger will follow the local code of ethics for foreign artists,which bans the unnecessary baring of skin.

"Gwen Stefani has confirmed that her concert will not feature anyrevealing costumes. She will abide by the Malaysian authorities'guidelines to ensure that her show will not be offensive to localsensitivities," the company said Thursday in a statement to TheAssociated …

FRED CHOATE; Art is your fate; do not debate

If you walk through Boise with your eyes even halfway open, you have seen the work of Fred Choate. He practically has a monopoly on the downtown outdoor wall space, and a strong foothold as Boise's foremost creator of interior ambiance. With a show featuring landscapes along with a new mural going up in Garden City's library, Choate's lifetime of art creation culminates in a massive portfolio.

Attempting to meet Choate at the site of his mural, I found a slightly irritable gentleman, who, after acknowledging me, ignored me and continued his conversation. Looking around for the mural, I saw another man, who looked more like the photo on Choate's Web site. Realizing my err, I turned …

England cricketers leave for home

England's cricket team left this eastern city for Bangalore on Friday on the first leg of its journey home after cutting short its limited-overs tour of India.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also asked its second-string performance squad, which was in the southern city of Bangalore, to return home following terror attacks that killed 119 people in Mumbai.

The two squads will board the same flight to London, Press Trust of India reported.

The last two limited-overs internationals of the seven-match series were canceled as English players wanted to return home, but India's cricket authorities are hopeful of hosting next month's two …

Kermit & Co. hop into town // `Muppet Show' at the Horizon

There's nothing like the threat of mud wrestlers to make you getyour act together.

That's the story in "The Muppet Show - 2nd Edition," openingtomorrow at the Rosemont Horizon, 6920 N. Mannheim in Rosemont.

Starring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, the 90-minute touringstage show will feature 20 lifesize Muppets, the zany characterscreated by Muppeteer Jim Henson. The cast will include Fozzie Bear,Rowlf the Dog, Scooter, Gonzo the Great, and Dr. Teeth and theElectric Mayhem Band. Statler and Waldorf, the two crotchety oldcynics, will provide commentary from onstage balconies.

According to executive producer Vincent Egan, whoseMinneapolis-based Vee …