CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES — An elite squad of guinea pigs has worked its own brand of magic at the box office, taking the No. 1 spot from boy wizard Harry Potter.
The 3-D "G-Force" was the top movie at the box office this weekend, opening with $32.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The Walt Disney release from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, with its mixture of live action and computer-generated animation, is a "Mission: Impossible"-style adventure.
Last week's No. 1 film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," came in a close second with an estimated $30 million. That's a whopping 61 percent drop from its huge opening last weekend of $79.5 million.
Coming in third was another of the week's wide releases, the battle-of-the-sexes romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth," which had a $27 million opening.
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TENNESSEE
Timberlake hits it big on eco-friendly course
MILLINGTON — Justin Timberlake celebrated the opening of his renovated, environmentally friendly golf course in style on the 10th tee — by smacking his drive 291 yards.
The singer and actor smiled Saturday after the tee shot, saying "nobody's happier about this course" than he is.
Timberlake was the first to play a round at his Mirimichi golf course near Memphis, Tenn., after he spent $16 million renovating the course to make it more eco-friendly.
NEW JERSEY
'Idol' contestant killed when struck by car
SEASIDE HEIGHTS — Authorities said a 25-year-old former two-time "American Idol" contestant has been struck and killed by a car in a New Jersey shore town.
The Asbury Park Press reported that Alexis Cohen of Allentown, Pa., was killed early Saturday in Seaside Heights.
Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said an autopsy indicated she suffered chest, head and abdominal injuries.
Mohel said investigators are seeking more information about the accident.
NEW YORK
HBO tops GLAAD list of gay representation
NEW YORK — HBO scored highest among 15 networks for its representation of gay characters last season, according to a report released today.
In its third annual Network Responsibility Index, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation found that of HBO's 14 original prime-time series, 10 included content reflecting the lives of gay, bisexual and transgender people.
That totaled 42 percent of the network's programming hours, in series such as "True Blood," "Entourage" and "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency."
By contrast, on NBC and CBS only 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of prime-time hours included them, the report said.
The Associated Press
Wire reports
