Schwarzenegger saves swimmer

Sacramento, Calif. — He has saved the world from nuclear terrorists in “True Lies,” invisible monsters in “Predator,” futuristic machines in “Terminator 2.”

The legend of Arnold Schwarzenegger grew when California’s governor helped a weary swimmer to shore Wednesday during his tropical Hawaiian vacation.

Schwarzenegger was taking an early-afternoon swim near his Maui retreat when he passed a man clinging to a boogie board about 100 yards from shore.

The Republican governor asked the man if he was OK and the swimmer said he had cramps and couldn’t swim back to the beach. Schwarzenegger helped the man safely back to shore.

Hometown honors its King

Indianola, Miss. — Officials in the Mississippi Delta town of Indianola, birthplace of B.B. King, want to erect a statue in the bluesman’s honor.

The town of 12,000 where the singer of such hits as “The Thrill is Gone” spent his formative years is selling engraved $25 bricks and $300 business slates to finance the statue.

The statue will be at the entrance to B.B. King Park, said Carolyn O’Neal, an official with the city’s public works department.

The city wants the statue ready for the opening of the B.B. King Museum, set for 2005.

Security stop miffs Spanish prince

Miami — A routine security check at Miami International Airport turned into a diplomatic flap when the unhappy subjects of the search turned out to be the future king of Spain and his fiancee.

The couple and four bodyguards were connecting onto a commercial flight after arriving from the Bahamas in a chartered jet, The Miami Herald reported Saturday.

Crown Prince Felipe, Spanish television anchorwoman Letizia Ortiz and their entourage had to pass through a security check Thursday.

“The prince and his bodyguard felt they should not be subjected to the screening, but if they do not have an escort from the State Department or the Secret Service, it is required,” said Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Lauren Stover.

The couple, who had only given six hours notice of their arrival, were taken to an airline lounge, where they were searched by three “top-notch screeners with VIP experience,” Stover said.

Victoria’s Secret drops TV show

Columbus, Ohio — Victoria’s Secret is dropping its nationally televised fashion show this year, at least partly because of criticism after Janet Jackson’s breast-baring faux pas at the Super Bowl.

Ed Razek, chief creative officer for the Columbus-based lingerie chain, said Saturday the main reason for the decision was so the company could look at new promotions.

Still, he said, “We had to make the decision probably six to eight weeks ago when the heat was on the television networks.”

The televised fashion show has generated criticism in the past from groups complaining about supermodels strutting down the runway in skimpy underwear.

The fashion show aired in November on CBS the past two years.