‘Bachelor: Paris’ wraps up without a marriage proposal

New York – Vanderbilt emergency room physician Dr. Travis Stork kept it close to home by picking Nashville kindergarten teacher Sarah Stone in the season finale of ABC’s “The Bachelor: Paris.”

Stork presented her with a diamond ring on a necklace Monday night.

The rejected finalist, Moana Dixon, a 26-year-old distribution manager from Los Angeles, took the bad news calmly in front of Stork, but fell apart in the limo ride.

Located outside the United States for the first time, the France-set “Bachelor” deployed 25 women to vie for Stork’s affections during a series of glamorous dates. The season began in January.

But although he selected the 26-year-old Stone, Stork’s bachelor status seemed safe for the moment: There was no explicit marriage proposal.

“Let’s see where this relationship goes,” he proposed.

Britney Spears surprises teens affected by Katrina

New Orleans – Britney Spears spent part of Mardi Gras with a group of students whose lives were upended when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area six months ago.

The 24-year-old pop star, a Louisiana native, talked on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday of her recent “surprise” meeting with four students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School of New Orleans.

Spears grew up not far from New Orleans in the town of Kentwood, and she has participated in fundraisers for victims of the hurricane.

On a recent morning, the girls sat down to breakfast with City Councilman Jay Batt, thinking they were there to discuss the effects of Katrina. Then Spears walked in, greeted with squeals.

“It was awesome. I will never forget it,” said 14-year-old Lindsay Hernandez, who lived with 21 relatives and friends after her home was destroyed.

Spears took the girls shopping and to dine at one of Cajun chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants. There, the conversation turned from shopping to Katrina.

Clubs warned about letting Hilton’s underage beau in

Las Vegas – Two Las Vegas clubs have been put on notice for allowing Paris Hilton’s underage boyfriend into their establishments on New Year’s Eve.

Tao Asian Bistro in The Venetian and Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel received warning letters last month from the Clark County Business License Department after investigators determined that Stavros Niarchos, 19, was allowed into the clubs.

Hilton, co-star of “The Simple Life” TV reality series, recently celebrated her 25th birthday.

Both clubs were told they had violated county code, but were not issued citations because operators had cooperated with county agents, the letters said.