SHORT TAKES : Ex-Miss America Anchors News

Former Miss America Gretchen Carlson starts a new job next month as a local television reporter on a segment called “Neighborhood News.” She reports to work at WRIC-TV on Sept. 10, station officials said. Although Carlson has done free-lance reporting and served as talk show guest host for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, this will be her first full-time job in front of the camera. A native of Anoka, Minn., she graduated in June from Stanford University, where she majored in behavioral organization.

She was the first violinist to win her talent points for a classical violin composition in the 1989 contest.