News In Brief

MAKE MINE A SOY BURGER

By and large, you won't find the food in US prisons winning many accolades. But maybe that will change now that administrators have announced all 98 federal institutions will offer vegetarian entree choices. "The intent is to meet the changing dietary habits of the bureau's inmate population," says a prison spokesperson. Take the penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pa. It's already in full swing with the program, dishing up such options as barbecued tofu with onions and veggie sweet-and-sour chicken.

AND TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN, TOO

When pro athletes are fined, it's usually for some flagrant foul. Not in the case of Sean Gilbert of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. The defensive end was assessed $5,000 ... for showing too much white on his uniform socks - a violation of the league's strict dress code. "We literally can be in the middle of talking about a game plan," says his teammate, quarterback Steve Beuerlein, "and [the equipment manager] will come over and tell us that we'd better pull our socks up."

PR-wise, new survey rates the most challenging clients

In an online survey whose results appear in its Oct. 23 issue, the public relations industry trade magazine, PR Week, asked readers to nominate persons or companies in a range of client categories who would be the most difficult and challenging to represent before the general public. The survey, which drew responses from 542 professionals in the field, was conducted in September. The top three finishers in selected categories:

Politicians

President Clinton

Rev. Al Sharpton, black activist

Pat Buchanan

Celebrities

Mike Tyson, heavyweight boxer

Dr. Laura Schlesinger, radio/TV talk show host

Eminem, rap musician

Industries

Tobacco

Pornographers

Firearms manufacturers

- Business Wire

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