ROBOTIC SOLDIER SUIT

UNDATED (AP) -- Iron Man watch out -- here comes Rex Jameson. Of course, "Iron Man" is Hollywood fantasy. But Jameson is helping to develop what's called an "exoskeleton" suit that multiplies human strength and endurance up to 20 times. He can easily lift a 200-pound weight -- 500 times in a row. Jameson works for Sarcos, a robotics firm in Salt Lake City. The Army believes the robotic suit may someday help soldiers in combat. But now the focus is on activities like loading cargo or repairing heavy equipment. There are still significant issues to overcome, such as cost and power. Current battery life is just 30 minutes -- hardly enough to make the suit practical.

BEACH VS BEACH

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- Myrtle Beach is kicking virtual sand into the face of Virginia Beach. There's an unwritten rule in the travel industry that tourist destinations don't badmouth each other. Virginia Beach officials charge their rivals bought ads on Google saying Myrtle Beach is cheaper and more relaxing than Virginia Beach. The Myrtle Beach ads would show up when someone searched Google for info about Virginia Beach. One Myrtle Beach official defends the ad campaign, telling The Sun-News it's pure guerrilla marketing.

FRYING PAN ASSAULT

CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Call it a family feud -- frying pan style. Authorities in Tennessee have busted a couple for whacking each other with a frying pan. Cumberland County deputies have charged both Heather and Samuel Newcome with domestic assault. Deputies say other family members got involved in the cookware smackdown, but decided not to press charges. The couple is to appear in court Monday.

WILLOUGHBY NUDITY

WESTMORE, Vt. (AP) -- Some folks in Vermont feel it's time to take the gloves off -- when people take their clothes off. Officials in the town of Westmore have been hearing complaints about Lake Willoughby, which has one of Vermont's most famous nude beaches. Susan Cheney, who camps in Westmore in the summer, calls the people who use the beach exhibitionists. She wants the state to ban nudity. But resident Cathy Holmes says she doesn't have a problem with fans of the all over tan. The select board didn't take any action on the nudity issue.

GAS GIVEAWAY

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Free gas is a publicity stunt that's working a little too well. Hundreds of cars clogged streets near the Las Vegas strip yesterday after Cricket Communications offered 10,000 bucks worth of free gas. Cars were lined up for miles to tank-up on the phone company. But the gas came a little too late for one person. That car ran out of gas while waiting.