Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - May 17, 2011

Auto World /Gas Guzzlin' Update:

The swollen Mississippi River may have had an unintended consequence: Gas prices.
Gas prices held steady last week and one thing that helped was the growing confidence of the government's handling of that flooding.
"It took a lot of pressure off the refineries in the Gulf," says oil analyst PETER BEUTEL, "and apparently it doesn't look like any of them are going to lose very much production at all."
Last week Beutel told CNN that flooding along the Mississippi River was driving up gas prices over fears that it may force the closure of up to 12 refineries. Those fears apparently have abated. (Maiman)

Royalty Report:

British tabloids report women are flocking to cosmetic surgeons to get their butts lifted so they can be just like PIPPA MIDDLETON. The "Pip Package Perfect Posterior" can cost up to $12-thousand to get, and as one plastic surgeon told the London Daily Star, "A few years back everyone wanted the JENNIFER LOPEZ look, but now everyone asks for a bottom like Pippa's --curvy but not too peachy."

Chic Sh*t:

Lord & Taylor is getting first crack at wedding dresses inspired by the Royal Wedding.
"Affordable luxury" designer label A.B.S. has given the department store a two week exclusive on three looks that were inspired by the royal wedding, says InStyle.com. That includes KATE MIDDLETON's long-sleeved lace gown, which will sell for $950. They'll also sell PIPPA MIDDLETON's slinky white bridesmaid gown for $390, and the strapless dress Kate wore to her evening reception for $450.
The store is now taking pre-orders. All three looks will be in some Lord & Taylor's bridal boutiques by mid-July, and available at LordandTaylor.com. (Bartha)

Gossip Central: tabloids with Cory Myers:

LEVI JOHNSTON is still trying to be famous. Star magazine reports that BRISTOL PALIN'S baby daddy is working on plugging his book, "Deer in the Headlights: My Life in Sarah Palin's Crosshairs" and hasn't even bothered to see his son TRIPP. (Myers)

Stars and their movies:

MIKE TYSON is building a nice little movie career. The champ tells the British tabloid the London Sun he's "in negotiations" to play a villain in the upcoming "Men in Black 3." Never one to be humble, the boxer says he'll take his extraterrestrial role and "make it even more spectacular." (Lee)

Grace notes:

GARTH BROOKS has announced his next run of solo acoustic concerts at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. He'll do two shows per night over 12 dates beginning on August 19th and wrapping up on November 5th. All of Garth's previous gigs at Wynn have sold out moments after they hit the box office. This series goes on sale Saturday at 10 am (Pacific), and tickets are... 235-dollars each. You can get all the info at garthbrooks.com. (Marino)

Animal Stories:

It's not raining cats in Vancouver, Canada. But, it is raining live dogs.
According to Canoe.ca, a live poodle fell from the sky and landed right in the middle of a retirement home. A group of nurses rushed to help the puppy. The dog suffered broken ribs and had claw marks on its back.
Officials said the dog was likely a stray before being carried away --then dropped-- by a bird of prey. The animal is expected to survive. But, medical costs will be around four-thousand dollars. (Still)

Food and Nutrition:

Know some "crunchy" people? Here's top 10 cities where adults buy foods labeled "natural" or "organic":
10. Colorado Springs/ Pueblo, CO.
9. Sacramento/ Stockton/ Modesto, CA.
8. Baltimore MD
7. Denver CO
6. Portland, OR.
5. Washington, D.C. (Hagerstown, MD.)
4. San Francisco/ Oakland/ San Jose CA
3. Philadelphia PA
2. Seattle/ Tacoma WA
1. San Diego, CA.
Source: MRI's Market-by-Market study, www.mediamark.com (Kaye)