Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Obama receives openness award in private WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- An official who presented President Obama with an award for supporting government transparency said he doesn't know why the media was excluded from the event. Advertisement Gary Bass of OMB Watch was among the handful of transparency advocates who admitted feeling a little odd meeting with Obama behind closed doors this week in order to salute his support for openness. "Our understanding going into the meeting was that it would have a pool photographer and a print reporter, and it turned out to be a private meeting," Bass told Politico. "He was so on target in the conversation. It is baffling why he would not want that message to be more broadly heard by reporters and the public." Politico said Wednesday the seeming contradiction came up at a White House briefing in which press secretary Jay Carney insisted his boss "has demonstrated a commitment to transparency and openness that is greater than any administration has shown in the past." Advertisement Firefighters patrol own firehouse COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 31 (UPI) -- Chillicothe, Ohio, must provide one firefighter to climb stairs around the clock in Firehouse No. 1, the local fire marshal decreed. After an anonymous e-mail tip, the marshal's office discovered the station's fire alarm system was inoperable, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported. Fire Chief Bruce Vaughan told the newspaper the alarm vendor ignored numerous calls and "unfortunately, this got by us." He said installation of a new system could begin April 11. Until then one firefighter must continually walk from the basement to the second floor and back or the stationhouse will be closed as a fire hazard. Preakness rolls out its party animal BALTIMORE, March 31 (UPI) -- The mascot for this year's Preakness, a drunken centaur, is meant to draw fans to the race, but some say they are horrified. Kegasus, a "party manimal" sporting a nipple ring, body hair and beer gut, was announced by the host Maryland Jockey Club Tuesday. He will be promising a rowdy party at the May 21 Triple Crown race via television, radio, social media and appearances targeting the under-40 crowd. "Kegasus speaks directly to our infield fest demographic with his no-nonsense personality and total embodiment of a good time," Jockey Club President Tom Chuckas said. Advertisement Brian Eden, a marketing executive not involved in the campaign, told The Baltimore Sun: "Their mission is pretty clear here. They're not talking to the ladies with the big flowered hats in the grandstand." The promotion drew immediate fire for promoting binge drinking. "If the goal is to let them know they will be able to drink to excess, it does communicate that," said Jason Loviglio, a University of Maryland media professor. Fans will be invited "to pursue sunstroke and alcohol poisoning." Chuckas said the jockey club has "never hidden the fact that we want people to come to the infield and party." No racetrack resting place for auto fans JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 31 (UPI) -- A bill that would allow race fans to be laid to rest at two Florida auto racing tracks has been rejected by a state senate committee, officials said. The measure, which is sponsored by state Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, in the House, would permit a columbaria -- a building housing urns and human remains -- at Daytona international Speedway or Homestead-Miami Speedway, the (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday. Although a House committee approved the bill last week, the state Senate Regulated Industries Committee voted it down 7-4, effectively killing the measure. Advertisement "With all due respect, I can't agree with the opening up of private entities for the keeping of ashes," Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, said. "It just seems sacrilegious to me."
