People in the News

Woman cleared in dress flap

SAO PAULO - A woman expelled for wearing a mini-dress that caused a near riot at a Brazilian college and made her an Internet sensation said all she wants is to go back to school. Well, she got her way.

Geisy Arruda, a 20-year-old tourism student, can return to the classroom after Bandeirante University reversed its decision to expel her following a flood of negative reaction in a nation known for tiny bikinis, beaches and Carnival.

The dean of the private college in suburban Sao Paulo released a statement yesterday announcing the reversal, without saying why it had decided to let her back in.

One of Arruda's lawyers, Nehemias Domingos de Melo, said Arruda had not been officially notified of the decision to reinstate her. He said he remained cautious about the prospects of her going back to school.

"She can only return with some safety guarantees," he told reporters. Arruda has not made any public statements since the university announced she was allowed to return to classes, but she said previously she would be afraid to go back. Melo said she has been contacted by two other colleges offering her a full scholarship. Videos of students ridiculing and cursing Arruda for her short outfit turned up on the Web, and quickly made headlines across Brazil and drew attention around the world to the Oct. 22 incident.

Arruda was forced to put on a professor's white coat to cover her short, pink dress and was escorted away by police amid a hail of insults by students.

Madoff's effects go on the block

NEW YORK - The U.S. Marshals service wants to auction hundreds of pieces of jewelry, clothing and other personal effects once owned by disgraced financier and vanquished Mets fan Bernard Madoff and his wife, Ruth. The items range from a New York Mets baseball jacket to a Rolex worth up to $87,500. The auction, which will raise money for Madoff's victims, will be Saturday at a midtown Manhattan hotel.

The 71-year-old Madoff was sentenced in June to 150 years in prison for orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme that spanned decades. His punishment included a forfeiture order that stripped the Madoffs of nearly all their wealth.

Palin says she's back on Twitter

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says she's back on Twitter. Palin took to the social networking site earlier this year, tweeting about state government, national politics and everything in between.

When she quit as Alaska's governor in July, she promised to keep her fans updated through tweets. But that didn't happen, and Palin instead posted regular updates on her Facebook page, which has nearly 1 million followers. In a Facebook posting yesterday announcing more dates on her book tour, Palin said she'll provide Twitter updates from the tour. Her Twitter feed is SarahPalinUSA.

Her book, "Going Rogue," will be published Nov. 17.

Prejean: Sex tape biggest mistake

NEW YORK - Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean calls a sex tape she made for an ex-boyfriend several years ago "the biggest mistake of my life."

Prejean told Fox News yesterday and NBC's "Today" show today that she shot the X-rated video of herself alone when she was 17 and sent it to a boyfriend.

The 22-year-old tells NBC: "It was for private use, but does that justify what I did? No. It was the biggest mistake of my life."

Prejean was fired in June. She believes she lost her crown because of her opposition to gay marriage. Pageant organizers said she was skipping official events.

Earlier this month, Prejean and organizers reached a confidential settlement. She tells NBC that she has suffered "a campaign against me to try to silence me." Today's birthdays

Actor Russell Johnson is 85. Actor-comedian Sinbad is 53. Actress Mackenzie Phillips is 50. Comedian Tracy Morgan is 41. Actress Ellen Pompeo is 40. Rapper Eve is 31. Actor Josh Peck is 23.