Post Tuesday, November 20, 2012 --- 11:14 a.m.

NATIONAL TURKEY

HARRSIONBURG, Va. (AP) -- Some VIP's are heading to the White House. But these VIP's are Very Important Poultry. Two Virginia turkeys are getting ready for their moment in the sun. One will be pardoned by President Barack Obama at a Rose Garden ceremony tomorrow. The two are needed in case one gets sick. But both will be spared and retired at Mount Vernon. Before the big day, the toms get to spend a couple of nights at the posh W Hotel. This will be the 65th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation.

PRISON POTATOES

WINDSOR, Vt. (AP) -- It's no small potatoes -- thanks to some Vermont prison inmates. The prisoners have been rehabing potatoes as part of the Salvation Farms program. The cleaned-up taters are going to needy families through the Vermont Foodbank. Without the inmates, the potatoes might have been plowed back into the ground. The potatoes are from the Southeast State Correctional Facility in Windsor, which used to be known as the prison farm.

JAIL DOGS-MANNERS

HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) -- Some tough cases are about to end their time in the slammer. But these aren't bad people, they're bad dogs. Six dogs were sent to a jail in western Kentucky to learn some manners. Inmates worked with the pooches to teach them good behavior, like the commands to sit and stay. The dogs were selected for the program by the New Hope Animal Rescue Center. They've been with the prisoners for a couple of months. New Hope President Paula Hawkins says the change in the animals is amazing. The jail "graduates" and other dogs will go up for adoption December 1st.

EUGENE-PARTIES

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Party on dude! That's the message from student leaders at the University of Oregon. They wanted a large, young turnout at last night's Eugene City Council hearing. The council is considering a crackdown on rowdy parties. The Eugene Register-Guard reports proposed fines for hosting an over-the-top party could range from $200 to a maximum of a grand. Students say current laws give police enough authority. The council plans to vote next year.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.