PORTLAND

Former ‘Jeopardy!’ champ giving presentation at USM

Former “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings, who once won 74 consecutive games on the TV game show, is coming to Maine.

Jennings is giving a presentation at the University of Southern Maine based on his newest book, “Map-head: Charting the Wide, Weird, World of Geography Wonks.” The event is free and open to the public and takes place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at USM’s Hannaford Hall.

Jennings became a national celebrity in 2004 when he won 74 straight games on “Jeopardy!,” winning more than $2.5 million.

Since then, he has written two other books and co-invented two trivia games.

HAMPTON, N.H.

State replacing French signs due to translation faux pas

Signs aimed at French-Canadian tourists along the New Hampshire seacoast are being replaced because they didn’t say quite what the state intended.

The signs were part of the state’s $14.5 million redevelopment project at Hampton Beach, which is known to attract French-Canadian visitors. The Portsmouth Herald reported that one sign warning French speakers about rip currents was supposed to say, “If you’re in trouble, wave for assistance,” but instead read, “If you need help, ocean wave.”

State and local tourism officials say it was an honest mistake that prompted few if any complaints. But Richard Fortin, a former member of the state American and Canadian French Cultural Exchange Commission, called the signs offensive and embarrassing.

AUBURN

Victim of hit-and-run, 31, dies of injuries a day later

The victim of a hit-and-run crash in Auburn has died of his injuries.

Deputy Police Chief Jason Moen told the Sun Journal that 31-year-old Russell Frechette of Auburn died Saturday, a day after he was struck by a car under a train trestle. Police are trying to determine if Frechette fell off the trestle before being hit by a late-model, tan-colored pickup truck around 10:20 p.m. Friday.

Police are asking anyone who was in the Turner Street area at the time of the crash to contact authorities.

BOSTON

Mayor wants law to target pit bulls despite new ban

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino says he wants to resurrect a city law requiring pit bulls to be muzzled in public, despite a new state ban on such laws that takes effect next month.

The Boston Herald reported that Menino’s comments this weekend were in response to pit bull attacks in East Boston on Friday.

City officials said two pit bulls escaped from a Sumner Street home, attacked a boy and killed a cat before police shot one of the dogs and captured the other. The dog that was shot survived, and both pit bulls are being held until a city hearing on their fate.

A new state law that takes effect Nov. 1 bans breed-specific ordinances.

Menino said he’s going to push for legislation that deals with pit bulls.