SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is co-hosting NBC's "Today" as part of a campaign to proclaim that the state's shore is ready for business seven months after being devastated by Superstorm Sandy.

The Friday morning show will be broadcast from Seaside Heights, where the October storm swept a roller coaster into the ocean, making for one of the superstorm's iconic images.

Christie is trying to spread the word that many shore businesses and boardwalks are reopened and ready for summertime crowds.

The Republican governor and his family also appear in a federally funded ad campaign to promote the shore.

Some Democrats have complained that amounts to a free political commercial for the governor, who is seeking re-election this year.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - After a wrenching debate, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to open their ranks to openly gay boys for the first time.

However, heated reactions from the left and right make clear that the BSA's controversies are far from over.

The Scouts' ban on gay adults remains in force, and many liberal Scout leaders - as well as gay-rights groups - plan to press for an end to that exclusion.

Meanwhile, many conservatives within the Scouts are distraught at the outcome of the vote and some are threatening to defect.

The vote was conducted by secret ballot Thursday during the National Council's annual meeting. Of the roughly 1,400 members of the council who cast ballots, 61 percent supported the proposal.

MIAMI (AP) - The National Hurricane Center is changing the way it talks about storm surge in hopes that emergency officials, the media and the public can better understand the dangerous phenomenon.

Storm surge is the hurricane hazard that poses the greatest threat to life and property. It is the abnormal rise in sea water during a hurricane, and it can happen quickly and move miles inland, flooding areas not normally inundated with sea water. Large death tolls have been blamed storm surge.

This year, the hurricane center hopes to test color-coded maps showing which areas are at the greatest risk of storm surge during a storm. Forecasters have also been working with social scientists to learn how to clearly communicate the danger.