HOUSTON—Celebrity chef Rachael Ray arranged for more than 40 couples to tie the knot at a baseball stadium when their weddings were delayed after Hurricane Ike.

A spokeswoman for TV’s “The Rachael Ray Show” said Monday that highlights of the mass ceremony, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, will air in late November.

Hallie Goldfarb told The Associated Press that Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, (koos-uh-MAWN’-oh), attended Sunday night’s ceremony.

Ray became involved after learning that two wedding reception venues closed during recovery efforts following Ike, which hit Sept. 13.

Ray helped coordinate contributions from businesses for the wedding ceremony at the home of the Houston Astros.

Ray selected the menu for the family-style dinner, including roasted beef tenderloin with poblano chutney, rosemary garlic roasted pork tenderloin and free-range chicken.

Goldfarb says the brides and grooms did not have to pay for the expense of the mass wedding.



LOS ANGELES—Two surfers have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly throwing a photographer into the water as he tried to shoot pictures of Matthew McConaughey on the waves.

The surfers—Skylar Peak and Philip Hildebrand—are accused of confronting several paparazzi who showed up June 21 on a Malibu beach to take pictures and film the “Fool’s Gold” and “Failure to Launch” star.

One of the photographers, Richid Altmbareckouhammou, told authorities he was attacked and his camera was thrown in the ocean by the surfers after they demanded he put his camera away.

A pretrial hearing was set for Jan. 14.