Sometimes we are so focused on the bad news in life that it’s easy to pass up the good news.

No, we shouldn’t ignore the weak economy, or when gas prices top $4, but we also shouldn’t get so overwhelmed with the negative that we look past the positive.

We have a pretty good story here in Austin.

Our own Angela McDermott, who’s also the current Miss Minnesota, is readying to compete in the Miss America pageant Jan. 24.

McDermott and the rest of the 51 contestants are also being featured on the reality television program “Countdown to the Crown,” which began airing on TLC Friday and will continue with three more episodes.

After her tenure as Miss Minnesota, McDermott will receive about $50,000 in scholarships, which as news editor Katie Johnson pointed out in her article Friday, means the pageant is a lot more than a swimsuit competition.

McDermott is the first Miss Minnesota to hail from Austin since Elizabeth Hunter did so in 1985.

We are proud of Angela McDermott, and we send her our best wishes as she competes for the title of Miss America.