Atlantic CITY, N.J. — Political civility, arts education and even why pro athletes are more than just fantasy team components have been among the topics tackled by Miss America hopefuls this week during preliminary competition.

The third night of the Miss America competition was to begin Friday evening, with contestants having one last chance to impress the judges and score points before Sunday's nationally televised finale in Atlantic City.

Miss Wisconsin McKenna Collins said Americans of differing political stripes need to speak civilly with each other, even though they don't agree on the issues.

She said she has a meeting scheduled with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican and fellow Wisconsinite, later this month to discuss the topic.

Miss Tennessee Caty Davis recounted how her family has had three generations of addiction and how her father took his own life after abusing alcohol and opioids.