Three students from metro Detroit and 10 others from across the state are headed to Washington, D.C., to compete in the 80th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. Nearly 300 newspapers in the United States, Canada and other countries sponsor the bee which is coordinated by the Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Company. Scripps produces the national finals, providing word lists and study materials. This year has a record number of contestants, with 139 boys and 147 girls. The two-day spelling event begins today. The semifinals air 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday on ESPN. The finals air 8-10 p.m. Thursday on ABC.