Connecticut

WASHINGTON — A penny for your thoughts? Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson thinks the answer to that question should be not much. In fact, if he had his way, he would like to get rid of the penny.

Asked Friday whether he thought the penny should be eliminated, Paulson agreed that it would make sense, saying, “The penny is worth less than any other currency.”

However, he quickly added that he didn’t think it was “politically doable” to eliminate the one-cent coin and it wasn’t something he planned to tackle in the final year of the Bush administration.

“I’ve got enough challenges to take on,” he said in an interview on the “Spike O’Dell Show” on Chicago’s WGN radio. (Read the full post about ‘Treasury Secretary Not Big Fan Of Penny’…)

HOUSTON — A stark new Hillary Rodham Clinton ad portrays her as the leader voters want on the phone when crisis occurs in the middle of the night, “while your children are safely asleep.” Barack Obama retorted that his Democratic rival already had her “red phone moment” and it helped draw the U.S. into a misbegotten war.

The ad, with its visuals of sleeping children, prompted an immediate denunciation Friday from Obama, who said it’s meant to scare people. The Obama campaign rolled out testimonials from national security supporters that the Illinois senator has the temperament and judgment for perilous times.

Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson contended the ad “speaks to what people really know in their hearts” about his candidate’s experience and, by inference, her opponent’s lack of it. (Read the full post about ‘Clinton Ad Uses Fear Tactics, Obama Says’…)

LAS VEGAS — Police say a man is in critical condition after the deadly toxin ricin was found in his room at a motel in Las Vegas, television station KVVU reported.

Officer Lt. Lewis Roberts said the man has been in a coma since he was found in his room at an Extended Stay America Motel on Thursday afternoon.

He’s one of seven people hospitalized after the ricin was discovered. Police have said most were examined as a precaution.

Investigators don’t think foul play is involved and the FBI said the case doesn’t appear to be terrorism-related. But authorities aren’t sure why the man had a vial of powdered ricin in his room.

Ricin is a substance that is 6,000 times more toxic than cyanide. (Read the full post about ‘Ricin Exposure Puts Man In Coma’…)

New York — Robert Irvine, host of the popular Food Network series “Dinner Impossible,” has lost his job following allegations that he padded his resume.

Irvine had claimed that he helped design Princess Diana’s wedding cake, worked at the White House and graduated from the University of Leeds. But an article was published in the St. Petersburg Times last week that cast doubt on his claims.

On Friday, the Food Network announced they were not renewing his contract with the show, and released the following statement:

“We looked into the situation and found that, as Robert has already admitted, there were some embellishments and inaccuracies in his resume. (Read the full post about ‘Padded Resume Costs Chef TV Show’…)

NEW YORK — Actress Angelina Jolie said the reinforcement of U.S. troops in Iraq has created an opportunity for humanitarian programs to boost assistance for Iraqi refugees.

In an op-ed piece published by the Washington Post, titled “A Reason to Stay in Iraq,” Jolie detailed the plight of refugees and said their conditions have not improved since she visited the country last August to urge governments to provide more support.

Jolie, who has been a U.N. goodwill ambassador since 2001, was in Baghdad earlier this month to again highlight the refugee problem.

The U.S. Embassy said she talked with Gen. David Petraeus, the American military commander in Iraq, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (Read the full post about ‘More Aid Needed In Iraq, Jolie Says’…)

NEW YORK — Eminem is working on a book that his publisher said is “every bit as raw and uncensored as the man himself.”

Dutton Books said that it will publish the best-selling rapper’s “The Way I Am” this fall.

“It will be illustrated with never-before-seen photographs of Eminem’s home and life along with original drawings,” the publisher said in a statement.

Eminem’s spokesman, Dennis Dennehy, said that the memoir is still in the process of being written and edited.

Eminem has sold tens of millions of records since he made his debut in 1999.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police say they are looking into allegations that someone drugged Britney Spears but have not decided whether to open a formal investigation.

Police Capt. Kyle Jackson said in a statement Wednesday that the allegations “are being considered” by the Robbery-Homicide unit to determine if laws have been violated.

Jackson said no suspect has been identified.

Spears’ mother claimed in recent court papers that the pop star’s sometime companion Sam Lutfi drugged Spears and tried to take control of her life. Those claims led to a restraining order against Lutfi. (Read the full post about ‘Alleged Spears Drugging Eyed By Police’…)

LONDON — Boy George has denied imprisoning a 28-year-old Norwegian man at his London home last year.

The former Culture Club singer pleaded not guilty to the charge of false imprisonment during a court hearing in London on Thursday.

Audun Carlsen claims Boy George handcuffed him to a wall after he went to the singer’s apartment as a photo model.

The alleged incident took place last April.

Boy George appeared in court under his real name, George O’Dowd.

The 46-year-old singer is free on bail and is due to stand trial in November.

William F. Buckley, a Connecticut resident and a titan of the conservative movement, has died at his home in Stamford.

Driving into work this morning, I happened upon Jodi Rell calling into one of the morning shows. The Governor started off the conversation by noting that she had just gotten back from Washington DC where she had talked with John McCain. As if on cue (and let’s face it, this was their cue) the hosts immediately started to talk to Rell about the possibility of her being selected as McCain’s running mate.

Can we all stop this pretense of taking the idea of Jodi Rell on the Republican national ticket seriously? Jodi Rell is not being seriously considered as a vice-presidential candidate.

(Read the full post about ‘Vice-Presidential Fiction’…)