Connecticut

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kenny Chesney appears to epitomize the motto, “The show must go on.”

Country Music Television reported that Chesney played through the pain Saturday night in Columbia after an equipment malfunction crushed bones in his foot at the start of his performance.

Chesney’s foot apparently became stuck between an elevator lift device and the stage. After prying himself loose, he stood up and kept holding his hand on his knee as he began to sing.

The musician was visibly limping and holding his knee during instrumental breaks. After the show, Chesney’s boot was cut off and a doctor treated the injury. (Read the full post about ‘Chesney’s Foot Crushed During Concert’…)

LOS ANGELES — Disney Channel actress Brenda Song is so furious that her photo was allegedly used in an ad for an escort service that’s she’s filed a lawsuit.

The ad allegedly appeared in an alternative paper called the L.A. Weekly and Song’s suit is against Vibe Media and its owner.

“As a role model to millions of young people, I feel I have to take a stand against this company in regards to its exploitation of my image,” said Song, who stars in “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” on the Disney Channel.

Song said that she hopes this never happens to anyone else.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ten percent of drivers admitted to driving drunk in the past month, AAA says.

The report said that motorists consider drunken driving the most serious traffic safety issue, followed by running red lights.

Fifty percent of the drivers in the study said they talked on their cell phone while driving in the past month, and 14 percent said they read or sent text messages while behind the wheel.

“The ‘do as I say but not as I do’ mentality needs to end,” AAA of Northern California spokesman Michael Geeser said in a statement. (Read the full post about ‘Ten Percent Of Drivers Drive Drunk, AAA Says’…)

DETROIT — A judge on Tuesday allowed the release of raunchy text messages that a lawyer allegedly used to get Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to shell out $8 million in city money to make a police whistle-blower lawsuit go away.

The messages are among the most embarrassing yet released, showing in sometimes explicit detail how the affair between Kilpatrick progressed from flirtation to talk of marriage.

“You were my girl for as long as I can remember,” Kilpatrick wrote. “I was too young and stupid to know. I promise for the rest of my life you will be my girl.”

Even more significant is that these are the messages that convinced Kilpatrick to settle last summer’s police whistle-blower case. (Read the full post about ‘Text Messages Reveal Mayor’s Steamy Affair’…)

The Courant reports that Governor Rell is considering a full or partial veto of the criminal justice bill based by the General Assembly last week due to the cost.

The bill, passed in response to home invasions in Cheshire and New Britain, toughens the penalties for repeat violent offenders. But what’s cause concern for Jodi Rell is the the $10 million included for more prosecutors, probation officers, state police and other criminal justice programs.

With economy being what it is (apologies to those folks on CTLP who still persist in insisting that everything is hunky dory - you’re a privileged few if you aren’t feeling the pain, my friends) Rell is of the opinion the state is facing fiscal troubles and therefore she does not think significant new spending is prudent.

(Read the full post about ‘Rell considers veto of criminal justice bill’…)

Yesterday the the National Partnership for Women and Families, Working Families and ACORN released what they’re calling an in-depth economic analysis of the proposed paid sick days bill. Here’s what they found, according to a release:

“This bill turns out to be a benefits for employers, employees and the public health,” said Steffany Stern, policy Analyst with the National Partnership for Women and Families. “The costs to businesses of providing paid sick days are outweighed by the benefits of reduced spread of disease in the workplace, and reduced turnover.”

“Working when you’re sick can really have a negative impact productivity,” said Representative Diana Urban, who is a co-sponsor of the bill.

(Read the full post about ‘Report: Paid Sick Days Help Businesses’…)

The Republicans today released their alternative budget proposal. It is, unsurprisingly, full of tax cuts. And why are they proposing it?

In light of alarming revenue numbers just released from OFA, legislative Democrats indicated that they might do nothing with the current year’s budget, making no changes to what was enacted last year. House and Senate Republicans believe now is not the time to do nothing. It’s time to do something.

Sound reasoning. There are several major pieces of this budget plan to discuss. First, the tax cuts:

Cut gas prices by 10 cents through a summer state tax moratorium and a roll back the scheduled gross receipts tax increase of .5 percent on July 1.

(Read the full post about ‘GOP Budget Promises Tax Cuts, Smaller State Workforce’…)

NEW YORK — Rosie O’Donnell is going back to Broadway.

O’Donnell is spending the next couple of weeks rehearsing for a revival of the 1971 musical “No, No Nanette.” It’s set in the flapper-era of the 1920s.

On her blog, O’Donnell said that the rehearsal schedule is “a mad frantic pace” to get the show ready.

O’Donnell’s acting gig isn’t a long-term commitment. It’s a special event, with performances from May 8 through May 12 at the New York City Center.

Sandy Duncan also stars.

LOS ANGELES — An appeals court has affirmed a jury’s decision holding actor Robert Blake liable for the death of wife Bonny Lee Bakley but has ordered that the $30 million damage award to Bakley’s family be reduced.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal on Friday ordered the award cut in half to $15 million.

Bakley was sitting in Blake’s car in May 2001 when she was shot outside a restaurant where the two had just dined. The actor told police he left her alone to return to the restaurant to retrieve a gun he carried for protection and accidentally left behind.

A criminal court jury acquitted Blake of murder in 2005, but Bakley’s survivors pursued a wrongful-death lawsuit and in November 2005 Blake was found civilly liable for his wife’s death. (Read the full post about ‘Court Reduces Blake Wrongful Death Judgment’…)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Kenneth Keith Kallenbach, who was a long-time member of Howard Stern’s “Wack Pack,” has died.

He was 39.

Kallenbach’s mother said he contracted pneumonia at a prison outside Philadelphia and died Thursday morning at a suburban hospital.

Fay Kallenbach said that her son suffered from cystic fibrosis and is accusing the Delaware County Prison of failing to provide adequate medical care. She said her son called her a few days before his death and begged her to intervene.

In March, the actor-comedian was arrested for allegedly trying to lure an underage girl into his car. He had denied any wrongdoing.