Connecticut

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — It’s a done deal.

Actor Russell Crowe joked that when they’re old enough, Nicole Kidman’s new daughter and his youngest son will get married.

With a twinkle in his eye, Crowe smiled and explained how the “pending nuptials” came about.

He said that the decision was made when Kidman and Keith Urban brought their new daughter, Sunday Rose, to his home.

Crowe said Kidman took one look at his younger son Tennyson and she said, “I’m a great believer in arranged marriages.”

Another sign of fate: Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and Tennyson Crowe have the same birthday, July 7, two years apart.

PERTH, Australia — Late actor Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda Rose will inherit all of her father’s estate, Ledger’s father told an Australian newspaper.

The Australian actor, who died from an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, signed a will before his daughter was born leaving everything to his parents and three sisters. Some had speculated his former partner Michelle Williams would lodge a claim for the money.

But Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, told the Australian newspaper The Sunday Times that the family had given all the money to 2-year-old Matilda and that there had been no challenge from Williams.

“There is no claim,” the newspaper quoted Kim Ledger as saying in a report published Sunday. (Read the full post about ‘Daughter To Inherit Heath Ledger’s Estate’…)

NEW YORK — “Saturday Night Live” is having more fun at Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s expense.

Tina Fey was back at it again in her role as Palin, appearing in the opening skit alongside Amy Poehler.

This time Poehler played CBS’s Katie Couric in a parody of Couric’s recent interview with Palin. Poehler mostly played it straight, letting Fey get all the laughs.

When Poehler’s Couric pushed Fey’s Palin to specifically discuss how she would help facilitate democracy abroad, Fey asked to use one of her lifelines. (Read the full post about ‘Tina Fey Reprises Role As Palin On ‘SNL’’…)

LOS ANGELES — The conspiracy thriller “Eagle Eye” opened as this weekend’s top movie with more than $29 million.

It’s the second No. 1 premiere for Shia LaBeouf and director D.J. Caruso, who also teamed up for the 2007 hit “Disturbia.”

Opening in second place with $13.6 million was another reunion film, “Nights in Rodanthe.” The romantic drama stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane in their third movie together.

Last weekend’s top film, the thriller “Lakeview Terrace,” slips to third place, with $7 million. At No. 4 was `Fireproof,” a Christian drama with Kirk Cameron, which brought in $6.5 million. (Read the full post about ‘‘Eagle Eye’ Soars To No. 1 With $29M’…)

WASHINGTON — Government data show consumer spending in August turned in the weakest performance in six months, underscoring the threat the economy faces as the government’s stimulus program fades into the past.

The Commerce Department reports that consumer spending was unchanged in August, even worse than the small 0.2 percent gain economists had expected. It was the weakest showing since spending was also flat in February.

Personal incomes were up a better-than-expected 0.5 percent, a rebound after a 0.6 percent drop in July. However, after-tax incomes, which felt the impact of the stimulus program to a greater extent, dropped by 0.9 percent.

NEW YORK — Take one Super Bowl, add a healthy dollop of “The Boss” and you get a recipe for another big-time halftime show for one of the biggest sports events in the country.

The NFL and NBC have announced that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa, Fla. Snagging Springsteen means the continuation of a run of recent major talent that has included the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Prince and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

And this year’s event, Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium, showcases one of the most beloved rock ‘n’ roll artists.

Last year’s halftime show was watched by more than 148 million viewers in the U.S. (Read the full post about ‘‘The Boss’ To Rock Super Bowl Halftime’…)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Time to double-check those receipts if you recently bought a Powerball ticket in New Mexico.

New Mexico Lottery officials waited Sunday to see if anyone would come forward to present the $206.9 million winning ticket.

One of the tickets sold for Saturday’s drawing matched all six numbers: 13-24-29-40-52

This is the fifth multimillion-dollar jackpot sold in New Mexico since the state joined the multistate Powerball network in October 1996.

A group of 14 Sandia National Laboratories employees shared $131 million in November 2000, Isabell Delgado of Las Cruces claimed $32 million in February 2002, Kirtland Air Force Base airman John San Cartier collected $93.4 million in August 2005 and Felipe Pena of Los Ojos won $62.8 million in May 2007. (Read the full post about ‘Officials Waiting On $206.9M Lottery Winner’…)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Hollywood celebrities can continue to drive with animals nestled in their laps.

Survey: Safe To Drive With Pet On Lap?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is vetoing a bill to fine motorists $35 for sharing the driver’s seat with lapdogs or other animals.

Republican Assemblyman Bill Maze said the practice is distracting. He introduced the bill after seeing a woman driving with three dogs on her lap.

Schwarzenegger said he’s signing only bills that are “the highest priority for California.” And a lapdog ban isn’t one of them.

No surprises here, but SurveyUSA is showing Barack Obama with a huge 54%-38% lead over John McCain in Connecticut.

The most interesting part of the poll is that Obama leads McCain 55%-38% in Fairfield County. Kerry-Edwards did win in Fairfield County in 2004, but by a much, much smaller 51%-47% margin.

The upshot? If the reeling economy can drive that many of Fairfield County’s voters to Obama, Rep. Chris Shays could find himself out of a job. The best thing that Jim Himes has going for him right now is that he’s on a ballot line with Obama.

It is common knowledge that State Senator David Cappiello was among the first of Republicans to call on Governor John G. Rowland to resign his office as revelations of corruption and the sale of his office came to light.  It may be difficult to recall how back in 2004, it required a bit of political courage to do so against a governor who held a vice-grip on the party mechanism.

So maybe we all shouldn’t be too shocked to find out now, some four years later, John Rowland may be returning the favor by supporting Democrat Chris Murphy in his bid for re-election, as John Lender points out in today’s Courant.

In a Sept.

(Read the full post about ‘Rowland & Murphy Up In A Tree…’…)