Connecticut

NEW YORK — Playwright and novelist William Gibson, author of such Broadway hits as “The Miracle Worker” and “Two for the Seesaw,” has died at the age of 94. Gibson died Tuesday in Stockbridge, Mass., according to the Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington. Gibson wrote more than a dozen plays, but it was “The Miracle Worker,” the story of a young deaf and blind Helen Keller forging a relationship with her teacher, Annie Sullivan, that was his biggest success. The play also is an annual event at Ivy Green, Keller’s birthplace in Tuscumbia, Ala., where it is staged on the grounds where Sullivan actually taught the girl more than a century ago. (Read the full post about ‘‘Miracle Worker’ Playwright Dies’…)

LONDON — A 1911 hospital payroll sheet is giving support to the argument that The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” was a real person. Annie Mawson wrote to Paul McCartney in 1989 asking for a donation for the Sunbeams Music Trust charity.A year later, she got a letter containing the document, which shows a scullery maid’s signature of “E. Rigby.”The letter displayed McCartney’s tour logo but contained no note. (Read the full post about ‘Document Claims Eleanor Rigby Real Person’…)

CAIRO, Egypt — OPEC ended a meeting in Cairo without announcing new output cuts.The oil producing group’s president, Chakib Khelil, said OPEC will wait until a meeting in Algeria on Dec. 17 to decide whether to cut additional crude supplies from the market.Khelil said oil ministers of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries “agreed to take any additional action on 17th of December to balance supply and demand.”His comments Saturday came after the group convened what it called a consultative meeting in Cairo to take stock of market situations and to asses whether members were complying with a 1.5 million barrel per day output cut announced Oct. 24 in Vienna, Austria. Khelil said prelimi (Read the full post about ‘OPEC Keeps Oil Flowing For Now’…)

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania Democratic party leader said MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews is considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2010.The Patriot-News of Harrisburg reported that Matthews met with state party leaders this week in Washington to discuss a possible bid to unseat Republican Sen. Arlen Specter.Mary Isenhour, the executive director of the state Democrats, said she left the meeting feeling that Matthews still hadn’t made up his mind.The 62-year-old Matthews hosts MSNBC’s “Hardball” and provides political commentary on NBC’s “Today” show. He’s a Philadelphia native and ran unsuccessfully for a northeast Philadelphia congressional seat in 1974. (Read the full post about ‘Pundit Matthews Talks About Senate Run’…)

PHOENIX — Hundreds of new, eco-friendly and futuristic cars are on display this weekend at the Arizona International Auto Show at the Phoenix Convention Center, KPHO-TV reported. Preview 2009 Models | Phoenix Shows Off Smaller Cars Rick Fornes said he came to see the new Camaro, but what caught his attention was the shift in sizes of the vehicles on display.”I think it’s quite interesting to see the change from the larger cars to the smaller cars this year — a lot more smaller cars,” Fornes said. He said it appears the struggling auto industry is trying to adapt to the struggling economy as drivers demand smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.”It’s the consumers that drive the marketplace,” said Nox Ramsey, president of the Valley Auto Dealers Association. (Read the full post about ‘Smaller Cars Dominate Auto Show’…)

LOS ANGELES — Brooke Burke waltzed away with the mirror ball trophy on the “Dancing with the Stars” finale Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The 37-year-old television personality bested 35-year-old former NFL player Warren Sapp and 29-year-old former ‘N Sync member Lance Bass.After a final dance Tuesday — a reprise of a past routine — judges’ scores were combined with viewers’ votes to determine that Burke was the popular ABC dancing competition’s latest champion.Burke finished the season with another round of perfect 10s from the judges on her last dance. She ended with on an emotional note, giving her daughters a kiss as her Viennese Waltz finished. (Read the full post about ‘Brooke Burke Wins ‘Dancing’ Title’…)

CALABASAS, Calif. — Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from “Star Wars,” Indiana Jones’ hat and whip from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and Batman’s cowl from “Batman Begins” will soon be up for auction. The lightsaber is expected to sell for at least $150,000. Other items featured in the auction include C3PO’s helmet, a complete set of “Harry Potter” books signed by J.K. Rowling, a three-volume collection of “The Lord of the Rings” signed by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s costume from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” The items are for sale as part of Profiles in History’s Hollywood auction, to be held Dec. 11. (Read the full post about ‘For Sale: Luke’s Lightsaber’…)

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, say Sasha and Malia will have chores to do in the White House, including making their own beds.

The incoming first couple say they hope their young daughters’ lives in Washington, D.C., will be as normal as possible.

The Obamas also tell ABC’s Barbara Walters that the children will be expected to do their homework as usual. The president-elect says 10-year-old Malia has told him she wants to do her assignments at the desk in the Lincoln bedroom. He quotes her as saying she thinks sitting at that desk will “inspire big thoughts.”

Obama also says he’s trying to take care of himself by trying to eat healthy food, work out regularly and refrain from smoking. (Read the full post about ‘Obama Kids To Have White House Chores’…)

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. — The world’s oldest-known person has died. UCLA gerontology expert Dr. Stephen Coles says Edna Parker passed away Wednesday at a Shelbyville, Ind., nursing home.Slideshow: World’s Oldest Person Dies Parker was born April 20, 1893, making her 115 years and 120 days old. Parker was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest person since last August, after the death of a Japanese woman four months her senior. Coles maintains list of the world’s oldest people. He says Parker was the 14th oldest validated supercentenarian in history.Coles said Parker’s great nephew, Jonathan Fateley of Manhattan, Kan., notified him of the death on Wednesday. (Read the full post about ‘World’s Oldest Person Dies’…)

NEW YORK — “Party” is the prevailing atmosphere as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade wound its way through Manhattan with giant balloons, thousands of marchers and throngs of holiday revelers. Kids shrieked and threw confetti, and onlookers danced as the first marching band stepped off and headed down Broadway. Parade celebrities included Miley Cyrus. Says 6-year-old Isabella Muccio: “She’s just the coolest!” Quincy Kersbergen of Wyckoff, N.J., found a prime viewing spot — perched on a police barricade — and proclaimed herself a big fan of a giant dog balloon. Says the 11-year-old: “This is just fantastic! So amazing to be here in person! I’m just so excited about today!” On Wednesday evening, workers inflated 13 giant helium bal (Read the full post about ‘Buzz, Horton Puff Up Macy’s Parade’…)