CHICAGO — Supporters of the man picked to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate have rallied around Roland Burris ahead of a high-stakes showdown in Washington.
Senate Democratic leaders have said they might not seat Burris who was named by scandal-tainted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. (Read the full post about ‘Supporters Rally Behind Roland Burris’…)
NEW YORK — The final note of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign may very well be sung by Jon Bon Jovi.
The musician is performing at a fundraiser for the former presidential candidate as she tries to close out her campaign debt, which stood at $6.3 million as of last month.
The Jan. 15 performance at Manhattan’s Town Hall is being billed as “a final evening in support of Hillary Clinton for President Debt Relief.”
Ticket prices range from $75 to $1,000.
The former first lady and New York Senator has been working to pay down her debt to clear the way for confirmation as President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state.
Federal ethics rules prohibit Cabinet officials from actively soliciting campaign contributions.
Clinton wrote off $13.1 million in personal loans to the campaign. (Read the full post about ‘Bon Jovi To Play Hillary Clinton Fundraiser’…)
LOS ANGELES — Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson and their little dog haven’t lost their box office bite.
Their family dog tale “Marley & Me” remains No. 1 at the box office for the second straight weekend with $24.1 million in ticket sales. (Read the full post about ‘‘Marley & Me’ Remains Top Dog With $24M’…)
CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. — Pat Hingle, a veteran actor whose career included a recurring role as Commissioner Gordon in several Batman movies in the 1990s, has died. He was 84.
Family friend Michele Seidman said Hingle died at his home in Carolina Beach shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday.
Seidman said he decided to settle in the coastal town after shooting the movie “Maximum Overdrive” in the area in 1986. He lived there for more than 15 years.
She said Hingle had battled multiple health problems over the last several years.
His career in movies and television spanned six decades, and he was also nominated for a Tony Award in 1958. (Read the full post about ‘Veteran Actor Pat Hingle Dies At 84′…)
COLCHESTER, Vt. — Miss Vermont will be wearing a green dress when she walks out on stage at the Miss America Pageant on Jan. 24, but Ashley Ruth Wheeler is not talking about the color of her dress.
Wheeler will don an eco-friendly frock made from hemp, organic cotton and silk — and all of the lace and beads are recycled, Plattsburgh television news station WPTZ reported.
Miss Vermont To Flaunt Eco-Friendly Frock
“I really feel like I’m carrying the state of Vermont with me,” said Wheeler.
The dress was crafted by a Northeast Kingdom designer.
Wheeler said she wants the dress to be a conversation starter, and said she wants to talk about going green and environmental responsibility. (Read the full post about ‘Miss Vermont Dons ‘Green’ Gown’…)
FREEPORT, Bahamas — Actor John Travolta said he and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, are “heartbroken” that their time with their son was so brief.
Sixteen-year-old Jett Travolta was found unconscious in a bathroom at the family’s Bahamas vacation home Friday. He later died at a Freeport hospital. Authorities plan an autopsy Monday.
The police superintendent in the Bahamas has said a caretaker found Jett Travolta unconscious in a bathroom Friday morning. The teen was later pronounced dead at a Freeport hospital. In a statement, the superintendent also said Jett had last been seen entering the bathroom Thursday.
But Travolta’s attorney said that leaves “the impression that the boy was unsupervised.” Michael McDermott said he doesn’t believe that Jett was in the bathroom for a substantial amount of time. (Read the full post about ‘Travolta ‘Heartbroken’ Over Son’s Death’…)
DETROIT — James Howarth has a question about small change for the IRS.
The Detroit defense attorney received a letter in November saying the government was due 5 cents. The Detroit Free Press reported Saturday that that Howarth was notified to pay “to avoid additional penalty and/or interest.”
Howarth said a second letter told him he’s due 4 cents, but he would have to request the refund since it’s under $1.
Howarth said he’s not sure whether there is connection between the nickel bill or the 4-cent refund. He’s also not sure if he now owes the government a penny or if he’s benefiting from a 9-cent swing.
IRS spokesman Luis D. (Read the full post about ‘Mich. Man Gets 5-Cent IRS Bill, 4-Cent Refund’…)
COOLIN, Idaho — Wildlife authorities said it’s not a good idea, but some 30 volunteers started their new year by rescuing a moose from an icy lake in northern Idaho.
The female moose had crashed through the ice at Priest Lake near the town of Coolin. Residents spotted the struggling animal shortly after daybreak Thursday about 100 yards from shore. A woman on snowshoes lassoed the moose’s neck, while six men ventured onto the ice, pushing a small boat just in case the ice broke under them. They managed to loop a rope around the animal’s rump and hoist it out of the water.
Eight hours later, the moose was back on shore. (Read the full post about ‘Volunteers Rescue Moose From Icy Idaho Lake’…)
WASHINGTON — The government program that subsidizes TV converter boxes is about to run out of money.
The devices will be needed to convert analog televisions to digital reception by Feb. 17. As many as 8 million households are still unprepared.
Most of the converter boxes cost between $40 and $80. To subsidize them, the government has been letting consumers request up to two $40 coupons per home. But any day now, the coupon program is expected to hit a $1.34 billion funding ceiling set by Congress.
Program administrations said unless lawmakers step in quickly with more funding or new accounting rules, it will have to create a waiting list for coupon requests. (Read the full post about ‘Digital TV Subsidy Program Running Out Of Money’…)
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council is set to hold emergency consultations Saturday night to address the escalation of violence in Gaza.
Gaza Conflict: How Israel, Hamas Prepared
The decision came after Israeli tanks and infantry rolled into Gaza in a ground offensive in a widening war against Hamas.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging an immediate halt to Israel’s ground operation. (Read the full post about ‘UN Calls Emergency Meeting Over Gaza’…)