Tabloid Archives...

January-June 2003 [Some Source Links May Unexpectedly Drop] Return to TabloidColumn.com

Carrey run down by Professor.  HOLLYWOOD star Jim Carrey was left howling in agony after genius Stephen Hawking running over his foot.  more...

Satire: The Bacon Report.  Did you know that a one-pound package of bacon cooks down to less than 5 ounces!  more...

Family, Prosecutors Want Peterson Trial Unplugged.  The family of murdered Modesto schoolteacher Laci Peterson has joined prosecutors in asking a Stanislaus County judge to ban television cameras from the courtroom during the upcoming preliminary hearing and trial.  more...

Modesto Poll:  96 percent said Scott Peterson is probably guilty or definitely guilty.    more...

Three dead in samurai attack in Southern California.  Police shot and killed a sword-wielding man described by relatives as schizophrenic after he slashed and killed two former co-workers and wounded three other people at a supermarket where he used to bag groceries.  more...

Calif. Near Financial Disaster.  The nation's most populous state, home to one of the world's largest economies, has been staring in disbelief at the same dire predicament for months: a $38 billion deficit, the largest shortfall in its history.  more...

Calif. Fined $62.5M for Food Stamp Errors.  The state issued more than $172 million in coupons to recipients who were not entitled to them and did not give $79.5 million to others who were entitled.  more...

Virgins Meet in Sin City, Tout Abstinence.  It was a clash of the "Good Girls" and the sin-seekers as about 200 teens, parents and youth counselors descended on the Strip to pass out cards promoting abstinence.  more...

Nevada Turns to Brothels as a Budget Fix.  The girls are not happy about it:  "It's not right to balance the budget on the backs of girls"... "It's un-American."  more...

Woman fights off bear outside home.  A woman who fought off a black bear said the thought of her son having to watch the animal eat her helped her survive.  more...

Windshield Killer Gets 50-Year Prison Term.  Chante Mallard sentenced for hitting homeless man with her car and leaving him to die; 27-year-old eligible for parole after 25 years.  more...

Gay rights' ruling means 'more chicks' available.  Kid Rock: "I think it's a beautiful thing because, if you really think about it, the more gay men there are in the world, that just leaves more chicks for me and you."  more...

Laughing driver repeatedly runs over man.  A motorist in San Francisco ran down a pedestrian, laughed and then repeatedly drove over him before speeding away, leaving stunned witnesses scrambling to help the victim.  more...

Another 'Jackass' imitation burns boy.  The 10-year-old boy asked a 14-year-old friend to douse him with charcoal fluid and set him ablaze with a lighter.  The little idiot suffered third-degree burns over 15 percent of his body.  more...

Kennedys don't need a tax cut.  Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) told a crowd in D.C., "I don't need Bush's tax cut. I have never worked a [bleeping] day in my life."   more...

Kevin Costner Announces Engagement.  Dances With Wolves actor Kevin Costner is marrying his girlfriend of four years, Christine Baumgartner.  more...

HOO-RAY!  Telemarketing 'Do Not Call' list now available.  People pestered by telemarketers can start signing up for a national do-not-call list intended to block most phone sales pitches.  more...

High school senior uses helicopter to get to prom.  The high school senior arrived with his date in a helicopter, landing amid much curiosity and fanfare - after working months flipping burgers to pay for it.  more...

'Dog' Chapman Ordered to Stand Trial in Mexico.  A judge found enough evidence Thursday to order U.S. bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman, his son and brother to stand trial on criminal charges for capturing a fugitive American heir.  more...

Windshield Killer Takes Stand in Sentencing Hearing.  A jury took less than an hour Thursday to convict a former nurse's aide of murder for hitting a homeless man with her car, driving home with his mangled body jammed in the windshield and leaving him to die in her garage.  more...

An annoyed Peterson speaks out in court.  Scott Peterson lashed out at prosecutors Thursday, telling a judge in rare court comments that the district attorney's slow pace of turning over evidence to his lawyers left him no choice but to consent to a two-month delay in his double-murder case.  more...

No room at the inn since TV comment.  The manager of a Modesto hotel said he turned away Scott Peterson's parents after his father criticized Laci Peterson's family on a nationally televised talk show.

"I didn't want to take care of them anymore," said Brad Saltzman, general manager of the Red Lion Hotel. He made it clear that his stance did not reflect that of hotel ownership.  more...

'Full Throttle' barely sputters.  The big screen's second attempt to reconstitute Charlie cheese from the '70s TV show is a series of ho-hum production numbers: musical, pugilistic and one involving airborne dirt bikes.  more...

Demi uses text-message to zap nosy Letterman.  "He has a message for you, too: 'Tell him I wanted to say, "Dude, where's your girlfriend?" I mean, how do you keep it all so secret? You have the same girlfriend. How do you do it?' "  more...

Simon says: Give me $10 million for 'Idol.'  The caustic record producer is in talks for a third season of "Idol" after his cutting remarks to contestants turned him into a household name in the United States.  more...

Cocaine found on nearly all euro notes.  Almost all euro bank notes have traces of cocaine, according to a study by German scientists.  Rolled up banknotes are often used to sniff cocaine, causing 90% of the bills tested to contain the drug.  more...

Single pill to cut heart attack risk.  A single pill containing aspirin, folic acid and drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol could cut heart attacks and strokes by more than 80%, a newly released study claims.  more...

Pharmacist convicted of trading Xanax for sex.  A St. Louis-area pharmacist was convicted of giving prescription drugs to a woman in exchange for sex.  more...

Spike Has to Cough Up $2.5 Million Bond in Lawsuit.  Spike Lee, who's suing to stop Viacom International from renaming its TNN cable channel "Spike TV," must post a $2.5 million bond to cover the media giant's costs if it wins the case.  more...

YWCA Choice for Leader Outrages Critics.  Supporters of the Young Women's Christian Association are furious that the group has hired controversial former NOW leader Patricia Ireland as its top dog.  Ireland’s critics have attacked her admitted bisexuality and open marriage. Ireland has both a husband and a female lover.  more...

Tobey Maguire talks about his drinking problem.  "Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire is opening up about a villain in his life: alcohol.  Though he will not say when he stopped drinking, the actor says that he finds Alcoholics Anonymous a form of "no-frills spirituality."  more...

Cash Sings Through the Pain of His Wife's Death.  Johnny Cash says it's painful to play without his wife, June Carter Cash, who died last month. But getting back onstage is "a healing thing," especially when he can sing about his love of 40 years.  more...

Kid Rock Says He's Proud to Be Part of the USO.  Kid Rock is mum on the state of his love life, but he wants to spread the word about supporting American troops in Iraq after he performed there as part of a USO tour.  more...

Eminem Takes a Crack a Jacko.  The real Slim Shady stood up and made fun of Michael Jackson by dangling a baby doll over a hotel balcony.  more...

Brad Pitt hikes up his skirt and gets to work.  The actor gets shipped out to an ancient past as the voice of the mythical sailor in Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, which opens July 2. And he dons a fetching mini-length warrior getup as Achilles.  more...

Fight for Peterson records continues.  Media lawyers filed two motions in an attempt to gain access to records in Scott Peterson's double-murder case.  "Judges are somewhat offended by a lot of media scrutiny, by what they would characterize as a media circus-type atmosphere." "They feel it's their obligation to impose order on that situation."  more...

Unprecedented Crackdown Targets Drunk Drivers.  Police will begin an unprecedented crackdown on drunk driving nationally on Friday, starting a full week before the three-day July Fourth holiday.  more...

S. Korean chief 'bought' peace prize.  THE 2000 Nobel Peace Prize won by former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung is in trouble after it was revealed that his government secretly paid communist North Korea $100 million to take part in the reconciliation summit.  more...

Outdoor Smoking Ban.  A Valley town gets ready to snuff out smoking in outdoor public places. It's happening in the city of Reedley, CA, where lawmakers want to eliminate smoking from parks, playgrounds and playing fields.   more...

Photographer Wants Streisand Suit Thrown Out.  A photographer Barbra Streisand is suing for putting photos of her Malibu estate on the Internet asked a court to dismiss the entertainer's action on grounds that it infringes on his right to free expression.  more...

Lottery Draws Same Number Twice in 1 Day.  The Pennsylvania lottery hit the same number twice in its "Big 4" drawings, making 3-1-9-9 a very lucky number indeed for anyone who picked it for both the midday and evening drawings.  more...

Universal Parks A Cash Cow for Spielberg.  Spielberg receives 2 percent of the gross -- from ticket sales to concessions -- from the company's two parks in Orlando, Florida.  more...

Demi Moore Breaking Hollywood's Traditional Dating Rules?  Former "brat pack" member Demi Moore has been spotted frolicking around with current a teen idol, Ashton Kutcher, who is 15 years her junior — but her ex-husband isn't bothered by it.  more...

The Boss Announces He'll Play Fenway.  For the first time in history, Fenway Park, a shrine to the Red Sox faithful, may be used as a venue for a major rock concert — and the featured performer is Bruce Springsteen.  more...

TV promo sent hen skyward.  The cruel knuckleheads who tied 150 helium balloons to a hen and set it adrift on Saturday may have simply been copying an antic shown on Fox television during a promo for a new in-your-face TV program.  more...

Cosmetics Heir Kept 'Payback' List.  Convicted rapist Andrew Luster sought to justify his crimes and listed his victims and prosecutors under the word "PAYBACK" in a notebook left in Mexico following his capture.  more...

Man's test of 'knife proof' vest kills nephew.  A man was charged with murder for allegedly killing his nephew while demonstrating a bulletproof vest they believed could also stop knives.  more...

Drunken Student Dies in Church.  A drunken college student fell 25 feet to his death from a church catwalk after drinking at a cookout at the church.  Police are investigating whether the Pastor should be charged in the death of the 19-year-old.  more...

Rough Crowd:  Man killed for singing Sinatra off-key.  A 25-year-old Filipino man has been stabbed dead for singing a Frank Sinatra classic out of tune during a birthday party.  more...

NYC Illegally Fired Firefighters, Cop Who Paraded in Blackface.  The city violated the First Amendment rights of two firefighters and a police officer when it fired them for riding on a parade float in blackface in 1998.  more...

Apple Says New G5s Will Scream.  While previous Mac computers never fulfilled expectations, Steve Jobs compared Apple's new G5, to a conventional dual-3 GHz Intel Xeon processor, proving it to be two to three times faster than the PC in complex graphic and calculation tests.

The sleek, minimalist aluminum enclosure, generates so much heat that it requires nine computer-controlled fans to keep the processors cool.  more...

Baby thrown out of 7th-story window survives.  A man was arrested and charged with tossing his baby daughter out a seventh-floor apartment window, police said.  more...

'Windshield Death' Jury Shown Photos of Damaged Car.  Jurors were shown photos of the defendant's damaged car Tuesday as testimony resumed in the murder trial of a woman accused of hitting a homeless man with her car and leaving him to die lodged in the windshield.  more...

Diana Ross on the stand for DUI charge.  Pop singer Diana Ross testified that she was coerced and felt intimidated, as lawyers argued about what evidence could be used in her drunken driving case.  more...

Gatecrasher kissed Prince William.  The comedian who gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle revealed today he was able to kiss the Prince on both cheeks. Self-styled "comedy terrorist" Aaron Barschak said he spent a full minute on stage with the Prince in front of the Queen and was only apprehended after he tried to order champagne.  more...

Is another eyebrow-raising romance going full throttle?  First, Angels villain Demi Moore, 40, hooked up with actor Ashton Kutcher, 25.  Now, co-star Cameron Diaz, 30, is stealing headlines with a boy toy of her own: pop star Justin Timberlake, 22.  more...

Celebrity Chatter: 'Angels' Hype Machine Working Overtime.  Seems like "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" is getting some good prepublicity by having the female stars of the movie linked to young, hunky bachelors.  more...

Pamela Anderson's Anime Alter Ego: 'Stripperella.'  Former "Baywatch" beauty Pamela Anderson is making her animation debut as a superhero who dances in a strip club.  more...

Whitney reportedly expecting 2nd child.  According to multiple reports, it is thought Whitney Houston got pregnant on a recent inspiration-searching trip to Israel with her R&B husband Bobby Brown.  more...

Terminator to Run for Governor: If State Needs Him.  Terminator 3 star Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'll run for governor if California needs him.  more...

Lionel Richie celebrates Hollywood star.  Lionel Richie was dancing on the ceiling after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  more...

Dolly Parton Unwigged? Never!  Few stars revel in the superficiality of celebrity glamour and then pop its pretensions the way Dolly Parton does.  more...

NY Bar Owners Unplug Lottery to Protest Smoking Ban.  Still steamed over a looming smoking ban, some New York bar and restaurant owners hit the state where it hurts - in the pocketbook.  This week's coordinated cutting off of Quick Draw Lottery machines is costing the state $1 million in lost revenues.  more...

Adam Sandler Ties the Knot.  Adam Sandler married model-actress Jackie Titone in an outdoor ceremony that was attended by celebrity friends and his pet bulldog dressed in a custom tuxedo.  more...

Lil' Kim Loses Big Gems.  Lil' Kim's bling-bling is gone-gone.  The hip-hop star says $250,000 worth of her jewelry was stolen at JFK airport in New York.  more...

Hulk Makes Killer Debut at Box Office.  The Hulk was a monster at the box office in its debut weekend, with the comic-book adaptation taking in a June opening record of $62.6 million.  more...

Love for the Bug Runs Out.  The iconic Volkswagen Beetle, the most popular car ever made, will cease production this summer, 69 years and more than 21 million sales after Adolf Hitler's Third Reich first commissioned the durable, dome-shaped little "People's Car."  more...

Police probe royal security breach.  Police have interrogated a gatecrasher called the "comedy terrorist" who made a mockery of royal security by bursting into a 21st birthday party for Prince William at Windsor Castle.  more...

Hollywood Screenwriter Axelrod Dead at 81.  George Axelrod, the playwright and Hollywood screenwriter best known for "The Seven Year Itch," and his adaptations of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Manchurian Candidate," has died.  more...

Luster's Alleged Captors Released From Mexican Jail.  Five Americans were released from a Mexican jail Saturday, days after allegedly capturing the fugitive heir to the Max Factor fortune, a convicted rapist.  more...

Luster's Mexican Journal Found.  Cosmetics heir and former fugitive Andrew Luster left behind a notebook in Mexico in which he apparently seeks to justify the assaults that led to his rape conviction.  more...

Police officer fired for smoking tobacco.  FALL RIVER, Mass. A police officer who was fired for violating an obscure state law banning smoking among public safety workers plans to fight his dismissal, which was based on an anonymous letter.  more...

Mariah Manages Tough Decision From Afar.  Mariah Carey did not attend the funeral of Conor McNally, her longtime manager's son, yesterday.  It was not an easy decision. Conor, 21, was discovered dead on Wednesday morning just hours before Carey was boarding a flight for South Korea.  more...

Renee and Bobby McGee.  Renée Zellweger will step up to the microphone as the late, gravel-throated songstress, Janis Joplin, who died of a drug overdose at 27 in 1970, in Piece of My Heart.  more...

Luther Doesn't Know He Has No. 1 Album.  Vandross, who is now in a rehab hospital, as yet does not communicate in any substantial way and is not understanding what is being said to him.  more...

Two Men Arrested for Brawling With Mike Tyson Plead Innocent.  Two men arrested with former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson after a street brawl were arraigned Sunday and entered pleas of innocent to misdemeanor charges of menacing and harassment, authorities said.  more...

Mail Carrier Says She Was Fired For Delivering Harry Potter Book Early.  The woman who ordered the book, Connie Fifer, thought the early delivery was a mistake, but she opened it anyway. One of Fifer's coworkers read two chapters, but a few hours later, the fun was over. Fifer got a call that the post office wanted the book back.  more...

Arrest of Max Factor Kin Throws a Wrench Into Lifetime Movie.  Cosmetics heir Andrew Luster's arrest in Mexico this week has sent the cast and crew of a movie on his life scrambling to stitch together a new ending.  more...

Jackpot winner tips waitress $25,000.  Nancy Moss is a woman who understands the old adage of sharing the wealth. So does Natalie Johnson.  Moss, of Crosby, Texas, hit a $1 million jackpot earlier this week while playing a slot machine.  more...

Howard Dean Says Son Allegedly Involved In Burglary.  Presidential candidate and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean says his son has been cited in court on charges of trying to burglarize the Burlington Country Club to get liquor.  more...

In memo, mayor says Peterson lacked grief at Jan. 3 meeting.  Modesto Mayor Carmen Sabatino said this week that he did not detect "much grief" from Scott Peterson when the two met 10 days after Peterson's pregnant wife, Laci, was reported missing.  more...

Geragos Wants D.A. Held In Contempt.  Scott Peterson's lawyer asked a judge Friday to find the Stanislaus County district attorney in contempt, alleging the prosecutor violated a gag order by saying he planned to present evidence at a public hearing that "might open some eyes."  more...

Latifah gets breast reduction surgery.  Queen Latifah has taken a load off - by having breast reduction surgery.  more...

Car tax tripled, now faces challenge.  California's vehicle license fees, which are based on the value of the car or truck, tripled Friday as state officials allowed a controversial provision of a law which had been gradually lowering them to kick in.  more...

Nude summer camp draws about 30 kids.  Parents sending their kids to one Arizona summer camp won't have to worry about outfitting them in the latest fashions.  - Campers will be in the nude.   more...

'Idols' Justin and Kelly can carry a note, but not a film.  The movie's appeal lies solely on the chubby arms of American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and the frizzy hair of runner-up Justin Guarini.  more...

Orrin Hatch: Software Pirate?  Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) suggested Tuesday that people who download copyright materials from the Internet should have their computers automatically destroyed.  But Hatch himself is using unlicensed software on his official website, which presumably would qualify his computer to be smoked by the system he proposes.  more...

Kate Hudson, singer expecting first child.  Goldie Hawn is going to be a grandma.  more...

Aniston's the one atop 'Forbes' list.  Friends star Jennifer Aniston, whose film career also is heating up, is the most powerful celebrity in Hollywood, topping this year's Forbes Celebrity 100 list.  more...

The 'scoop' on Paige Jones, the gold digger on NBC's "For Love or Money."   Turns out that the 21-year-old knows what it's like to get plastered and act real stupid.  more...

Willard Scott Talks About His Stormy Past.  Willard Scott is talking about his battles with alcohol abuse in hopes of helping other people get sober.  "I drank three or four drinks every night," Scott said.  [and That's a problem?  - editor]  more...

Hurley, boyfriend stir up rumors.  Elizabeth Hurley and her millionaire lover Arun Nayar insisted on being called "Mr. and Mrs." on a romantic trip last weekend, reports IMDB.com, raising speculation they are now engaged.  more...

Bishop O'Brien's legal problems far from over.  O'Brien faces almost four years in prison if he is convicted of leaving the scene of Saturday's accident, which killed 43-year-old pedestrian Jim L. Reed.  more...

Jury Rejects High-Heeled Shoe Death Charges.  A jury threw out manslaughter charges against a 220-pound (100-kg) woman alleged to have sat on her ex-lover's chest and clubbed him to death with her size 12 high-heeled shoe, her lawyer said.  more...

Clay Aiken's single debuts at number 1.  Ruben's the "American Idol," but Clay has the bigger hit.  Clay Aiken's first single debuted on the singles charts at No. 1 Wednesday, selling nearly 393,000 copies.   more...

Potter Author Sues Paper Over Preview.  Author J.K. Rowling sued the Daily News for $100 million Wednesday after the newspaper obtained an early copy of her new Harry Potter novel and published a preview, the book's U.S. publisher said.  more...

Fans get into Sosa's return; Wood sparkles on mound.  Sammy Sosa cracked his bat on a single. He hit a prodigious homer. He made a sliding catch to help close out a win. The Cubs' beloved star returned with a flourish Wednesday night, showing he worked hard while serving a seven-game suspension for using a corked bat. Now, he'll have to work even harder on the fans.  more...

Kid who? Pamela hanging out with ex - Tommy Lee.  Looks like the music is over between Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock.  Despite a yearlong engagement, the former "Baywatch" babe seems to be spending more time with her ex, Tommy Lee, than her Detroit rocker fiance.  more...

These older luminaries are not lost in space.  Blink and you might think it's the 1980s. Sally Field, Demi Moore and Sylvester Stallone all have big movies out this summer. And each film is a sequel to a blockbuster.  more...

Viacom Says Spike Snafu Will Cost Them $16.8 Million.  Viacom Inc. said it will lose $16.8 million in the first week after filmmaker Spike Lee's so-far successful bid to keep its TNN cable network from being renamed Spike TV.  more...

Naples, FL cops shut down little girl’s lemonade stand.  A six-year-old girl was heartbroken when her small lemonade stand was put out of business because she didn’t have a temporary business permit.  more...

Moose Resigns as Montgomery Police Chief.  Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose has resigned in order to free himself from the ethical concerns surrounding his plans to write a personal account of last fall's sniper manhunt.  more...

Vandross' poignant 'Father' gives him first No. 1 debut.  Luther Vandross, still hospitalized two months after a severe stroke, scored his first No. 1 album debut this week.  more...

People Magazine Leaves Top Bachelor Spot Up to the Public.  The magazine released its list of the 25 hottest bachelors Wednesday, but is leaving the top spot open to an online vote.  more...

Defense wants judge taken off Peterson case.  Scott Peterson's lawyers and prosecutors want to kick out a judge who ruled against keeping search warrants secret in the double-murder case, according to court documents Peterson's camp filed.  more...

CMT to Do Special on Maines-Keith Spat.  That off-again, on-again battle between the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines and Toby Keith gets to be news on Friday night. CMT News will explore the public battle between the two, on a special titled "Natalie Versus Toby: Both Sides of the War."  more...

Max Factor heir and rapist, now in custody.  Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster, convicted of rape and sentenced to 124 years in prison, has been taken into custody in Mexico, a spokeswoman for the bounty hunter who made the catch said.  more...

Phoenix Bishop Resigns Amid Hit-and-Run Scandal.  Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation Wednesday of Bishop Thomas O'Brien of Phoenix, who has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal pedestrian-car accident.  more...

Family Member Reacts To Report About Jessica Lynch.  "I think she did try to fight," Zina Lynch said, "and until we actually can talk to her ... I know she would have because she's got that Lynch blood."  more...

Deadly crash during sex nets man 10 years.  A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a crash that killed his girlfriend while they were having sex behind the wheel.  more...

'Angels' on Demi's shoulders.  Demi Moore had not been thinking of "making a comeback" when she agreed to be the villainness in June 27's Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, she says in the new Vogue.  more...

TV Cop Michael Chiklis Sued in LA by Former Agents.  The former managers of Michael Chiklis have sued the Emmy-winning actor for $1 million, charging that success went to his head and he is tougher on his agents than his rogue cop TV character is on crooks in the hit series "The Shield."  more...

Orrin Hatch Takes Aim at Illegal Downloading.  The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Tuesday he favors developing new technology to remotely destroy the computers of people who illegally download music from the Internet.  more...

Tough times shut down Turner philanthropy.  Ted Turner's philanthropic group has closed its wallet for at least one year to new funding for environmental groups because of financial problems.  The Turner Foundation has given away more than $222 million since its first year in 1991, but will not award new grants this year and is looking to limit future grants.  more...

Canada to Allow Same-Sex Marriage.  Canada will change its law to allow homosexual marriage, joining Belgium and The Netherlands as the only countries where same-sex couples can legally wed.  more...

Bishop arrested in fatal hit-and-run.  Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien, already beleaguered by a sexual misconduct scandal involving clergy, was arrested Monday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident in Phoenix.  more...

Thought he hit a cat.  more...

Insiders say bishop has hit end of tenure.  Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien likely will resign or be removed as head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in the next few weeks.  more...

Crowe, pals trash restaurant.  Not letting marriage slow him down, the Aussie bad boy and his posse of buddies recently caused more than $13,000 worth of damage to a posh Sydney, Australia, hotel restaurant with a game of indoor football.  more...

Business Owner Chases, Runs Over Robbery Suspects In Hummer.  Investigators said after the suspects left with the store's money, the co-owner jumped into his Hummer and chased after the suspects.  He then rolled his Hummer over their car.   more...

Thousands of new 'Potter' books stolen.  A thief stole a truck with thousands of copies of the new Harry Potter book from outside a warehouse just days before the international release of the next installment in the popular series, police said.  more...

Hollywood Pays Final Tribute to Gregory Peck.  Movie stars rubbed shoulders with ordinary film fans on Monday as they paid final tribute to Gregory Peck, remembering him as one of the last heroes of Hollywood's golden era and a man symbolizing integrity on and off screen.  more...

Pizza company hires homeless to hold ads.  Instead of going Dumpster-diving for maybe a half-eaten sandwich and some cold fries, Peter Schoeff, a 20-year-old homeless man, was served a slice of hot pizza dripping with cheese.  All he had to do was hold a sign for about 40 minutes that read: "Pizza Schmizza paid me to hold this sign instead of asking for money."  more...

Mom drove twins to rob bank with toy gun.  The mother of two teenage girls accused of robbing a bank last year has admitted her role in the crime, saying she drove the twin sisters to the bank and knew they had a toy gun.  more...

Surprise!  Geragos wants gag gone.  Scott Peterson's defense attorneys asked a judge Friday to rescind his gag order in the double murder case and to hold a contempt-of-court hearing for attorney Gloria Allred.  Defense attorney Mark Geragos alleged in paperwork filed Friday that Allred - "mocking the authority of this court" - violated the gag order just hours after it was issued.  more...

Prince William Accused of Speeding; Palace Denies Rumors of Royal Romance.  An angry aristocrat on Sunday accused Prince William of driving too fast on his estate, while a royal official separately denied reports the young prince has a long-distance romance  more...

Ruben Studdard 'Can't Even Process' Success.  Ruben is not allowed to jump on stage and sing if he so desires. Why? The American Idol contract forbids unauthorized warbling in public.  more...

Jane Pauley sets sights on Oprah’s territory.  Veteran NBC anchor Jane Pauley is set to challenge Oprah Winfrey for the daytime TV talk crown.  more...

Cable Shakes Up Late-Night Talk.  Cable is looking to loosen the necktie of one of television's most buttoned-down genres: the late-night talk show.  more...

Peterson living life of letters, TV, chess.  Scott Peterson whiles away the hours in his cell watching television, playing chess and reading stacks of letters from female admirers, a fellow jail inmate says.  more...

NASCAR safer occupation than fishing?!  Driver Jeff Gordon contends in his divorce papers that racing is a "hazardous, life-threatening occupation." His wife Brooke dismisses that claim, pointing instead to a really dangerous gig - professional fishing - and noting, "there are no cases awarding commercial fisherman more than 50% of the marital estate."   more...

Wax figure of Britney to have 'heaving breasts.'  Britney's breasts are heaving! Madame Tussauds in London is working on a new wax figure of Britney Spears that'll have "heaving breasts."  more...

Surprise!: Stolen Oscar Found.  FBI agents on a drug investigation were shocked to find one of three missing Oscars stolen three years ago, authorities said.  more...

Paris Air Show Opens; US Execs Stay Home.  The 45th Paris Air Show kicked off on Saturday without the presence of a single top executive from a leading U.S. defense contractor.  more...

Wrigley Chews Over Idea of Viagra Gum.  The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. has patented a way to make its "Double Your Pleasure" slogan more potent: with chewing gum containing the active ingredient in Viagra.  more...

Hillary Clinton feels sorry for Lewinsky.  Hillary Rodham Clinton says she feels sorry for everyone who was caught up in the scandal of her husband's affair with Monica Lewinsky - including Lewinsky.  more...

Connecticut Mayor sentenced for sex crimes.  Mayor Philip Giordano was sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for sexually abusing two girls - forcing them to perform oral sex on him in City Hall, his law office, and home, while he was mayor. The girls were 8 and 10 years old at the time.  more...

President Bush falls off Segway human transporter.  The Segway went down on Bush's first attempt, but he stayed on his feet with a flying leap over the machine. Undeterred, he got on again. His father, former President Bush, climbed on a second Segway, and with the other dog, Barney, leading the way, they cruised around the driveway at the estate at Walker's Point.  more...   Photo Enlargement

Prince William comes of age.  But compared to his father — who had a full-time valet at age 2 and who still has his toothpaste squeezed onto the brush for him — William leads an unpampered life. (Jousting with his fussy father, he has been heard to tell the next king, "Get a life.")  more...

Prince William at strip club?  Patrons of For Your Eyes Only, a strip club in Newcastle, England, are saying they were treated to a recent surprise appearance by Britain's heir to the throne.  more...

Anonymous caller claims she has shuttle tape.  A NASA official said, "All seven crew members had a recorder, and we have not found a single one." "If they knew things were bad, they would have been talking into those personal recorders."  more...

Judge Issues Gag Order in Laci Peterson Murder Case.  Judge Al Girolami said he believed the gag order was the only way to stop leaks and rumors from derailing Scott Peterson's right to a fair trial.  more...

Gregory Peck Dies at 87.  From his film debut in 1944 with Days of Glory, he was never less than a star. He was nominated for the Oscar five times, and his range of roles was astonishing.  more...

Mine rescue helper kills himself.  Bob Long, who became a controversial figure after parlaying his role in the rescue of nine trapped coal miners into a movie deal for himself, committed suicide.  "You know what, you bastards, I saved your goddamn life and you still don't acknowledge it," Long was quoted as saying before his death.  more...

Illegally parked minivan towed with girl, 7, inside.  The girl was inside the van Tuesday morning when it was towed from a parking lot, said police Sgt. Orlando Rolon.  more...

Dennis Miller heads to FoxNews.  Miller is heading back to television. The comic-actor, last on HBO's "Dennis Miller Live" and ABC's "Monday Night Football," is expected to join the Fox News Channel as a commentator for "Hannity and Colmes.  more...

Reality show star loses job at law firm.  Rob Campos, the bachelor star of NBC's dating game "For Love or Money," has a choice of women. But he no longer has his job.  more...

J.Lo fires longtime manager, agent.  Barely two weeks after she axed spokesman Alan Nierob, Jennifer Lopez has fired her longtime manager, Benny Medina.  more...

David Brinkley Dies at 82.  Brinkley was divorced from his first wife, Ann, in the 1960s and married Susan Benfer in 1972.  Among his four children, Alan is an American Book Award-winning historian and Joel is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.  more...

Zellweger eating 20 donuts a day.  Renee Zellweger says she's eating 20 donuts a day in a bid to pile on almost 30 pounds for the sequel to "Bridget Jones's Diary."  more...

Man paid 24 years for sewer that wasn't there.  A homeowner who has been paying a monthly sewer bill since 1979 learned after plumbing trouble that he has a septic tank and has never been connected to the city utility.  more...

Marine had baby on ship in war zone.  A Marine gave birth aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in the Persian Gulf last month, marking what Pentagon officials believe is the first time an active-duty woman delivered a baby on a combat ship in a war zone.  more...

Hatch Has Best Year Yet in Collecting Song Royalties.  Entertainers such as Gladys Knight (search), Donny Osmond and country music artists Brooks and Dunn have performed Hatch's songs on 11 recordings and on the soundtracks of three movies.  more...

Wake up to Pamela's voice - for a price.  The blond Baywatch bombshell has signed on to a celebrity wake-up service that allows customers to be gently roused by her dulcet tones for $7.99 per month.  more...

Pizza Connection Nabbed Kidnapper.  San Jose police on Monday arrested a man suspected in the kidnapping and assault of a 9-year-old girl, who was returned to her family two days later after showing up at a convenience store.  more...

Kidnapped Girl Faked Illness.  The 9-year-old girl abducted from home helped win her release by telling her kidnapper she was sick - and then helped authorities make a quick arrest by memorizing his cell phone number, police said.  more...

Girl leads police to kidnap suspect.  A 9-year-old San Jose girl -- abducted, sexually assaulted and held hostage for more than two days -- helped lead police early Monday to her alleged kidnapper, who was hiding in a house just 12 blocks from her own home.  more...

Drug Dealer Ordered to Return Lottery Payoff.  A Texas man who won $5.5 million in the state lottery has been ordered to give it up because he bought the winning ticket with money made selling cocaine, federal officials said.  more...

Experts: No Proof of Satanic Cults.  The Laci Peterson case has all the makings of a made-for-TV movie: murder, sex, infidelity and most incredibly, an alleged satanic cult.  more...

Peterson lawyers subpoena judge in wiretap dispute.  Lawyers for Scott Peterson have subpoenaed the judge who approved a wiretap on Scott Peterson's telephone, arguing he violated rules governing a capital murder case, court officials said.  more...

Ex-'JAG' Actor Dies in Apparent Suicide.  Muscleman actor Trevor Goddard, a former boxer who once had a recurring role on the TV series "JAG" and plays a pirate in the upcoming movie "Pirates of the Caribbean," died in an apparent suicide, investigators said Monday. He was 37.  more...

Woman Kills Man with Her High-Heeled Shoe.  Add "The Shoe Murder" to the chronicles of New York's crimes of passion.  A stormy relationship ended up on a Brooklyn street in the early hours of Saturday when a woman sat on her ex-boyfriend's chest and clubbed him to death with her high-heeled shoe, police said.  more...

Release 'Jessica Lynch' outtakes.  The Pentagon refuses to release unedited footage of Jessica Lynch's rescue from an Iraqi hospital. Critics have alleged that the refusal is more proof that the breathtaking video, broadcast just when U.S. morale needed a boost, actually is a hoax.  more...

A kiss is still a kiss ... even if it breaks all the rules of primetime television.  With a lingering kiss, and a prime-time declaration of love that brought rousing applause from the audience, a gay couple stole the show at the Tony awards in New York.  more...

NBC Reality Show to Air Despite Star's Past.  The network on Monday said it would continue to air the reality series "For Love or Money," despite discovering that its star hid the fact he left the U.S. Marine Corps after being disciplined for groping a female officer.  more...

Past groping charge for reality show's star?  He was let in her suite and began grabbing the 27-year woman's breasts. She kneed him in the groin, he collapsed, and she fled the room, the report said. He then allegedly vomited all over the woman's bathroom.  more...

Letterman says he's tired, wants some time off.  Among the many mysteries of David Letterman: how much time he's planning to take off this summer. The CBS Late Show host turned over the reins to guest host Tom Arnold.  more...

Justin the Idol brought swoons, but 'Justin' the CD brings yawns.  With his slick, mannered singing and smarmy pinup-boy posturing, Justin Guarini was the most aggressively irritating of last year's American Idol finalists.  more...

O.J. Forensics Expert Consulted in Peterson Case.  Yet another high-profile expert has been consulted in the Scott Peterson murder case - this one the forensic specialist who was involved in the O.J. Simpson trial.  more...

Eric Rudolph evaded capture for five long years in the woods.  He said he hadn’t been with a woman in so many years, even “the bears started looking good.”  more...

Hustler Bidding for Nude Amber Frey Pics.  Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt says he has been approached by a man who says he owns the rights to about 27 pictures of Peterson's former girlfriend -- and most of them are nude.  more...

Billy Bob burns Angelina's blood.  Billy Bob Thornton celebrated his divorce from screen beauty Angelina Jolie by burning the vials of blood they exchanged when they married.  more...

Vandross Awake, Responsive.  R&B singer Luther Vandross is awake and responding to questions for the first time since suffering a debilitating stroke almost two months ago.  more...

Muslim woman cannot wear veil in driver's license photo.  A Florida judge ruled Friday that a Muslim woman cannot wear a veil in her driver's license photo, agreeing with state authorities that the practice could help terrorists conceal their identities.  more...



FLASHBACK:  Now we know why the muslim woman wants the veil!  Turns out the Florida woman who is suing for the right to wear a Muslim headdress in a driver's license photograph has already had her (unveiled) government portrait after her arrest and guilty plea in 1999 on felony aggravated battery.  more...

Freedom of religion meets the DMV.  Florida woman, Sultaana Freeman, is suing the state highway department to reinstate this license, which shows her wearing a traditional Muslim veil.   more...

Police Believe Laci Was Drugged And Strangled.  Police believe Scott Peterson drugged his pregnant wife with the growth hormone and date rape drug - GHB - and then strangled her in the couple's Modesto home, numerous sources revealed.  more...

Complete coverage of Laci Peterson Murder Case.  more...

Tot dies after Vegas teacher forgets him all day in hot van.  A 7-month-old boy died early Friday after being forgotten in a hot van for eight hours, and police said his schoolteacher father could face a felony child endangerment charge.  more...

New Twist in Stewart Case.  Martha Stewart is accused of deliberately trying to inflate the stock of her own company — by declaring her innocence.  more...

Sammy Sosa Hit With Eight-Game Suspension.  Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa has been suspended for eight games by Major League Baseball for using a corked bat during a game.  more...

Florida Baseball Team to Spoof Sosa.  A Florida minor league baseball team plans to poke fun at Sammy Sosa by giving away pieces of cork to the first 505 fans through the gate at its game Thursday night.  more...

PGA Tour golfer makes $1 million challenge to Sorenstam.  Taking exception to recent remarks by Annika Sorenstam, PGA Tour golfer John Riegger said Thursday he has backing for a $1 million one-on-one challenge against the world's top female golfer.  more...

Lana Clarkson's Family Cries Foul.  Spector has gone on a rampage declaring that Lana Clarkson, found dead in his home last February, killed herself by putting a loaded gun in her mouth.  more...

Larry Flynt Bidding for Nude Pictures of Amber Frey.  Larry Flynt, the controversial publisher of Hustler magazine, was recently approached by an agent who claimed to own the rights to about 200 photographs, most of them nude, of the former girlfriend of murder suspect Scott Peterson.  more...

All Ashton & Demi, all the time.  Demi Moore, 40, and Ashton Kutcher, 25, are the sizzling couple du jour, after several weekends of long-lens sightings that have fueled intense interest.  more...

P.Diddy wants to buy Rolls Royces for J.Lo, Ben.  Jen and Ben might want to hurry up and set a date: Sean "P. Diddy" Combs says he's planning to buy ex-lover Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck a pair of Rolls-Royces as a wedding present, reports People magazine.  more...

A&E to Make Movie About Hillary Clinton.  If you don't want to bother with the book, there's a Hillary Rodham Clinton TV movie in the works.  more...

Monica Lewinsky Popular in Iraq.  Just in time for the unveiling of Hillary Clinton’s autobiography, comes word that Iraqis are naming their SUV’s after her former rival Monica Lewinsky.  more...

Poll names 'Stand by Your Man' best song.  Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man has been voted the top song in country music history in a poll taken by Country Music Television.  more...

Vandross' Mom Says Son Was Overeating.  In the days before he suffered a stroke, Luther Vandross couldn't stop overeating, according to his mother.  more...

Vandross Is Still Hospitalized, But His Album Has Been Released.  The album Luther Vandross considers the best of his career hits stores Tuesday — with no videos, television interviews or concerts to trumpet its arrival.  more...

Did Rudolph succumb to loneliness?  In the end, it may have been loneliness that put Olympic bombing suspect Eric Rudolph behind bars. While it is not uncommon for criminals on the run to hide in a remote area for a few weeks or even a month, even the most resolute survivalist eventually gets desperate for interaction with other humans, according to top fugitive trackers.  more...

90-Year-Old Wins $16 Million Lottery.  Luis Salazar has seen a lot in his 90 years. But he's never seen $16 million - until now.  more...

Expensive dog:  Taco Bell must pay BIG over Chihuahua ad.  A federal jury Wednesday ordered Taco Bell Corp. to pay $30.1 million to two men who claimed the fast-food chain stole their idea for the advertising campaign featuring a talking Chihuahua.  more...

Ed Smart Reflects Back on Past Year.  One year ago, Elizabeth Smart was snatched from her bedroom. Today her father offered a look back on his family's ordeal.  more...

Dixie Chicks get booed.  Maines said, "I am so glad I got my voice back for tonight. I had absolutely no voice yesterday - and I swear you could hear clapping from the Oval Office." It was the only time during the evening when boos could be heard from the crowd.  more...

Phil Spector Says Slain Actress 'Kissed The Gun' Before Killing Herself.  The producer told Esquire magazine that Clarkson "kissed the gun" before pulling the trigger.  "I have no idea why," he said in the magazine's July issue. "I never knew her, never even saw her before that night."  more...

Mess in Martha's Kitchen.  Martha Stewart, the multi-millionaire icon of tasteful living, was indicted on securities fraud, obstruction of justice and conspiracy charges Wednesday by a federal grand jury for her role in the ImClone insider-trading scandal.  more...

Stewart Publishes Open Letter in Newspaper.  Stewart, who built a multimillion-dollar decorating and media business out of a catering business, resigned as chairman and chief executive of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.  more...

U.S. brothel offers free sex to returning troops.  Talk about what you can do for your country! - In an unusual act of patriotism, a Nevada brothel is offering free sex to troops returning from the U.S.-Iraq war.  more...

OUCH!  Manilow breaks his nose.  Barry Manilow has broken his famous nose and may need surgery to fix it. The singer bumped into a wall in the night in his house in Palm Springs and injured his most prominent feature.  more...

Jane Pauley may resurface as a talk-show host.  She has been talking to NBC Enterprises about hosting a daily syndicated daytime talk show that would air on NBC-owned stations starting in 2004.  more...

Hillary Clinton Book Details Betrayal.  Hillary Rodham Clinton says her husband's relationship with Monica Lewinsky caused so much pain that, at one point, Buddy the dog was the only member of the family willing to keep President Clinton company.  more...

Sammy Sosa Ejected for Corked Bat.  Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was ejected in the first inning of Tuesday night's game against Tampa Bay after umpires found cork in his bat.  more...

Busted: Image of Cubs slugger takes hit.  "Batters know their bats," Cirillo said. "They know their game T-shirts, their socks, their cleats. You are going to know which bat is your game bat.  "If you look at his bat, it was game-ready. He had been preparing. It was like a hunter sharpening his bow. And if I had a corked bat, I would surely know which one it was."  more...

Man late for flight allegedly calls in bomb threat.  A man running late for his flight to Phoenix called in a phony bomb threat Monday in hopes the plane would be delayed long enough for him to get on board, police said.  more...

Jay Walks All Over Dave in the Ratings.  Jay Leno's Tonight Show on NBC crushed David Letterman's Late Show on CBS by more than 60 percent among viewers 18-49 years old - the widest margin in four years in that advertiser-coveted demographic.  more...

Picasso Returned After Being Left on N.Y. Subway.  A framer who absent-mindedly left two works of art on a subway platform - including an original Picasso - was reunited with his lost property.  more...

Pickle eaters prefer dull to dill.  Researchers say they've spotted a downward trend in one of America's favorite garnishes. Pickle makers, they said, aren't using as much dill as they used to.  more...

The fine line of celebrity stupidity.  If you really wanted to keep people from invading your privacy, why would you file a suit so that everyone would easily be able to see how great life is at the top?  more...

O'Reilly and Franken Spar at Book Show.  A booksellers' luncheon isn't the place you'd expect to hear a shouting match, but Al Franken and Bill O'Reilly got into a verbal war Saturday at BookExpo America in Los Angeles.  more...

Stop Mouthing Off!  Sore throat cancels Dixie Chicks show.  "Natalie is not feeling very well. Her throat has some damage to it," Robison said. "She's sick right now and the doctor said, 'If you sing tonight, you're just going to make it worse.'"  more...

Ricky Martin's bon-bon shaking is behind him.  "I got tired of the glamour, of the limos and the private jets. All of that makes you lose perspective," he says.  more...

DreamLand Defense Team Now Seeking Man Named 'Donnie' as Laci Peterson Murder Suspect.  New details have come to light about the person Scott Peterson's defense team says they believe could be responsible for the murder of his 8-months-pregnant wife, Laci Peterson.  more...

'Nemo' finds animation record $70.6 million.  The latest entry, Finding Nemo, which cost $94 million, broke virtually every debut record for an animated film during the weekend with an astounding $70.6 million, according to studio estimates from box office firm Nielsen EDI.  more...

Richard Chamberlain Comes Out of the Closet.  Former Thorn Birds star says he's gay in TV interview, feels the time is right to come out of the closet.  more...

L.A. Law One More Tool for Slavery Reparations  The Los Angeles City Council's latest move to force companies seeking contracts with the city to disclose whether they ever earned profits from slavery has reparations opponents sounding off.  more...

Judge orders Peterson autopsy to remain sealed.  The autopsy report on the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn son will remain sealed - for now - even though portions already have been leaked to the media.  more...

Divorce Final for Angelina and Billy Bob  Tomb Raider actress and Sling Blade star were married for two years.  more...

Laci Peterson's Baby Had Noose Around Neck!
The body of the fetus found near its slain mother, Laci Peterson, on the shore of the San Francisco Bay had one and a half loops of plastic tape around its neck, according to a portion of the coroner’s report on the autopsy on the fetus obtained exclusively Thursday by NBC News. The finding could be used by the defense team for Scott Peterson, Laci’s husband, who is accused in her death, to bolster its theory that Laci and the fetus were killed in a satanic ritual.  more...

Streisand sues photographer over house photo.  Barbra Streisand has filed a lawsuit against an amateur photographer, claiming he is violating her privacy by displaying a picture of her bluff-top Malibu, Calif., estate on a Web site.  more...

Mariah Calls Victim of 'Bogus' E-Mail.  A 10-year-old Mariah Carey fan got her wish to talk to the diva after a prankster sent the girl a nasty e-mail claiming to be the singer, the pop star's spokesman said.  more...

Hurley appears nude in old film.  Now that she's a mom, Elizabeth Hurley might be hoping that a short film in which she appeared 15 years ago will never resurface.  more...

Laci's hubby spent secret cash on lovers.  With as many as three girlfriends, multiple cell phones to stay in touch and a checking account hidden from his wife, Scott Peterson had a busy secret life, a source close to the double-murder investigation revealed.  more...

Tyson: 'I Really Do Want to Rape Her'  The former boxing champion once again denied he raped Desiree Washington in 1991 in an Indianapolis hotel room, but told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren that he'd like to now.  more...

Fans weigh in: Size doesn't make Ruben less of an Idol.  For Ruben Studdard, newly crowned American Idol, life has been moving fast. And that's not easy, especially for someone who weighs about 350 pounds.  more...

Bob Keeps Hope Alive; Turns 100.  "He's determined to be a 100...He rallies [thinking about it]. He's just absolutely amazing."   more...

Is Whitney Being Used By a Cult?  Whitney Houston's in trouble, her friends fear, and this time it's not because of drugs.  more...

Keanu Reeves is set to give away most of his money.  Keanu Reeves is set to give away most of the cash he makes from the two Matrix sequels to unlikely recipients - US$81m to the Matrix costume designers and special effects crews.  more...

McCartney, Mills Are Having a Baby.  Heather Mills, wife of former Beatle Paul McCartney, is pregnant with the couple's first child, their spokesman said.  more...

Funeral Services Held for Chandra Levy.  Chandra Levy, the former intern whose disappearance ended the congressional career of Gary Condit, was buried Tuesday, more than a year after her remains were discovered in a Washington, D.C., park.  more...

Judge Dismisses Spears' Song Theft Suit.  Britney Spears has been cleared in a federal lawsuit in which two men claimed the pop star violated copyright laws.  more...

Students Create Winona Shoplifting Musical.  In the latest example of art imitating life, a group of high school students has created a musical based on Winona Ryder's shoplifting trial.  more...

Prisoners May Marry, but Honeymoon on Hold.  Two Texas prison inmates have received permission to marry even though they have never met and cannot honeymoon until at least 2036, officials said.  more...

Camilla Parker Bowles Invited to Royal Event.  Queen Elizabeth II has invited Camilla Parker Bowles, the longtime companion of her son Prince Charles, to the major royal event of the year, Buckingham Palace said.  more...

Lisa Marie likes rough sex, Jacko didn't deliver.  Presley tells Playboy she likes things "the way they do it in porn movies."  more...

Scott Peterson, No Longer Blond, Back in Court.  Sporting yet another new look, a clean-shaven, brown-haired Scott Peterson appeared in court again Tuesday to discuss several legal issues, including whether to unseal search warrants related to his arrest, wiretaps on his phone and the autopsy report for his 8-months-pregnant wife Laci Peterson.  more...

Dog food may have come from diseased cow.  A U.S. company asked customers Monday to return dog food that may have come from a Canadian cow that tested positive for mad cow disease.  more...

Simon Not Leaving American Idol: Stakes Too High.  Simon will be back. How do I know this? He's a part owner of the show and record contracts!  more...

Cops work 'McSting' at McDonald's drive-through window - to bust customers!  Dressed as a McDonald’s employee, an undercover officer worked the drive-through window March 21 and April 25 and spotted enough wrongdoing inside customers’ cars to warrant six arrests and 29 citations.  more...

Feel Lucky?  Atlantic City slot machine to take $1,000 tokens.  The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, scheduled to open this summer, has been given temporary approval to offer machines that accept $1,000 tokens.  more...

Phone number in 'Bruce Almighty' not answer to woman's prayers.  Dawn Jenkins has been getting about 20 calls per hour, with callers asking for God before hanging up.  more...

Iraqi man ends 20 years in hiding.  After two decades in hiding, an Iraqi man has finally emerged back into the real world - squinting at the unaccustomed light.  more...

Giuliani Marries Judith Nathan at Gracie Mansion.  Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani returned Saturday to the mansion he was once driven from by his ex-wife, this time to marry longtime companion Judith Nathan.  more...

Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks in on-stage battle with Toby Keith.  Maines sported a shirt emblazoned with the letters "F.U.T.K." while the trio performed "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" via satellite from a concert in Austin, Texas.  more...

Book Offers Scarce for Disgraced NY Times Reporter.  "Not from me!" said Judith Regan, when asked if she was about to enter the bidding war for a Blair tome. "There's a sucker born every minute!"  more...

Peterson's Lawyers Say They'll Prove He Didn't Murder Laci.  Scott Peterson's defense team says they have found the mystery woman who can provide information about the real killers of the California murder suspect's 8-months-pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn child.

Now, the defense team says they are only days – if not hours –