News & General Info

Monday, April 27, 2009

Health Alert: Swine flu outbreak

The swine flu outbreak is continuing to spread both internationally and here in the U.S. Not only has the number of cases of this type of flu increased in the U.S. and Mexico, but there are now reports of confirmed cases in Canada and Europe. The swine flu is tough to detect because it produces common flu symptoms like high fever, cough, and sore throat. […]
Sunday, April 26, 2009

Beyonce’s “Obsessed” beats the competition at the Box Office

The multi-talented Beyonce has a movie hit to add to her string of accomplishments. The new stalker thriller, “Obsessed,” ran over the competition to land in the number one spot at the Box Office this weekend. “Obsessed” debuted with a hefty $28.5 million. In this psycho-drama a sexy office temp, played by Ali Larter, becomes obsessed with Beyonce’s Los Angeles investment […]
Saturday, April 25, 2009

Stage and TV actress Bea Arthur dies at 86

Photo: Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times (2001) Veteran actress of stage and TV, Bea Arthur, died today in Los Angeles. Arthur was truly one of a kind. She carried her tall frame proudly and with a deep voice and sharp wit, could deliver some of the best comedy one-liners ever.   Arthur acted on stage in local theater as well as on Broadway. She won […]
Saturday, April 25, 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama and the Queen of Jordan

  Photo: Samantha Appleton/White House   First Lady Michelle Obama had another chat with a queen a few days ago. Mrs. Obama held a get together with Jordan’s Queen Rania in the White House Yellow Oval Room on Thursday, April 23, 2009.  Also this week, Jordan’s King Abdullah met with President Obama.   Earlier this month, the first lady and the president had a meet and greet […]
Saturday, April 25, 2009

TV talk show host Jay Leno out of the hospital and headed back to work

Photo: NBC Funny guy Jay Leno will be back cracking jokes and talking to guests at “The Tonight Show” desk come Monday. Leno was reportedly released from Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank yesterday. The late-night show host started feeling badly on Thursday and drove himself to the hospital. Leno’s personal representative told the People website: “They had him […]
Friday, April 24, 2009

Successful screenwriter making his mark as a novelist

        Writer Derek Haas has had great success scripting movies for Hollywood. Haas co-wrote “3:10 to Yuma” (2007,) a remake of the classic western film based on acclaimed author Elmore Leonard’s short story with the same title. Along with his partner, Michael Brandt, Haas wrote the screenplay for “Wanted” and several major scripts in development like “The A-Team,” “Beverly Hills Cop IV,” and “The Thirteenth Hour.” Now Haas is creating […]
Thursday, April 23, 2009

“Tonight Show” taping canceled; Jay Leno goes to the hospital

There will be a rerun in “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” television slot tonight, because the taping this afternoon had to be canceled. The host, Jay Leno, reportedly became ill and drove himself to  Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. KNX 1070 newsradio is reporting Leno may be suffering from a bout of food poisoning. The veteran entertainer is said to be resting in a hospital […]
Thursday, April 23, 2009

Outpouring of public support helps gifted L.A. student go to Oxford

   Photo: Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times   Some stories make you want to cry and stand up and cheer — all at the same time. Crenshaw High School junior Sharron Pearson’s determination to go to a summer program at Oxford University and  the overwhelming financial support she has received from the public is just such a story. To say Pearson is bright […]
Thursday, April 23, 2009

President Obama’s Earth Day challenge

Photo: Pete Souza/White House   President Barack Obama spent part of Earth Day in Newton, Iowa touring a wind tower production facility. In his Earth Day speech, the president described a major challenge facing our nation: “Now, the choice we face is not between saving our environment and saving our economy.  The choice we face is between prosperity and decline.  We can […]