Actor Luke Perry hospitalized in LA after reported stroke

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Luke Perry is in the hospital under observation, his publicist said on Thursday, following a report he suffered a stroke at his Los Angeles home.

Celebrity website TMZ said Perry, 52, was rushed to hospital on Wednesday morning after suffering what it described as a “massive stroke.”

“Mr. Perry is currently under observation at the hospital,” his representative said in a statement, without giving any details.

Perry currently plays Fred Andrews on the teen television series “Riverdale” but is better known for his role as the handsome loner Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills, 90291,” which was set around a group of students living in the upscale southern California city.

Perry was taken ill the same day that Fox television announced it was reviving the series with many of the original cast, including Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling. Perry was not among those announced as returning for the limited run of six new episodes this summer.

“Beverly Hills, 90210” ran for 10 years starting in 1990 and was one of the most popular shows on U.S. television.

Perry’s former co-stars expressed their support on social media. “My friend. Holding you tight and giving you my strength. You got this,” Shannen Doherty posted on Instagram, while Ian Ziering wrote, “Let us all say a prayer for his speedy recovery.”

Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Tom Brown

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Bohemian Rhapsody' wins Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama

Jim Beach (left to right), Roger Taylor, Brian May, Rami Malek with his Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, Graham King and Mike Meyers pose backstage with their Best Motion Picture - Drama for "Bohemian Rhapsody" during the 76th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California on Monday. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Stars say 'Time's Up' wearing black on the Golden Globes red carpet

LOS ANGELES - From flowing gowns to tailored tuxedos, Hollywood's film and television stars dressed in their finest black on the Golden Globes red carpet on Sunday in solidarity with the Time's Up campaign to fight sexual harassment in the workplace.

Jessica Chastain, Laura Dern and Natalie Portman led female and male nominees as well as attendees dressed in black at the awards show where the sexual harassment scandal roiling Hollywood is expected to dominate the conversation.

"We're here for the Time's Up movement. Octavia (Spencer) is my date -- girl power! We stand in solidarity against any abuse of power," Chastain, nominated for "Molly's Game" and wearing a black velvet gown with a silver sequined back, said in a televised interview with NBC on the red carpet.

"It's about people who are voiceless, and it's about empowerment," added Spencer, who is nominated for "Shape of Water."

In the week leading up to the awards ceremony, more than 300 Hollywood industry figures including actors, directors and writers, launched the Time's Up campaign to address workplace sexual harassment misconduct.

Portman, who joined Instagram in the past week to promote awareness of Time's Up, opted for a black velvet dress and accompanied a pregnant America Ferrera, wearing a black sequined dress with a tuxedo jacket, on the carpet.

"It's an incredible opportunity to get to go with a friend, an activist, someone who can have our voices together because we've been separated for so long ... and how much louder and stronger our voices can be when we come together," Portman said.

Dern, in a strapless black gown, was accompanied by Monica Ramirez, the co-founder and president of the National Farmworker Women's Alliance (Alianza Nacional De Campesinas), which represents more than 700,000 women working in the agricultural industry, fighting workplace sexual misconduct.

"It's time for us to make a difference," Dern said.

While black was the palette of choice on Sunday, stars spun their own twist with an array of textures and silhouettes.

"Black-ish" star Tracee Ellis Ross donned a black headwrap with her black satin Marc Jacobs halterneck dress, "The Crown" star Claire Foy opted for a black tuxedo suit, twinning with her co-star Matt Smith, and "Will and Grace" actress Debra Messing wore a black sequined Christian Siriano dress with trousers.

"Get Out" actress Allison Williams wore a strapless sequined Armani Prive black gown with a bold orange and silver bodice, while Mandy Moore opted for a black sleeveless halterneck Rosie Assoulin gown with a red sash.

Angelina Jolie, accompanied by her son Pax and nominated for her film "First They Killed My Father," wore a black gown with sheer sleeves embellished with black feathers.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Three Billboards,' 'Lady Bird' win top Golden Globes

LOS ANGELES -- Dark drama "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" was the big winner with four Golden Globes awards on Sunday on a night marked by scathing jokes about sexual harassment and passionate odes to those breaking their silence.

Mother-daughter comedy "Lady Bird" was named best comedy film and the indie A24 movie's star Saoirse Ronan won for comedy actress.

Gary Oldman was named best drama movie actor for his role as British wartime leader Winston Churchill in Focus Features' "Darkest Hour" and Frances McDormand took home the award for drama actress for her role as an angry mother seeking vengeance in Fox Searchlight's "Three Billboards."

James Franco won the comedy actor award for his cult movie homage "The Disaster Artist," also from A24. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro won best director for magical fantasy "The Shape of Water."

However, the night was dominated not by who took home prizes but by jokes and speeches about the sexual misconduct scandal that has rocked Hollywood.

"Happy New Year Hollywood! It's 2018. Marijuana is finally allowed and sexual harassment finally isn't," quipped Globes host Seth Meyers in his opening remarks, bringing wild applause from the A-list audience in Beverly Hills.

Multiple allegations against actors, filmmakers and Hollywood agents since October 2017 have led to many of the accused being fired, forced to step down, or dropped from creative projects.

Referring to the male nominees gathered in Beverly Hills for the top television and movie awards, Meyers said: "This is the first time in three months it won't be terrifying to hear your name read out loud."

The evening began with the normally colorful red carpet transformed into a sea of black gowns as every actress showed solidarity with victims of sexual harassment inside and outside the entertainment industry. Many have given their own harrowing accounts.

Women kept up the theme inside the Beverly Hilton ballroom.

"This year, we became the story," Oprah Winfrey said in a rousing speech while accepting the annual lifetime achievement award.

McDormand said she was proud to be a woman in the industry. "It's great to be here and be part of the tectonic shift in our industry's power structure," she said.

Laura Dern, a supporting actress winner for "Big Little Lies," said: "May we teach our children that speaking out without retribution is our culture's new north star."

The HBO TV series was one of several female-driven winners on Sunday.

The Golden Globes ceremony, the first of the major awards shows in the run-up to the Oscars in March, marked the first big test for how Hollywood would handle the scandal.

Meyers joked that, as the first of the hosts, he felt like "the first dog they shot into outer space."

He appeared to have found the right balance, getting cheers in the room and warm early reviews. Industry website Deadline.com said Meyers "deftly executed a seemingly impossible task," while E! News said he "made lemonade out of lemons."

Dystopian tale "The Handmaid's Tale" won best TV drama series and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," Amazon's new series about a 1950s housewife who become a stand-up comedian, took best TV comedy or musical series.

Fox Searchlight and parent company Twentieth Century Fox were the big winners in terms of studios, with their films winning seven awards. Indie movie studio A24 had three.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Moonlight,' 'Arrival' win top Writers Guild of America awards

Writers for the films "Moonlight" and "Arrival" won top Writers Guild of America awards on Sunday, boosting the films' chances in the upcoming Academy Awards, Hollywood's biggest honors.

Barry Jenkins and Tarell McCraney won the original screenplay award for "Moonlight," a drama about a young black Miami man's life and struggle to forge an identity.

Eric Heisserer took the Writers Guild of America's prize for adapted screenplay for the science fiction film "Arrival," based on a short story by Ted Chiang.


Both films are nominated for the best picture Oscar, which will be handed out at a gala ceremony in Hollywood on February 26. The writers for both films are also Oscar-nominated, but will compete against each other in the adapted screenplay category after the Oscars decided the "Moonlight" script was an adaptation of a McCraney play.

"Command and Control" won for best documentary screenplay.

Among television honors, "The Americans" won the Writers Guild prize for drama series, while "Atlanta" took the award for best comedy series as well as for best new series.

The Writers Guild is an industry group representing film, television, radio and other media writers.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pinay's tiny home stands for simple luxury

OJAI, California – Filipino-American designer Vina Lustado is showing that a happy home isn't necessarily about living large.

Lustado's home is tucked away in a forest about 80 miles away from the Beverly Hills mansions and downtown LA high-rises.

"I really do think I’m totally living in luxury here. I have a fireplace. I have really nice windows. I think I’m living in a palace," Lustado joked.

Every inch of her 140 square foot cottage is well calculated into a fully functioning-sustainable home, with a kitchen and a bathroom, and a pair of lofts that become bedrooms.

"This feels real comfortable for me. It’s like being in the womb. It’s like outdoor camping luxury style," said Lustado, who also runs and owns Sol Haus Designs.

The home runs off the grid, powered by propane and the sun. The water that comes from Ventura County’s line is eventually recycled, breathing life into a nearby grapefruit tree. At 20 feet tall, it can feel spacious, and well ventilated, thanks to the windows. Many of the furniture have hidden storage compartments, and can be used in multiple ways.

The Quezon province-born Lustado moved to the US at age seven but her humble childhood is engrained in the maple wood home.

"Where I was born in a bahay kubo with this one room, and a kitchen and a living room and I was born literally on the kitchen floor with the bamboo just beneath me. I just think that simple lifestyle of not needing much always stayed with me," she said.

A tiny home like this can cost less than a $100,000 using recycled pieces and a helping hand from her carpenter husband. The home took $40,000 and one year to build.

"Affordability was one of the main things that was a driver for the project because I didn’t want to get into mortgage or loans, large loans to build a project," she said.

As the tiny house movement booms, some are hoping to replicate Lustado’s dream home. She has been in constant with a mobile home factory, but ultimately would like to bring her project back to her native Philippines.

Read more on Balitang America:

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Actor John Stamos arrested on DUI charge in Beverly Hills -media

Actor John Stamos was arrested on Friday for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Beverley Hills, the southern California city which is home to many Hollywood stars, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Police officials told the broadcaster that Stamos, 51, was arrested around 7:45 p.m. local time and was taken to a nearby hospital.

Reuters could not independently confirm the report. Officials with the Beverley Hills Police Department were not immediately available for comment.

Stamos is best known for his role as Jesse in the 1990s sitcom "Full House," where he played opposite then-child stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jinkee gives P. Diddy's mansion a thumbs up

MANILA, Philippines – Sarangani Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao gave the Beverly Hills mansion her seal of approval and hopes their family can move into the property in April.

Jinkee and the Pacquiao children arrived in Los Angeles yesterday where they had a reunion with Manny Pacquiao, who had a day off from training ahead of his May 2 showdown against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The entire family visited the Beverly Hills mansion today, with the children obviously thrilled with swimming pools.

"The swimming pool is amazing," her daughter Princess Pacquiao said.

"Thumbs up," Jinkee said. "Approve naman. Okay lang maganda ang bahay talaga, maaliwalas."

Pacquiao has already signed the contract for the house and paid a downpayment.

"Tinatrabaho na," said the "Pacman."

The mansion originally belonged to hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who owned in it 1998 back when he was still dating pop diva Jennifer Lopez. He sold it in 2001.

The property had a listing price of $11.9-M.

"Siguro madalas ang punta dito, kasi sayang naman ang bahay sa laki kung hindi titirahan ng matagal," said Jinkee.

Jinkee says they want to move in before the May 2 fight. "First week of April siguro if ever, para at least ma-enjoy naman 'yung bahay for a month bago pumunta ng Las Vegas," she explained. -- From a report by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Tour JLo's former house that Pacquiao wants to buy

One of the homes that boxing champ Manny Pacquiao is planning to buy is located in Beverly Hills, California and was once owned by international superstar Jennifer Lopez.

Located at 12055 Summit Circle, the Mediterranean-inspired home has seven bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, a his and hers closet, an open kitchen and a home theater.

The patio comes with a built-in barbecue, a pool with fountains, a spa and an outdoor fireplace.

Take a tour of the property by watching this video by the Beverly Hills real estate firm Nelson Shelton and Associates which was uploaded on YouTube in 2013.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao makes an offer for JLo's mansion

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is planning to buy a mansion once owned by international superstar Jennifer Lopez in Beverly Hills, California.

Pacquiao, who is in the US to train for his upcoming May 2 bout against American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., told ANC on Tuesday that he went house-hunting.

“Nag-offer na ako. Maganda kasi 'yung bahay tapos gated siya and hindi basta basta 'yung tao makakapunta,” he said.

Although he refused to divulge the amount of his offer, Pacquiao clarified that he is still in the process of negotiation. A TV report earlier said the house costs $12 million or over P500 million.

“Nagtatawaran pa,” he said, laughing.

Pacquiao said among the house's features that he liked is the saltwater swimming pool.

Meanwhile, the Filiipno boxer also reported that he has started training with his coach, Freddie Roach.

“'Yung training so far so good. Maganda naman. Today is the first day [of my training with Freddie Roach] and happy naman siya. We are focusing on what we are going to do in the last six weeks of our training. Nagfo-focus kami sa strategy and style,” he said.

Pacquiao said he has to be in tip-top condition for what is probably the most important fight in his career.

“Nasa Panginoon na kung paano tayo mananalo. Ang focus natin ngayon is maging 100% physically and higit sa lahat, spiritually and mentally focused,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Whitney Houston's daughter found unresponsive in tub

Bobbi Kristina Brown, the only daughter of the late pop star Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown, was found unresponsive in a bathtub at her Georgia home on Saturday, but she was revived and rushed to a hospital, police said.

The incident comes nearly three years after Houston, a superstar who battled substance abuse, drowned in a bathtub in Beverly Hills, California, in February 2012. Authorities determined cocaine use and heart disease contributed to her death.

Brown, 21, was found in the bathtub at her suburban Atlanta home by her husband and a friend, said Lisa Holland, public information officer for the Roswell Police Department.

Brown's husband, Nick Gordon, started CPR and police continued life-saving measures until an ambulance arrived and took her to the hospital.

Brown was taken to North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, a suburb north of Atlanta, Holland told reporters. "She's alive at the hospital," Holland said.

She gave no other details and a hospital spokeswoman declined to comment.

Brown married Gordon in January 2014. Gordon was also raised for a time by Houston, one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, but she never formally adopted him. On Houston's birthday last year, Gordon had his arm tattooed with a portrait of the late singer.

Houston, a multiple Grammy Award winner who was known for her vocal power, clarity and mezzo-soprano range and whose dozens of hit songs include "How Will I Know" and "I Will Always Love You," was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of pop singer Dionne Warwick.

Bobbi Kristina Brown's father, Bobby Brown, is a Grammy Award winner who started his career as frontman for the R&B group New Edition.

Both of Bobbi Kristina's parents struggled with substance abuse, and Houston described their 15-year marriage, which ended in 2007, as drug- and alcohol-fueled. Bobby Brown was sentenced to 55 days in jail in 2013 after admitting to driving drunk in 2012.

She and her grandmother, Cissy Houston, and other relatives starred in a 14-episode reality show for cable channel Lifetime, "The Houstons: On Our Own," about their struggle to cope after Houston's death.

Brown's Twitter feed over the past year included motivations to work out, quotes from celebrities on being true to oneself, loving messages for her husband and remembrances of her mother.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Hollywood set for Globes after website 'winner' glitch

LOS ANGELES -- Hollywood is holding its breath ahead of Sunday's Golden Globes, with dark comedy "Birdman" leading the race for awards glory ahead of next month's all-important Oscars.

While an eve-of-show computer glitch appeared to suggest two other films could take the top prizes, "Birdman" is still in strong position, earning a string of accolades and other nominations leading up to the Globes.

Unusually rainy weather looks set to dampen the arrival of A-listers on the red carpet in Beverly Hills for the Globes, second only to the Oscars in terms of Tinseltown awards buzz.

"Birdman," which stars former "Batman" Michael Keaton as a washed-up film actor trying to revive his career on stage, has earned the most nominations with seven.

Coming-of-age drama "Boyhood" and Nazi code-breaking thriller "The Imitation Game" starring Britain's Benedict Cumberbatch are also hotly tipped to take home trophies with five nods apiece.

British actors feature strongly at the Globes: Cumberbatch and his co-star Keira Knightley are among a batch of British nominees in both the film and television categories.

Comic actresses Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will be hosting the show for the third straight year at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the festivities will begin at 5 p.m. (0100 GMT Monday).

Some industry experts have highlighted the lack of a clear frontrunner, in contrast to previous years like in 2012, when "The Artist" had a virtual lock on Best Picture prizes straight through to the Oscars.

"It seems like a real toss-up," Tom Nunan of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television told AFP, adding that actors in this year's race had all turned in "career-best performances."

Did glitch reveal winners?

This year's crop of nominated movies is heavy on true stories: four of the five Globes best drama contenders are based on real-life events. Among the historical figures featured are British geniuses Stephen Hawking and Alan Turing, and Martin Luther King Jr.

In the best musical or comedy category, the widely acclaimed "Birdman" still seems to be the film to beat.

The movie also earned nods for best actor for Keaton, best supporting actor (Edward Norton), best supporting actress (Emma Stone) and best director (Mexico's Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu).

Its rivals include Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel," Disney's dark musical fairytale romp "Into the Woods," "Pride" and "St Vincent"

On the drama side, the best film contenders are: "Boyhood," "Foxcatcher," "The Imitation Game," "Selma" and "The Theory of Everything."

Barely 48 hours before the curtain goes up for the 72nd Globes ceremony, a website glitch appeared to suggest that "Selma" and "Into the Woods" could be set for best film honors.

The films were briefly posted on the Globes website as winning the best drama and best musical/comedy film awards, before the captions were taken down, according to industry journal Variety.

A spokesman said the films were chosen "randomly" from nominees' lists as Web technicians fine-tuned the website ahead of the show, and that the captions should not have been live.

Open TV field

On the small screen, "Fargo" took the most nominations with five.

In the television categories, critics see a free-for-all now that the widely acclaimed "Breaking Bad" is no longer on the air or in the running.

Victories for either "House of Cards" for best drama series and "Orange is the New Black" for best comedy would be sweet for online streaming giant Netflix as it battles the traditional broadcast and cable networks.

Unlike the Oscars, which are voted on by some 6,000 industry members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Globes are selected by fewer than 100 journalists from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).

But a Globes win can still provide a huge boost for an Oscars campaign.

Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday. The Academy Awards will then be held on February 22.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeane Napoles owns a Ritz-Carlton unit

Jeane Napoles, the daughter of a businesswoman who has been implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel, Malampaya, and fertilizer fund scandals, owns a unit at the Ritz-Carlton Residences building in Los Angeles, documents show.

The plush condotel, which is outside the LA Live Plaza and the Staples Center, is home to many rich and famous people including professional athletes and celebrities.

According to official records of the County of Los Angeles, Napoles is owner of a Ritz Carlton's unit that has assessor's parcel number 5138-027-110.

Unit prices at the building range from $800,000 (P34.8 million) to $9.3 million (P404.6. million) each, according to luxuryrealestate.com.

Neighbors who declined to speak on camera say, while her mother Janet Lim-Napoles has come to visit, the younger Napoles was often seen in her Porsche.



Jeane is described as tall and friendly, greeting fellow Filipino tenants as she attended the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise that carried a $30,000 an estimated P1.3 million annual tuition.

But her neighbors say lately, she has not been seen around the heavily secured condotel.

Jeane's ritzy lifestyle triggered an online firestorm after her Instagram and Tumblr accounts showed photos of Porsche cars, designer bags, expensive shoes, and jewelry her parents bought for her.

Her personal sites also show her taste in fashion, as well as her passion for travel and parties.

Another video clip sourced from Vimeo and made public on YouTube also shows how she spent her 21st birthday party at Beverly Hills.


ABS-CBN News, meanwhile, has also received information that the older Napoles owns a hotel near Disneyland in Los Angeles.

Napoles did not deny this but said all of their properties come from legitimate business.

"Hindi tatlo, isa lang ho malapit sa disneyland. May partner po kami mga foreigner, (7 million dollars) more or less. Pero hulugan iyun," she said.

"Wala po na nanggaling sa gobyerno, ni piso. Lahat pong yan ay hanapubuhay namin galing sa aming pinaghirapan," she added. "Kaming mag-asawa ay nagpapakamatay na maghanapbuhay para maibigay po namin sa aming mga anak."

Former AFP supplier

Former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin said Napoles was only a minor Armed Forces supplier in the past.

He said Napoles was also borrowing money for capital from his late wife, Loreta.




Querubin and Janet's husband Jimmy were part of the 1989 coup attempt against the Cory Aquino government.

This made them close, with Janet also becoming a godmother of Querubin's daughter.

He remembered the Napoles couple had a simple home in Biñan, Laguna.

This made him wonder about the family's posh lifestyle now.

He said Janet Napoles must face justice if it is proven that her family wealth is ill-gotten and came from public money.

"They have to prove that. Kung mapruwebahan panagutan nila. Pera ng taxpayers yung allegedly nagamit. Dapat managot sila sa taumbayan," Querubin said.

Janet has been placed on the Bureau of Immigration's lookout bulletin.

In a memo dated July 15, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima instructed Immigration officers to discreetly be on alert for Janet Lim Napoles and her brother Jojo Lim should either of them pass through the air or sea ports in the country and to immediately inform her or the NBI should either attempt to leave the country. - with reports from Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America; Anthony Taberna, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeane Napoles' ritzy lifestyle triggers online firestorm

MANILA - Jeane Napoles -- the daughter of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles who is tagged as the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel and Malampaya scam -- has found herself in the middle of an online firestorm due to her lavish lifestyle.

The younger Napoles has deleted her Instagram accounts showing photos of Porsche cars, designer bags, expensive shoes, and jewelry her parents bought for her, but some of the photos and a video clip have made their way to the public eye.

Her old Tumblr account has not been deleted. It shows her taste in fashion as well as her passion for travel and parties.

Another video clip sourced from Vimeo and made public on YouTube also shows how she spent her 21st birthday party at Beverly Hills.

Her mother, in a "TV Patrol" interview, has confirmed the authenticity of the cars and luxury items her daughter owns, but said these were paid using money earned in their legitimate business ventures.

The revelation has triggered various responses online.

Some expressed disgust over the young Napoles' ostentatious display of wealth.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

One Direction Singer Harry Stylin' in New Ferrari

One Direction singer Harry Styles is wasting no time spending his boy band dollars and cruised around Beverly Hills in a brand new Ferrari convertible this weekend.

The 18-year-old's new luxury ride is a Ferrari California, which retails for around $200K.

You can bet the unfamous One Direction doesn't have one of these.

source: tmz.com

Whitney Houston died in Beverly Hills hotel room

Singer Whitney Houston died Saturday in Beverly Hills, according to law enforcement sources.

Authorities are trying to determine a cause of death. [Updated at 5:46 p.m.: She was found in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where emergency medical personnel were called sometime Saturday, said the sources, who asked to remain anonymous because the investigation is ongoing.]

Houston, 48, was in the Los Angeles area for a musical tribute to music executive Clive Davis and had performed and spoken to reporters earlier in the week.

PHOTOS: Whitney Houston, 1963-2012

The performer had drug and alcohol problems for years, and in May her spokeswoman said she was going back to rehab.

Publicist Kristen Foster told the Associated Press on Saturday that Houston had died but did not provide further details.

According to AP:

At her peak in the 1980s and '90s, Houston the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling artists.

Among her hits were “How Will I Know,” “Saving All My Love for You” and “I Will Always Love You.” She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies like “The Bodyguard.”

But by the end of her career, drug use took its toll as her record sales plummeted and her voice became raspy and hoarse.

source: latimes.com

Christian Bale hanging up his Batman cape

LOS ANGELES - "The Dark Knight Rises" may be Christian Bale's final performance as crime-fighting superhero Batman, the actor told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Set for release in July, the movie is Bale's third stint as Gotham's Caped Crusader for director Christopher Nolan, after "Batman Begins" (2005) and "The Dark Knight" (2008).

"I wrapped a few days ago, so that will be the last time I'm taking that cowl [Batman hood] off," Bale told the newspaper during an interview in Beverly Hills. "I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it's all done. Everything's finished. It's me and Chris -- that will be the end of that Batman era.

The 37-year-old actor's comments, published late last week, weren't his first indication that he might have reached the end of the Batmobile ride. Bale told E! News in November one year ago that "unless Chris says different, this will be the last time I'm playing Batman."

Bale, who received an Oscar last year for his supporting performance in "The Fighter," next appears on the big screen in Zhang Yimou's China-set period drama "The Flowers of War." He'll also star in two films from "Tree of Life" director Terrence Malick.

Joining Bale in "The Dark Knight Rises" are Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anne Hathaway, as Catwoman.

Film actors who have preceded Bale in the dual role of Batman and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, include Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney. - Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Raise $1 million in a week to save school jobs? Not even in Beverly Hills

source: latimes.com

The Beverly Hills school district falls short of its official goal but raises enough cash to cause the board to cancel 11 layoffs.

An effort to raise $1 million in one week for Beverly Hills schools fell short, but the drive to prevent key layoffs is likely to succeed anyway because of a financial maneuver by officials and a pledge from the teachers union.

The initiative, called the One Campaign, was notable for its ambition and speed. It called attention to the resources that Beverly Hills can command for its schools but also underscored the reality that, even there, campuses have suffered from an ongoing statewide financial crisis that has caused even greater duress elsewhere.



For the official weeklong period that concluded Sunday, the Beverly Hills Education Foundation had raised about $540,000. The total has since reached $600,000 — from 1,900 donors, 35% of whom hadn't previously donated, said organizer Jonathan Prince.

The largest single donation was $25,000 from Lili and Jon Bosse, parents of a recent graduate of Beverly Hills schools; Lili Bosse, a City Council member, is a graduate of the local schools. One child turned in a dollar found on the playground. A parent donated a thousand soccer balls, which are being sold for $5 apiece. Saks Fifth Avenue donated $10,000, andother local merchants and restaurants also contributed goods or proceeds.

"The campaign brought everybody together," said Alex Cherniss, an assistant superintendent. "People have this perception that in Beverly Hills, one person can write that check. That's not the case and that's not what happened. There are lots of middle-class, hardworking folks here, and almost all of them contributed."

The tally was enough to persuade the school board Monday to save all 11 targeted positions, including counselors, specialists for disabled students, an elementary school technology teacher, middle school instrumental music teachers and, at the high school, the journalism teacher, a performing arts teacher and custodial staff.

Two of five board members opposed restoring all the positions, in part because of the sizable gap between money raised and money needed. But the district was up against the deadline for notifying employees, said school board President Lisa Korbatov, who voted for the restoration.

Beverly Hills Unified, with five schools and about 4,700 students, maintains offerings and small class sizes that have disappeared elsewhere. Even with the restorations, at least 15 positions will still fall under the budget knife.

To help fill the gap, leaders of the teachers union signaled a willingness to accept two unpaid furlough days. Each would save $150,000, according to the school system. The specifics must be negotiated, however, and approved by union members.

The school board majority also identified about $245,000 that it added to next year's budget. The funds had originally been earmarked to oppose potential subway tunneling under Beverly Hills High School. Instead, that cost will be shifted to the separate, school-construction bond fund. Two legal opinions supported the maneuver because subway tunneling would affect the district's plan to strengthen the building foundations and seismic safety at the high school, Korbatov said.

Officials also spent about $150,000 last year for a public relations and lobbying campaign to advocate for an alternate subway route. That amount will not be charged to the bond fund.


Article Source: latimes.com

Investors sue film financier David Molner, alleging misappropriation of funds

Film financier David Molner has been hit with a lawsuit by investors who've accused of him fraud and breach of contract.

In a complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court this week, investors alleged that Molner plundered a Cayman Islands-based film fund he controlled, Aramid Entertainment Fund Ltd., and used it as a "personal piggy bank for himself and the entities he controlled." Aramid was established in 2006.

The lawsuit alleged that Beverly Hills resident Molner and his associates hid Aramid's financial woes from auditors and took out more than $60 million from the fund to pay fees to themselves and make loans to entities they controlled. The "looting" left the fund in such dire shape that it was delisted from the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange in March.

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