Jack Welch, wife agree to temporary support
Lawyers for retired General Electric Co. chief executive Jack Welch and his estranged wife said on Friday the couple had reached an agreement on the monthly support he will pay her while the couple thrash out how to divide his $220 million fortune.
( Reuters, 11/01/2002 02:44 PM PST)

Judge says R. Kelly can leave state
R&B; singer R. Kelly, who has been free on bond since he was indicted on child pornography charges, can leave the state to appear at a concert in New York later this month, a judge ruled Friday.
( 11/01/2002 11:55 AM PST)

Record producer sues Blondie
A record producer has sued Blondie, claiming the band and its record company have cheated him out of more than $130,000.
( 11/01/2002 11:53 AM PST)

Mighty Mouse flies again
Here he comes to save the day. Or at least to make a film. Paramount Pictures has given a go to a computer-animated version of "Mighty Mouse" for its Nickelodeon Films banner to produce. The project has been described as an action-comedy-adventure.
( BY DAVE MCNARY, Reuters, 11/01/2002 04:02 AM PST)

Queen Says the Butler Didn't Do It
Princess Diana's butler was acquitted Friday of stealing her belongings after revelations from Queen Elizabeth undermined the prosecution's case. Paul Burrell, whom Diana once called "my rock," sobbed with relief as Justice Ann Rafferty ruled he was not guilty on all three theft charges.
( BY PAUL MAJENDIE, Reuters, 11/01/2002 04:01 AM PST)

Prosecution rests case against Ryder
The prosecution rested its case against actress Winona Ryder after calling a half-dozen witnesses who said she shoplifted more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue.
( LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent, 11/01/2002 03:56 AM PST)

Re/Max sues over 'CSI' episode
Real estate company Re/Max International has sued CBS, alleging an episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" portrayed a shady real estate agent who used a for-sale sign that looked like a Re/Max sign.
( Associated Press, 11/01/2002 04:13 AM PST)

Actress Peggy Moran dies
Peggy Moran, who made more than 30 horror and Western films in the 1930s and 1940s and was once dubbed one of Hollywood's top "shrieking violets," has died. She was 84.
( 10/31/2002 03:04 PM PST)

Spielberg takes his films to Cuba
Steven Spielberg will attend the Cuban premiere of his latest film "Minority Report" here next week, opening a festival of his work on the Communist-run island.
( Reuters, 10/31/2002 02:52 PM PST)

Witness denies selling Ryder story
The former Saks security officer at the center of Winona Ryder's shoplifting trial was accused Thursday by defense lawyers of selling her story, inventing testimony and of rifling through the actress's Filofax for movie star phone numbers.
( BY JILL SERJEANT, Reuters, 10/31/2002 02:50 PM PST)

Saint Laurent shuts fashion house
Yves Saint Laurent, a towering figure of 20th-century fashion, closed the doors Thursday to the legendary fashion house he started 40 years ago.
( JOCELYN GECKER, Associated Press Writer, 10/31/2002 01:27 PM PST)

N.E.R.D. wins new award
The hip-hop, psychedelic funk group N.E.R.D., a side project of the hit-making production team the Neptunes, won the Shortlist Prize for artistic achievement in music.
( 10/31/2002 08:35 AM PST)

Police struggle to find motive in slaying of Run-DMC DJ
Fearing a new rap war, police brass ordered cops Thursday to watch over hip hop figures following the mysterious killing of Jam Master Jay, law-enforcement sources said.
( BY ALICE MCQUILLAN, RALPH R. ORTEGA AND DAVE GOLDINER, New York Daily News, 10/31/2002 05:29 AM PST)

'Hawaii Five-O' co-star dies
Kam Fong Chun, the man TV viewers around the world knew as Detective Chin Ho Kelly in the hit crime series "Hawaii Five-O," died in Honolulu after a long fight against cancer, his family said on Wednesday. He was 84.
( Reuters, 10/31/2002 04:44 AM PST)

Barry White Waits For Kidney Donor
Deep-voiced soul singer Barry White was resting at home while his search for a kidney donor continued, his manager said.
( 10/31/2002 04:41 AM PST)

One Judge Quits 'American Idol'
Rapper/disc jockey Angie Martinez discovered she wasn't tough enough to be an "American Idol" judge.
( 10/31/2002 04:37 AM PST)

VH1 cuts Liza Minnelli show
She's a leading light of Broadway, a cult figure for her millions of fans worldwide and an award-winning performer -- but Liza Minnelli won't be opening her kitchen for TV viewers after all.
( BY BEN BERKOWITZ, Reuters, 10/30/2002 04:28 PM PST)

Fox 'girls club' lasts two weeks
One of the fall TV season's most-hyped and heavily promoted shows, David E. Kelley's ``girls club,'' has been yanked from the Fox schedule after just two weeks of disastrously low ratings and critical brickbats.
( 10/30/2002 01:34 PM PST)

Saks manager denies plan to 'nail' Ryder
A Saks Fifth Avenue security manager on Wednesday denied accusations that he had vowed to "nail" actress Winona Ryder over an alleged shoplifting spree at the posh store last December.
( BY JILL SERJEANT, Reuters, 10/30/2002 01:17 PM PST)

Jett sues producers for 'Prey' pay
Rocker Joan Jett is suing the producers of a would-be movie "Prey for Rock & Roll," saying she hasn't been paid for her work on the film.
( Reuters, 10/30/2002 12:14 PM PST)

Williams' parents finish divorce
The parents of Venus and Serena Williams have completed their divorce.
( 10/30/2002 11:20 AM PST)

Kidman not ready for new relationship
Actress Nicole Kidman says she is not ready for a new relationship more than a year after the break up of her marriage to actor Tom Cruise.
( Reuters, 10/30/2002 08:39 AM PST)

Seinfeld to unveil new routine on Letterman
Superstar comedian Jerry Seinfeld plans to try out an all-new routine this Thursday on the CBS "Late Show with David Letterman," his first TV stand-up performance since his last visit with Letterman in March 2001.
( Reuters, 10/30/2002 04:31 AM PST)

Bjork's mom ends her hunger strike
The mother of pop singer Bjork has ended a hunger strike against a plan to develop the Icelandic highlands.
( The Associated Press, 10/30/2002 04:13 AM PST)

Bob Newhart Gets Mark Twain Prize
Bob Newhart found himself "a long way from being an accountant" Tuesday night as he accepted the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
( SIOBHAN McDONOUGH, Associated Press Writer, 10/30/2002 04:05 AM PST)