Massachusetts

NEW YORK (CBS) ― The nominees for the 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced on The View today, and People magazine senior writer Mark D’Agostino was on hand to give his predictions.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

(Read the full post about ‘‘View’ Announces Nominees For 35th Daytime Emmy’s’…)

CHICAGO (AP) ― David Blaine set a new world record Wednesday for breath-holding, 17 minutes and 4 seconds.

The feat was broadcast live during “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and the studio audience cheered as divers pulled the 35-year-old magician from a water-filled sphere.

Blaine looked relaxed afterward and said the record was “a lifelong dream.”

The previous record was 16 minutes and 32 seconds, set Feb. (Read the full post about ‘David Blaine Sets New World Record’…)

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― A simple change of procedure on “American Idol” Tuesday created an awkward moment for judge Paula Abdul.

Normally, each contestant receives feedback on their performance as soon as they’ve finished their song.

But this week the judges were asked to hold their feedback until the contestants had each performed their first of two songs. The five contestants were then brought out on stage together to hear what the judges thought.

Judge Randy Jackson rattled off a quick critique of each singer, and then it was Abdul’s turn.

“Jason, in the first song I loved hearing your lower register which we never really hear,” she told contestant Jason Castro. (Read the full post about ‘Paula Abdul Left ‘Empty’ By Song That Wasn’t’…)

NEW YORK (AP) ― When Gwyneth Paltrow made the rounds to promote “Iron Man,” the buzz wasn’t about the Oscar winner’s return to the screen after an extended hiatus. It wasn’t about the curious casting of a serious actress as a superhero’s secretary. It was about her shoes.

Paltrow’s sky-high stilettos, shoulder-length curls and up-to-there skirts were seen as a sign: She’s shedding her stay-at-home mom sweat pants and is ready to reclaim her throne in the celebrity pantheon.

“In England, there were pages in the newspaper on my various footwear,” she says. (Read the full post about ‘Gwyneth Paltrow Is Back On The Big Screen’…)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― “CSI” co-star Gary Dourdan was arrested Monday for possession of narcotics and dangerous drugs, police said. The 41-year-old actor was found asleep in his car by the Palm Springs Police Department, authorities said.

An officer saw Dourdan’s car parked on the wrong side of the street with the interior light on and someone sleeping in the driver’s seat at approximately 5:12 a.m. Monday, according to Palm Springs police Sgt. Mitch Spike.

The officer described Dourdan as disoriented and possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The officer arrested Dourdan after locating suspected cocaine, heroin, Ecstacy, miscellaneous prescription drugs and paraphernalia. (Read the full post about ‘‘CSI’ Co-Star Gary Dourdan Arrested For Drugs’…)

DORCHESTER, Mass. (WBZ) ― The man who shot and paralyzed little Kai Leigh Harriott nearly five years ago apologized to her Wednesday in a videotaped message from prison.

The event kicked off “Peace Month” in Boston.

Anthony Warren fired off three rounds outside Kai Leigh’s Dorchester home in July 2003 during an argument with some of her neighbors, while she was playing on her porch. A bullet severed her spine and left her paralyzed from the waist down. She was three years old at the time.

Two years ago, she forgave Warren in an emotional court appearance.

In his videotaped apology Wednesday, Warren spoke about Kai Leigh’s forgiveness. (Read the full post about ‘Shooter Apologizes To Girl He Paralyzed’…)

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) ― Lawyers for Michael Addison said public outrage toward him and adoration for the Manchester police officer he’s accused of killing show he can’t get a fair trial in Manchester.

Addison’s public defenders have asked the court to move his capital murder trial out of the city.

Lawyer David Rothstein wrote the court that there is evidence of community hostility against Addison that is unparalleled.

Addison, 28, is charged with killing Officer Michael Briggs in October 2006.

In their 28-page change of venue request, Addison’s lawyers cited editorials and news stories in the New Hampshire Union Leader and Concord Monitor, and dozens of reader comments that praised Briggs and denounced Addison. (Read the full post about ‘Accused N.H. Cop Killer’s Lawyers Want Trial Moved’…)

STONEHAM, Mass. (WBZ) ― Police are looking for help finding a brazen robber. He walked into a bank in Stoneham Monday, waved a handgun, and took off with cash.

The armed man entered the Stoneham Savings Bank just after 11 a.m. wearing a black ski mask, black pants, and a black sweatshirt with three white stripes down both arms. He approached a teller and demanded only large bills.

In a surveillance photo, he’s seen waving the gun with his back to the teller. No one was hurt.

The man fled in a stolen car, which police later found near the bank. Investigators say the suspect is about 5-feet-7 inches tall with a stocky build. (Read the full post about ‘Robber Waves Handgun In Bank Holdup’…)

STURBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ) ― A proposal to ban the use of plastic shopping bags at three major stores in Sturbridge was defeated at a town meeting.

The proposal was created by two high schools. It would have required Shaw’s Supermarket, Stop & Shop and Wal-Mart to swap out plastic bags for reusable cloth bags or recyclable paper bags for their customers.

Tantasqua Regional High School students Conor Neal and Ryan White came up with the idea for the article as part of a Dynamics in Democracy program at the school. (Read the full post about ‘Plastic Bag Ban Proposal Defeated In Sturbridge’…)

(This is pretty interesting. Who benefits the most — and where does the rebate go? - promoted by Charley on the MTA)

{ This is part of a research paper I wrote for a seminar…I couldn’t post the data analysis b/c of formating issues  It is a timely issue, as the direct deposits go out today and the checks later this week, I believe }

Economic stimulus payments in the form of tax rebate checks have been included in the federal government’s arsenal of counter-cyclical measures since the Tax Reduction Act of 1975 was signed by President Ford. (Read the full post about ‘A proper stimulus? A wonkish look at tax rebates’…)