Massachusetts

STOCKHOLM (AP) ― The Kiss Army fan club has an enthusiastic new recruit: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice was in the Swedish capital Thursday for an international conference on Iraq. Kiss had a sold-out concert to play Friday.

“I was thrilled,” Rice said of her late-night encounter with Kiss frontman Gene Simmons and bandmates Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer in the executive lounge of the Sheraton Hotel where they signed autographs and handed out backstage passes and T-shirts to her staff.

“It was really fun to meet Kiss and Gene Simmons,” she told reporters, noting that they seemed well-informed about current events. (Read the full post about ‘Condoleezza Rice ‘Thrilled’ By Meeting With Kiss’…)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Harvey Korman, the tall, versatile comedian who won four Emmys for his outrageously funny contributions to “The Carol Burnett Show” and played a conniving politician to hilarious effect in “Blazing Saddles,” died Thursday. He was 81.

Korman died at UCLA Medical Center after suffering complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm four months ago, his family said. He had undergone several major operations.

“He was a brilliant comedian and a brilliant father,” daughter Kate Korman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “He had a very good sense of humor in real life. (Read the full post about ‘Actor Harvey Korman Dies At 81 In Los Angeles’…)

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) ― Joseph Pevney, who directed some of the best-loved episodes of the original “Star Trek” television series, has died. He was 96.

Pevney died May 18 at his home in Palm Desert, said his wife, Margo.

Pevney directed 14 episodes of the 1960s series, including “The City on the Edge of Forever,” in which Capt. Kirk and Spock travel back in time to the Depression, and “The Trouble With Tribbles,” in which the starship Enterprise is infested with cute, furry creatures.

Pevney loved the series, said his son, Jay.

“He was surprised at the longevity of it because it was not a popular series at the time; it hit its real popularity (in syndication) after it was over,” he said.

Pevney directed with precision and was highly organized “but he was very relaxed — in fact, jovial — in the way he directed,” said George Takei, who played Sulu. (Read the full post about ‘‘Star Trek’ Director Joseph Pevney Dies At 96′…)

BOSTON (AP) ― Dunkin’ Donuts said Wednesday it stopped running an online advertisement featuring Rachael Ray after complaints that a fringed black-and-white scarf that the celebrity chef wore in the ad offers symbolic support for Muslim extremism and terrorism.

The coffee and baked goods chain said the ad that began appearing online May 7 was pulled over the past weekend because “the possibility of misperception detracted from its original intention to promote our iced coffee.”

In the spot, Ray wears the scarf around her neck and holds an iced coffee while standing in front of trees with pink blossoms.

Critics, including conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, complained that the scarf looked similar to the black-and-white checkered kaffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf. (Read the full post about ‘Rachael Ray’s Scarf Prompts Ad Complaints’…)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The wife of entertainer Bill Murray wants a divorce after nearly 11 years of marriage.

Jennifer Butler Murray filed papers May 12th in Charleston County, South Carolina, where she owns a home.

The complaint was first reported by The Post and Courier of Charleston. It alleges abusive behavior, drug and alcohol addiction, and frequent abandonment by the former “Saturday Night Live” star.

An attorney for Murray says the actor is deeply saddened by the breakup and is committed to the best interests of the couple’s four children.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

(Read the full post about ‘Wife Of Actor Bill Murray Files For Divorce’…)

LEBANON, Maine (AP) ― A hospital spokeswoman said the medical condition of a Lebanon, Maine, teenager who lost a leg in a train accident has improved significantly.

Destiny Phaneuf, 13, was upgraded from critical condition on Thursday to fair condition Friday, meaning she was conscious and her vital signs were stable and within normal range, according to Mary Saucier of Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Investigators with the York County Sheriff’s Office said Phaneuf and a friend, 14-year-old Rachel Brown, were sunbathing on railroad tracks near Milton Three Ponds when they were struck by a train Wednesday morning. Investigators said the girls might have fallen asleep on the tracks. (Read the full post about ‘Sunbathing Girls Hit By Train Continue To Improve’…)

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Boston’s Freedom Trail has been named among the top 10 best free attractions in the U.S. and Europe.

As gas prices soar among tough economic times, more travelers are looking for ways to save money this summer.

According to TripAdvisor, the Freedom Trail in Boston is ranked as the ninth best free attraction.

The No. 1 attraction is the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas, followed by the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

See below for the full top 10 free attractions list:

1. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas
2. Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

(Read the full post about ‘Freedom Trail Among Top 10 Best Free Attractions’…)

BOSTON (WBZ) ― A two-alarm fire tore through the Boston Veal & Lamb warehouse in New Market Square overnight.

The blaze broke out around 2 a.m. Saturday, igniting the building’s roof.

The employees working the overnight shift were evaluated and are OK.

The large industrial building on Southampton Street is a veal and lamb distribution, cutting and packing plant.

Boston fire officials said air conditioning units on the roof were to blame for the fire.  Firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread to nearby buildings.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc.

(Read the full post about ‘Fire Tears Through Boston Lamb & Veal Plant’…)

BOSTON (AP) ― Boston’s new Big Three reached the NBA’s big stage. And just like their predecessors, they’ll share it with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Celtics and Lakers are meeting again in the NBA finals, with Kobe and KG taking their place alongside the likes of Magic and Bird in the league’s most storied rivalry.

“It means everything to Boston fans,” Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. “To me, I think that’s what pretty much got me started in basketball.

Growing up in Los Angeles, watching the Lakers and the Celtics, and it’s ironic, just being a Celtic, growing up, now you’re playing against the Lakers in the finals. (Read the full post about ‘Pumped Celtics Ready To Face Off Against Lakers’…)

BALTIMORE (AP) ― Boston put up one zero after another, its offense stuck in neutral as the game passed the 4 1/2-hour mark. Then the Red Sox got the perfect jump-start for their anemic bats: three errors by the Baltimore Orioles in the pivotal 13th inning.

Boston scored three unearned runs on just two hits in the lucky 13th and escaped with a 5-2 victory Friday night.

“We’ll take them however we get them,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “That was kind of a loseable game. We had chances to lose that game and we didn’t.”

Mike Lowell had three hits, and Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits and half of Boston’s club-record six stolen bases. (Read the full post about ‘Orioles’ Errors, Lowell’s Single Gives Red Sox Win’…)