Massachusetts

NEW YORK (AP) ― Whitney Houston has issued a statement denying the rumors of a reunion with Bobby Brown.

Acting on behalf of Houston, the singer’s publicist Nancy Seltzer calls speculation that the exes are getting back together “a complete fabrication.”

Seltzer pinpoints the rumors to a report in Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times that said Houston and Brown had been spotted out and about in Georgia looking romantic.

Houston and Brown divorced in April 2007 after 14 years of marriage. During their tumultuous union, Brown was arrested on drug and alcohol charges, and Houston twice entered drug rehabilitation programs. Houston has custody of their teenage daughter, Bobbi Kristina. (Read the full post about ‘Whitney Houston: No Plans To Take Bobby Brown Back’…)

NEW YORK (AP) ― Madonna’s awakening to the crisis in Malawi — an impoverished African nation where one million children are orphaned by AIDS — had many consequences.

She adopted one of those orphans, her 3-year-old son David. She is building a school there.

And she has told Malawi’s harrowing story in her documentary, “I Am Because We Are.” With an audience thus far limited to isolated theater screenings, it will be screened for everyone with its TV premiere on Sundance Channel at 9 p.m. EST Monday (World AIDS Day).

The feature-length film was written, produced and narrated by Madonna (directed by Nathan Rissman). (Read the full post about ‘Madonna’s Film On Malawi Orphans To Air On TV’…)

VATICAN CITY (AP) ― A new album of songs based on poems by the late Pope John Paul II and performed by Placido Domingo goes on sale in Italy.

The world famous tenor says the album “Amore Infinito” (”Infinite Love”) will not just speak to the faithful. He says “these are songs for everyone.”

The 12-track record was presented Friday at the Vatican.

The CD features duets with Andrea Bocelli, Vanessa Williams and Katherine Jenkins. The lyrics are in Italian, English and Spanish.

The Deutsche Grammophon record label says the CD will come out next month in Mexico, where Domingo grew up, and worldwide in January.

John Paul published poems, plays and philosophical essays before he became pope. (Read the full post about ‘CD Of Songs Based On Late Pope’s Poems On Sale’…)

NEW YORK (AP) ― Playwright William Gibson, whose “The Miracle Worker” has thrilled audiences for nearly a half-century with the true story of the deaf-blind Helen Keller’s rescue from a world of ignorance, has died. He was 94.

Gibson died Tuesday in Stockbridge, Mass., according to the Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.

Gibson wrote a dozen plays, including the Tony-winning “Two for the Seesaw,” but would be forever known for “The Miracle Worker.” First written for television, the story of a young Keller forging a relationship with her teacher, Annie Sullivan, made its Broadway debut in 1959.

“Nothing in the theatre this season is so overwhelming as the last inarticulate but eloquent scene in which a frantic little girl for the first time understands the meaning of a word and realizes that the teacher is not a fiend but a friend,” New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson wrote. (Read the full post about ‘‘Miracle Worker’ Author William Gibson Dies At 94′…)

ATLANTA (AP) ― In his hit “Whatever You Like,” rapper T.I. offers iced Patron tequila and stacks of money to the lady in his life.

On Thursday at Turner Field, the Atlanta native was instead offering steaming spoonfuls of corn, but the stacks were still involved — this time for an Atlanta food bank struggling during the bad economy.

T.I. volunteered at the city’s largest Thanksgiving dinner at the Atlanta Braves’ home field. The event, which turned out close to 22,000, was organized by the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless.

“It’s a pleasure for me to help service those who are definitely in need of the service,” said T.I., before taking his spot on the serving line.

T.I. (Read the full post about ‘T.I. Serves Thanksgiving Dinner To Atlanta Needy’…)

BOSTON (AP) ― Police across Massachusetts will soon be able to share detailed information on gang members, from criminal histories and known associates to the tattoos that indicate gang affiliation.

In January, the Criminal History Systems Board, which handles the state’s telecommunications network for law enforcement agencies, plans to launch the new database, called MassGangs.

The system is funded by a $1.2 million federal Department of Justice grant and will let investigators share the gang-related information as soon as it becomes available.

The board’s executive director Curt Wood tells the Boston Globe that the system will also be used by the Department of Correction to monitor potential gang-related security threats in prisons. (Read the full post about ‘New Database To Help Police Share Info On Gangs’…)

JACKSON, N.H. (AP) ― Two wounded soldiers and their families will enjoy an old-fashioned New Hampshire Christmas thanks to a new program that started with one family’s generosity and has spread to an entire town.

Gerald Carrier, a retired dentist from New Bedford, Mass., has been bringing his family to Jackson for the holidays since 1969. When he and his family offered to adopt two military families and put them up in a hotel for a week, the whole town got in on the act, with numerous businesses donating gift cards for lodging, shopping and activities.

“For us, Christmas goes over the top, as you can expect when you put that much love for one another in one room,” said Andre Carrier of Las Vegas. (Read the full post about ‘2 Wounded Soldiers To Enjoy Holidays In N.H.’…)

CHESTNUT HILL (AP) ― Billy Flutie, the Boston College backup quarterback and nephew of Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie, threw for a 9-yard touchdown on a fake field goal Saturday to lead the 20th-ranked Eagles to a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game with a 28-21 victory over Maryland.
 
BC (9-3, 5-3 ACC) will play Virginia Tech on Saturday — the second straight year the former Big East foes will play for the ACC’s spot in the Orange Bowl.

Maryland (7-5, 4-4) fell to 4-1 against ranked teams this season and into a logjam of ACC teams seeking a secondary bowl berth; the conference has 10 teams competing for nine guaranteed spots. (Read the full post about ‘BC Advances To ACC Title Game’…)

HYANNISPORT (WBZ) ― Sen. Edward Kennedy took advantage of the nice weather Saturday and went for a sail off the coast of Hyannisport. 

He was joined by his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, and other relatives.

Kennedy, who is fighting a malignant brain tumor, returned to work in the Senate earlier this month for the first time since July.
 
He’s expected to receive an honorary degree from Harvard on Monday.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(Read the full post about ‘Kennedy Goes Sailing Off Hyannisport’…)

LOWELL (AP) ― Authorities say three men stabbed and killed a 7-Eleven worker in Lowell after the victim exited a Chelmsford Street store to take a break.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone says Mazen Alwarad of Lowell was flown to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, where he was pronounced dead following the early Saturday attack.

Witnesses say the 37-year-old Alwarad had just exited the convenience store to take his break when he was attacked by three men in the parking lot.
 
Lowell Police responded to reports of the stabbing at about 6:45 a.m.

Local and state police continue to investigate circumstances surrounding the incident. (Read the full post about ‘7-Eleven Worker Killed On Break’…)