PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Elvis admirers remember his death 42 years ago with vigil
Elvis Presley fans carrying lit candles in the Tennessee night are visiting the rock ’n’ roll icon’s grave at Graceland during the annual vigil commemorating his death on Aug. 16, 1977.
Presley admirers from all over the world descend on Memphis every year to honor his life and career during Elvis Week.
The vigil is the week’s cornerstone event, with silent mourners filing slowly past his resting place and the graves of his parents and grandmother in the Meditation Garden at his former home, Graceland. The vigil started Thursday night.
Metallica donates to Romanian pediatric cancer hospital
Metallica says it has donated $277,600 to support the construction of Romania’s first pediatric oncology hospital. The American heavy metal band, which is popular in Romania, made the donation ahead of its sold-out show Wednesday in Romania’s National Arena, according to the band’s All Within My Hands nonprofit foundation.
The funds went to the Daruieste Viata (Bestow Life) association, which is working to modernize Romania’s medical infrastructure, increase its cancer survival rate and build the country’s first Pediatric Oncology and Radiotherapy Hospital. The group says the country’s cancer survival rate is well below the European Union average.
Few hospitals have been built in Romania since the 1989 fall of communism, a situation most blame on endemic government corruption.
Actor Michael Madsen pleads no contest to DUI
Michael Madsen has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor drunken driving after crashing his SUV into a pole in Malibu, California, in March.
The “Reservoir Dogs” actor entered the plea to one count of driving with 0.08 blood alcohol content within 10 years of another DUI offense. He was sentenced Thursday to four days in jail and five years’ probation.
No one was injured when Madsen’s Toyota Land Rover ran into a pole on March 24.
The 61-year-old is best known for playing gun-toting tough guys in the films of director Quentin Tarantino.
Crash injures comedians on way to Atlanta performance
Comedians Bobcat Goldthwait and Dana Gould reportedly suffered minor injuries in a car crash on their way to perform at an Atlanta theater.
It happened Thursday just outside Relapse Comedy Theatre. Atlanta police Officer Tasheena Brown says the comedians’ driver failed to yield when turning left and struck another car. The driver was cited for violations including driving on a suspended license. The comedians were taken to Grady Hospital with minor injuries, and the other driver declined treatment.
The Atlanta Journal-constitution reported that tickets to the Thursday night performance of “The Show With Two Heads” were refunded.
R. Kelly judge to proceed to trial despite three new cases
An Illinois judge overseeing singer R. Kelly’s sexual-abuse case says he’ll proceed toward a trial despite three new cases being brought against Kelly.
Cook County Judge Lawrence Flood noted Thursday at a hearing that a federal case in Chicago, one in New York and one in Minnesota have been brought since July. Kelly has denied any wrongdoing.
The multiple cases complicate moving Kelly from a Chicago jail to different hearings.
– From wire reports