OBAMA READIES ACTION ON GUNS
honolulu » President Barack Obama is expected to take executive action next week to expand when background checks are conducted on gun sales.
That’s according to an individual whose gun control advocacy group has been briefed by administration officials about the timing. The person was not authorized to discuss details before the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity.
White House officials won’t confirm the timing. Spokesman Eric Schultz says the president has asked his team to see if additional action can be taken administratively to address gun violence and that the president expects the work to be completed soon.
White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said earlier this month that recommendations being submitted to Obama will include measures to expand background checks.
Aides quit Ben Carson campaign B
des moines, iowa » Several top aides to Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson resigned on Thursday, citing frustration with the influence of the retired neurosurgeon’s business manager and questioning his readiness for the White House.
Barry Bennett and DougWatts, both seasoned political operatives, stepped down with less than five weeks before voters in Iowa begin the nominating process with the state’s Feb. 1 caucuses.
Bennett was Carson’s campaign manager. Watts was communications director. But Bennett said Carson’s longtime business manager, Armstrong Williams, is the adviser who has Carson’s ear, even thoughWilliams does not have a formal role in the campaign. Caitlyn Jenner crash suit settled. A woman injured in a fatal crash involving Caitlyn Jenner has settled her lawsuit against the reality TV star.
Los Angeles court records filed this month by Jenner’s lawyer show that Jessica Steindorff settled her case.
The court papers do not indicate terms of the settlement.
Steindorff had sought unspecified damages against the 66year- old Jenner for the Feb. 7 crash on the Pacific Coast Highway inMalibu. One woman was killed and several other people were injured.
Sheriff’s investigators determined Jenner was traveling at an unsafe speed for traffic conditions. Prosecutors declined to file a vehicular manslaughter charge against Jenner, who won a 1976 Olympic gold medal in decathlon as Bruce Jenner before recently transitioning to a woman.
George Lucas apologizes for comment B »
los angeles George Lucas has apologized for criticizing Disney’s handling of “StarWars” and saying he had sold his characters to “white slavers” in a recent interview with Charlie Rose.
In a statement issued Thursday, Lucas says he misspoke and used a “very inappropriate analogy.” It’s not clear what he meant, and Rose didn’t ask a followup question on his PBS show that aired Dec. 24.
The “StarWars” creator sold Lucasfilm to theWalt Disney Co. in 2012 for $ 4.06 billion, and the studio developed “The Force Awakens” with J. J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy.
In the statement, Lucas says Disney is moving the franchise in exciting directions.
Mistakenly freed inmate charged in death B
seattle » Washington state officials say a prisoner mistakenly released early because of a computer error has been charged with shooting a teenager to death during a robbery in May.
Department of Corrections secretary Dan Pacholke said Thursday that Jeremiah Smith was released on May 14. He was arrested and charged with firstdegree murder and robbery in the May 26 death of 17- year- old CeasarMedina. Authorities say Smith shouldn’t have been released until Aug. 10.