The California wildfires are still dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to hear the latest from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy -- and to learn about a punk rock street fair in Mexico.
-- Eric Carvin
(AP Photo/Chris Park)
Straight from the AP wires:
Calif. wind-fueled fires force mass evacuations
Heavy rains flood parts of New Orleans
Czech government favors hosting U.S. missile defense
Ahmadinejad criticized over nuclear envoy
Marie Osmond faints onstage during "Dancing with the Stars"
PHOTO: People who were recently evacuated from their homes during the San Diego wildfires try to get some sleep while others arrive and set up camp at Qualcomm Stadium on Monday.
-- Jaime Holguin
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Straight from the AP wires:
Wildfires rage in Southern California
Turkey: Troops missing after Kurdish rebel ambush
NASA won't disclose air safety survey
GOP rivals argue who's most conservative
Lawyer: Spears regains child visitation rights
-- Jaime Holguin
(AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling outed Hogwarts' headmaster.
Albus Dumbledore, the master wizard, is gay.
AP National Writer Hillel Italie reports Rowlning confirmed the rumors while appearing at Carnegie Hall in New York. Rowling explained Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated in a duel yeas ago. Rowling explained that the just-completed, seven-part series was a "prolonged argument for tolerance."
-- Howie Rumberg
(AP Photo/Columbia
Pictures)
Hollywood royalty Deborah Kerr, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, died Tuesday in Suffolk in eastern England. She was 86. Read more about her life in this AP obituary. She'll probably best be remembered for the above kiss, that passionate 1953 embrace in "From Here to Eternity."
-- Derrik J. Lang
(AP Photo/Rene Macura,File)
We shouldn't be surprised that Stephen Colbert threw his wristband into the presidential ring Tuesday. The man has a book out, after all.
No, the surprising thing is this pathetic kowtow to his show's flaming liberal audience. The AP's Jake Coyle reports that the popular satirist will run as a Republican AND a Democrat. A Democrat!!!
What happened to the papa bear we all learned to love? Where are the values? The self-respect? For shame, Stephen. For shame.
To read more about this flip-flop artist, check out Coyle's story.
-- Otis Hart
It's Fashion Week in Los Angeles.
Nicky Hilton, 23, kicked things off last night at Smashbox Studios where she unveiled her spring Chick by Nicky Hilton collection. Chick is the casual wear label she launched in 2004. Hilton made her New York Fashion Week debut last month with her high-end Nicholai line.
"It's my first clothing line," she said of Chick. "So it's my baby."
The model to the left is shown on the runway in one of Hilton's Chick designs in a photograph by The AP's Matt Sayles.
"It's very cute, very girly, very feminine. It's very reflective of the L.A. lifestyle - laid-back, casual," Hilton said. "Nicholai is definitely for the mature, sophisticated customer ... whereas Chick is just fun pieces."
The five-day lineup will feature 34 spring collections, including designs by funky L.A.-based Petro Zillia, New York's spunky Heatherette, former Haltson designer Randolph Duke and eco-conscious labels such as Eviden of Evolution.
For more on Hilton's line, read this report by AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen. Also, couple more photos by Sayles after the jump...
Continue reading "Nicky Hilton kicks off L.A. Fashion Week" »
(AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Led Zeppelin is finally taking to the Internets.
The band's entire catalog will be available digitally starting Nov. 13, just in time for a two-CD retrospective and a reunion concert in London on Nov. 26.
But wait, that's not all.
The Associated Press reports the band has signed a separate deal with Verizon Wireless to offer their songs as ringtones and downloads to mobile phones.
Read more in this AP story.
-- Jaime Holguin
(AP Photo/Martin Cleaver)
.... because she was out shopping when the Swedish Academy made the announcement for the prize in literature.
The AP's Matt Moore and Karl Ritter report that Lessing, a British writer, is the oldest recipient of the Nobel Literature prize. The decision reflects her body of work, which started in 1950 with "The Grass Is Singing."
Read the entire story here.
-- Otis Hart
A Pennsylvania collector isn't saying how much he paid for a near-mint copy of a pre-World War II comic featuring Batman's debut that was recently discovered in an attic.
What we do know, however, is that the copy of Detective Comics 27 purchased by collector Todd McDevitt can fetch up to $500,000.
It's considered to be the second-most valuable comic, next to the one where Superman makes his first appearance.
For more, read this AP story.
-- Jaime Holguin
(AP Photo / Czarek Sokolowski)
"You don't see nuns getting arrested everyday."
That's how Susan Plageman, an AP photo supervisor, introduced this photo from Kazimierz Dolny, Poland, at this morning's AP global news meeting -- one of several pictures she highlighted as being among the best of the day.
The woman in the photo is one of about 65 ex-nuns and a monk who were removed by police from a convent, which they've occupied for two years during a dispute with the Vatican over the removal of their mother superior.
Court officials and police pushed their way into the convent on Wednesday to evict the ex-nuns and monk.
Plageman also showed a photo, below, from the funeral of two Christian women killed in Baghdad by workers from a private security firm. The sister of one of the victims is seen among the mourners.
(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
See below for more of Plageman's top photo picks.
-- Eric Carvin
(AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)
A plea deal for Kiefer Sutherland, and yes: He's going to jail.
Sutherland will serve 48 days in jail and must enroll in an 18-month alcohol-education class after pleading no contest to a charge of driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.
The nitty gritty details of the "24" star's arrest after a fateful U-turn last month are in Raquel Maria Dillon's AP story.
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
A Minneapolis playwright is pulling no punches with his portrait of Kirby Puckett, played by Actor Ansa Akyea (above, left).
Syl Jones calls his new work, which starts Oct. 13 in Minneapolis, a tribute to the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame centerfielder, who died from a stroke in March of 2006. That doesn't mean he's leaving out Puckett's demons -- of which there were many.
Read the full story of Jones' creation after the jump, by AP writer Jeff Baenen.
Josh L. Dickey
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The top stories of the moment, straight from the AP wires:
Bush, Texas at Odds Over Death Case
China Evacuates 1 Million As Storm Hits
Sex Offender Arrested in Virginia
Embattled Idaho Senator Honored in State
Report: Lindsay Lohan Leaves Rehab
Lights Out! Rockies Roar Into NLCS
In the photo: Fans cheer as the Rockies sweep the series.
(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)
According to People magazine, Lindsay Lohan is back in the real world (yikes!), having left a rehab center in Utah.
The oh-so-exclusive Cirque Lodge treatment center, however, promises clients anonymity and wouldn't say a word. Whatever -- we'll find out soon enough.
Read more in this AP story.
-- Hillary Rhodes
(AP Photo/Nathan Strange)
Have giant alien spiders taken over the streets of London, snacking on pedestrians and snaring Royal Air Force fighter jets with their 20-story-tall webs?
One can only assume so, based on this photo shot today by Nathan Strange. But as previous installments of "What the @#!% is that?" have proved, you shouldn't head for the hills over a frightening AP photo until you've given it a really careful examination.
See below to find out what you're looking at here.
-- Eric Carvin
(AP Photo/Bob Brodbeck)
Actress Ashley Judd, whose movie credits include "Double Jeopardy," "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" and "De-Lovely," is taking her big hats, dark sunglasses and soaking-wet sundresses to stock car racing.
Judd, a regular at Indy Racing League events for the past several years, will now be a fixture at NASCAR events, mugging for cameras, waving to admirers and generally seeing and being seen on America's more popular racing circuit.
Judd could begin running in her new circles as early as Friday, when her husband, reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti, makes his move to stock car racing with an ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway.
--Josh L. Dickey
What do Zapatista leader Subcommandante Marcos and Radiohead have in common?
Probably not much. But today, both are getting a lot of attention from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
(AP Photo/Danny Moloshok, FILE)
Pop princess Britney Spears has lost custody of her children.
Superior Court Judge Scott M. Gordon ruled that ex-husband Kevin Federline will take Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, beginning Wednesday "until further order of the court."
The order stemmed from an unspecified oral motion made by Federline's
lawyers and was handled in a closed-door hearing. The judge's order did
not state the reason for the change in custody and he ordered all
transcripts of the proceedings sealed. Spears has persistent drug and alcohol problems.
See the story
-- Megan K. Scott
(AP Photo/Disney/Ron Phillips)
Disney's "The Game Plan" worked this weekend as the family film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson opened as the No. 1 film at the box office with an estimated $22.7 million in ticket sales.
Johnson plays a football quarterback whose bachelor lifestyle is upended when a daughter he never knew he had arrives.
"The Kingdom," starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner as members of a U.S. team investigating a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia, made its debut at No. 2 with a solid $17.7 million.
For more details on the box office derby, read this report by AP movie writer David Germain.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
U.N. envoys meets with Myanmar opposition leader
Bush administration denounces Iraq split plan
Karzai says Taliban debating peace; violence continues
Gitmo detainees on Supreme Court docket
Los Lobos show to benefit alma mater
Ethiopian sets new marathon record
Caption: A Myanmar citizen living in Japan, holding a photograph of Myanmar's detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, shouts a slogan along with others during a protest march against Myanmar's military junta today in downtown Tokyo. A senior Japanese official left for Myanmar today to convey international concerns over a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests, and to urge its leaders to take steps toward democracy.
--Paul Chavez
A man who faced a prison term for trying to extort more than $1 million from Tom Cruise for the actor's stolen wedding photos was found dead in his home and apparently committed suicide, officials said.
David Hans Schmidt, 47, agreed to plead guilty and was under house arrest at the time of his death.
Schmidt was arrested in July after he repeatedly made contact with Cruise representatives and threatened to release wedding photos if he didn't receive between $1.2 and $1.3 million.
For more details, read this report filed today from Phoenix.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Hong Kong director Wayne Wang won the award for best film today at the San Sebastian International Film Festival for his movie "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" and the film's star, Henry O, won the award for best actor.
Wang, 58, is best known for his 1990s films "The Joy Luck Club" and the critically acclaimed "Smoke." Wang, shown above, based the screenplay for "Thousand Years" on Chinese short stories about the lives of Chinese in China and the United States.
For more details on the film festival and its winners, read this report from Madrid, Spain, by Harold Heckle.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Taliban suicide blast in Kabul kills 30
UN envoy tries to end junta crackdown in Myanmar
Pakistan approves Musharraf's re-election bid
S.E. Hinton remembers 'The Outsiders'
Caption: Afghan police collect samples from a military bus destroyed in a suicide bombing attack.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo)
Oprah Winfrey makes more money than God.
The talk-show host earned an estimated $260 million between June 2006 and June 2007, so far in front of second-place Jerry Seinfeld, it's not even funny.
According to Forbes' list of the richest people on TV, Seinfeld made $60 million, thanks to reruns of his sitcom "Seinfeld," which he partly owns. Simon Cowell of Fox's "American Idol" places third with $45 million, David Letterman, fourth with $40 million, and Donald Trump and Jay Leno tied at fifth with $32 million in earnings.
To check out the rest of Forbes' list here.
-- Otis Hart
(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Portable People Meters are rocking the radio industry.
A rollout of new technology that uses embedded audio codes to determine what people are actually listening to has changed how stations are programmed and how advertisers spend their money. (The meter looks like a pager and is pictured above.)
The old system involves asking a group of people to keep a diary listing what stations they've been listening to.
AP Business Writer Seth Sutel has the full story on how Arbitron's new gadgets are changing the $20 billion radio business.
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Allen G. Breed, an AP national writer based in Raleigh, N.C., recently had the opportunity to interview Betty Lynn -- the actress who played Thelma Lou in "The Andy Griffith Show" -- for an AP story. (That's them in the photo above.)
After the interview, Breed shared some audio clips he gathered with Far and Wide: Lynn talks about one of her favorite episodes.
Lynn comments on her relationship with fellow actors.
Lynn talks about her early days in radio.
During World War II, Lynn performed variety shows at field hospitals.
What was Thelma Lou's last name? And how'd she end up with that house?
See below for some of Breed's reflections on his experience meeting Thelma Lou.
The following are some of the top international photos from The Associated Press today.
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
(AP Photo/Greg Baker)
(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
(AP Photo/Wisam Sami)
From top to bottom:
-- Bernadette Tuazon
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Legendary music producer Phil Spector walked out of a Los Angeles courthouse today after a mistrial was declared in his murder trial. The jury reported that it was deadlocked 10-2 in favor of convicting Spector for the shooting death more than 4 1/2 years ago of actress Lana Clarkson at his mansion.
The district attorney's office said it will seek to retry Spector, who is shown above with his wife, Rachelle, as they left the courthouse today.
The jury met for about 44 hours over 12 days since getting the case on Sept. 10.
For more on the case, read this report filed by AP special correspondent Linda Deutsch.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
If you're reading this, you probably weren't in line for "Halo 3" last night. Otherwise, you'd be busy mastering Master Chief's new weapons and vehicles or catching up on some sleep right about now.
Microsoft hasn't revealed exact sales numbers just yet, but the game is expected to blast past "Spider-Man 3" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" at cash registers around the world. See more photos from the "Halo 3" launch, after the jump.
-- Derrik J. Lang
Continue reading "Fans finally get their hands on "Halo 3"" »
Amazon MP3 is open for business.
Amazon.com's digital music store launched Tuesday with more than 2 million songs, all without copy-protection technology.
That means tracks can be copied to multiple computers, burned onto CDs and played on most types of PCs and portable devices, including Apple Inc.'s iPod.
The downside, however, is that it doesn't offer artists on major music labels that still require anti-piracy locks.
Read more in this AP story.
-- Jaime Holguin
Here are the top stories of the moment, straight from the AP wires.
Bush to urge U.N. to fight for freedom
Ahmadinejad questions 9/11, Holocaust
U.S. snipers accused of 'baiting' Iraqis
Myanmar monks defy Junta, resume rallies
Springsteen gives fans preview of tour
PHOTO: Bruce
Springsteen performs with the E Street Band at
Asbury Park's Paramount Theater Monday, in Asbury Park,
N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
-- Jaime Holguin
(AP Photo/George Nikitin, Xbox)
And for a not-bad reason, for once.
Yes, "Halo 3" is hitting stores tonight after way too much hype. Friends will get in deathmatches, servers will fail, and eyes will glaze over. We got our press copy in the office today, but haven't tried it yet.
And lest anybody forget, AP's video game writer Matt Slagle reminds us: This is big business, people.
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Jessica Alba (left) lost out to the zombies (right).
Alright, TRL host Damien Fahey isn't a zombie.
Still, Alba's "Good Luck Chuck" was beaten at the box office by Milla Jovovich's "Resident Evil: Extinction," $24 million to $14 million. The full story by AP Movie Writer David Germain is here. asap's Jessica Alba coverage is here and a Q&A with Alba by AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen is here. This concludes our Jessica Alba links for the day.
The rest of the weekend's top 10 movies:
3. "The Brave One," $7.4 million.
4. "3:10 to Yuma," $6.35 million.
5. "Eastern Promises," $5.7 million.
6. "Sydney White," $5.3 million.
7. "Mr. Woodcock," $5 million.
8. "Superbad," $3.1 million.
9. "The Bourne Ultimatum," $2.8 million.
10. "Dragon Wars," $2.5 million.
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo, file)
Above is a moment of white space silence for Marcel Marceau. And now, we're not actually speaking but pantomiming this link to Angela Doland's AP obituary.
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, file)
George, seriously, don't pass on the right!
Police say Clooney and his rumored current girlfriend Sarah Larson were injured when their motorcycle collided with a Mazda they were passing on the right. Clooney broke a rib and suffered scrapes, and Larson broke her foot.
It happened yesterday on a narrow road in Weekhawken, N.J., just across the Hudson River from New York City. The money quote came from city police Sgt. Sean Kelly: "It's a he-said, she-said right now, but you can't pass on the right in Weehawken or anywhere in Jersey."
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo/Joel Page)
Gotta love those speed-eating contests.
Eater X took on all comers -- and lots of rice, black beans, pork and cheese -- to win a burrito-eating championship today. That's him on the left.
They do these on weekends to fill up slow news days.
Still, here are the details: Eater X is the name taken on by Tim Janus, a 30-year-old day trader and aspiring pizza chef from New York. He ate 10 burritos in 12 minutes. That is all.
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo/George DuBose, File)
Gabba gabba pay me.
Richard "Richie Ramone" Reinhardt, a member of the pioneering punk band, the Ramones, is suing for royalties. Reinhardt played with the Ramones from 1983-87 and claims he is owed nearly $1 million in royalties on songs sold over the Internet.
AP Writer David B. Caruso reports Reinhardt sued Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Apple Inc., RealNetworks Inc., the band's management and the estate of its lead guitarist, John "Johnny Ramone" Cummings. He claims he never made a deal to sell his songs digitally.
The six songs Reinhardt wrote for the Ramones were "Smash You," "Somebody Put Something in My Drink," "Human Kind," "I'm Not Jesus," "I Know Better Now" and "(You) Can't Say Something Nice.
-- Howie Ruumberg
(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)
A 19-year-old MIT student came to Boston's Logan International Airport with a fake bomb strapped to her chest in plain view, officials said.
Star Simpson said it was an art project that she wanted to show off for career day. Police said it was lucky she complied with them, or else they could've used force and hurt or killed her.
Read more about this strange case in this story by the AP's Glen Johnson.
In the photo: Manning Boston's Logan Airport.
-- Hillary Rhodes
(AP
Photo/Alex Brandon)
Here are the top stories of the moment, straight from the AP wires.
82 Killed in Afghanistan Violence
Democrats Failing to Pass Anti-War Bill
2 Students Shot at Delaware State
Iraq: Boycott of Sermons After Killings
La. Protests Hark Back to '50s, '60s
McCarthy Calls Carrey 'Autism Whisperer'
In the photo: March in Jena, La.
-- Hillary Rhodes
The protests in Jena, La., the "Leave Britney alone" guy and his possible TV deal, and some new al-Qaida videos are getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Here are the top stories at the moment, straight from the AP wires.
Bin Laden Tape to Declare War on Musharraf
U.S. Commander: Violence in Baghdad Down
Rice: Peace Parley Must Be Substantive
O.J. Is Back in Fla. After Posting Bail
Iran Leader Denied on WTC Wreath Request
NBC to Offer Free Episode Downloads
In the photo: O.J. Simpson, right, arriving at the Fort. Lauderdale International Airport.
(AP
Photo/Heng Sinith)
Here are the top stories of the moment, straight from the AP wires.
O.J. Simpson to Be Arraigned Today
Stocks Point to Plus Open After Big Gain
Iraqi PM Disputes Blackwater Version
Former Khmer Rouge Leader Arrested
Spector Jury Is Locked in 7-5 Impasse
In the photo: A helicopter carrying former Khmer Rouge number two leader Nuon Chea past a Buddhist temple out Pailin, Cambodia.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kanye over 50! West bests Cent!
"Graduation" sold nearly 1 million copies in its first week -- the best such stat this year for any album -- and "Curtis" sold more like 700,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
But really, the music industry won. Kenny Chesney's CD sold over 300,000 copies in this past week and "High School Musical 2" sold more than 100,000. Universal Music Group executives must be really happy: The company controls (read: profits from) both of the labels that released the Kanye and Fiddy albums.
AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody stopped by the Def Jam HQ to talk with that the label's president and West's "Big Brother" Jay-Z about the Sept. 11 sales battle. Read her story here.
--Ryan Pearson
(AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Here are the top stories this morning, straight from the AP wires:
Federal Reserve Expected to Cut Key Rate
Simpson Friend: It Seemed Like a Setup
U.S. Home Foreclosures Soar in August
Lawyer: Musharraf Will Give Up Army Post
N. Korea Denies Nuclear Ties With Syria
Digital 'Smiley Face' Turns 25
In the photo: Wall Street declined Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve's Tuesday
decision on interest rates.
(AP Photo/Jae C.
Hong)
Maybe he's trying to write a sequel: "If I Did It: Armed Robbery."
O.J. Simpson isn't trying too hard to prove the jury was right to acquit him in his murder trial. First there's the book "If I Did It," a "hypothetical" explanation for the killing of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, and now there's this -- charges connected with armed robbery.
-- Hillary Rhodes
