| The state of California has effectively closed Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, citing his failure to provide his employees with health insurance and fining him $69,000, TheSmokingGun.com reports. He now faces lawsuits if he doesn't pay $400,000 in
penalties and back pay owed to nearly 50 workers. Jackson is currently living in Bahrain and had no immediate comment. Also, two men pled guilty in a plea agreement on Monday to secretly videotaping Jackson in November 2003 as he flew from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara to surrender on child molestation charges. They face up to five years in jail and heavy fines. David and Victoria Beckham have reached a confidential settlement with the News of the World over a story that alleged the couple's marriage
was a sham.
U2 has postponed the final 10 dates of the sold-out Vertigo '06 tour due to the illness of one of the band member's close relatives. The concerts were slated to take place in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii.
Dayanara Torres, former Miss Universe and ex-wife of Marc Anthony, underwent a three-hour surgery at a New York hospital last week to remove scar tissue that had caused a blockage in her intestine, Us Weekly reports.
Heather Locklear is challenging the objectivity of the second judge assigned to handle her divorce from Richie Sambora, a week after Sambora filed papers challenging the objectivity of the first judge. The couple is believed to be angling to have their case assigned to a private judge.
Metallica will induct Black Sabbath into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday and will perform a short set of Sabbath songs, according to the band's Website.
Madonna told Out magazine's April issue that daughter Lourdes asked if she was gay after she kissed Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. "I am the mommy pop star and she is the baby pop star. And I am kissing her to pass my energy on to her," the Material Mom replied.
Yanni was arrested at his home in Manalpan, Florida, for allegedly roughing up his girlfriend in a domestic dispute, according to police. The new age superstar faces a domestic battery charge. He has denied the allegations.
Prosecutors have opted not to charge former Creed frontman Scott Stapp with public drunkenness after the singer allegedly showed up hammered at Los Angeles International Airport in February with his new wife on the way to Hawaii for their honeymoon.
Two-time Grammy winner Ali Farka Toure, a traditional African musician and one of the continent's most famous performers, died Tuesday in his native Mali after a long illness. He was in his late 60s. |
