Bobby Brown turns self in just before deadline

Bobby Brown turns self in just before deadline
ATLANTA -- R & amp;B singer Bobby Brown turned himself in to jail officials Sunday night -- a few hours before a court-imposed deadline -- and was released after posting a $2,000 bond on charges he hit his wife, singer Whitney Houston.
"He arrived at the jail, was photographed and fingerprinted and posted his bond," said Lt. Clarence Huber of the Fulton County Sheriff's Department.
In May, a judge had ordered there was enough evidence for Brown to stand trial on misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly hitting Houston in the face at their home near Alpharetta, a suburb north of Atlanta.
The judge had given Brown until midnight Sunday to turn himself in, and the singer showed up with less than four hours to spare.
Simple battery is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Normally on a first offense in domestic-violence cases, the charge is dismissed if the defendant undergoes counseling.
Brown left R & amp;B group New Edition in the late 1980s for a solo career.
His hits include "My Prerogative" and "Every Little Step," but he has become more famous for his numerous brushes with the law and his turbulent marriage with Houston.
In February, Brown spent a month in jail for multiple probation violations before being released a month early for a March child-support hearing in Massachusetts.
There, he spent another night in jail before paying a former lover more than $60,000 in back child-support payments.
Eastwood, Spielberg team up for Iwo Jima film
NEW YORK -- Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg reportedly are joining forces to bring the World War II battle of Iwo Jima to the big screen.
According to TV Guide, Eastwood will direct an adaptation of the book "Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima" for Spielberg's company DreamWorks.
The book was written by James Bradley -- whose father was one of the six soldiers who raised the flag at Iwo Jima -- and Ron Powers.
The battle of Iwo Jima in February and March 1945 was crucial for both sides.
The Volcano Islands, which include Iwo Jima, were 700 miles south of Tokyo and part of the capital prefecture -- thus the first part of Japan proper to be invaded.
The Americans wanted its three airstrips as a way station for long-range bombing raids on Tokyo and for the invasion of Okinawa.
Mount Suribachi, a 550-foot dead volcano at the tiny, teardrop-shaped island's southern tip, was where five Marines and a Navy corpsman raised the flag on the third day and were captured on film by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal.
Big names plan shows in Detroit for jazz festival
Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls and Ramsey Lewis lead the lineup for the 2004 Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, CNN.com reports.
The festival's 25th anniversary edition will be held during the Labor Day weekend, September 4 through 6, at Hart Plaza.
Other top acts include Detroit-born saxophone player James Carter and a parade of prominent drummers, including Detroit-born Louis Hayes, Chico Hamilton, Winard Harpard, Lenny White, Cindy Blackman and Carl Allen.
This year's edition honors Elvin Ray Jones, the Pontiac, Mich.-born drummer and member of John Coltrane's quartet who died in May.
Notable death
Laurance Rockefeller, a conservationist, philanthropist and leading figure in the field of venture capital, died in his sleep Sunday morning. He was 94. The cause of death was pulmonary fibrosis, his spokesman, Fraser Seitel, said in a statement.
Today's Birthdays
Artist Andrew Wyeth is 87. Movie director Monte Hellman is 72. Pianist Van Cliburn is 70. Comedian Bill Cosby is 67. Singer-musician Christine McVie is 61. Actress Denise Nicholas is 60. Singer-songwriter Butch Hancock is 59. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 56. Actor Jay Thomas is 56. Singer Walter Egan is 56. Rock singer-musician John Wetton (Asia; King Crimson) is 55. Actress Cheryl Ladd is 53. Country singer Julie Miller is 48. Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 48. Actress Mel Harris is 47. Actor Buddy Foster is 47. Rock guitarist Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) is 42. Rock singer Robin Wilson is 39. Actress Lisa Nicole Carson is 35. Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 33. Country singer Shannon Lawson is 31. Rapper Magoo is 31. Singer Tracie Spencer is 28. Actor Topher Grace is 26. Actor Erik Per Sullivan is 13.