Howie Morris dies; played Ernest T. Bass

Howie Morris dies;played Ernest T. Bass
WASHINGTON -- Howie Morris, the compact comic whirligig from the early days of television who lent his raspy voice to hundreds of cartoon and commercial voice-overs, died May 21 at his home in Hollywood. He had heart ailments in recent years. He was 85. Morris was a bar mitzvah band drummer, a radio performer and briefly a Shakespearean actor before he shot to prominence as part of the Sid Caesar ensemble casts of the 1950s, along with Carl Reiner and Imogene Coca.
Perhaps one of the more memorable characters he created was on the "The Andy Griffith Show." Playing hillbilly Ernest T. Bass, he wooed the local women by throwing too-large rocks through their windows and reciting doggerel.
'Star Wars' breaks record
LOS ANGELES -- Moviegoers have turned out in full force for the final chapter of the "Star Wars" saga, which took in $158.5 million since its opening to shatter three-day and four-day box office records."Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" grossed $124.7 million from Thursday to Saturday, according to studio estimates Sunday. That's higher than the three-day record set by the first "Spider-Man," which took in $114.8 million in May 2002 -- though "Star Wars" had a lower Friday-Sunday take ($108.5 million) than the Tobey Maguire film.
Reformers rejected in Iran
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's hard-line constitutional watchdog has rejected all reformists who registered to run in next month's presidential elections, approving only six out of the 1,010 hopefuls, state-run television reported Sunday. The announcement prompted a crisis meeting by reformers, who immediately threatened to boycott the election.
Banning junk foodfrom public schools
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Lawmakers want to make sure Connecticut students aren't part of the Pepsi Generation. Connecticut is on the verge of adopting the most far-reaching ban in the country on soda and junk food in public schools, in an effort to curb rising rates of childhood obesity. Similar but weaker proposals have been introduced in at least 17 states this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Policies are on the books in a few states, such as Arkansas and California. Advocates say Connecticut's ban would be the strongest because it is so broad, applying to all grades and all school sites where food is sold.
Mexican president regretsrace 'misinterpretation'
MEXICO CITY -- President Vicente Fox on Sunday defended his commitment to minorities and human rights on a U.S. radio program, in his first public response to his controversial comment that Mexicans take the U.S. jobs that "not even" blacks want. U.S. civil rights activist Jesse Jackson pressed the Mexican president for an apology for the remark that has strained already tense relations between U.S. blacks and Hispanics, during an interview on a Chicago gospel station."I very much regret the misinterpretation," said Fox, touting laws created under his administration that outlaw discrimination and protect minorities.
Hopes dim at nuke talks
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- After 21 days at a near-standstill, a global conference to toughen controls on nuclear arms enters its final week with prospects dimming for agreement on new ways to keep the ultimate weapons out of more hands. Concerns over nuclear "breakouts" are growing. In Europe, diplomats this week resume difficult talks with Tehran to rein in an Iranian nuclear project that could help make bombs. In Asia, North Korea is pondering its next move in the tense maneuvering over its weapons plans.
Combined Dispatches