Ralph Edwards dies at 92; hosted 'This Is Your Life'

Ralph Edwards dies at 92;hosted 'This Is Your Life'
LOS ANGELES -- Broadcasting pioneer Ralph Edwards, who spotlighted stars and ordinary people as host of the popular 1950s show "This Is Your Life," died Wednesday of heart failure. He was 92. Edwards, whose career as producer and host included "Truth or Consequences" and "People's Court," died in his sleep in his West Hollywood home, publicist Justin Seremet said. Edwards first hit it big in radio in 1940 with "Truth or Consequences," a novelty show in which contestants who failed to answer trick questions -- the "truth" -- had to suffer "the consequences" by performing some elaborate stunt.''This Is Your Life" also was born on radio and then migrated to television, running on NBC-TV from 1952 to 1961. It featured guests, many of them celebrities, who were lured in on a ruse, then surprised by Edwards' announcing, "This is your life!" Relatives and old friends then would be brought on to reminisce about the guest. Among the people he caught unaware were Marilyn Monroe, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Bob Hope, Andy Griffith, Buster Keaton, Barbara Eden, Bette Davis, Shirley Jones, Jayne Mansfield and Carol Channing.
Is your red meat fresh?Don't go by its looks
WASHINGTON -- Those cuts of red meat in the supermarket locker may not be as fresh as they look. Under little-noted rulings over the past three years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has allowed meat processors to use small amounts of carbon monoxide to maintain the red color in fresh meat sold in pre-assembled or "case-ready" packages. Such packages are airtight containers assembled with the product at meat-packing plants and are not made to be reopened until they are sold to consumers. Some packages are marketed for up to 35 days, or 28 days in the case of ground beef. Kalsec, a food-and-spice company based in Kalamazoo, Mich., is protesting the FDA action, saying the carbon-monoxide treatment is an illegal additive to fresh meat that disguises the freshness of the meat and hides spoilage. "Color is the indicator consumers use most often to determine if meat is fresh," said Don Berdahl, Kalsec's vice president.
Teen accused in slayingsconfused, his lawyer says
LANCASTER, Pa. -- An 18-year-old who's charged with killing his girlfriend's parents before fleeing with the 14-year-old girl is frightened and confused, his attorney said Wednesday. David Ludwig is being held without bail on murder and kidnapping charges after being flown back to Lancaster County on Tuesday from Indiana, where police captured him following a chase. His attorney, public defender Merrill M. Spahn, said he will ask for a postponement of a scheduled Nov. 23 preliminary hearing. "Over the coming days we will strive to determine what, in fact, occurred last Sunday morning and what may have led to these tragic events," he said. Police allege Ludwig shot Michael and Cathryn Borden at their home in Lititz, north of Lancaster, after an argument over his relationship with their daughter Kara. The two had been dating, friends and witnesses said.
Prosecution says evidencein slaying points to Smith
SARASOTA, Fla. -- A "mountain" of evidence points to the guilt of a former auto mechanic charged with kidnapping, raping and killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia, the prosecution said in closing arguments Wednesday. Jurors heard taped jailhouse conversations in which Joseph Smith confessed the crimes, were presented with DNA evidence and, above all, saw the security camera images of a tattooed man in a mechanics uniform grabbing Carlie by the wrist and leading her away, prosecutor Craig Schaeffer said. Carlie's disappearance from a car wash parking lot in February 2004 attracted worldwide attention because of the carwash security camera images, which were broadcast repeatedly on television. Her body was found more than four days later at a church property. Smith, a 39-year-old father of three daughters, is charged with first-degree murder.
Associated Press