Judge does not revoke bond for R. Kelly
Judge does not revoke
bond for R. Kelly
CHICAGO — R. Kelly avoided having his bond revoked Friday in his child pornography case, but a judge admonished him for missing a court hearing earlier in the week. The R&B superstar apologized to Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan. The judge ordered Kelly to cancel a Jan. 13 concert to ensure he makes a Jan. 14 court date. Gaughan also said that no vehicle that Kelly rides in can go over the speed limit. Kelly’s tour bus was stopped for speeding in Utah on Tuesday. When police examined the bus’ logbook, they discovered it didn’t document enough rest time for the driver and ordered it to stop. The delay caused Kelly to miss his court appearance Wednesday morning. Kelly, 40, has pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges for allegedly videotaping sex acts with a young teenage girl in or before 2000.
‘Daily Show,’ ‘Colbert’
will return without writers
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” will resume production on Jan. 7. Both shows will return “without their respective writing staffs,” according to a Comedy Central press release. The scribes for the shows have been on strike, along with the rest of the Writers Guild of America, since Nov. 5. NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” have already announced they are returning without writers Jan. 2, as will Jimmy Kimmel of ABC. David Letterman will also probably return to his CBS late-night show soon, if his production company can reach an interim deal with the WGA.
Country singer claims
age discrimination in suit
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge says Stonewall Jackson may pursue claims of age discrimination against the Grand Ole Opry. The 75-year-old country singer filed a federal lawsuit in January against Gaylord Entertainment Co. and Opry General Manager Pete Fisher, claiming age discrimination, breach of contract and retaliation. He’s seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. Gaylord has argued the singer wasn’t an employee of the Grand Ole Opry and he shouldn’t be able to pursue his claims. U.S. District Judge William Haynes Jr. said Jackson could go forward because of the dispute over whether he is an employee of the Opry. The judge made his ruling recently. Jackson has been a member of the long-running country music radio show since 1956. He had a string of hits in the 1950s and ’60s, including “Waterloo” and “B.J. the D.J.”
Willie Nelson donates
to town where he started
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Willie Nelson hasn’t forgotten the town that knew him before he was famous. The 74-year-old country singer has donated $40,000 to Vancouver, the southwestern Washington city where he sold some of his first records a half-century ago. Nelson performed at The Amphitheater near Vancouver on June 30. He promised to share some of the proceeds with the city and area charities. In the late 1950s, Nelson worked as a disc jockey for Vancouver station KVAN. He financed and recorded the single “No Place for Me” and sold it to some of his listeners. Nelson soon moved back to his native Texas and then on to Nashville, Tenn., and fame. Vancouver received the $40,000 check three weeks ago. On Wednesday, the city gave $15,000 to the Humane Society of Washington and $15,000 to the Boys and Girls Club. Colleen Kawahara, Vancouver special projects coordinator, said the remaining $10,000 would be used for efforts to make city government and the community more ecologically friendly.
Today’s birthdays
Former House Speaker Jim Wright is 85. Actor Hector Elizondo is 71. ABC News correspondent Diane Sawyer is 62. Rock singer-musician Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) is 61. Baseball All-Star Steve Garvey is 59. Rapper Luther Campbell is 47. Country singer-musician Chuck Mead (BR549) is 47. Actor Ralph Fiennes is 45. Actress Lauralee Bell is 39. Country singer Lori McKenna is 39. Actress Dina Meyer is 39. Actress Heather Donahue is 33. Actor Chris Carmack is 27. Singer Jordin Sparks (“American Idol”) is 18.