Oprah wept over news

Oprah wept over news

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Oprah Winfrey said Monday she wept after hearing that a dormitory matron at her academy for disadvantaged girls was accused of abusing students, and said school officials hid the facts of the case and told the girls to “put on happy faces.” Though she said she was not responsible for hiring at the school, Winfrey said the screening process was inadequate and “the buck always stops with me.” She said the head mistress’ contract would not be renewed and promised a shake-up. Tiny Virginia Makopo, 27, faces 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury committed against at least six students aged 13-15 and a 23-year-old at the school. She was freed on bail Monday. “When I first heard about it I spent about a half-hour going around my house crying,” Winfrey said at a news conference. She said learning about the allegations was “one of most devastating experiences of my life.” Makopo said she was innocent when the charges were read during a bail hearing in Johannesburg, and the magistrate allowed her to go free on a bond of $450.

Colbert bows out

NEW YORK — Stephen Colbert has dropped his bid for the White House. His announcement came after the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council voted last week to keep the host of “The Colbert Report” off the state’s primary ballot. The vote was 13-3. Colbert poses as a conservative talk-show host on the Comedy Central show. “Although I lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history — only 10 votes — I have chosen not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle,” Colbert said Monday in a statement. “It is time for this nation to heal.” Colbert had said he would run only in his native South Carolina, a key primary state. He said he planned to run as a Democrat and a Republican — so he could lose twice. Colbert, 43, later declined to file with the GOP, which has a much higher filing fee ($35,000) than the Democrats ($2,500).

Aquilera is expecting

NEW YORK — Christina Aguilera says she’s expecting a baby, finally confirming what has become obvious over the past few months. The 26-year-old singer told Glamour’s U.K. edition that her plans for New Year’s Eve involve a new baby. “That’ll be about the time I enter into mommyhood so I’m hoping to have started a beautiful family with my husband!” Aguilera is quoted as saying in a story posted on the magazine’s Web site. E-mails to Aguilera’s representatives seeking comment weren’t immediately returned Monday. Aguilera and music executive Jordan Bratman were married in 2005.

Nancy Grace has twins

ATLANTA — Nancy Grace is now the mother of twins, after doctors induced labor two months before her due date. Grace, host of legal affairs talk show “Nancy Grace” on CNN Headline News, gave birth to a boy, John David, and a girl, Lucy Elizabeth, on Sunday, said CNN spokeswoman Janine Iamunno. John David weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and Lucy Elizabeth weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces at birth. Grace, 48, had developed pulmonary edema — fluid in the lungs — and doctors told her it would be better for her health, and that of the children, if labor was induced, CNN said. Iamunno said Monday that Grace and the children are doing well. Grace plans to return to hosting her CNN show as soon as possible, Iamunno said. Grace’s husband, David Linch, is an Atlanta investment banker.

Today’s birthdays

Country singer Guy Clark is 66. Actress Sally Field is 61. Pop singer-musician Glenn Frey (The Eagles) is 59. California’s first lady, broadcast journalist Maria Shriver, is 52. Rock musician Paul Brindley (The Sundays) is 44. Rock singer Corey Glover is 43. Actor Ethan Hawke is 37. Actress Thandie Newton is 35. Model-actress Rebecca Romijn is 35. Actress Zoe McLellan is 33.