Murdoch, Bloomberg make most influential list

Murdoch, Bloomberg make most influential list

NEW YORK — Playwright, actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are among the newsmakers on Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people. The 2008 list, appearing on the magazine’s Web site Thursday morning and on newsstands today, also includes presidential contenders Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Clinton. Obama and Clinton made the list last year. Iraq Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and President Bush also are named.

Others on the list include Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, the Dalai Lama, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Chinese President Hu Jintao, African National Congress President Jacob Zuma, Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa, Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, Radio Publique Africaine founder Alexis Sinduhije, singer Mariah Carey, personal-finance adviser Suze Orman and media maven Oprah Winfrey.

Dennis Rodman arrested

LOS ANGELES — Dennis Rodman has been arrested for allegedly hitting a woman at a hotel in the Century City area of Los Angeles. Police say the 46-year-old former NBA star was arrested Wednesday night after officers answered a report of a domestic dispute. Officer Sara Fayden says they learned Rodman had struck a woman who suffered “injuries to her arm.” There was no word on the seriousness of the injury.

Rodman manager Darren Prince told TMZ.com that Rodman and his girlfriend had too much to drink, argued, and Rodman grabbed her arm and left a bruise. Prince told TMZ that Rodman’s drinking has escalated because of a nasty divorce and he plans to enter rehab. Rodman was jailed for investigation of felony domestic violence and freed on $50,000 bail early Thursday.

Oteri suspect makes bond

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Nashville songwriter accused in the death of Cheri Oteri’s father has been released on bond. A judge set bond Thursday at $20,000 for Richard William Fagan. The judge has also ordered Fagan to go to a drug and alcohol treatment center. Fagan faces a criminal homicide charge in the death of 69-year-old Gaetano Thomas Oteri. Police say the two roommates had been drinking when Fagan cut Oteri on the wrist Saturday night. Fagan left the house and was later arrested on a DUI charge. Oteri was found dead the next day of what authorities described as a “significant laceration.”

Today’s birthdays

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck is 72. Singer Lesley Gore is 62. Country singer Larry Gatlin is 60. Singer Lou Gramm of Foreigner is 58. Country singer Ty Herndon is 46. Wrestler-actor The Rock is 36. Actress Jenna Von Oy (“Blossom”) is 31. Singer Lily Allen is 23.