Degas painting stolen

Degas painting stolen

PARIS — Police say a painting by Impressionist Edgar Degas worth $1.15 million has been stolen from an exhibit in Marseille. A police official says the painting, “Les Choristes,” (or “The Chorus Singers”), was stolen overnight from the Cantini Museum. The official was not authorized to be publicly named because of police policy.

The French national museum authority said the painting — a small pastel painted in 1876-77 — belongs to the famed Musee d’Orsay in Paris, known for its impressionist works. A security guard discovered it was missing when he was opening the museum Thursday.

Limbaugh resting

HONOLULU — Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh remained hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday after experiencing chest pains similar to a heart attack, according to the guest host on his nationally syndicated radio show.

Limbaugh was rushed to a Honolulu hospital Wednesday during a vacation.

Guest host Walter E. Williams described Limbaugh’s pains as similar to the feeling of a “heart attack coming on.” But Williams said doctors haven’t confirmed whether the 58-year-old had a heart attack, and more exams were planned Thursday.

“Rush continues to rest very comfortably in a hospital in Honolulu this afternoon — actually it’s morning out there,” Williams said. “He had a comfortable night and he’s getting good medical attention.”

Williams, an economics professor at George Mason University, was already scheduled to fill in Thursday while Limbaugh was on vacation.

Kit Carson, Limbaugh’s chief of staff, told The Associated Press Limbaugh left for his Christmas vacation Dec. 23 and was due to return to his show Jan. 4. Carson didn’t have any information on whether that schedule would change.

Today’s birthdays

Author J.D. Salinger is 91. Singer-guitarist Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe and the Fish is 68. Comedian Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci) is 67. Rapper Grandmaster Flash is 52. Actor Verne Troyer (“Austin Powers”) is 41.