NEWSMAKERS

May 13, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

NEWSMAKERS

Sean Penn pleads in vandalism case

LOS ANGELES

Sean Penn pleaded no contest to vandalism on Wednesday, effectively ending a case in which the Oscar-winning actor was videotaped kicking a celebrity photographer. Penn was not present in court and entered the plea through his attorney. He was sentenced to three years of informal probation and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service, said city attorney’s spokesman Frank Mateljan.

Mateljan says those hours can be completed through Penn’s earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti.

He was also ordered to undergo 36 hours of anger management counseling and stay 100 yards away from the photographer.

Penn was charged in February with misdemeanor battery and vandalism for the October dustup and faced up to 18 months in jail if convicted.

‘General Hospital’ leads Emmy nominees

NEW YORK

With 13 Daytime Emmy nominations, the soap opera “As the World Turns” has the potential for a trophy-filled going-away party on an awards show being broadcast by the network that pulled the plug on it.

“General Hospital” led with 18 nominations Wednesday. “The Young and the Restless” had 16, “Sesame Street” had 14 and “One Life to Live” had 13. CBS will air the annual awards show from Las Vegas on June 27.

“As the World Turns” will air for the final time in September. It’s the second daytime drama CBS has canceled in two years, after “Guiding Light,” as the genre does a slow fade in popularity. “As the World Turns” was not nominated for best daytime drama. Two of its actors — Jon Lindstrom and Michael Park — were among the five nominees for best lead actor in a soap. Maura West was nominated for best actress.

Lawyer brushes off ‘Jersey’ encounter

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.

A lawyer for a cast member of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” says an encounter between his client and another woman at a Florida nightclub was a “non-incident.” James Leonard Jr., who represents Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, says he spoke with her Tuesday after a woman accused the reality show star of punching her twice in the head Saturday night.

Kristen DeMinco showed reporters a bruise under her eye during a news conference outside Miami Beach police headquarters.

A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said authorities would review the allegations to see if charges are appropriate.

‘Blair Witch’ town eyes sign auction

BURKITTSVILLE, Md.

A Maryland town that has long disdained its ties to the “Blair Witch Project” is now considering selling some coveted artifacts from the 1999 horror film. They are four road signs reading, “Welcome to the historic village of Burkittsville.” They resemble those seen in the movie by characters researching the fictitious legend of the Blair Witch.

Voters in the community of 180 will decide June 7 whether to sell the signs in an Internet auction or save any of them for posterity.