NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Coroner: Jackson’s death was a homicide

LOS ANGELES

A coroner who performed the autopsy on Michael Jackson testified Tuesday that the pop star’s death would have been classified a homicide even if the singer gave himself the final dose of the anesthetic propofol.

Dr. Christopher Rogers, chief of forensic medicine for the Los Angeles County coroner, was questioned by a lawyer for Dr. Conrad Murray, who is charged with causing Jackson’s death by administering a lethal dose of propofol and other sedatives and failing to provide proper care.

Attorney J. Michael Flanagan suggested Jackson could have swallowed the drug, which is meant to be administered intravenously. Flanagan’s inquiry was the first disclosure of how the defense plans to counter the involuntary- manslaughter charge against Murray.

LA police detain Ohio radio-voice sensation

LOS ANGELES

Ted Williams, the Ohio homeless man whose smooth radio voice made him an Internet sensation, had to do some quick talking to Los Angeles police.

Officers were called when Williams and his daughter got into a heated argument Monday night at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa, Officer Catherine Massey said.

“I don’t know how loud they were,” but the argument about 9 p.m. led to a disturbance report, Massey said Tuesday.

“It was minor. Both parties were angry but there were no signs of visible abuse,” Massey said. “They were brought in, calmed down, talked to and released.”

Singer Jewel is expecting first baby

NEW YORK

Jewel is expecting a precious gift — a baby. The 36-year-old pop-country singer is pregnant. Her publicist, Nicole Perez-Krueger, said it will be the first child for Jewel and her husband, rodeo champion Ty Murray. Jewel and Murray were married in 2008. Her hits include “You Were Meant for Me.”

Owen Wilson’s girlfriend is pregnant

LOS ANGELES

Owen Wilson is going to be a dad. A spokeswoman for the 42-year-old actor says he and his girlfriend are expecting a child together. Publicist Ina Treciokas says Wilson and Jade Duell “are happy to be expecting a baby.” Wilson appears in the recent films “Little Fockers” and “How Do You Know.”

Soulja Boy says he deserved Grammy

NEW YORK

Soulja Boy is pulling a Kanye about Kanye West. The rapper’s breakthrough song, “Crank Dat (Soulja Boy),” was up for the best rap song Grammy in 2008 but lost to West’s party anthem, the T-Pain-assisted “Good Life.” Soulja Boy says initially he “wasn’t really thinking about it” and was optimistic that he would “get it next year.”

Michael Douglas says his tumor’s gone

NEW YORK

Michael Douglas says his tumor is gone and that he may have beaten throat cancer. In a taped interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer, Douglas said he felt relieved after a “wild, six-month ride.” Douglas says the odds are that he has beaten the disease. He said that he had lost 32 pounds, but was now working out and had put 12 pounds back on.

Associated Press