NEWSMAKERS | Bieber’s hair clippings sell for more than $40K

NEWSMAKERS

Bieber’s hair clippings sell for more than $40K

NEW YORK

Justin Bieber’s hair is officially the stuff of legend: His hair clippings have sold for more than $40,000 on eBay. After the 17-year-old pop sensation chopped off some of his famous locks, he brought the clippings to the “Ellen” show. Host Ellen DeGeneres put them on eBay.

When the bidding ended, the clippings went for $40,668. The proceeds are being donated to The Gentle Barn, which rescues neglected and abused animals and uses them to help disadvantaged kids.

‘The Avengers’ to film in Cleveland

CLEVELAND

Ohio Gov. John Kasich says filming of the Marvel Studios superhero movie “The Avengers” will take place in Cleveland.

The Plain Dealer reports that Kasich made the announcement Thursday before Mayor Frank Jackson’s State of the City address.

The film for release next year features the Marvel comics superheros, including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow.

Ohio Film Office publicist Katie Sabatino says the state was in discussions with Marvel throughout the week before reaching an agreement.

The Detroit Free Press reported last month that Marvel considered filming in Detroit but backed out after Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder proposed eliminating the state’s film- incentive program.

Criminal trial delayed for Jackson doctor

LOS ANGELES

Jury selection in the trial of a cardiologist facing criminal charges in the death of Michael Jackson gets under way later this month, but opening statements have been postponed until May.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor announced Wednesday that opening statements will begin May 9 after meeting in closed session with Dr. Conrad Murray, his attorneys and prosecutors.

Prosecutors contend Murray gave the singer a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol, which is normally administered in hospital settings.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys maintain he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed the singer.

Murray consented to the postponement after his attorneys and prosecutors said they could be ready for his involuntary manslaughter trial by then, a transcript of the closed-session meeting shows.

Carey embarrassed over Gadhafi link

NEW YORK

Mariah Carey says she was unaware that she was booked to perform a concert linked to Gadhafi’s clan — and she’s embarrassed “to have participated in this mess.”

Carey is among a handful of entertainers who were paid handsome fees to give exclusive private concerts. It was later revealed the people behind those concerts were the family of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, whose country is in an open revolt against him and who faces an investigation for possible war crimes.

This week, Nelly Furtado announced she is giving the $1 million fee she was paid in 2007 to charity; Beyonc said in a statement Wednesday that she donated her fees for a 2009 New Year’s Eve performance in St. Bart’s to Haiti earthquake relief once she discovered the Gadhafi link.

Carey performed in St. Bart’s in 2008, but in a statement released to The Associated Press on Thursday, she said she didn’t know she was performing for an infamous family.

Stephen King writes novel about JFK killing

NEW YORK

Stephen King’s next novel takes on a real-life horror story: The assassination of JFK. “11/22/63,” the title named for the day of President John Kennedy’s murder, tells of a high school teacher’s desperate effort to prevent the tragedy.

Scribner announced Wednesday that the 1,000-page book will come out Nov. 8. King’s many best-sellers include “Carrie” and “Misery.”