NEWSMAKERS | Demi Lovato thanks fans in video message

NEWSMAKERS

Demi Lovato thanks fans in video message

NEW YORK

Demi Lovato says she’s ready to go back to work and is thanking fans for lifting her up during what she calls “probably the darkest time in my life.”

The 18-year-old Disney TV star entered a treatment facility last November to deal with “emotional and physical issues.”

The “Sonny With a Chance” star had to drop out of a tour with the Jonas Brothers, and it was revealed that she had fought with a backup dancer.

In a cheery video released on Cambio.com on Monday, Lovato told fans she’s back home.

Lovato says she was dealing with issues that teen girls face but didn’t say what they were.

In the past, she has acknowledged cutting herself. Lovato told fans they brought light in her life during her darkest hours and without them, “I probably wouldn’t be here today.”

Cincy mayor praised for ‘Undercover Boss’

CINCINNATI

A Cincinnati city councilman says Mayor Mark Mallory showed a lot of personality as an “Undercover Boss,” and a council candidate says the mayor was an “eloqent, funny spokesperson” for the city. Mallory invited friends and supporters to a downtown Cincinnati restaurant for a watching party Sunday night, as CBS aired his appearance on the reality-TV series. He was the first elected official featured on the show.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the crowd booed as the disguised mayor helped write parking tickets during the program and howled as he seemed stunned that a worker had eight children.

Two council members who’ve accused the mayor of doing the show for self-promotion were not on hand. Mallory says he did it to spotlight the hard work of city employees.

Possible Sheen show on HDNet

DALLAS

Charlie Sheen could soon have a home on Mark Cuban’s HDNet station. Cameras already are rolling, although plenty of details still need to be worked out — such as what kind of show it might be. Cuban said Sunday a decision of whether to make it a reality show, a talk show or something else will be up to Sheen.

Sheen has become a media phenomenon lately with off-beat rantings filled with lines that have become catchphrases, such as “tiger blood” and a drug called Charlie Sheen. It’s all part of a campaign to disprove that he is a drug-using, reckless playboy.

Sheen was fired from his hit CBS show “Two and a Half Men” on Monday.

Ancient Iraqi ivories on display

LONDON

The British Museum has acquired a collection of ancient carved ivories excavated in Iraq with the help of mystery maven Agatha Christie.

The 6,000 pieces were found at the ancient Assyrian capital of Nimrud between 1949 and 1963 during an expedition led by archaeologist Max Mallowan. His wife, Christie, helped clean and preserve the objects when not working on thrillers including “They Came to Baghdad.”