newsmakers

newsmakers

Cedar Point riverboat makes final voyage

SANDUSKY

Cedar Point’s riverboat ride has completed its final voyage.

The northern Ohio amusement park’s Paddlewheel Excursion boat made one last trip Monday night after nearly 50 years and more than 47 million rides.

The last trip was piloted by Dick Kinzel, CEO of Cedar Point’s parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.

About 20 people won spots on the final ride by bidding in a charity auction that benefits the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

The Sandusky Register reports the auction raised about $3,400.

The riverboat ride is closing to make way for a $1 million animatronic dinosaur attraction to open next year.

Judge: Jackson trial is still ‘on course’

LOS ANGELES

A judge says the trial of the doctor charged in Michael Jackson’s death is “on course” despite an appeal filed last week by the physician’s attorneys.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor says jury selection in the case will begin as planned Thursday unless the appeals court issues a stay in the case.

Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray on Friday appealed a ruling by Judge Pastor that jurors in the upcoming involuntary- manslaughter trial will not be sequestered.

Judge Pastor says he’s confident justices on the 2nd District Court of Appeals will provide some guidance soon.

Murray pleaded not guilty and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Authorities say he gave Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives in June 2009.

Court rejects appeal by Wesley Snipes

ATLANTA

The federal appeals court in Atlanta on Tuesday turned away the latest attempt by actor Wesley Snipes to get his conviction and prison sentence on tax charges overturned.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the appeal by Snipes, who was convicted in 2008 on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file income-tax returns.

His defense lawyers contended they received emails from former jurors reporting misconduct among other members of the panel. One of the former jurors said in the email that three other jurors acknowledged they had determined Snipes was guilty before the trial began.

A federal court rejected the request for a new trial and noted that there were reasons to question the veracity of the allegations made in the emails. The 11th Circuit court upheld the ruling Tuesday, finding that there wasn’t “strong, substantial and incontrovertible evidence” that would warrant a new trial.

Snipes started a three-year term in a Pennsylvania prison in December. He’s appeared in more than a dozen films, from “White Men Can’t Jump” and “Demolition Man” in the early 1990s to the blockbuster “Blade” trilogy.

Defense attorney Dan Meachum said he was disappointed with the court’s decision. He said his client still feels that he “did not receive a fair trial decided by a just and impartial jury” because of those issues.

Kutcher, Vergara to be Emmy presenters

LOS ANGELES

Some of TV’s top stars aren’t just nominated for Emmy Awards; they’re going to help present them.

The television academy says Emmy nominees Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Sofia Vergara and Julianna Margulies will help hand out awards at the Sept. 18 ceremony.

Poehler is a double nominee, as lead actress and producer of the comedy series “Parks and Recreation.” Her husband, Arnett, is up for guest actor in a comedy for “30 Rock.” Vergara is nominated for supporting actress in a comedy for “Modern Family,” and Margulies is up again for an award she won last year: lead actress in a drama series for “The Good Wife.”

New “Two and a Half Men” star Ashton Kutcher and Zooey Deschanel, star of the new series “New Girl,” also will present Emmys.

Adam Pascal to join cast of ‘Memphis’

NEW YORK

A former star of “Rent” is moving into “Memphis.”

Producers of the rhythm-and-blues musical said Tuesday that Adam Pascal will take over the role of Huey Calhoun from Chad Kimball on Oct. 25.

Pascal perhaps is most known for originating the role of Roger in “Rent.” His other theater credits include “Aida” and “Cabaret” on Broadway. He also starred in the film “School of Rock” with Jack Black.

“Memphis,” a tale of segregation and integration set in the American South in the 1950s, won four Tony Awards in 2010, including best musical.

Vindicator wire services