newsmakers

newsmakers

Jackson nephew named co-guardian

LOS ANGELES

A judge appointed Michael Jackson’s nephew on Wednesday to share guardianship responsibilities for the singer’s three children, but not without a last- minute effort by some relatives to delay the decision.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff appointed TJ Jackson, 34, as the children’s co-guardian who will now share responsibilities for raising the siblings, who range in age from 10 to 15.

The judge made the ruling after considering a letter submitted by singer Diana Ross, who was named in Michael Jackson’s will as a potential guardian, and a letter presented by cousins of the singer who sought a delay in the appointment.

Debra Jackson and her son Anthony urged Judge Beckloff to delay his ruling, saying they were concerned that family matriarch Katherine Jackson was being coerced. The pair said they had been ostracized from the family and that the children may not be as excited about TJ Jackson’s appointment as has been presented to the judge.

But Judge Beckloff noted that all three children have said they consent to the co-guardianship, and that an independent investigation he ordered showed they “have a very strong, loving relationship with TJ Jackson.”

The appointment means that Katherine Jackson, 82, and TJ Jackson will share responsibilities for raising the children.

Nude photographs of Prince Harry online

LONDON

Photographs of a naked Prince Harry in a Las Vegas hotel room have popped up online.

Celebrity gossip site TMZ.com published two pictures of the 27-year-old royal cavorting with what they called a mystery woman in a VIP suite.

Harry appeared nude. It wasn’t clear if the woman was naked.

TMZ said Prince Harry disrobed Friday during a game of strip billiards in his VIP suite. The pictures show a pool table, but it wasn’t clear whether there were others in the room.

The celebrity website said the prince and a large entourage had gone down to a hotel bar and invited some women up to his room.

Prince Harry’s office confirmed Wednesday that the photos were of the prince but declined to make any further comment.

Rapper LL Cool J nabs intruder at his home

LOS ANGELES

LL Cool J plays a special agent on TV’s “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and now he’s caught an actual bad guy.

Los Angeles police say the rapper grabbed and held a burglary suspect at his Studio City home Wednesday morning.

Police got a 911 call shortly before 1 a.m. from someone who said her father had spotted an intruder in their home and was holding him downstairs.

Officers arrived and took a man into custody. Police say he had minor bruises and will be arrested on suspicion of burglary. His name hasn’t been released.

LL Cool J wasn’t hurt, and apparently nothing was taken.

Paltrow, Roberts set for cancer telethon

LOS ANGELES

An A-list cast of celebrities is joining a telethon to raise money and awareness to fight cancer.

Stand Up to Cancer said Wednesday that Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Emma Stone and Samuel L. Jackson are among the stars participating in its September event.

Paltrow also is an executive producer for the fundraiser that will be carried commercial-free by the four major broadcast networks and more than a dozen cable channels.

The telethon airs Sept. 7.

Vindicator wire services