NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Taylor Swift asks NJ teen to go to country music awards

SOMERDALE, N.J.

Taylor Swift has a date for the Academy of Country Music awards.

The country star asked a fan, Kevin McGuire of Somerdale, N.J., to the awards show. McGuire is 18 and has leukemia. His sister had started a campaign on Facebook to get Swift to go with him to his prom.

Swift writes in a Facebook post of her own that she can’t make it to the prom, but that she’d like for McGuire to accompany her to the awards ceremony April 1 in Las Vegas. She is nominated for three awards.

A spokesman for Swift confirms that she wrote the post. A post on the Facebook page for McGuire thanks her for the invitation.

Reagan shooter wants to change ‘assassin’ image

WASHINGTON

The man who tried to kill President Ronald Reagan more than 30 years ago said he would like to be known as something other than a would-be assassin.

John Hinckley made the statement to a doctor who interviewed him in the past year at a Washington mental hospital. The statement and other pieces of information about Hinckley’s life are part of hundreds of pages of documents prepared for court hearings in Hinckley’s case.

Hinckley, who shot and wounded Reagan in 1981, is seeking more freedom from the hospital. He has been allowed to visit his mother’s home in Williamsburg, Va., for up to 10 days at a time.

A jury found Hinckley to be insane when he shot Reagan in an effort to impress actress Jodie Foster. He has spent most of the past three decades at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington. In recent years, doctors have said his mental illness has been in remission.

Several hearings in the case ended this month, and a judge said he’d likely rule in April or May.

Rapper Jim Jones arrested after fight at Foxwoods

MASHANTUCKET, Conn.

Rapper Jim Jones was arrested and charged with assaulting a Connecticut state trooper in a brawl at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, police said Saturday.

The hip-hop artist and actor, whose “We Fly High” was one of 2007’s top-selling rap tracks, was charged with assault on a police officer and breach of peace, state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said. Vance said he was not certain how the altercation Friday night began.

Jones said on Twitter that he posted $40,000 in bond, adding that he “had a ball” while in custody.

An attorney who has represented Jones in the past did not immediately respond to a message Saturday seeking comment.

In October, Jones pleaded guilty to driving his Bentley with a suspended license in New York and was fined $200.

The rapper, born Joseph Jones, is one of the Diplomats, a Harlem-based rap crew. Besides “We Fly High,” his hits include “Pop Champagne.” He released a new album, “Capo,” last April.

Celine Dion cancels Vegas shows as a result of virus

LAS VEGAS

Singer Celine Dion has canceled several upcoming concerts in Las Vegas because of a virus.

Caesars Palace officials say her doctor advised her to rest for a week to recover from the virus, which caused an inflammation of her vocal cords.

Shows scheduled for today, Tuesday and Wednesday were canceled at the resort’s Colosseum.

Her next scheduled concert there is Saturday.

Dion, in a statement, said she doesn’t “like to let people down,” and she feels terrible about not being able to perform at the shows. Refunds will be given to people who bought tickets.

Caesars spent $95 million to build the Colosseum for Dion in 2003, complete with a humidifier to protect her voice.

Associated Press