newsmakers

newsmakers

Hudson on witness list for upcoming trial

CHICAGO

Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is on the witness list for the upcoming trial of a man accused of killing her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.

The Chicago Tribune reports, however, that prosecutors haven’t yet disclosed whether Hudson actually will testify at William Balfour’s trial, which is slated to begin April 9.

Balfour was the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister, Julia. Hudson’s mother and brother were found dead in the family’s home on Chicago’s South Side in 2008. Her nephew’s body was found days later in a vehicle on the city’s West Side.

A court filing by prosecutors last week contains detectives’ reports from interviews with Hudson after the deaths. According to the filing, Hudson told investigators she’d known Balfour since childhood and had advised her sister against marrying him.

Stars to celebrate Cash’s birthday

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

A diverse all-star lineup will celebrate the 80th birthday of Johnny Cash with an April concert.

Kenny Chesney, Kris Kristofferson, Lucinda Williams, Ray LaMontagne and Jamey Johnson are among the performers scheduled to appear in “We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash” on April 20 at the Austin City Limits Live venue in Austin, Texas.

Chris Cornell, Ronnie Dunn, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Amy Lee and Shooter Jennings also will perform. Tickets go on sale today.

Though Cash died in 2003 at 71, interest in his music and legacy continues. Several celebrations are planned. Members of the Cash family gathered Sunday in Dyess, Ark., on what would have been Cash’s 80th birthday for the groundbreaking on a museum at his boyhood home.

‘Band of Brothers’ soldier dies at 90

BURLINGTON, Wash.

A veteran whose World War II exploits were depicted in the HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers” has died, his family said.

Lynn D. “Buck” Compton died Saturday in Burlington, Wash., after having a heart attack last month, the family told the Los Angeles Times.

In January, nearly 200 guests, including actors from the miniseries, attended his 90th birthday party, the Skagit Valley Herald reported.

Lynn Compton also is remembered for his legal career in California. He headed the team that prosecuted Sirhan B. Sirhan for the slaying of Robert F. Kennedy.

Chicken-slaughter art project ruffles feathers

LAWRENCE, Kansas

Officials have banned an artist from publicly slaughtering chickens in eastern Kansas, saying the proposed art installation would amount to animal cruelty.

Lawrence city officials say Amber Hansen’s project, “The Story of Chickens: A Revolution,” would violate city ordinances and that she could be fined $1,000.

Hansen had planned to display coops of chickens across Lawrence. The exhibit was to end with the birds being killed and served as a meal. She says she wanted to demonstrate the animal-slaughter process to meat eaters.

Assistant City Attorney Chad Sublet says the city weighed freedom of expression against health and safety concerns in reaching the decision.

Hansen told the Lawrence Journal-World that she won’t fight the order and will change the art project to comply with city rules.

Vindicator wire services