newsmakers

newsmakers

Amanda Bynes faces hit-and-run charge

LOS ANGELES

Prosecutors have charged Amanda Bynes with hit-and-run in connection with two traffic crashes in recent months.

Los Angeles City attorney’s spokesman Frank Mateljan says the actress was charged Tuesday and is due for arraignment Sept. 27.

Mateljan says Bynes was charged for leaving the scene of two accidents, one on April 10 and another on Aug. 4, without providing proper information. The first incident occurred just days after Bynes was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after grazing a sheriff’s patrol car. She has pleaded not guilty in that case.

The 26-year-old is best known for her role in the WB’s “What I Like About You” and the film “Easy A.”

Hanks, Timberlake among ‘Stand Up’ stars

LOS ANGELES

More A-listers have signed on to support the third Stand Up to Cancer telethon.

Organizers say Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Justin Timberlake, Sofia Vergara and Olympic gold medalists Gabrielle Douglas and Missy Franklin will participate in the hourlong TV special.

It is set to air Friday on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and more than a dozen cable channels.

The slate of stars announced Wednesday also includes Eric Stone-street, Ray Romano, Felicity Huffman, Rocco DiSpirito and Maura Tierney. They’ll join previously announced participants such as Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Paltrow also is an executive producer of the fundraiser, which will be carried commercial-free from 8-9 p.m. from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Coldplay and Alicia Keys are set to perform during the special, and patients participating in Stand Up to Cancer trials will share their experiences.

Author Judy Blume diagnosed with cancer

NEW YORK

Children’s author Judy Blume says she was diagnosed with breast cancer over the summer but is “feeling stronger every day” after surgery.

The 74-year-old Blume wrote on her blog Wednesday that she learned in June that she had cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction in late July.

She writes that she now walks a couple of miles each morning and dines out at night. Blume hopes to begin writing again soon.

She noted that her cancer hadn’t been detected by a mammogram or regular physical exam because she has dense breast tissue.

Her message for women in a similar situation: Get a sonogram.

Bloom’s books include “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret?”, “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” and “Deenie.”

Vindicator wire services