newsmakers

newsmakers

Coroner: Monteith OD’d on heroin, alcohol

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

A coroner says “Glee” actor Cory Monteith died of an overdose of heroin and alcohol.

The British Columbia coroner’s office said in a statement Tuesday that “there is no evidence to suggest Mr. Monteith’s death was anything other than a most tragic accident.”

The 31-year-old was found dead in his Vancouver, British Columbia, hotel room Saturday. He was believed to be alone when he died.

Monteith had talked bluntly about struggling with addiction since he was a teenager, calling it a serious problem and telling Parade magazine in 2011 he was “lucky to be alive.”

Wonder won’t sing in Fla. due to verdict

NEW YORK

Stevie Wonder says he won’t perform in Florida and other states with a “stand your ground” law.

In a video posted on YouTube, the 63-year-old singer said at a concert in Quebec City, Canada, on Sunday “that until the ‘stand your ground’ law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again.”

Wonder added: “Wherever I find that law exists, I will not perform in that state or in that part of the world.”

The “stand your ground” law allows people to use deadly force if they believe their life is in danger.

George Zimmerman shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a February 2012 confrontation in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman said he fired his gun in self-defense.

A jury acquitted Zimmerman of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges Saturday.

Man pleads not guilty in Deen extortion plot

SAVANNAH, Ga.

A New York man has pleaded not guilty to charges he tried to extort embattled celebrity cook Paula Deen.

Federal court documents show Thomas George Paculis, of Newfield, N.Y., appeared in Chatham County Superior Court on Tuesday morning to enter his not-guilty plea.

An indictment filed last Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Savannah charges Paculis with trying to extort Deen of $200,000 in exchange for keeping quiet about purportedly damaging remarks Deen has made in the past.

Rapper Nas gets Harvard fellowship

NEW YORK

Nas has rapped his way to Harvard University.

The Ivy League school announced Tuesday that the 39-year-old rapper is being honored with the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship at its W.E.B. Du Bois Institute. It’s a joint venture with Harvard’s Hip-Hop Archive.

The fellowship will assist students who excel in the arts “in connection with hip-hop.”

Nas is one of hip-hop’s most celebrated lyricists, best known for his reflective rhymes and deep storytelling. His 11th album, “Life Is Good,” was released last year. It earned four Grammy nominations.

The Hip-Hop Archive was established at Harvard in 2002.

Vindicator wire services