newsmakers

newsmakers

Rapper Lil Wayne says he’s an epileptic

NEW YORK

Lil Wayne says he’s an epileptic and has had seizures for years.

In an interview with Los Angeles-based radio station Power 106 on Thursday, the 30-year-old rapper said epilepsy caused his most recent health scare earlier this month, when he was rushed to a hospital. Wayne said he had three back-to-back seizures.

The Grammy winner says: “I’ve had a bunch of seizures, y’all just never hear about them.”

Wayne says he “could’ve died” and that the recent seizures were a result of “just plain stress, no rest, overworking myself.”

He released his 10th album, “I Am Not a Human Being II,” this week. He’ll embark on a 40-city tour in July with rappers T.I. and Future.

Baldwin admits he failed to pay taxes

NEW CITY, N.Y.

Stephen Baldwin has admitted in court that he failed to pay New York state income taxes for three years.

The actor agreed Friday to pay $400,000 in back- taxes, interest and penalties. The judge says $100,000 of that already has been paid.

Baldwin pleaded guilty to a charge of repeated failure to file income taxes.

The judge says that if Baldwin pays back the rest of the money within a year, the charge will be taken off his record. If not, he’ll be sentenced to five years’ probation.

Baldwin went to court between appearances on “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.” He’s the youngest of the four acting Baldwin brothers.

He says he received bad advice from lawyers and accountants.

Michelle Shocked sits outside canceled show

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.

Her show had been canceled, but that didn’t stop alternative folk and rock singer Michelle Shocked from showing up at a Santa Cruz nightclub where she staged a sit-in with tape across her mouth that read “Silenced By Fear.”

Moe’s Alley was one of several nightclubs that canceled Shocked’s gigs after she made what were considered anti-gay comments during a rambling outburst at a show earlier this month.

On Thursday evening, Moe’s Alley owner Bill Welch had replaced her with two local bands that support gay rights, Beaver Fever and Frootie Flavors.

“We will not be bashing Michelle Shocked,” he said. “Rather, we will celebrate music, diversity and send some healing Santa Cruz energy her way.”

Sitting on the ground outside the venue and strumming her guitar, Shocked was largely ignored and refused to speak. She pointed to a sign inviting people to pick up a Sharpie marker and write on the white disposable safety suit she was wearing.

‘Most Wanted’ won’t return to Lifetime

NEW YORK

“America’s Most Wanted’ may have come to an end after 25 years.

Lifetime network has confirmed it won’t be picking up the crime-fighting series for another season.

But the network says it’s developing a pilot for a new project with John Walsh, who created “America’s Most Wanted” in 1988.

Hosted by Walsh, the series was a fixture on the Fox network until its abrupt cancellation in June 2011. During that run, the show helped bring almost 1,200 fugitives to justice.

Lifetime revived the series in December 2011, ultimately airing 44 episodes. It most recently aired on the network last October.

Walsh originally launched his crime-busting crusade in 1981, in the aftermath of the abduction and murder of his 6-year-old son, Adam.

Wire reports