NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

GOP debate seen by 11.1 million viewers

NEW YORK

Thursday’s GOP debate drew 11.1 million viewers to Fox Business Network, according to the Nielsen ratings company.

That clash of Republican presidential candidates was the sixth for the GOP in this election cycle, and was the least-watched thus far. Last month’s faceoff, aired on CNN, was seen by 18.2 million.

On Sunday, the third Democratic debate is scheduled to be telecast on NBC.

Neb. boy presented prosthetic arm by ‘Star Wars’ group

OMAHA, Neb.

A 9-year-old Omaha boy has received a 3-D-printed prosthetic arm delivered by a “Star Wars” fan organization dedicated to charity work.

Alvin Garcia Flores, who was born with a right arm that ends just below his elbow, got his new prosthesis at Gateway Elementary School on Thursday from members of the 501st Legion, a national fan organization whose members cosplay as characters from the “Star Wars” films. Darth Vader, an imperial officer, two stormtroopers and a droid made the delivery.

The white arm with gold trim was created by Limbitless Solutions, a Florida nonprofit that provides children with bionic arms for free. The nonprofit created Garcia’s arm after his principal, Terry Burton, reached out to the organization.

‘Grizzly Adams’ star Dan Haggerty dies

NEW YORK

Dan Haggerty, the rugged, bearded actor who starred in the film and TV series “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams” about a mountain man and animal trainer, has died.

Haggerty died Friday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., according to his manager, Terry Bomar. Haggerty was 74 and had been battling cancer of the spine, Bomar told The Associated Press.

Haggerty, born in Pound, Wis., had minor roles in such films as “Easy Rider” and the Elvis Presley musical “Girl Happy” before playing the title role in the 1974 movie about Grizzly Adams.

A short-lived TV show of the same name debuted in 1977. His other TV credits include “The Love Boat” and “Charlie’s Angels.”

Sean Penn: ‘El Chapo’ mission ‘failed’

NEW YORK

Sean Penn says his article on Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman “failed” in its mission.

Speaking to CBS’ “60 Minutes,” the actor said his intention in tracking down the escaped drug kingpin and writing about him for “Rolling Stone” was to kick-start a discussion of the U.S. government’s policy on the War on Drugs.

But the public’s attention instead has been focused on the fact that Penn found and met with Guzman for seven hours in a mountain hideout last October while he was still evading Mexican officials. He was apprehended only last week after six months on the run.

Excerpts from the interview with Penn were released Friday. It airs on “60 Minutes” on Sunday.

Associated Press