NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Former official named to Lucas Museum board

CHICAGO

Former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has been named to the board of directors for the museum that “Star Wars” director George Lucas hopes to build along Chicago’s lakefront.

Duncan’s appointment was announced Tuesday and will begin next Wednesday. Duncan was in charge of Chicago Public Schools from 2001 to 2009. The Chicago Tribune reports Duncan also worked at Ariel Investments where Lucas’ wife, Mellody Hobson, is president.

Lucas said Duncan is “well-suited for the museum’s educational and cultural mission.”

The plan to build the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts along Chicago’s Lake Michigan waterfront is on hold due to a parks group’s lawsuit. In the meantime, San Francisco officials have said they’re talking with Lucas about locating the museum there.

Last week, officials from Youngstown sent a letter to Lucas, offering a donation of downtown land if Lucas would build the museum in the city.

Stephen King among writers signing Trump protest letter

NEW YORK

Some of the country’s top writers are protesting Donald Trump’s way with words.

Stephen King, Junot Diaz and Jennifer Egan are among more than 400 authors who added their names this week to an online letter that condemns the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for his “appeals to the basest and most-violent elements in society.”

The petition “unequivocally” opposes Trump’s election. Others supporting it include Amy Tan, Cheryl Strayed, Michael Chabon and “Lemony Snicket” author Daniel Handler.

The letter does not include an endorsement of either of the two Democratic candidates, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Associated Press