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Molly Huscroft

"South Park" to stay on Comedy Central through 2016

“South Park” to get three additional seasons, 20 total

Don’t worry “South Park” fans – Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny aren’t going anywhere. At least until 2016.

Comedy Central announced that “South Park” co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have signed on to extend the animated series an additional three seasons, through its 20th in 2016.

The network said Wednesday that the duo will continue to write, direct and edit every episode, as they have done since the series premiere in 1997.

According to the Associated Press, Parker and Stone had large success on Broadway with their hit musical, “The Book of Mormon,” earlier this year.

Parker and Stone said in a statement, “Comedy Central has been our home for 15 years and we love working there. ‘South Park’ is a blast and we can’t wait to make more.”

For more information, go here.

Hope Solo eliminated from "DWTS"

Soccer star refuses interviews, upset about not making finals

It turns out Hope Solo saves her good sportsmanlike conduct for the field only.

After the Olympic soccer star was eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars” Tuesday evening along with her pro partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, things took a turn for the worse for the pair.

According to Us Weekly, the 30-year-old did one TV interview and then refused all other press opportunities and burst into tears, one eyewitness tells Us Weekly.

Before her outburst, Solo told “DWTS” host Tom Bergeron she was grateful for her time on the ABC series. “This competition is one of the toughest competitions I’ve ever been a part of,” Solo said. “It was an amazing opportunity. We have the most amazing fan base and instead of winning the mirrorball trophy, I’m going to try to win a gold medal this summer at the Olympics.”

Solo complimented her partner, outspoken Chmerkovskiy, although he almost made her quit the show.

“Maks put so much into [our Monday night] Argentine tango and it’s something to be proud of,” she told Us Weekly after performing Monday.

The “Dancing With the Stars” finale show airs next Monday and Tuesday night on ABC.

For more information, go here.

Federal agents raid Washington medical marijuana dispensaries

Washington dispensaries suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering

Federal agents and police raided state-sanctioned medical marijuana dispensaries across western Washington Tuesday.

The raids were focused on storefronts that were engaged in illegal drug trafficking and money laundering. According to Reuters, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durken said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration named several dispensaries that were essentially operating under the state’s medical marijuana law to conceal criminal activity.

Federal officials did not immediately name the number of suppliers that were shut down in the sweep.

According to Reuters, the Cannabis Defense Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group for marijuana, said on its website that 15 “medical cannabis access points” in at least six western Washington cities – Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Puyallup, Lacey and Rochester – were raided on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Durkan’s office, Emily Langlie, said one person was arrested by federal agents and that additional arrests had not been made across three counties but she could not say how many.

Tuesday’s dispensaries sweep marks the first major federal crackdown on marijuana shops in western Washington since Governor Christine Gregoire vetoed most provisions of a bill that would have established a new regulatory system for medical marijuana, Reuters reports.

Federal prosecutors said they were not going after patients who have a legitimate medical need for marijuana.

For more information, go here.

Justin Bieber Paternity Suit Dropped

Accuser Mariah Yeater quietly dropped legal action last week

Single mother Mariah Yeater has dropped her paternity suit against singer Justin Bieber, according to TMZ.

The suit, which claimed that the superstar fathered 20-year-old Yeater’s child, was dismissed last week, says TMZ.com. Her lawyers reportedly withdrew from the case after receiving a call from Bieber’s lawyer, Howard Weitzman, threatening legal action.

The case was set to go to court Dec. 15 and Bieber, 17, was prepared to take a paternity test to prove he was not the father of Yeater’s 3-month-old baby.

Yeater, who was seeking financial support, may have faced statutory rape charges had the child been Bieber’s. According to People.com, in the state of California the legal age of consent is 18; Bieber would only have been 16 at the time of the alleged sexual encounter while Yeater would have been 19.

Bieber, who is currently dating singer/actress Selena Gomez, has always maintained that he never met Yeater.

“I think it’s crazy because every night after the show I’m gone, right from the stage to my car so it’s crazy that some people want to make up such false allegation but to set the record straight none of it is true. I’ve never met the woman,” Bieber said on “The Today Show.” 

“I would just like to say basically that none of those allegations are true,” he said. “I know that I’m going to be a target but I’m never going to be a victim.”

For more information, go here.

61 whales die in mass stranding

Pod of whales beach themselves on New Zealand shore

61 pilot whales died in a mass stranding at a remote New Zealand beach, conservation officials said Wednesday.

According to News24, the Department of Conservation (DOC) said tourists found the pod on Monday at Farewell Spit, on the top of the South Island.

DOC local manager John Mason said a large number of the whales were already dead and the hopes that the remaining whales would survive were crushed when they returned to shore after being pushed out at high tide Tuesday.

Mason said 18 whales were still alive early Wednesday and the DOC staff decided to euthanize them rather than allowing them to continue to suffer.

Mason said, “It’s the worst outcome and it’s not a job our staff enjoy doing at all.”
Scientists are unsure why pilot whales beach themselves, News24 reports. They speculate it may occur when their sonar becomes scrambled because of shallow water or when one member of the pod is sick and heads for shore, causing the others to follow.

Pilot whales are up to six meters, or slightly less than 20 feet long, and are the most common species of whale in New Zealand waters.

For more information, go here.

Patti LaBelle sued for screaming, throwing water at a baby

Grammy winner sued by New York couple

R&B legend Patti LaBelle is being sued by a New York City couple for alleged abuse of the mother and her 18-month-old daughter.

Kevin and Roseanna Monk filed a lawsuit Monday, claiming that LaBelle screamed at Roseanna Monk while her daughter walked around the lobby of the Donald-Trump-owned apartment building in which they all lived in November 2010. According to ABC News, the Monks lived there for more than two years. LaBelle resided in the building last year while performing in the Broadway musical, “Fela!”

The Monks’ lawyer, Samuel L. Davis, told ABCNews.com that LaBelle approached his client, who was pulling together the family’s luggage for a trip and said, “’Do you know what your daughter is doing?’ kind of implying that she was a bad mother.”

Davis said his client responded as most would and told LaBelle to mind her own business.

According to Davis, the singer “started cursing and screaming” and flung water from a bottle she was holding at Monk and her child. Davis said the mother and daughter had to change their shirts from the water. He said the baby “started crying violently. She started throwing up.”

Unfortunately the incident did not end there.

“My client went outside, and on the way to her car, she said, ‘Look what you did to my daughter. Look what you did,’” Davis said. “That’s when Patti lost it and she lunged at her, tried to punch her and had to be restrained by her entourage. The bodyguard had to get out and drag Patti into her car.”

Monk called the police, but no arrests were made. This isn’t the Grammy-winner’s first experience with violence. In June, a U.S. Military Academy cadet sued LaBelle over a dispute with her bodyguards in the Houston airport, claiming the bodyguards attacked him unprovoked. LaBelle counter-sued, claiming the cadet tried to get her into a limousine and was drunk and using racial and sexual slurs. The case is under investigation.

Davis said his clients want to prove a point. He said, “Just because you have an entourage and bodyguards doesn’t mean you can scream and throw water in people’s faces.”

For more information, go here.

Duke basketball coach breaks Division I Victory record

Mike Krsysewski breaks his former coach’s victory record

As Duke beat Michigan State’s men’s basketball team 74-69 Tuesday night, Duke players were more excited for their coach than the win.

With Tuesday’s win, head coach Mike Krzyzewski, 64, became the all-time Division I men’s leader for wins. Currently in his 37th season, Krzyzewski has 903 wins and counting.

According to USA Today, the first person to congratulate Krzyzewski on his accomplishment was the man whose record he broke, Bob Knight. Knight, one of NCAA’s most successful but most controversial coaches, recruited Krzyzewski to play at Army.

“I want to thank the basketball Gods for allowing coach to be here for this moment,” Krzyzewski said, according to USA Today.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo knew his team was in between a rock and a hard place.

“I was either going to be the guy who threw the ball to Henry Aaron for the record breaker or the guy who shot Bambi.” Izzo said, according to reports.

Several former Duke players came out to support their coach, including Shane Battier, who won a title with Krzyzewski. Battier said, “I know if you gave him enough opportunity he’d give Bobby Knight a run for his money. It’s just amazing to be here on this night to see the culmination of this work.”

For more information, go here.

NBA players union says no to deal

Union dissolves, planning antitrust lawsuits against league

Basketball fans hoping to have games back on track by the holidays, don’t count on it.

The National Basketball Association and the players’ union were unable to reach an agreement on a collective bargaining agreement Monday. 

The union, National Basketball Players Association, served notice to the NBA that they plan to dissolve and pursue antitrust lawsuit against the league for the 137-day lockout.
According to USA Today, NBPA executive director Billy Hunter said, “The players feel they’re not prepared to accept any ultimatum.”

Hunter said, “We have negotiated in good faith for over two years. But the players just felt they have given enough, that the NBA was not prepared to negotiate, that things were not going to get better.”

“After two years of making a genuine effort…we’ve come to the conclusion today that the process has not worked for us,” said NBPA president Derek Fisher, according to USA Today, “We decided this is the best decision for the players.”

All 30 teams were represented by players at Monday’s meeting, among which were several veterans.

Many players tweeted their reactions to Monday’s meeting. New Jersey Nets guard Anthony Morrow tweeted, “We’re not gonna be Strong-Armed.” Guard Kyrie Irving, No. 1 overall draft pick out of Duke to the Cleveland Cavaliers, tweeted, “Lol now everybody wanna flood my mentions with you shoulda stayed in school…eh yea and no…I have NO regrets at all though!! Sorry.” 

Hunter said that there was a “high probability” there wouldn’t be a season.

For more information on the NBA lockout, go here.

Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw Reunite for Stadium Tour

Chesney and McGraw to tour 19 stadiums this summer on concert tour

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw are reuniting for a 19-date stadium tour set to being June 2.

Chesney and McGraw, who famously toured together in the early 2000s, will reunite for their Brothers of the Sun tour, which will include special guests Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and Jake Owen.

The tour will play weekends at mostly NFL stadiums across the country, according to Billboard.com. The tour will wrap up Aug. 25 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.

“To do it the way we’re going to do it next summer, this will be more than just a tour for me,” Chesney tells Billboard.biz. “To go out there on the road with a guy you’ve been friends with for a long time and made a lot of music with already…this is going to be real special for me and Tim.”

Chesney and McGraw first toured as a duo as part of the George Strait Country Music Fest stadium tours. “Technically I’m closing, but Tim and I are going to give the fans their money’s worth,” Chesney tells Billboard, “…I’d say me and Tim are closing. We’re going to try and change it up every night, have as much fun as we possibly can.”

Chesney and McGraw have already had several sessions to plan out their show.

To see Chesney and McGraw’s tour dates, go here.

Abraham Lincoln Sword Stolen from Burial Site

Copper thieves steal three-foot sword

Copper thieves have stolen a three-foot long sword from Abraham Lincoln’s burial sight in Springfield, Illinois.

An employee recently noticed that the copper statue on top of the tomb was missing its sword. The statue is of a Civil War artillery officer.

According to the Daily Mail, the sword was taken from the site at the Oak Ridge Cemetery sometime between September and early November.

Dave Blanchette, a spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency told the Springfield State Journal-Register, “We just cannot imagine why someone would even think about doing it, let alone climb up the steps and actually do it.”

State officials plan to repair the statue; the handle of the sword was broken during the theft.

The theft is believed to be the first to state property since the same sword was stolen 101 years ago. The original sword was made of bronze, which was used in all metal statues, and replaced with a copper version.

Blanchard told the State Journal-Register that aside from the sword thefts, the tomb is vandalized about once every decade.

For more information on Lincoln’s Burial, go here.