Imagen Awards honor Latino actors
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The winners of the annual Imagen Awards, which honor the accomplishments of Latinos in television and film, have been announced in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Antonio Banderas was named best actor for "The Lost City," while America Ferrara won best actress for her role in "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."
Andy Garcia won best director for "Lost City" and "My Backyard Mountain" was best short film.
In the television category, "West Wing" was best series. Acting awards went to Michael Pena, best actor for the HBO film "Walkout," Lisa Vidal for Lifetime's "Odd Girl Out," Raymond Cruz, best supporting actor, and Cota de Pablo, best supporting actress.
Emmy winning director-choreographer Kenny Ortega received Imagen's Creative Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the industry.
The Friday gala in Beverly Hills was hosted by Lorenzo Lamas.
Russian kidnap threat rattles Mr. Madonna
LONDON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Warnings that Russian mobsters were plotting to kidnap Madonna and her two kids had British husband Guy Ritchie calling for increased security.
The threat came as the U.S. pop icon prepared for her upcoming tour stop in Moscow next month.
A report in The Sun newspaper said Madonna took the reported threats against her and children, Lourdes and Rocco, in stride.
The alleged kidnap plot may have stemmed from a scene that takes place during the Confessions tour in which Madonna simulates a crucifixion -- an act that has irked both the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches.
Tourette's rocker wins U.K. 'Big Brother'
LONDON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A rock singer afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome has plenty to sing about Saturday after winning the British version of the television series "Big Brother."
Peter Bennett received 61 percent of the audience vote in this week's final episode and collected the 100,000 pound ($188,000) first prize, but only after falling down the stairs on his way to being congratulated by host Davina, the Daily Mail said.
Glynn Wise placed second while Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, described by the Daily Mail as the London bookies' favorite, came in third.
The Mail reported that Bennett's remarks to Davina were punctuated with the involuntary curses and shouts that are a symptom of the baffling disease.
Bennett had said he would use his winnings to pay off his mother's mortgage.
Tourette's Syndrome is a congenital neurological disorder that causes involuntary tics and sometimes involuntary swearing.
Cleveland artists killed in building row
CLEVELAND, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- An ongoing beef between neighbors over a loud stereo allegedly ended in the deaths of two well-known and beloved Cleveland artists, a report says.
Masumi Hayashi, 60, a world-renowned photographer and professor, and John Jackson, 51, a respected sculptor, painter and woodworker, were allegedly shot to death by Jacob Cifelli, 29, who lived with his mother in the same building as Hayashi, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Saturday.
Investigators recovered a .40-caliber gun at the scene.
It was Cifelli's mother, Jan, who discovered the two bodies inside their three-story condominium building, police and neighbors told the newspaper.
She happened upon Hayashi on the third floor and Jackson, who was near the building's entrance. Both victims had been shot at least three times, and both victims were shot at least once in the head, the county coroner said.
Cifelli, who was described as "eccentric" in the newspaper, returned a short time later and was handcuffed and led away by police.
