Singer Miriam Makeba dead at 76
NAPLES, Italy, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- South African singer and anti-apartheid activist Miriam Makeba has died of a heart attack in Italy at the age of 76, her representatives said.
ANSA said Makeba, who was known as Mama Africa and the Empress of African Song, died shortly after performing at an anti-racism and anti-Mafia concert in Castel Volturno Sunday night.
Makeba's aides told ANSA the performer agreed to sing at the musical event despite her recent poor health. The Italian news outlet said she sang for about 30 minutes but suffered chest pains and was taken to the hospital where she died.
The concert was orchestrated, in part, to support Roberto Saviano, the author of "Gomorra," an expose about organized crime in Naples. Saviano's life reportedly has been threatened, forcing the writer to live in hiding, under police protection. A film adaptation of his book is Italy's entry for Hollywood's Academy Awards competition.
Gangsters shot six West African immigrants in September in the town where the concert was held. The event, as well as Saviano's book, reportedly have prompted a government crackdown on crime in the region.
Hudson family slay suspect to stay in jail
CHICAGO, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The Illinois Prisoner Review Board Monday ruled that a person of interest in the triple homicide of Jennifer Hudson's family must stay behind bars.
William Balfour, the estranged husband of the singer-actress's sister Julia, has been held since Oct. 24, the day Hudson's mother and brother were found shot to death in their Chicago home. The body of Hudson's slain 7-year-old nephew was recovered in a parked SUV several days later.
Balfour hasn't been charged in connection with the killings but has been held on an alleged parole violation since shortly after they occurred.
The Chicago Tribune said the board decided there is sufficient evidence to suggest Balfour violated his parole and the ruling means he is to stay in prison while the investigation into the Hudson family slayings is conducted.
Jorge Montes, the board's chairman, told the Tribune the decision was made in part because of Balfour's girlfriend's claims that she had seen Balfour with a firearm that matched the weapon used in the triple homicide.
The board also alleged Balfour, who wasn't represented by a lawyer at the hearing, had violated the terms of his parole in a separate incident by going to places where drugs were dealt, the Tribune reported.
Balfour was convicted of attempted murder in 1999.
Joe Johnston to direct 'Captain America'
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Joe Johnston has signed on to direct the big-screen comic-book adaptation, "First Avenger: Captain America," The Hollywood Reporter said.
Johnston's directing credits include "Jumanji," "Jurassic Park III" and "Hidalgo." He also served as art director of visual effects on numerous film classics.
"This is a guy who designed the vehicles for 'Star Wars,' who story-boarded the convoy action sequence for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,'" producer Kevin Feige told the entertainment industry trade newspaper. "From 'Rocketeer' to 'October Sky' to 'The Wolfman,' you can look at pieces of his movies and see how they lead to this one."
"Captain America" is scheduled to open in theaters May 6, 2011.
Lohan bisexual? Says: 'Maybe. Yeah.'
NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. actress and singer Lindsay Lohan admits she is bisexual in an interview with Harper's Bazaar magazine.
Lohan reportedly has been dating disc jockey Samantha Ronson for several months, but she is coy about their relationship during interviews.
The New York Post said Lohan told Harper's Bazaar she is dating a "wonderful" woman, but doesn't confirm who it is.
"I think it's pretty obvious who I'm seeing," she is quoted as telling the magazine.
Asked if she considers herself bisexual, Lohan replied: "Maybe. Yeah."
However, the Post said Lohan was adamant she isn't a lesbian, insisting, "No," when asked.
Lohan, 22, is best known for her roles in the teen movies "Mean Girls" and "Freaky Friday." She recently had a recurring role on TV's "Ugly Betty."
