'Harry Potter' is No. 1 in U.S. theaters
LOS ANGELES, July 19 (UPI) -- J.K. Rowling's young wizard conjured a fortune this weekend with "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" No. 1 in U.S. theaters, Box Office Mojo said Sunday.
The latest movie installment of the British author's fantastical novels, with Daniel Radcliffe in the title role, piled up an estimated $79.48 million in its first weekend in U.S. theaters.
The animated "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" stayed No. 2 with $17.7 million. and the science-fiction adventure "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" was still No. 3 with $13.75 million.
Last weekend's top-grossing movie, the mockumentary "Bruno," fell to No. 4 in its second week with $8.37 million, followed by "The Hangover," which moved back up a spot to No. 5 with $8.32 million in its seventh week in U.S. theaters.
Rounding out the Top 10 were "The Proposal" with an estimated $8.23 million in ticket sales, "Public Enemies" at $7.59 million, "Up" at $3.15 million, "My Sister's Keeper" at $2.83 million and "I Love You Beth Cooper" at $2.7 million.
"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" dropped out of the top tier in its sixth week.
Another new offering, "500 Days of Summer," a romantic comedy starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, debuted at No. 12 with just $838,000 in gate receipts.
Comedian Stewart aiding leukemia patient
NEW YORK, July 19 (UPI) -- Comedian Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show," says he has been trying to lighten the spirits of a Washington man suffering from leukemia.
Stewart said after hearing about 32-year-old software engineer Jonathan Haupt's battle with leukemia, he sent "Daily Show" DVDs to help lift the man's spirits and offered him a tour of the set of the Comedy Central show, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.
"He's really struggling," Stewart said of Haupt.
Stewart called on his fellow New Yorkers to get tested to determine if they can donate bone marrow to Haupt or other leukemia sufferers.
"It's not giving up a kidney. It's just taking this swab test and then it's a minor procedure if you're a match," the "Daily Show" star said.
Haupt, meanwhile, told the Daily News how Stewart's faux news program has become a staple in his Washington household.
"He doesn't know it, but he has really helped me through all of this," Haupt said of Stewart.
Source: No murder charge in Jackson case
LOS ANGELES, July 19 (UPI) -- Murder charges are unlikely in the death of U.S. pop star Michael Jackson, a law enforcement source says.
A senior law enforcement official, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Sunday's Los Angeles Times while the investigation into Jackson's June 25 death will continue, none of his doctors are expected to be charged with murder, the Los Angeles Times said Sunday.
"There's nothing I have been told that would suggest a murder charge. It's just so remote and so unsupported by the facts as they've been gathered," the official said.
Jackson's father, Joe, recently called his son's death at age 50 "foul play."
And the star's sister, La Toya, was quoted in the British press as saying: "It was a conspiracy to get Michael's money."
However, the source told the Times several doctors involved in the investigation into Jackson's death are not considered suspects.
"They are not suspects," the official said. "They are repositories of medical history … There's been a high level of cooperation."
Ted Turner still active at age 70
ATLANTA, July 19 (UPI) -- U.S. media mogul Ted Turner, the creator of CNN, says he still leads an active lifestyle despite being a septuagenarian.
The former owner of the Atlanta Braves professional baseball team did admit that he has slowed down in his advanced age and become more reflective, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Saturday.
"I'm feeling my age a little bit," said Turner, 70. "I can't do what I did when was 30 or 40. But I still ski and ride horseback. I do a lot of hiking. I stay in reasonable shape."
Turner offered the Journal-Constitution his personal takes on a number of issues, including marriage, death and his cable TV creation, CNN.
"In a way (death) will be a relief. You don't have to wake up every day," said Turner, who once pledged to donate $1 billion to the United Nations.
"I've tried (marriage). It's like baseball. Three strikes, and you're out," said Turner, whose third marriage to actress Jane Fonda ended in 2001.
"(CNN) will be on in my hospital room when I die," Turner told the Journal-Constitution. "That, or the Cartoon Network. Scooby-Doo has been very good to me."
