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Closing arguments under way in Hudson family slay trial

CHICAGO, May 9 (UPI) -- Prosecutors wrapped up the first of their closing arguments Wednesday in the Chicago trial of the man accused of killing members of Jennifer Hudson's family.

William Balfour, 30, is charged with the shooting deaths of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew in 2008. Balfour is the ex-husband of Hudson's sister, Julia.

Reporters from The Chicago Tribune said via Twitter the photo with which prosecutors ended the first of their arguments depicted Julia's dead 7-year-old son, Julian King, grinning with his arms raised over his head. It was shown shortly before a break to prepare for the start of the defense's closing argument.

Prosecutors said witnesses, Balfour's statements to police and overwhelming circumstantial evidence "point to one place and one place only," the Tribune reporters said.

The lawyers also noted Balfour is charged with home invasion, kidnapping, burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle, which could help qualify him for a life sentence in prison without parole, if he is convicted.

Balfour is accused of kidnapping Julian after Balfour shot and killed his mother- and brother-in-law, then stole his brother-in-law's SUV, shooting the child and leaving his body in the vehicle where it was discovered two days later.

Jermaine Paul wins 'The Voice'

LOS ANGELES, May 9 (UPI) -- Jermaine Paul, a father of four and former backup singer for Alicia Keys, has won Season 2 of the competition series "The Voice" in Los Angeles.

"You did it! You did it!" his coach, country music star Blake Shelton, yelled upon hearing Paul's fate.

Paul walked away from Tuesday night's finale with a Universal Republic Records contract.

Juliet Simms, who was mentored by Cee Lo Green, came in second, while Tony Lucca, Adam Levine's protege, came in third and Chris Mann, who was mentored by Christina Aguilera, came in fourth.

Carson Daly is the show's host.

'General Hospital' up for 23 Daytime Emmy Awards

LOS ANGELES, May 9 (UPI) -- The American soap opera "General Hospital" led the field with 23 nods when nominations for Daytime Emmy Awards were announced Wednesday.

Among the prizes it will compete for is Best Daytime Drama, a category which also includes the now-defunct "All My Children," as well as "Days of Our Lives" and "The Young & the Restless," which ties with the long-running educational children's program "Sesame Street" for this year's second-most -- 16 -- Daytime Emmy Awards nods.

"Days of Our Lives" is nominated for 15 Daytime Emmys and the chat program "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is up for 12 awards, while soaps "All My Children," "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "One Life to Live" are all nominated for 11.

The cartoons "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness" and "Penguins of Madagascar" each will compete for eight Emmy wins.

The awards honoring the best in daytime television are to be handed out June 23 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Canadian regulator orders quieter TV ads

OTTAWA, May 9 (UPI) -- Canadian broadcasters have until Sept. 1 to ensure television commercials are the same volume as regular programming, the federal regulator ruled.

After receiving thousands of complaints in recent years, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ordered an end to loud commercials that lead to viewers reaching for mute or volume buttons, Postmedia News reported from Ottawa.

In two months of public hearings earlier this year, more than 7,000 Canadians "overwhelmingly" opposed the blaring volume discrepancy, the CRTC said.

By Sept. 1, all Canadian broadcasters will have to conform to the international regulatory Advanced Television Systems Committee's guidelines for volume "smoothing."

CRTC acting Chairman Leonard Katz said he didn't expect resistance from broadcasters.

"We have every expectation that the industry will take the necessary steps to meet our deadline and provide relief to viewers," he said.

Similar volume measures are being implemented in other countries, including the United States.