Royal funeral at last for Richard III?
LONDON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- King Richard III, who lost his life and crown at Bosworth Field, could join other English monarchs at Westminster Abbey now that his remains have been found.
His distant successor, Queen Elizabeth II, has taken no position on what should happen to the skeletal remains excavated from a Leicester car park, the Evening Standard reported. The newspaper said a reporter who called Buckingham Palace was told the fate of the bones is up to Leicester University.
The bones were identified by comparison with the mitochondrial DNA of Michael Ibsen, a Canadian descended through 17 generations from Richard's sister.
The church where Richard was buried in 1485 after his death at 32 no longer exists. In addition to the abbey, where 17 monarchs now rest, possibilities include Leicester Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral, because Richard was duke of Gloucester, and York Minster, because he was head of the Council of the North.
The current duke of Gloucester, who shares the king's first name, is patron of the Richard III Society, an organization devoted to honoring his memory and clearing his reputation. The duke said he does not expect his cousin, the queen, to attend any funeral or reinterment ceremony.
"I hope to be involved in the ceremony but quite what my role will be remains to be seen," he told the Standard.
Dan Cruikshank, a BBC television presenter, is pushing for the abbey. Henry VII, who won the Battle of Bosworth Field, is already buried there.
"My feeling is that a royal funeral at Westminster Abbey would be splendid," Cruikshank said. "To lose a king is pretty damn careless but when you find him not to give him a proper ceremony and burial would seem deeply remiss."
Richard III is the subject of one of William Shakespeare's most famous history plays.
Mindy McCready in rehab after her kids are taken away
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The Arkansas Department of Human Services has removed Mindy McCready's young sons from her home while the singer goes to rehab, E! News reported.
McCready's once-bright music career has been eclipsed in recent years by her erratic behavior, battles with drug and alcohol addiction, and legal woes.
She was back in the news last month after boyfriend David Wilson was found dead. The cause is still under investigation, but McCready has said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She also has denied any involvement in his death.
"Mindy needs to get help and we all care and love her and we want her to get the right help so she can move on," E! News quoted an unnamed source as saying.
The media outlet said an emergency hearing was held Wednesday and a judge ordered the recording artist to be committed to a treatment facility for 21 days to deal with her mental-health and alcohol-abuse issues.
E! News did not say where McCready's sons -- Zander, 6, and Zayne, 9 months -- are after being removed by child-protection workers.
Anchor Robin Roberts to return to 'GMA' Feb. 20
NEW YORK, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts says she will return to work Feb. 20 after five months of sick leave.
The breast cancer survivor underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder.
After months of recovering at home, she has been cleared by her doctors to go back to work later this month.
"What a difference a year makes," Roberts said in a statement Thursday. "I cannot wait to return to my 'GMA' family. It's going to be an incredible morning in Times Square. The overwhelming thoughts and prayers of the viewers have played a major part in getting me here today. I cannot thank everyone enough."
'Thrift Shop' tops U.S. record chart for a third week
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop" featuring Wanz is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart for a third week, Billboard.com reported Thursday.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven," followed by
Will.i.am and Britney Spears' "Scream & Shout" at No. 3, The Lumineers' "Ho Hey" at No. 4 and Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" at No. 5.
Rounding out the top tier are Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child" featuring John Martin at No. 6, Justin Bieber's "Beauty and a Beat" featuring Nicki Minaj at No. 7, A$AP Rocky's "F**kin Problems" at No. 8, P!nk's "Try" at No. 9 and Calvin Harris' "Sweet Nothing" at No. 10.
