Cronkite called 'a wire-service reporter at heart'
NEW YORK, July 24 (UPI) -- Walter Cronkite, the pioneering television network anchorman, was remembered Thursday at an invitation-only funeral in New York as primarily a reporter.
Cronkite's son, Chip, told the crowd packed in St. Bartholomew's Church his father described himself as a reporter "who just ended up reporting bigger and bigger stories," The New York Times said.
Cronkite died July 17 at 92.
While he became one of television's great news stars, one television producer said Cronkite was true to his roots. After a series of radio jobs, he joined United Press in 1937 and moved to CBS in 1950.
"He was always a wire service reporter in his heart," said Sanford Socolow, one of Cronkite's executive producers.
Socolow said Cronkite lived by the wire service motto, "Get it first, but first get it right."
Cronkite had quirks, Socolow said. One experiment, ad-libbing during newscasts, lasted two days, and staff members every January would tutor him in the pronunciation of February.
Jackson's death likely listed as homicide
LOS ANGELES, July 24 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles County Coroner's office will almost certainly list the cause of singer Michael Jackson's death as homicide, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
Jackson died June 25 after going into cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home. The results of tests performed on the 50-year-old entertainer's body are to be released next week.
The expectation of a likely homicide ruling is based on a draft of the autopsy report, as well as what is being described as "clear evidence" that natural, accidental, accidental overdose and suicide have been ruled out as causes of Jackson's death, the law enforcement sources told TMZ.
Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, is under investigation. Media reports claim he allegedly administered the anesthesia Propofol to Jackson the day he died. Murray reportedly has been interviewed by police and his offices have been searched.
Winehouse acquitted of assault charge
LONDON, July 24 (UPI) -- British soul singer Amy Winehouse said she is relieved she was acquitted of an assault charge Friday.
Dancer Sherene Flash claims the troubled recording artist punched her in the eye at a charity ball last September when she attempted to bring a drunken friend into a photo she was having taken with Winehouse.
However, Winehouse denied assaulting Flash, insisted the woman and her friend scared her and said she was only trying to shoo them away.
The BBC quoted London's District Judge Timothy Workman as saying he found Winehouse not guilty of assault in the incident because most of the witnesses to it were drunk at the time and because medical evidence presented by prosecutors didn't suggest "the sort of injury that often occurs when there is a forceful punch to the eye."
"I'm relieved. I'm going home," Winehouse told reporters as she left the court Friday.
"She has always maintained her innocence and is very happy to move on with her life and put the episode behind her," the singer's publicist told the BBC.
Rumored Gosselin gal pal quits Star job
NEW YORK, July 24 (UPI) -- Star magazine said Thursday its reporter, Kate Major, who is rumored to be dating U.S. reality television star Jon Gosselin, has quit her job.
"Star Senior Reporter Kate Major resigned this morning, Thursday, July 23, citing a conflict of interest between her reporting duties for the magazine and her relationship with Jon Gosselin," said a statement posted on the tabloid's Web site.
Usmagazine.com said Major had dinner with the star of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" Saturday in Manhattan and then again Wednesday night in the Hamptons.
The Gosselins, who are the parents of eight children, recently announced they separated and plan to divorce.
Reality television personality Jill Zarin told Usmagazine.com she thinks Jon Gosselin's blossoming romance with Major is "authentic."
"I think it's fast. I think it happened very quickly," said Zarin, who dined with the couple Wednesday.
Gosselin reportedly confirmed last week he was dating 22-year-old Hailey Glassman. He has not commented on reports he is now romantically involved with Major.
