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People in the news

By United Press International
Jennifer Hudson performs at the Revlon Concert for the Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 3, 2012. UPI/John Angelillo
Jennifer Hudson performs at the Revlon Concert for the Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 3, 2012. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...

JENNIFER HUDSON: A handyman testified at William Balfour's triple homicide trial in Chicago that Jennifer Hudson's slain brother, Jason, made a living selling cocaine.

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Balfour is the ex-husband of Jennifer's sister, Julia. He is charged with the shooting deaths of the sisters' mother and brother, as well as Julia's 7-year-old son.

The Chicago Tribune said witness Reginald Jones told the court Tuesday he frequently bought cocaine from the singer's brother and occasionally helped Jason handle customers who came to the Hudson family home to buy drugs.

Jones also said he caught Balfour spying on Julia, who was living with her mother, brother and son, just months before her three family members were killed.

Prosecutors have argued Balfour was angry at Julia because she asked for a divorce and had a new boyfriend, but Balfour's defense team has said Jason's drug-dealing exposed his loved ones to criminals and violence.


LADY GAGA: Lady Gaga has ended her 10-month romance with actor Taylor Kinney, a source close to the American pop star told UsMagazine.com Wednesday.

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The insider said Lady Gaga, 26, and Kinney, 30, are "on a break."

"She will be touring non-stop until next year and has found she can't have relationship at the same time," the source told the magazine. "There's just no room for anything else. Her work is all-consuming."

Kinney is best known for his work on TV's "The Vampire Diaries."


REESE WITHERSPOON: U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and actress Reese Witherspoon have been named International Mothers of the Year for 2012, organizers said Wednesday.

Also enshrined in the Hall of Fame this year are Victoria Beckham, a singer and fashion designer; Lisa Belkin, a Huffington Post journalist; Stephanie Decker, an Indiana housewife and tornado survivor; Betty DeGeneres, author, activist and mother of talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres; Meredith Olafson, a North Dakota nurse and surrogate mother; Holly Robinson Peete, an actress and television host; Ann Romney, philanthropist and wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney; and Summer Sanders, an Olympic medalist.

The International Mothers Hall of Fame is a 45-year-old Texas non-profit that describes itself as being dedicated to "increasing respect and recognition for the first -- and often the most powerful -- influence of our lives."

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ADRIAN PASDAR: USA Network says former "Heroes" cast member Adrian Pasdar has landed a role in "Political Animals," its Washington-set drama scheduled to premiere this summer.

Starring Sigourney Weaver, Ciaran Hinds, Carla Gugino and Ellen Burstyn, the six-episode series is to debut July 15.

The Hollywood Reporter said Pasdar will play Paul Garcetti, who defeated Weaver's former first lady character, Elaine, in the presidential primary and appointed her secretary of state.

Pasdar also stars on the TV show "The Lying Game."

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