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People in the news

By United Press International
Justin Bieber performs at Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball 2012 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia on December 11, 2012. UPI/Molly Riley
Justin Bieber performs at Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball 2012 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia on December 11, 2012. UPI/Molly Riley | License Photo

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

JUSTIN BIEBER: An ex-con from New Mexico and his nephew planned to kill Justin Bieber and his bodyguard, police said.

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Mark Staake of Albuquerque was allegedly taking orders from a man he met while both were doing time in a prison in Las Cruces, N.M., KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, reported. Dana Martin, who received two life sentences for the rape and murder of a Vermont teenager, was allegedly so obsessed with Bieber he has a picture of the Canadian teen pop sensation tattooed on his leg.

Investigators say Martin also wanted Staake to kill two acquaintances in Vermont. Staake allegedly recruited his nephew, Tanner Ruane, to help him.

Bieber was to be killed in between his Madison Square Garden concerts on Nov. 28 and 29, ABC News reported.

Staake was arrested in Vermont when the pair strayed close to the Canadian border and attracted the attention of a Border Patrol agent, ABC News said. He was held on outstanding warrants, while his nephew was released.

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New York State Police picked up Ruane after he and Martin allegedly discussed the murder plan in phone calls.

Investigators say Martin wanted the victims not only killed -- specifically strangled with paisley ties -- but castrated.

All three men are charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, Lt. Robert McDonald of the New Mexico State Police said.


LINDSAY LOHAN: A Los Angeles judge revoked actress Lindsay Lohan's probation Wednesday and scheduled a hearing to determine whether she should go to jail.

TMZ said Lohan, 26, could spend as many as 245 days behind bars for allegedly violating her probation in a necklace-theft case by lying to police and driving recklessly when she crashed her Porsche into a truck last June.

The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15.

Lohan is a former child star whose once-bright career in films such as "The Parent Trap" and "Mean Girls" has been eclipsed in recent years by her legal woes and battles with drug and alcohol addiction. She was most recently seen in the critically panned TV movie "Liz & Dick."


TRACK AND BRITTA PALIN: Track Palin, the son of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, has filed for divorce from Britta, his wife of a year, court records show.

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TMZ said the couple have fully settled property and custody issues, including child support for their 1-year-old daughter, Kyla.

No reason for the split was given.

Track is an Army reservist, who served in Iraq. He also is a commercial fisherman and plans to go back to college, TMZ said.

Sarah Palin was presidential candidate John McCain's running mate in 2008.


TOM HANKS: Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari, co-stars in the sitcom "Bosom Buddies," will both appear in the new Broadway play, "Lucky Guy," producers said.

The pair also both previously lent their voices to characters in the animated movie "The Polar Express," and appeared together in the film "That Thing You Do!"

Hanks, a double Oscar winner, will make his Broadway debut in "Lucky Guy," a play penned by his late friend Nora Ephron and directed by George C. Wolfe. Set in 1980s New York, it is about the charismatic and controversial tabloid columnist Mike McAlary.

Also starring in the play will be former "Newhart" cast member Scolari, as well as Christopher McDonald, Peter Gerety, Michael Gaston, Dustyn Gulledge, Deirdre Lovejoy, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Richard Masur and Stephen Tyrone Williams.

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Additional casting will be announced soon, the show's producers said.

"Lucky Guy" will play a limited engagement at the Broadhurst Theatre, with an opening night set for April 1. Previews will begin March 1.

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