New England Sun-Times

(Reuters) - Former Boston Mayor Kevin White, who led the city for 16 years and shepherded it through a period of racial tension and court-ordered school desegregation, died on Friday at age 82. White, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2003, died at his Boston home, family spokesman George Regan told local media. Boston was torn by racial violence in the 1970s as the city implemented court-ordered busing to desegregate schools. White, who ran the city from 1968 to 1984, was lauded for focusing on protecting children caught in the unrest. He arranged for police escorts for school buses after ones carrying black children were pelted with stones as they arrived in white neighborhoods. White, a Democrat, was also credited with revitalizing Boston's downtown, including the reopening of the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace. "Tonight is a sad night for the city of Boston," Mayor Thomas Menino said in remarks carried on local news channel 7News, an NBC...

Hundreds of Etta James' friends, fans and family gathered Saturday at a Los Angeles church to remember the legendary rhythm and blues singer who died this month. Soul icon Stevie Wonder performed at the funeral, as well as Christina Aguilera, who sang the song that James made famous, "At Last." The Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy. Etta James died Jan. 20 at age 73 after battling leukemia and other ailments. She was most famous for her rendition of "At Last," and in her decades-long career, she became revered for her passionate, soulful singing voice. Her version of the song has become an enduring anthem for weddings and commercials. If you remember, President Barack Obama and the first lady danced to the song 'At Last' as sung by Beyonce at his inauguration ball. Aguilera gave a great performance at Etta's funeral when she sang THIS song: "Etta James was a pioneer. Her ever-changing sound has influenced rock and roll, rhythm and ...

Obama's singing of 'Let's Stay Together' at Apollo Theater upped sales of iconic 1972 hit. Sure, clean energy, the return of manufacturing, a boost in education spending and saving the domestic car industry are awesome ways to revive the American economy. But another tactic President Obama might consider is more singing. Because a week after the falsetto singer-in-chief unleashed his version of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at an Apollo Theater fundraiser, sales of the good Rev.'s most iconic hit have taken off. According to Billboard magazine, the viral video of the president singing the first line of the #1 hit from 1972 boosted sales of the song by 490 percent. In fact, the tune had its best week since SoundScan began tracking digital sales in 2003, with 16,000 downloads. The YouTube video of the impromptu recital has been viewed more than 4 million times. Check out the Prez gettin' it in: It was likely the second s...

 The narcotics were found in at least one bag that turned up at the U.N. headquarters in New York. New York (CNN) -- More than 35 pounds of cocaine was discovered in at least one bag that turned up at the United Nations headquarters in New York, police said Thursday. The narcotics were uncovered on January 16 inside hollowed-out books that had been shipped from Mexico City in a bag made to look like a diplomatic pouch, according to New York police spokesman Paul Browne. "The actual pouch is blue and has a U.N. symbol, a lock and seal, and words like "Diplomatic Mail," Browne said. "This bag was white instead of blue and had no locked seal and no wording of any kind." The bag was being screened at the United Nations' postal receiving center when the cocaine was discovered. It lacked a destination address and was without a return address, Browne added. U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said, "This was not connected to the United Nat...

"Welcome Back Kotter" actor Robert Hegyes has died. According to New Jersey's The Star-Ledger, he was 60 years old. The Star-Ledger reports he suffered an apparent heart attack in his New Jersey home on Thursday morning. Hegyes is best known for playing Juan Epstein on "Welcome Back Kotter," the 1970s sitcom, which starred John Travolta and Gabe Kaplan. He appeared in all four seasons of the sitcom and joined most of his fellow Sweathogs at the "Welcome Back Kotter" reunion held at the 2011 TV Land Awards. After "Kotter," Hegyes went on to co-star in "Cagney and Lacey" as Detective Manny Esposito. His other TV work includes an episode of "The Love Boat," "NewsRadio" and "CHiPS." Hegyes' last credited role was in the 2002 movie "Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool." His brother Mark told The Star-Ledger that Robert was retired, but still talked about being involved in local arts efforts. ...

Ever wonder why Pat Sajak has unending enthusiasm toward the purchase of a vowel? Turns out, margaritas have something to do with it. The host of the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune says that back in the day, he and Vanna White occasionally had a drink – or six – while working on the show. When asked by Dan Le Batard of Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable , which airs on ESPN 2, if he ever hosted the show while intoxicated, Sajak, 65, came clean. "Yes," the TV veteran admitted with a laugh. "When I first started and was much younger and could tolerate those things. We had a different show then." With a two-and-a-half hour dinner break during the game show's early format, Sajak and White would drop by Los Arcos, a Mexican joint in Burbank, for margaritas. "Vanna and I would ... have two or three or six and then come and do the last shows and have trouble recognizing the alphabet," he says. "I had a great time. I have no ...

Authorities arrested more than 100 members and associates of the street gang the Mexican Mafia in southern California as part of investigation into a wide range of offenses such as racketeering, kidnapping, attempted murder and drug trafficking, federal officials said. The arrests were made primarily in San Diego County and were the culmination of three major investigations on gang activity in the area, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said Wednesday. In early morning raids, federal and local authorities rounded up 104 suspects. The charges are detailed in 17 indictments and eight criminal complaints filed by the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego. In all 119 suspected gang members were charged and authorities were trying to track down the remaining fugitives, Duffy said. The suspects are part of 20 major street gangs that were overseen by the Mexican Mafia, authorities said. "Gangs were made to pay taxes in order to facilitate their trafficking and violent behavi...

Paris (CNN) -- The founder of a French company that makes breast implants linked to a health scare was arrested Thursday, the French national police said. Poly Implant Protheses (PIP) founder Jean-Claude Mas was detained in Six-Fours-les-Plages, near Toulon in southern France, police said. PIP director Claude Couty was arrested around the same time nearby in La Seyne-sur-Mer and investigators searched his home, according to CNN affiliate France 2. Mas was arrested in connection with an investigation into involuntary homicide and harm following the cancer death of a French woman with PIP implants in 2010, police in Marseille said. The probe was opened in December by prosecutors in Marseille. Marseille police and and public health officials are conducting the investigation, police said. PIP implants have sparked health scares in the United States, Europe and South America. An estimated 300,000 women in 65 countries received breast implants from the company. The imp...

BOSTON -- A big drug bust landed a south Boston man in court Wednesday. Matthew Berkowitz, the son of the owner of Legal Seafoods pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges. The 32-year-old was arrested when an undercover officer delivered a package addressed to him. Police say that package contained nearly two kilos of opium. If convicted, Berkowitz could face up to 20 years in prison. SOURCE: whdh

Four to six new or remodeled stores in Southern California will offer alcoholic drinks by the end of this year, as will some shops in Atlanta and Chicago.   Starbucks customers are about to get a different kind of buzz. Already a go-to for morning commuters and afternoon pick-me-ups, the coffee giant is aiming to expand the happy hour crowd by offering wine and beer at select Southern California locations. Starbucks said it would bring booze to four to six new or remodeled stores in the region by the end of this year and planned to do the same to a small group of locations in Atlanta and Chicago. In addition, patrons could order "premium food" such as savory snacks, small plates and hot flatbreads. The chain began testing its alcohol menu in its hometown of Seattle in 2010. It now offers beers for $5 and wines by the glass for $7 to $9 in five locations in that city and one in Portland, Ore. Beer options include Rogue Dead Guy Ale, and the wine menu features...

LOUISVILLE (AP) – Taco Bell, the fast-food chain that caters to late-night snacking, is making a play for the breakfast crowd. The Mexican-style restaurant chain introduced a breakfast menu Thursday at almost 800 restaurants, mostly in nearly a dozen Western states. The rollout adds to the scramble among fast-food heavyweights competing for the morning allegiance of on-the-go consumers. If the launch goes as expected, the chain hopes its breakfast burritos will be displayed on store menu boards nationwide along with its regular line of tacos, chalupas and gorditas by the start of 2014, said Taco Bell Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer Brian Niccol. "This is a very important launch for our brand," Niccol said. The chain's breakfast staples include burritos stuffed with eggs and either sausage, bacon or steak; sausage and egg wraps; hash browns; hot or iced coffee, and orange juice. Taco Bell is teaming with such recognizable brands as Johnsonville, Ci...

Students at Fairfax County’s Parklawn Elementary School had a couple of A-list lunchtime guests Wednesday: first lady Michelle Obama (who stopped by to munch turkey tacos and announce new federal regulations meant to boost school-lunch nutrition) and celebrity chef Rachael Ray (who made the tacos). Improving school lunches has been a key part of the first lady’s effort to fight childhood obesity, and the new rules amount to the most sweeping school-lunch changes in 15 years. At a pre-lunch press conference in Parklawn’s library Wednesday, Obama gave credit to parents who have led the push for more wholesome, nutritious school meals. “This movement to improve the food in our schools is happening in large part because of all of you,” Obama said. “It’s happening because you all stood up, it’s happening because you all spoke out and you asked for something better for our kids.” U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Spanish chef Jose Andres were also on h...

The California town of  Loma Linda, a center of the Seventh Day Adventist church, is up in arms against a McDonald’s proposed for the town. Considered one of the healthiest towns in the world with some of the longest-living residents, many church members believe maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a religious obligation. Most are vegetarians and they consider McDonald’s, with its fatty hamburgers and high-calorie French fries, to be contrary to their religious teachings and an affront to the healthy lifestyle they have developed in the town. Residents of Loma Linda oppose the town’s decision to allow McDonald’s to build its first restaurant there ‘McDonald’s does not fit the Loma Linda brand of health and wellness,’ Dr Wayne Dysinger, head of preventive medicine at the Adventist Loma Linda University Medical Center told the Los Angeles Times. ‘Compare it to smoking laws: There’s no question that smoking is harmful to people’s health. Exposing people to fast food...

They were known as "Miller's boys," a small group of East Haven officers on the 4-to-midnight shift arrested Tuesday following a long federal investigation and charged with terrorizing Latinos who dared enter the town's borders. Federal authorities called them "bullies" and the indictment against them alleges a long list of crimes ranging from excessive force for beating suspects with their hands cuffed behind them to obstructing justice. Federal prosecutors argued in court that one of them — Dennis Spaulding — was so dangerous that he should be barred from entering East Haven while his case is pending. Besides Spaulding the other three officers arrested were Jason Zullo, David Cari and Sgt. John Miller. All but Zullo were released late Tuesday after pleading not guilty and posting bonds ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. Miller and Cari were arrested at the East Haven police department just as their shift was ending. Miller was whisked out...

While the Giants and Patriots gear up for the rematch of a lifetime, Super Bowl XLV, federal agents are preparing for one of the biggest sports-related counterfeit busts ever. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies seized a record $3.56 million worth of fake Super Bowl-related memorabilia during "Operation Interception" last year. This year, agents expect another major haul, especially given the extreme popularity of the two teams, according to Ross Feinstein, a spokesman for ICE.  "We'll see numerous counterfeit jerseys, sweatshirts, hats, cell phone covers," he said. "If they can make it, we'll seize it."  Anything with the Super Bowl logo that features both teams will be particularly popular, he added. Last year, over 15,000 counterfeit NFL jerseys alone were seized in the days ahead of Super Bowl Sunday.  Sports fans should watch out for telltale signs like poor stitching, substandard materials or inferior p...

Tyler Perry is well known as the 100-Million-Dollar-Man. But did you know that Tyler Perry once produced a play a year hoping for at least 1200 people to show up? And only 30 people would come to the play? Perry says that didn't deter him, and he stuck at what he knew best and it finally payed off for him. According to Tyler Perry, no matter how many busines cards you give out, no matter how much you promote, it is just watering the same seed that one day will harvest and come to fruition. Check out Mr. Perry explaining the secret to success that he says has always been deleted from his recorded and printed interviews: Follow me on Twitter: @QuadeerShakur SOURCE: Tyler Perry Facebook

‘Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports’ documentary debuts Sunday, January 29, 8:00pm ET Football is a cornerstone of family life in Greenville, NC, and four-time statewide football champion JH Rose High School is one reason why.  But the costs for all of that football glory can be very high.  The hard hits can mean concussion injuries and the community has borne terrible consequences. In summer 2008, JH Rose junior and star running back, Jaquan Waller, died as a result of repeated concussion injuries.  Weeks earlier, neighboring RJ Reynolds High School sophomore Matthew Gfeller had died from concussion injury.  In 2010, JH Rose head coach Todd Lipe had to permanently sideline the varsity quarterback, AJ Flores, after he sustained his fourth football-related concussion.  In 2011, JH Rose starting linebacker Gray Dixon was one of nearly a dozen players to sit out part of the season with a serious concussion. In a new, one-hour documentary, CNN chief medical cor...

NEW YORK (AP) — Aretha Franklin won't be getting fitted for a wedding gown after all: She's called off her engagement. A statement released Monday by her representative said Franklin's wedding to Willie Wilkerson wasn't going to happen. "Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly. There will be no wedding at this time," Franklin said. "We will not comment on it any further because of the very personal and sensitive nature of it.  We appreciate all of the many well wishes from friends." Franklin, 69, announced shortly after New Year's Day that she was getting married. In an interview with The Associated Press, the jovial Queen of Soul talked about getting fitted for gowns by designers including Vera Wang and Donna Karan, and said she hoped for a summer wedding in either Miami or the Hamptons on Long Island, N.Y. Franklin said Wilkerson was t...

Longtime Berkeley sex surrogate's work with poet inspires film In 38 years as a surrogate partner - a profession formerly known as a sex surrogate - Cheryl Cohen Greene has helped all kinds of clients. She's worked with couples, with married men and single men, with disabled people, with men in their 60s, 70s and 80s who have never had sex. One of her clients, the poet and journalist Mark O'Brien, was stricken with polio at 6 and spent most of his life in an iron lung. In 1986, when O'Brien was 36 and a virgin, he hired Cohen Greene as his surrogate partner. They met six times and remained friends until O'Brien's death in 1999. Their story is now an independent film, "The Surrogate," which premiered Jan. 23, 2012 at the Sundance Film Festival. Starring John Hawkes ("Winter's Bone") as O'Brien and Helen Hunt ("As Good as It Gets") as Cohen Greene, it's adapted from a 1990 article, "On Seeing a Sex Sur...

The 30 Rock star, 43, is currently being hospitalized at Park City Medical Center in Park City, Utah after collapsing at a Sundance Film Festival event Sunday night. Promoting his film Predisposed , Morgan was an honoree at the Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards and gave a speech in which he appeared to be intoxicated. (A rep for Morgan said "it was the altitude.") After being escorted outside following his speech, Morgan collapsed, and an ambulance rushed onto the scene, according to ABC News. A diabetic, Morgan received a kidney transplant two years ago. SOURCE: Justin Ravitz/US Photo: Mark Von Holden/WireImage.com

NY Giants set up Super Bowl rematch with New England Patriots with OT win Giants 20, 49ers 17 - as it happened New York Giants wide receiver Devin Thomas recovers a fumble by San Francisco 49ers receiver Kyle Williams during overtime of the NFC Championship game. Photograph: Jeff Haynes/Reuters Two turnovers by San Francisco 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams helped set up a Super Bowl rematch between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Two huge mistakes by Williams led to a 20-17 overtime victory for New York in a game played in driving rain. With the 49ers leading 14-10 in the fourth quarter Williams tried to avoid a New York punt, but accidentally touched the ball before it was recovered by the Giants. New York capitalized on the lapse and scored a Mario Manningham touchdown to take the lead. San Francisco scored a field goal to force overtime, but then came Williams' second blunder as he fumbled another punt to give New York field positio...