This holiday season Americans gave each other more electronic gifts – iPods, cell phones, computers, televisions, video game systems and various other gadgets — than ever before.As the holiday decorations come down, they are now faced with the inevitable question: What to do with the old stuff?The rapidly falling price of electronics means the amount […]

CLEVELAND (AP) – Van Halen made a “jump” into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, along with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – the first rap act to be inducted into the hall – and R.E.M., the Ronettes and Patti Smith.A panel of 600 industry figures selected the five acts to […]

Boasting a population more than four times that of the United States, China is rapidly taking its place among the world’s dominant powers. Still, the nation and its people remain largely shrouded in mystery.Filmmaker Jonathan Lewis was determined to cut through the murk and gather some clues. His quest led to “China From the Inside,” […]

Singer-songwriter Jewel makes her debut as the host of USA Network’s “Nashville Star” Thursday night, but it’s not her first brush with the reality format.Indeed, Jewel said years ago there was a discussion about her becoming part of MTV’s “The Real World,” a reality show in which seven strangers live together before the cameras.“”The Real […]

NEW YORK (AP) – Michael Richards in a West Hollywood comedy club and the authorities in Iraq who executed Saddam Hussein painfully learned that the prying eyes of television news can belong to anyone who carries a cell phone.Saddam’s execution and Richards’ flameout illustrate the growing power of cell-phone video as a news tool, not […]

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) – Members of James Brown’s band performed Saturday night before the heavyweight fight between James Toney and Samuel Peter as two of their late front man’s daughters watched from the center of the ring.Boxing promoter Don King invited The Soul Generals and members of Brown’s family to the fight at the Seminole […]

The yearly report submitted by Fr. Dallaire, pastor of St. Peter’s Church, of Lewiston, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1906 shows that the church is in a prosperous condition and on a sound financial basis.Total number of souls in Paris: 10,750; baptisms during year: 430; marriages during year: 122; deaths: 266. First communion was […]

CHICAGO (AP) – Five-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy will have to find somewhere else to sing the blues.The 70-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer announced during a recent show that his celebrated club, Buddy Guy’s Legends, has lost its lease and will have to move around June. Columbia College, the owner of the […]

HOUSTON (AP) – A nationwide talent search for dancers fleet-footed enough to back up Beyonce Knowles came to the pop diva’s hometown as hundreds turned out to audition for 40 open slots.The would-be performers took turns Saturday moving through choreographed routines to such Beyonce hits as “Deja Vu,” while cameras recorded their footwork and choreographer […]

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Museum crowds are strong at movie theaters.Ben Stiller’s “Night at the Museum” took in $24 million to stay on top at the box office for a third-straight weekend, fending off a soft crop of newcomers during the post-holiday lull.“Night at the Museum,” from 20th Century Fox, raised its three-week domestic total […]