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Author: Pam Wright

  • Misty Copeland: Only African-American Soloist With The American Ballet Theatre Still Feels She Must Prove Herself

    Misty Copeland, the only African-American soloist with the American Ballet Theatre, is busy performing in the holiday perennial, Stravinsky’s The Nutcracker, with the world-renowned dance company in New York City. Despite all of her accomplishments, the dancer says still feels as if she has something to prove.

    The 32-year-old began dancing as an escape from a tumultuous childhood growing up in California — at times homeless — with her five siblings and her mother, who married and remarried four times.

    “Whenever there was chaos in my house, whether it was arguing, being in a cramped space with all of us kids and screaming, I found an empty space where I could just put music on and move,” Copeland said in an interview with Anthony Mason for CBS Sunday Morning.

    Copeland, who recently released her memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina, began studying ballet at 13. Her first break came at 18, when she began dancing for the American Ballet Theatre, which was also a revelation for the young dancer.

    “And that’s when I looked around me, and in a company of 80 dancers realized I was the only black woman. I felt completely isolated and alone, and that’s kind of when it all hit me,” she said.

    She became the first African-American soloist with the company in 2012, when she was given the lead in Stravinsky’s Firebird, followed by the principal role in Swan Lake, a part that has meant a great deal to Copeland.

    “It’s what ballet is,” she said. “It’s kind of reaching the pinnacle. It’s the most challenging in every way, but to be a black woman and to be given that role is even bigger.

    “I think it’s just changing the way people are viewing ballerinas,” she said. “You just typically think of this long, tall, white woman, Russian usually. Soft and willowy. And I’m not!”

    She has one more goal to achieve in her dancing career — to become the first African-American principal dancer with the company. As much as she longs for the title, doubts continue to plague her.

    “For me,” she said, “it’s just proving myself to people — that’s the most daunting.

    “That I belong. That I’m capable. That I’m a ballerina. That it doesn’t matter what color I am. It doesn’t matter what body type I have.”

    “Do you feel like you’re still proving this?” asked Mason.

    “I don’t think it will ever end,” she replied. “I think that it’s something that’s going to take the ballet world a very long time to get used to. And I don’t think its going to happen within my lifetime. But it’s starting.”

    To watch the entire CBS Sunday Morning interview, click here.

  • Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams Paid Less Than Male Counterparts in ‘American Hustle,’ Leaked Sony E-mails Reveal

    Compared to their male counterparts, Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams sure got the short end of the stick when it comes to getting paid for American Hustle.

    The Sony e-mail leaks continue to reveal new behind-the-scenes goings-on in Hollywood, and the fallout is not pretty.

    The latest slew of e-mails — presumed to have been leaked out of North Korea in retaliation for the less-than-flattering portrayal of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in The Interview, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco — reveal that Adams and the Hunger Games actress were paid considerably less than their male co-stars on American Hustle.

    According to Page Six, “the e-mails detail the ‘points’ — or back-end payments — that each of the actors in American Hustle would be receiving, and Lawrence and fellow female star Amy Adams were arguably getting hustled.”

    The Daily Beast revealed Friday that Lawrence and Adams received seven percent, while director David O. Russell and male co-stars Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale and Jeremy Renner received nine percent.

    Andrew Gumpert, president of business affairs for Sony’s Columbia Pictures, said in a Dec. 5, 2013 e-mail that he got a “rush call” complaining that the men were getting more than the female stars.

    The email says: “Got a Steve Warren/Gretchen rush call that it’s unfair the male actors get 9 percent in the pool and Jennifer is only at 7pts (percentage points).

    “You may recall Jennifer was at 5 (Amy was and is at 7) and WE anted in 2 extra points for Jennifer to get her up to 7. If anyone needs to top Jennifer up its Megan (Ellison from Annapurna Pictures, which co-financed American Hustle).

    “BUT I think Amy and Jennifer are tied so upping JL, ups AA.”

    This is just the latest in several stories coming out of Hollywood about ticked-off celebrities, who are hearing of details they may have never wanted to know about how they are perceived, talked about and treated by executives in the film industry. And it’s likely not the last.

    You have to have been living under a rock to have not heard about the exchange between Sony Pictures Co-Chairman Amy Pascal and Brian Helgeland, the screenwriter for Angelina Jolie’s project, Cleopatra, in which Pascal suggests Helgeland dump Jolie in favor of Lawrence, calling the Unbroken actress a “minimally talented spoiled brat.”

  • Hayden Panettiere Gives Birth — ‘Nashville’ Star and Fiancé Wladimir Klitschko Welcome Baby Daughter Kaya Evdokia

    Hayden Panettiere has given birth to a baby girl!

    The Nashville star and fiancé Wladimir Klitschko welcomed daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko — their first child — on Tuesday, Dec. 9, her rep confirmed to People.

    The little princess weighed in at 7 lbs., 14 oz., and measured 20 inches.

    “We are over the moon and madly in love!” the ecstatic new parents gushed.

    The 25-year-old actress kept the pregnancy on the down-low for the majority of the past nine months, but the Heroes alum eventually revealed to E! News that she was expecting a baby girl.

    “I’m so ready to hold my baby girl—I’m going to be a very hands on mom,” she told Hello! magazine. “I’m thrilled that I am having a girl first because I feel like I know a lot about raising a strong woman. I feel very empowered myself and I think my daughter will, too.”

    And as to her baby girl’s name, Kaya Evdokia, Panettiere said it was very important to the couple to find a name that worked in American and Klitschko’s native Ukrainian.

    “We have to make sure that it is American and Ukrainian all at the same time,” she said. “That’s a little rough…we’re still working on it.”

    Panettiere announced her engagement to Klitschko in October, but says she’ll take her time before walking down the aisle.

    “I’ll tell you one thing for sure: I am not walking down the aisle 40 pounds heavier than usual in a wedding dress with a huge pregnancy belly stitched in,” she told E!. “Not happening.”

  • Zoe Saldana and Husband Marco Perego Welcome Twin Boys, a ‘Dream Come True For Both of Them’

    Zoe Saldana and her husband, Marco Perego, are the proud parents of twin boys.

    According to a source for E! News, mother and baby boys are happy and healthy.

    “She had her twins,” a source told the website, adding that the new parents “are both so excited.”

    “They are surrounded by family and friends. All that matters now to Zoe and her husband is that the babies are healthy,” said the source.

    The Mirror was the first to break the news that the babies had arrived.

    “This a dream come true for both of them, they are absolutely delighted,” a source told the British tabloid. “They have been looking forward this day for the last nine months.”

    Designer Prabal Gurung Instagrammed his congratulations to his “muse” on Friday.

    According to E!, this is a dream come true for the Guardians of the Galaxy actress, who has said on numerous occasions that she wants a large family.

    “I’m Latin—we start young, honey!” Saldana admitted on Lifetime’s The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet in April 2012.

    At the time, she said she might like to have “two or three” kids. “Or four or five! I don’t care,” she added. “They’re just so delicious. I love the anxiety, the pressure of the loud room full of yapping kids. But I’m a kid myself. I get along very well with animals and children. I dig them. I get them. They make perfect sense to me. A child makes perfect sense to me. A child speaks more sense than an adult half of the time.”

    Two newborns to care for is a lot for anyone, but Saldana is excited about juggling career and family and doesn’t seem to be concerned about the challenges she is sure to face with two little ones.

    “I know that we will work everything out,” Saldana told Entertainment Weekly in October. “I have to say, I’m very lucky. The great thing is that all the producers and creators involved in the projects that I’ve done — Avatar, Star Trek and Guardians of the Galaxy — they’re very good people. So, they’ve been very understanding, especially with what’s happening in my personal life. I’ve gotten nothing but support. To know that we are getting to that place where women can have that support from male driven workforces is—I have to say, it’s very inspiring.”

    She then thought about it pragmatically and added with a laugh, “They don’t have a choice! I’m not going to rip my child off my tit to go work. And if I do that, then maybe you shouldn’t hire me because I am willing to sell anything.

    “The good thing is that half of the people you work with are all parents, and they get it. They probably have strong wives at home that are probably going to look at them going, ‘Are you out of your mind?!’ See, it’s having strong women around you! Once we all come together, it’s perfect.”

  • Chelsea Houska’s Dad Approves of ‘Teen Mom 2’ Star’s New Love Cole DeBoer

    Chelsea Houska is happier than ever. She’s in love with a new guy, and her dad seems to approve of her choice whole-heartedly.

    Randy Houska has alway had his protective eye on his daughter and never thought her ex, Adam Lind, was good enough for her. But, things are very different with Chelsea’s new boyfriend of four months, Cole DeBoer.

    For years, Randy and Lind’s relationship has been contentious, even to the point of fighting on camera in the last Teen Mom 2 reunion special.

    Randy’s desire to protect his girl is not surprising, considering the baby daddy to his five-year-old granddaughter, Aubree, has been in and out of jail many times.

    Insiders told RadarOnline that Chelsea’s dentist daddy thinks DeBoer, a traffic control specialist, is like a breath of fresh air.

    “Cole is so polite; a yes sir, no sir kind of guy,” a source said. “Randy thinks he is the ‘Anti-Adam!’”

    According to the website, the two men bonded during a boys weekend away at the family’s Nebraska cabin last weekend.

    “Cole and Randy got along well,” another insider says. “He treats Chelsea and Aubree so well. That’s all that really matters.”

    What a difference from her 23-year-old ex, who put her through the ringer with his cheating and partying. Chelsea finally got to the breaking point and threw his not-so-scrawny butt to the curb.

    The Inquisitr reports that now Chelsea may take Lind to court to seek full custody of their daughter after a series of events.

    Apparently, a set of guidelines were given to Lind’s parents to protect Aubree from being left alone with him. However, Donna and Vernon Lind are allegedly refusing to respect Houska’s wishes.

    “Adam’s parents are in denial and think he hasn’t done anything wrong,” an insider told Radar.

    Of further concern is stalking charges facing Lind after he allegedly shoved ex-girlfriend Brooke Beaton, 26, during an altercation, leading the mother of two to file an order of protection against Lind. In the order filed, she claims he has become violent toward her on numerous occasions in recent months.

  • Bella Thorne Inspired to Write Her First Book, ‘Autumn Falls,’ By Haters Who Said She Couldn’t Because of Her Dyslexia

    Bella Thorne says she was inspired to write her first book in a planned trilogy, Autumn Falls, by naysayers, who told her that her dyslexia prevented her from achieving her goal.

    The new Scream actress told PerezHilton.com Friday that her novel, which follows a girl named Autumn though a major loss, is drawn from much of Thorne’s own struggles with the learning disorder and the loss of her father.

    “I was inspired by all the people that say I couldn’t do it…that make fun of people with dyslexia,” said Thorne. “I wanted to show others that you can do anything you set your mind to do. I found it a very therapeutic and creative way outlet to deal with issues such as losing my dad and fitting in.”

    The My Own Worst Enemy actress said she derived much of Autumn’s story from the aftermath of her own dad’s death.

    “I am similar to Autumn in the sense that we both have struggled and both have suffered a major loss in our lives,” she said. “We both had to relocate and try and fit in somewhere new. We are different in that she goes to a public schooland has a private life where as my life and loss is documented publicly. I don’t have a magic journal either.”

    The novel is more than just a book to the 17-year-old Disney actress, and she said she hopes it will have an impact on others.

    “I hope they all understand that we are all human, making mistakes and trying to fit in. No one has a perfect life and we must make the best with what we are given. There’s always hope,” she said.

    An avid reader, Thorne said she has turned to some of her favorite books to find inspiration and comfort through challenges in her life.

    “Ghost Girl, Stolen, Famous In Love and Sorta Like a Rockstar are some of my favorite books,” she said. “A few of these are currently being adapted and I am excited to see how they turn out. Of course these books in their own way have helped and inspired me through difficult times. I became an avid reader from the Ghost Girl series since I fell in love with the stories!”

    Apparently, there is already some discussion about developing Autumn Falls into a film or television project, although finding another outlet for her creativity is enough for the multi-talented young woman.

    “We started basic conversation on developing the book and we will see how it goes,” said Thorne. “Right now, I am just happy to have another creative way to speak to my audience.”

    Autumn Falls was released on Nov. 11.

  • AnnaLynne McCord Trades In Dominic Purcell For Julian Edelman?

    AnnaLynne McCord and Dominic Purcell have ended their three-year relationship and it looks like the 90210 alum has already moved on — or wants to move on — to greener pastures, or football fields, as the case may be.

    McCord’s rep confirmed the breakup on Friday.

    “They have split,” her rep told Us Weekly, noting that the former couple are “still amicable.”

    The 27-year-old actress and the 44-year-old actor, who began their relationship on the set of the CW series in July 2011, were last seen together at the premiere of her directorial debut, I Choose, back in June.

    According to JustJared, who broke the news of the breakup, McCord already has a new guy on which to focus her attention — New England Patriots’ Julian Edelman.

    The Nip/Tuck alum traveled down to San Diego last weekend to watch the 28-year-old wide receiver and his team take on the Chargers.

    Happily, Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 23-14 win over the Chargers, making her trip to Qualcomm Stadium all the sweeter.

    Edelman replied to her selfie with rather neutral reply.

    McCord also flaunted the fact that she is a diehard Pats fan and therefore a “keeper” on her Twitter account.

    Only time will tell if this flirtation will develop into anything significant, but it’ll be fun to see if her overtures are successful.

  • Olivia Munn Shares Details About Game Day Sex With Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers

    Olivia Munn opened a can of worms Thursday by revealing some juicy tidbits about her sex life with her boyfriend, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

    It was during a Plead the Fifth segment on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live this week that the 34-year-old Newsroom actress spilled the beans on whether or not she and Rodgers get intimate before he suits up on game day.

    Munn initially blushed when host Andy Cohen asked, “Do you have sex on game days?”

    After some prodding from Cohen and her fellow guest, Top Chef star Padma Lakshmi, she finally gave in and answered his “good question.”

    “Well, I will say that all the good luck charms are on the field and in the stands, so it has nothing to do with me. And, uh, no we don’t. Not on game day. There’s not a rule, but it just doesn’t happen because there’s other things to focus on,” she said.

    Not completely satisfied with the answer, Cohen then asked if she gets intimate with Rodgers after a win, especially if he played well.

    “Depends on how late the game is,” Munn said before asking her own question.

    “Can you have sex the night before? Is that game day?” she asked. “There are no rules, by the way. But usually yes. I try to have sex as much as I can.”

    Munn and her quarterback beau have been dating since last spring and were first photographed together in April when they appeared together at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.

  • Jessica Chambers’ Mother Speaks Out After Daughter Was Set on Fire, Killing Her

    Jessica Chambers‘ mother spoke out Thursday about the tragic death of her daughter, who was set on fire by someone on Saturday, killing her.

    The 19-year-old former cheerleader was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire, authorities said. She later died from her injuries. Police investigating the alleged murder are reconstructing the last few hours of her life and have asked residents for help with any information that will lead them to her killer.

    According to her friends and family, the former softball player recently started a new job and was planning on beginning a college career next year.

    Lisa Chambers said her daughter was a very playful young woman, who smiled all the time and had an adorable habit of playfully sticking her tongue out.

    “She loved life, she loved everybody,” her mother told The Associated Press. “She would do a monster face and stick her tongue out … She’s done that since she was about three years old.”

    Lisa thinks her daughter’s outgoing personality may have had something to do with her death.

    “She didn’t think anybody could harm her or would want to,” she said.

    Lisa said she spoke to her daughter about an hour before her death.

    “She was like, ‘I’m cleaning out my car and I’m going to go get something to eat and be home to clean my room up,’” her mother said.

    Jessica Chambers’ friend, Ali Fadhel, who worked at the gas station where the teen was last seen, said his friend stopped by often to talk.

    Fadhel told AP she came by on Saturday wearing a sweater and pajama pants. He said she stopped to talk with someone before entering the store to pay for gas. After pumping the gas, she re-entered the store, bought cigarettes, took a phone call on her way out and drove away.

    According to Fadhel, she said she was going to make a stop before going home.

    “If she knew she had a problem with somebody, she would have told me,” Fadhel said.

    Lisa, who had already bought her daughter’s Christmas presents, said the door of her daughter’s bedroom has been locked and no one will be allowed in.

    “I feel her here. She’s not at ease,” Lisa Chambers said. “When she gets her justice, then she’ll be at ease.”

  • Sarah Hyland Gets Her Boogey on With ‘The Penguins of Madagascar’ at Delta Holiday Party

    Sarah Hyland got her boogey on with The Penguins of Madagascar at the Delta Airlines annual holiday party at LAX Wednesday.

    The Modern Family star and singer Jordin Sparks joined the festivities at Delta’s Holiday in the Hangar celebration, “Flight to the North Pole,” for children of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and it looked like the 24-year-old had the time of her life.

    Others to make the event memorable for the kiddos included Toothless, the Coca-Cola Polar Bear, LA Lakers alum A.C. Green, LA Kings’ Bailey mascot, Ice Crew, and Chariot Staff. And, of course, Santa Claus and his elves were there.

    Kids attending the party had a lot of fun things to do — participating in sports games with the LA Lakers and the Kings, DJ “spinning” with the Grammy Museum, making holiday arts and crafts and singing Christmas songs with Santa and his elves.

    Also. This happened today. Grindin on penguins. Cool sarah.

    A video posted by Sarah Hyland (@therealsarahhyland) on

    Hyland posted a video on Instagram, which showed the actress dressed in a white skirt, a white mid-drift-baring top and white pumps, “grindin on penguins” at the event. Hyland also posted a photo to her Twitter account.

    Hyland, who plays Haley Dunphy in the ABC series, will next be seen in the upcoming comedy drama See You in Valhalla.

  • Jessa Seewald and Jill Dillard: Instagram Indicates a Sisterly Feud May Be Over in Latest Duggar Drama

    Jessa Seewald and Jill Dillard seem to have been feuding, although family and friends say the latest Duggar drama is nothing to worry about and Instagram posts indicate the rift may be over.

    One would think that now that the sisters are both married, they would have much in common and be closer than ever, however recent rumors on Facebook indicated that the reality stars are — or were — involved in a rather serious feud.

    And yes, the sisters seem to have shut down the rumors by posting photos of double dates with their husbands, but social media never lies. OK, that’s a lie, but you can learn much about relationships on Twitter, especially when people follow and unfollow people. Who hasn’t become angry at someone and the first think you think is “unfollow, unfriend” or even the dreaded “block?”

    The first indication that there was an issue between the 19 Kids and Counting stars came when Jill unfollowed her sister on Twitter, although she continued to follow Anna and Derick Dillard, as well as other Bates family members. It was also telling that Derick Dillard was no where to be seen on Ben Seewald’s follow list. However, Derick is still following his brother-in-law.

    Is everyone following the follows and unfollows?

    A source told Star that the tension between Jill and Jessa is pretty common. According to the source, Jessa apparently resents Jill’s status as the Duggar family’s “favorite child.”

    “Jessa resents that Jill is her parents’ favorite, and she’s pulling away from the family. And Jill doesn’t approve of the choices Jessa is making,” said the source.

    It's great living life with your best friend! @ben_seewald

    A photo posted by Jessa Seewald (@jessaseewald) on

    Reports also claim that Jill has remained her sweet self ever since she became Mrs. Dillard, while Jessa seems to be taking a new, independent route from toeing the family line of behavior, as indicated when Jessa shared a kissing picture on Instagram in, some would say, a rather low-cut shirt.

    If you remember correctly, these girls apparently didn’t even kiss their husbands until the I do’s were said.

    Duggar supporters say it’s no big deal that there are these telling follows and unfollows. Their assumptions are likely correct if recent Instagram posts are to be believed. The girls are probably already over whatever was bothering them.

    Ah, sisters.

  • Emily Deschanel Shows Off Baby Bump at ‘Bones’ 200th Episode Bash

    Emily Deschanel, who has been playing forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan on Bones for the past ten years, showed off her baby bump Monday at the 200th episode celebration of the Fox series.

    The 38-year-old actress announced that she is expecting her second child last week and this was the first public appearance since the announcement. For the event, Deschanel looked elegant in a charcoal Lanvin dress covered in sequins and topped with a black Max Mara tuxedo jacket.

    Deschanel and her husband, David Hornsby, actor and writer of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, married in September 2010 and welcomed their first child, son Henry Lamar, in September 2011.

    Deschanel, who is the sister of Zooey Deschanel, told Us Weekly that she expects Temperance will also be pregnant on the show.

    “Yes, I think it will be [written into the show],” Deschanel said. “I’m not like a tiny pregnant person. I’m not going to be able to hide it behind something small; it’ll be easier to not hide it.”

    The sex of the on-screen baby is apparently a mystery, just like the majority of Bones episodes.

    “I know that it’ll happen in the next couple of episodes we’re filming, but that’s it,” she admitted to Us. “I don’t know if it’ll be a boy or a girl.”

    Deschanel and David Boreanz, who plays FBI agent Seeley Booth, have been sizzling on the small screen since 2005. The now on-screen married couple work together to solve various cases with their cohorts at the Jefferson Institute.

    The 200th episode of Bones aired Thursday 8 p.m. ET on Fox. But don’t worry if you missed it. You can still catch it on the Fox website on Friday.

  • Ginger Zee Dispels Social Media Fashion Criticism With Kindness and Class

    Ginger Zee, the weather anchor for Good Morning America, decided to take the high road Wednesday by responding with kindness to a woman who posted a message on her Facebook page blasting her fashion choices.

    Zee shared a screenshot of the woman’s post, in which the “hater” bashed the meteorologist’s sense of style, saying she looks “ridiculous,” should “take a hint from Robin (Givens) … she always dresses with CLASS” and doesn’t dress appropriately for her position on television. The woman then went on to suggest Zee hire a fashion manager, ask the network for a clothing allowance and get some “Help.”

    Zee took it all in, and instead of taking offense or returning the negative comments with some equally negative comeback of her own, the 33-year-old meteorologist thanked the woman for sharing her thoughts and said, “No clothing allowance.”

    A photo posted by ginger_zee (@ginger_zee) on

    She went on to say everyone should take the opportunity to stop bashing each other and turn to kindness instead.

    “I agree haters gonna hate but this is a good way to inspire us all to say something kind to someone else- you never know what they are going through,” Zee wrote on her Facebook page. “Let’s all be kind to each other and have a happy Wednesday!”

    Post by Ginger Zee.

    Her comeback seems to have struck a chord with her Facebook followers and even some who went to her page after hearing about the exchange, earning her thousands of likes on a followup post, hundreds of shares and countless posts on her wall commending her for her “classy” response to the criticism.

    Post by Arnel Walters.

    Post by Laura Blair.

    Post by Karen Epperson Jones.

    Post by Charlotte Rich.

    Post by Carrie Mansee Punches.

  • Brooke Baures: WSU Waitress Died When Her Head Was Crushed in Dumbwaiter

    Brooke Baures, a senior at Winona State University, was killed last week when her head was crushed by a dumbwaiter at the restaurant where she worked, an autopsy report revealed.

    Baures, an accomplished gymnast, died from “extensive destruction of the head along with extensive destruction of the brainstem and left aspect of the cerebellum… severe head trauma,” according to the official autopsy report from Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Minnesota.

    According to a press release from the Foundation City Police Department, the 21-year-old was working upstairs at Wingdam Saloon & Bar during an event at the establishment on the evening of Dec. 1. The report says a cook downstairs heard the food elevator operating shortly before 8 p.m.

    “When the cab landed on the first flood he walked up expecting to see dirty dishes and immediately recognized that a person was trapped inside,” the release says. “Simultaneously the first floor bar-tender was coming into the kitchen. The first of several 911 calls came moments later from the female bartender.”

    While there are no witnesses to the events that led to Baures’ death, investigators have pieced together a scenario of what happened.

    “Based on witnesses’ statements, FCPD believes Brooke is the only person who could have pressed the control button on the second floor. Second, witness statements and the investigation indicate the wall mounted wood door was open. Based on the autopsy results, FCPD believes that Brooke’s head was located almost entirely inside the cab of the elevator canted slightly to her right as the cab descended. When the roof of the cab passed the sill of the second floor access, Brooke sustained fatal crushing injuries to her brainstem and cerebellum. Investigative follow up determined that the roof of a weighted cab takes approximately 4.5-5 seconds to pass the wood sill. In other words, this is the amount of time an operator has until the interior of the cab disappears out of sight below the sill,” said the release.

    “None of the 18 banquet-goers heard any vocalization. Several witnesses place Brooke behind the buffet area just prior to the final cycling of the elevator. The cycling of the elevator produces a noise that several witnesses are familiar with; later described as similar to a garage door motor. In this final cycling however, the majority of the attendees heard unusual noises coming from the elevator. Moments later the cook is seen rushing towards the second floor access (this being after his discovery on the first floor and while the first 911 is being placed).

    Investigators continue to work on the case, authorities said.

  • Jessica Chambers: Grandmother Wants to Forgive Person Who Set Her Granddaughter on Fire

    Jessica Chambers’ murder is being actively investigated with authorities focusing on her cell phone to find the person responsible for setting the teen on fire.

    Chambers, 19, died Saturday at a Memphis hospital not long after she was found burning next to her car, which was also on fire.

    According to WCSC News, the teen’s grandmother is trying desperately to wrap her head around the loss of her granddaughter and what might have happened that night.

    “It’s torn my heart out. I’m already an old woman,” said Willie Berdain, Chambers’ grandmother, who struggled to watch surveillance video of her granddaughter’s last moments. “I couldn’t even really tell that was Jessica, but I know it was.”

    Authorities have not identified a suspect nor have they charged anyone with the crime. Detectives continue to gather evidence, including video, phone records, and witness statements.

    “I want to thank all the people that’s burning candles and everything all over the world for Jessica,” Berdain said.

    Following Chambers death, a Facebook page called Justice for Jessica was created and has thousands of likes and messages of condolence, as well as messages of anger directed towards her killer.

    “A lot of people say, ‘Well, I hope the killer burns in Hell. But I don’t. I don’t wish that on anybody. I hope the person or persons will come to God,” Berdain said.

    Burdain said she needs to know who hurt her granddaughter and says she will forgive Chambers’ killer.

    “I want to see something good come out of this,” she said. “I don’t want anger and hate in my heart.”

    The case is very personal for investigators with the Panola County Sheriff’s Department. Chamber’s father worked for the department, so investigators are even more invested in the outcome of the case than usual.

  • Sasha Alexander Has An Annual Tradition — A ‘Gratitude’ Meal with Her Besties

    Sasha Alexander likes to end her year on a high note.

    Each year, the actress gathers her best girlfriends and treats them to a very special meal.

    “At the end of every year I always feel very reflective, and so I always do a gratitude dinner or a gratitude lunch to thank [my girlfriends] for being there for me, and for being amazing women,” Alexander told People.

    Alexander told the magazine that the annual celebration begins with the Dawson’s Creek alum tying a red piece of yarn to guests’ wrists as they arrive for good luck and health.

    “It’s an old Italian tradition,” said the Rizzoli & Isles actress. “It’s something you’re supposed to keep on as long as it stays on.”

    Check out #peoplemagazine #gratitudelunch @muscularcalves @hilaryshor @anniebelangerwehrle @negs8 Love you ladies!!!

    A photo posted by Sasha Alexander (@thesashaalexander) on

    The menu plays an important part in the tradition and always features dishes with an Italian flair. The 41-year-old actress told People that this year’s meal includes recipes from Sophia Loren, who is the mother of Alexander’s husband, Edoardo Ponti.

    “The ricotta cake is pretty amazing, I have to say,” she said when asked which dish is her favorite. “It’s pretty awesome, especially if you serve it with raspberries on top!”

    The highlight of the celebration is when Alexander takes some time to thank each of her friends individually for their role in her life.

    “I really treasure the friendships with the women in my life because they’re the ones I call and can talk about anything with,” she said. “We all have such busy and full lives, and especially when you have children and families, and you’re juggling work and kids, you just don’t get to spend that time together to just say, ‘Thank you’ and ‘You’re so awesome.’”

  • Stacy Keibler Shares Photo and Thoughts on New Daughter Ava Grace

    Stacy Keibler is in love with her new daughter, three-month-old Ava Grace, and she recently shared the baby’s first photo and thoughts about being a wife and mother.

    Keibler introduced daughter Ava Grace by posting a photo in a blog post on her website.

    Keebler also shared her thoughts about adjusting to married life and motherhood.

    “Life can be unpredictable. You feel one way, and then…boom! You need to entirely change your perspective,” she wrote. “That is certainly what happened to me this past year. Until I started dating Jared, the idea of being married and having a family was never on my radar. I was just hoping that the right love would find me.”

    “But after a serendipitous reconnection with Jared, a friend who turned out to be my soulmate, we created a family together almost instantly,” her post continued. “Talk about a serious change in my reality! This year and the holiday season especially has me feeling so nostalgic about family — my family, my new family, and of course, the newest addition to our family.

    The 35-year-old actress couldn’t help but gush on her little baby girl.

    “Ava has graced us with such joy, such light and such love–we never saw it coming. She is our special little lady, and I couldn’t be more thankful for how she has opened my heart,” Stacy added.

    Keibler and her husband, Jared Pobre, were married in a secret wedding ceremony in Mexico, on March 8 and welcomed their baby girl on August 20. She previously dated George Clooney for two years before they separated in July 2013.

  • Mary Ann Mobley, Mississippi’s First Miss America, Dies of Breast Cancer At 77

    Mary Ann Mobley, who became Mississippi’s first Miss America and went on to become a successful actress, died of breast cancer Tuesday at her home in Beverly Hills. She was 77.

    The Mississippi native, who attended the University of Mississippi, became the state’s first Miss America when she was crowned in 1959.

    “The University of Mississippi family is saddened by the passing of Mary Ann Mobley Collins,” said a statement released by Ole Miss, where she was the first woman to be voted into the university’s Alumni Hall of Fame.

    A successful acting career followed in the theater, where she starred in musicals like Guys and Dolls and The King and I, and in film, including movies opposite Elvis Presley in Harum Scarum and Girl Happy.

    Mobley had a very successful run on television as well, and seemed to be everywhere during the 70s. She was a regular on Circus with the Stars and appeared in many series like Fantasy Island, Love Boat and Falcon Crest.

    Mobley married actor/talk show host Gary Collins in 1967, and the couple later became well-respected philanthropists. They spent their later years traveling the world with various relief organizations to end world hunger. Collins died in 2012.

    Mobley is survived by daughters Clancy Collins White and Melissa Collins, son Guy William Collins, sister Sandra Young, and two grandsons, Garrett and Gaston Collins.

    Services for Mobley will be held Dec. 15 in Jackson, Mississippi.

  • Rachel Frederickson, ‘Biggest Loser’ Winner, Addresses Extreme Weight Loss

    Rachel Frederickson came under fire for her incredible weight loss when she won the 15th season of The Biggest Loser and recently opened up about the backlash she experienced following her transformation.

    Frederickson is 5’4″ and weighed in at just 105 pounds to win the NBC reality competition, losing a remarkable 155 pounds.

    The 24-year-old reality star’s extreme weight loss caused a quite a furor. In an attempt to respond to the backlash, Fredrickson wrote a post for Today.

    “I was determined never to give up,” Frederickson said of the competition. “When I stood on stage at the live finale, I had never felt stronger. I had accomplished everything I wanted to do. I was extremely proud of myself. That moment didn’t last long.”

    “Comments during the controversial storm following my weight loss were hurtful. My self-esteem was once again affected by other people’s voices — this time, the kind that live forever in Facebook posts or written in the pages of magazines. People tried to bring me down and (privately) succeeded.”

    “There will always be other voices in life,” she conceded. “The trouble comes when you stop listening to your own. I am committed to trusting my decisions and standing strong behind them. I found strength in this struggle and I am listening to my own voice again!”

    Even Biggest Loser trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper were shocked by Frederickson’s appearance at the finale.

    After Michaels later left the program after 12 seasons in protest of her portrayal on the show, and out of concern for contestants, Harper and Dolvett Quince returned as trainers. Newcomers Jessie Pavelka and Jennifer Widerstrom joined the show for the 16th season.

    The Biggest Loser airs 8 p.m. ET Thursdays on NBC.

  • Pippa Middleton Has Her British Say on Kim Kardashian’s Butt That ‘Exploded All Over the Internet”

    Pippa Middleton has had her British say on Kim Kardashian‘s butt.

    Princess Kate’s sister wrote an article for the The Spectator’s Christmas Special and shared her thoughts on Kardashian’s recent naked butt cover for Paper magazine.

    “No year is complete without a bottom story,” wrote the 31-year-old British beauty. “And the ‘Rear of 2014’ award undoubtedly goes to Kim Kardashian, after her posterior exploded all over the internet last month.”

    Like most gals, Middleton went on to compare her own booty, which received quite a bit of attention during Will and Kate’s wedding, to Kardashian’s.

    “I must say that mine — though it has enjoyed fleeting fame — is not comparable,” Middleton wrote.

    “But the Kim butt story did make me pause,” Middleton wrote. “What is it with this American booty culture? It seems to me to be a form of obsession. Kim’s aim, apparently, was to break the internet, but I’m not sure she’s going the right way about it.”

    The party planner also offered her thoughts on “western dancing,” after a visit to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

    “Everyone wore cowboy boots and the men had big, non-ironic moustaches that curled upwards,” she wrote. “It’s easy to get carried away with the whole free-riding atmosphere. My dance partner was about 80, and I did my best to keep up. But it turns out I have two left feet, at least as far as moving to rhythm is concerned. Embarrassingly, my cringe-inducing moves were caught on camera and posted on the internet.”

  • Jenni Rivera’s Family Sues Learjet Owners For Crash That Killed the Singer

    Jenni Rivera’s Family Sues Learjet Owners For Crash That Killed the Singer

    Jenni Rivera’s estate has sued the owners of the plane that crashed and killed the Mexican-American superstar two years ago.

    According to People, the singer was killed, along with several other people, when the Starwood Management Inc. Learjet 25 crashed in northern Mexico on Dec. 9, 2012.

    Starwood Management and the companies that serviced the aircraft, Bombardier Inc. and Learjet Inc., are named in the negligence lawsuit.

    Attorneys for relatives of the others killed in the crash, which included her attorney, hairstylist, publicist and makeup artist and one of the plane’s pilots, are scheduled to update a judge Wednesday on the progress of settlement talks.

    The 43-year-old singer was known as the “Diva de la Banda” and sold more than 15 million records throughout her career.

    Survivors include her parents, five children, and her widower, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Esteban Loaiza.

    Loiaza filed a separate suit that was later dismissed at the request of the baseball player. His suit contended the pilots flying the Learjet were not properly licensed for the flight. It also contended the plane’s airframe was damaged in a 2005 accident.