Hendrix guitar auctioned

Sold!

A Fender Stratocaster guitar set alight onstage by Jimi Hendrix during a concert in London was sold on Thursday for $497,557 at an auction of music memorabilia that also included The Beatles' first contract and a gun permit application made out by Elvis Presley. Specialist auction house The Fame Bureau said Hendrix's guitar, which he set on fire during a concert at London's Astoria in March 1967, was purchased by enthusiast Daniel Boucher, from Boylston, Mass.

Upcoming

Moore film is a freebie

Director Michael Moore will release his new film online and for free. The film, "Slacker Uprising," follows Moore's 62-city tour during the 2004 election to rally young voters. The 97-minute long film will be available for three weeks as a free download to North American residents, beginning Sept. 23. Moore said his decision is a symbol of gratitude for his fans as he approaches the 20th anniversary of his first film, 1989's "Roger & Me."

People

Ill Jesse Jackson tested

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, 66, was hospitalized and having tests Thursday after complaining of severe stomach pains. He said he entered Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. Doctors told him he has viral gastroenteritis but were conducting more tests. The civil-rights leader said he was feeling better Thursday but wasn't sure when he would be released.

Winfrey's mom sued

A high-end clothing store in Brookfield, Wis., is suing Oprah Winfrey's mother for failing to pay her bill. The civil complaint says Vernita Lee, of Milwaukee, owed Valentina nearly $156,000 for purchases and interest as of July 1 and has failed to make the monthly minimum payment of $2,000. Lee declined to comment.

Upbeat

$400M to biomed lab

Billionaire philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad are adding $400 million to a joint biomedical venture at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The endowment is on top of $200 million the Broads already gave the Broad Institute, which opened in 2004. It brings together scientists to tackle major problems related to cancer, infectious diseases, psychiatric diseases and other conditions.

Oops

Sorry, wrong number

People calling a federal phone number to order duck stamps are instead greeted by a phone-sex line, due to a printing error the government says would be too expensive to correct. Duck stamps, which cost $15 each, are required to hunt migratory waterfowl. The Fish and Wildlife Service printed about 3.5 million duck stamps attached to cards with the wrong number. The error is limited to self-adhesive versions of the stamps.

Passages

Sheldon Keller, 85, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who was part of the writing team on Sid Caesar's 1950s comedy-variety TV show "Caesar's Hour" and a founding member of the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, died Monday of complications of Alzheimer's disease at his home in Valencia, Calif.

Today in History

1774: The first Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

1972: Arab guerrilla members of Black September attacked the Israeli delegation at the Munich Olympic Games; 11 Israelis, five guerrillas and a police officer were killed in the siege.

1975: President Ford escaped an attempt on his life by Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, Calif.

Today's Birthdays

Comedian-actor Bob Newhart, 79. Actor William Devane, 69. Actor Michael Keaton, 57. Actress Rose McGowan, 35.

Seattle Times news services