Polanski plea rejected

People

Polanski plea rejected

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge rejected fugitive filmmaker Roman Polanski's request to have another jurisdiction handle his attempt to have a 31-year-old child-sex case dismissed. Judge Peter Espinoza ruled Friday that the Academy Award-winning director had not shown any grounds to disqualify him or the entire court. Espinoza is set to preside over a Jan. 21 hearing in which Polanski's lawyers will argue that the sex charge should be dismissed. Polanski, now 75, pleaded guilty to unlawful intercourse with a a 13-year-old girl in 1977, but fled the country before sentencing. He lives in France.

Prince Harry apologizes

Britain's Prince Harry issued a public apology Saturday after a British newspaper published video footage of him using offensive and racist language in 2006 in an airport-departure lounge with fellow soldiers. The News of the World said that in the video, Harry used derogatory terms when referring to one colleague of Pakistani origin and a cadet who was wearing a head scarf. "Prince Harry ... is extremely sorry for any offense his words might cause," said royals spokesman Patrick Harrison.

Exhumation bid rejected

A judge in Nashville, Tenn., denied a man's request to exhume the body of country star Eddy Arnold for DNA testing to prove he is the singer's illegitimate son. Christopher Edward Tanner, 48, of Anaheim, Calif., filed his paternity claim in June, a month after Arnold died at 89. Arnold's family says Arnold, perhaps best known for his 1965 hit "Make the World Go Away," denied fathering Tanner.

R. Kelly divorce is final

R. Kelly and wife, Andrea, confirmed they are officially divorced after 11 years of marriage. They said last week they had reached an amicable resolution concerning all issues related to their marriage and will share joint custody of their three children. Kelly — best-known for the hits "Bump N' Grind," "I'm a Flirt," "Trapped in the Closet," "I Believe I Can Fly" and many others — was acquitted of child-pornography charges last year.

8 is enough for "Monk"

Actor Tony Shalhoub said that as much as he loves Adrian Monk, eight years portraying the obsessive-compulsive private investigator is enough. The second half of the seventh season of "Monk" began airing Friday, and the Green Bay, Wis., native will start shooting the last season in March. "It's a great job, and I work with great people ... but I think eight years is enough," he said.

It's a close family

Michael C. Hall, 37, who plays a serial killer on Showtime's "Dexter," has eloped with his sister — his fictional sister, that is. His representative revealed that the actor and his "Dexter" sister, Jennifer Carpenter, 29, wed on New Year's Eve.

Rules of fashion

Off-beach suits banned

Bikini- and Speedo-clad tourists beware. The Caribbean island of Grenada says it recently began enforcing an indecent-exposure law banning bathing suits away from the beach and saggy pants that reveal the underwear. Police commissioner James Clarkson said violators are usually just ordered to cover up. But the law allows for a $270 fine or six months in jail.

Today in history

1908: The Grand Canyon National Monument was created with a proclamation by President Theodore Roosevelt. (It became a national park in 1919.)

1913: The first sedan-type automobile, a Hudson, went on display at the 13th National Automobile Show in New York.

1935: Aviator Amelia Earhart began a trip from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Oakland, Calif., that made her the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean.

1942: Japan declared war against the Netherlands, the same day Japanese forces invaded the Dutch East Indies.

1964: U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued the first government report saying smoking may be hazardous to one's health.

Today's Birthdays

Director Joel Zwick, 67. Country singer Naomi Judd, 63. Actress Kim Coles, 47. Actor Jason Connery, 46. Director Malcolm Lee, 39. Singer Mary J. Blige, 38. Actress Amanda Peet, 37. Actor Rockmond Dunbar, 36.

Reality TV star Jason Wahler (TV: "Laguna Beach"; "The Hills"), 22.

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