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Brown arrested after allegedly pushing his wife

By wire services
Published January 29, 2004

AIKEN, S.C. - Soul singer James Brown was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly pushed his wife to the floor during an argument, authorities said.

Brown, 70, was charged with criminal domestic violence and was to remain jailed until a bond hearing Thursday morning, Aiken County sheriff's Lt. Michael Frank said.

Investigators say Brown shoved his wife during an argument in a bedroom at the couple's home in Beech Island, 70 miles southwest of Columbia.

Tomi Rae Brown, 33, had scratches and bruises on her right arm and hip and was taken to a hospital, Frank said.

James Brown's publicist Simone Smalls declined to comment Wednesday.

Evans arrested on drug charges

ATLANTA - R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband were arrested on drug possession charges after a traffic stop in an Atlanta suburb, police said.

Evans and Todd Russaw, a record executive, were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana and booked at the Fulton County Jail. Evans was released on $12,000 while Russaw was released on $11,000.

A judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for Feb. 11.

The couple's vehicle was pulled over about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday in Hapeville for an improperly displayed temporary license plate. During the traffic stop, officers found a "minimal amount" of marijuana on both of them as well as cocaine residue on Evans, said a Hapeville police spokesman, Capt. William Lyons.

Neither were under the influence at the time, Lyons said.

Evans' attorney, Vincent L. Dimmock, said his client never was in possession of any drugs or narcotics.

Garfunkel apparently contesting marijuana charge

HURLEY, N.Y. - Folk-rock legend Art Garfunkel apparently is contesting a marijuana possession charge he faces in upstate New York.

Settling the matter Wednesday could have been as easy as paying a $100 fine, but instead a judge set a Feb. 11 hearing after Garfunkel's attorney Michael Federoff appeared in court.

Federoff declined to discuss the case and a call to a publicist for Garfunkel, 62, was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Clem decries FCC fine, vows to support Kerry

In his first public comments since news broke that his show may draw a $755,000 fine from the Federal Communications Commission for indecency, radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem placed the blame on agency politics Wednesday, vowing to help organize rallies for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

"This is absolutely a political witch hunt," said Clem on Wednesday during his four-hour show on WXTB-97.9 FM (98 Rock). "I'm a staunch Republican, but no longer." He urged listeners to contact federal legislators in protest.

Representatives with Kerry's campaign could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Clear Channel radio's statement on Bubba's possible work for Kerry: "The thoughts and opinions expressed by on-air personalities and guests are their own and do not reflect the views of WXTB, its employees, or Clear Channel Communications. Clear Channel's radio stations are operated and programmed locally."

Will Cathy tie the knot?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For 27 years, funny page fans in more than 1,400 newspapers have read along as Cathy, of the same-named strip, navigated her life as a single career woman.

Will Valentine's Day put her in the married ranks?

Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes the strip, announced Wednesday that the Feb. 14 edition of the cartoon will feature a proposal from Cathy's on-again, off-again boyfriend, Irving.

The strip's creator, Cathy Guisewite, hasn't said if Cathy will accept. But a release from Universal Press promises "a comic and societal milestone."

Donaldson to lead Moffitt advisory board

Veteran ABC News reporter Sam Donaldson will chair the newly formed Board of Advisors of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa. A cancer survivor, Donaldson was diagnosed with melanoma eight years ago.

The Moffitt Center, part of the University of South Florida, said it plans to appoint 50 high-profile individuals to the new board to serve as national advocates.

Berry injured on set of "Catwoman,' but is "just fine'

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Halle Berry was taken to a hospital after colliding with a piece of set equipment while filming a scene for Catwoman but is now back at work, production spokesman Joe Everett said.

The accident was minor, Everett said Tuesday, denying reports that the Oscar-winning Monster's Ball actor was hit in the head with a microphone boom and spent six hours in a hospital waiting room.

"She had to maneuver past a piece of equipment, a set piece, and she didn't quite run past it, but she's just fine," he said. "She was taken to hospital Saturday night, treated and released and was at work again Monday morning."

Berry, 35, broke her arm last year while shooting Gothika in Montreal and injured her eye on the set of Die Another Day.

Catwoman is based on the DC Comics character who's often the love interest of Batman. The film is scheduled to come out June 30.

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