- Tuesday, March 27, 2012

A star of the hit movie “The Hunger Games” will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Miami Marlins-Cincinnati Reds game in Cincinnati April 7, the Associated Press reports.

Josh Hutcherson, a native of nearby Union, Ky., is featured in the new movie about teens fighting each other to death in a bleak future. It opened last weekend with a $152.5 million box office, third-biggest ever.

Meanwhile, a Cincinnati-area resident with experience in a less gory competition between youths will sing the national anthem before the night game. Eben Franckewitz was a contestant on this season’s “American Idol.”

The Reds in recent years have followed Cincinnati’s traditional opening-day celebrations with promotions for their second, “opening night,” game. Reds players will walk a red carpet to greet fans before the game.

Bobby Brown arrested on suspicion of DUI

Officials in Southern California said Bobby Brown has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Harris said Mr. Brown was arrested around 12:20 p.m. Monday in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles. He failed a field sobriety test and was booked on suspicion of DUI, the Associated Press reports.

Officer Harris said the R&B singer was pulled over after an officer saw him talking on his cellphone without a hands-free unit and noticed he appeared to be impaired.

Los Angeles police said Mr. Brown was released from jail on his own recognizance shortly before 2 p.m.

The 43-year-old is the ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston and a founding member of the group New Edition.

An email message to his attorney, Christopher Brown, was not immediately returned.

Stand bass player buys ambulance for Mass. towns

An ambulance company that serves six rural western Massachusetts towns has purchased a new ambulance, thanks to a $150,000 gift from the bass player for the hard-rock band Stand.

The gift from Johnny April enabled Highland Ambulance to buy a new vehicle to replace its aging 1998 model, the Associated Press reports.

Highland Ambulance director Michael Rock said the gift was a “godsend.” Mr. Rock told the Recorder of Greenfield the old ambulance was nearing the end of its useful life and the company would have been hard-pressed to afford a new one.

Highland serves the towns of Ashfield, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield and Williamsburg. It responds to about 550 calls per year.

Mr. April, although originally from Springfield, Mass., lives in Goshen.

Stand is best known for its 2001 song “It’s Been Awhile.”

Ziggy Stardust spot marked with plaque

London authorities have put up a plaque to commemorate a small street with a big place in rock history.

Spandau Ballet star Gary Kemp unveiled the plaque in Heddon Street on Tuesday, 40 years after David Bowie stood on the spot for the cover photo of his album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,” the Associated Press reports.

Photographer Brian Ward’s picture of a guitar-toting Mr. Bowie, clad in a futuristic jumpsuit, standing in the lamplit alley helped establish the British musician as a mold-breaking star.

Messianic bandleader Ziggy Stardust was one of several personas he adopted.

Mr. Kemp, a longtime fan of Mr. Bowie’s, said Ziggy offered a dash of glamour in a “much darker, more impoverished London” than the city of today.

Judge praises Redmond O’Neal for drug-treatment progress

The son of Ryan O’Neal and the late Farrah Fawcett earned high praise Tuesday for his progress in drug treatment from a judge who urged him to keep making healthy, smart decisions.

Redmond O’Neal appeared in court in a dark suit and looked noticeably healthier than he did during previous court appearances, according to the Associated Press.

Judge Keith L. Schwartz noticed and said it was a good sign of his recovery. During some previous court dates, Mr. O’Neal had appeared gaunt and had been forced to wear a jail jumpsuit.

“There is no reason you can’t turn your life around,” Judge Schwartz said. “I’m very proud of you. You’ve done an outstanding job.”

The judge he would continue to delay Mr. O’Neal’s sentencing for a probation violation and drug case if he continued to do well at an in-patient treatment program. He could face up to six years behind bars if he relapses or is arrested again.

The 27-year-old Mr. O’Neal told the court he is exercising five times a week and studying for his GED diploma. He also said his meetings with therapists were enabling him to confront demons that led him into drug addiction.

Compiled from Web and wire service reports

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