Hello on this Friday, the 13 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with your UPI Headline Update. The housing crisis worsened in the month of May as more than 73... more

Hello on this Friday, the 13 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with your UPI Headline Update. The housing crisis worsened in the month of May as more than 73 thousand families lost their homes to foreclosure. That's 158 percent higher than it was a year ago when only 28 thousand households were repossessed by the bank. The report comes after months of discouraging housing market conditions with home prices and existing sales all plummeting. President Bush received a warm welcome from Pope Benedict the 16 today at the Vatican. The two had a private meeting before taking a rare stroll through the Vatican Gardens. They reportedly discussed human rights, HIV and AIDS in Africa and poverty around the world. Bush's visit with the pontiff comes during his final European tour as president. Republican Ron Paul is ending his bid for the White House. The Texas congressman formally abandoned his campaign yesterday but vowed to remain on the political scene. Paul, who's an anti-war libertarian, launched a new organization that reportedly aims to be an alternative for libertarian-leaning Americans frustrated with the U.S. political system. The number of illnesses now linked to salmonella-infected tomatoes has jumped to 228. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has found 61 new cases in half a dozen new states. Those states include Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont. Several restaurants and grocery story removed tomatoes from their menus and shelves after reports of the Salmonella surfaced. That's all for now. For all of us at UPI, have a great weekend. less

Hi, it's Friday, June 13, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. The jury is deliberating in R. Kelly's child pornography case.... more

Hi, it's Friday, June 13, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. The jury is deliberating in R. Kelly's child pornography case. The singer is charged with videotaping himself allegedly having sex with a minor. Jurors reportedly met for three and a half hours yesterday before breaking for the night. A judge turned down the group's request for a trial transcript, saying it would take too long to reproduce everything that was said. A London couple has reportedly been charged for conspiring to provide Amy Winehouse with cocaine and ecstasy. Police apparently found video of Winehouse smoking illegal drugs on the couple's computer memory stick. Images from the tape surfaced in a British newspaper. Authorities apparently questioned Winehouse, but they say she won't be charged. Jennifer Lopez made a trip to Washington this week to meet with senators' staff members. Rumors that the star sat down with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama circulated after she was seen going into the Illinois Senator's office. A rep for the actress confirmed that Obama wasn't there at the time and said Lopez didn't meet with the senator. But she apparently met with some of Obama's staff members. Members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers say they're "frustrated" that the Screen Actor's Guild isn't pushing harder to reach a labor agreement by the June 30 contract deadline. Producers said they've made some headway, but added they still disagree with the guild on crucial issues. The group expressed the need to find common ground in order to avoid shutting down the industry, like the writer's strike did several months ago. Katherine Heigl is taking herself out of the running for an Emmy nomination this year. The actress says she's removing herself from the competition because she doesn't feel the material she was given allowed her to deliver a performance that merits an award. Heigl received an Emmy last year for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on "Grey's Anatomy." That's it for now. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and have a great weekend. less

Hello, I'm Melisse Hinkle in for Kristin Volk with a UPI top news update on this 12 day of June, 2008. Three Boy Scouts and one Scout staff member are dead... more

Hello, I'm Melisse Hinkle in for Kristin Volk with a UPI top news update on this 12 day of June, 2008. Three Boy Scouts and one Scout staff member are dead following a tornado that hit their camp in western Iowa this morning. Forty-eight other children and adults were injured. The Scouts at the ranch were reportedly advanced Scouts between the ages of 13 and 18 and were there for a week of training. Possible tornadoes also struck parts of Kansas killing at least two people and damaging buildings at Kansas State University. A key member of Senator Barack Obama's vice presidential search team is stepping down. Jim Johnson has decided to resign after he received criticism over a mortgage. Republicans have been hammering Johnson for nearly a week after news broke that he got a good deal on a mortgage from Countrywide because of his friendship with the company's CEO. His rival, Senator John McCain said the resignation raises questions about Obama's judgment. For days, the presumptive Democratic nominee pushed back against attacks on Johnson. But news of Johnson's resignation doesn't seem to be affecting Senator Obama's general election campaign. A new poll out shows that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has a six-point lead over Republican John McCain. Obama is at 47 percent compared to McCain at 41 percent. In late April, the Illinois Senator led the Arizona Senator by only three points. The poll found Obama leading among African-Americans, Hispanics, women and blue-collar workers. McCain leads among white men. The House has passed a nearly $15 billion Amtrak bill at a time when Americans are grappling with soaring gas prices. The bi-partisan bill which passed by a veto-proof margin would authorize funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. Some of the money will go to a program of matching grants to help states set up or expand rail service. Amtrak's last authorization expired in 2002. That's all for now. Check out our new special segment on upi.com called "Students say 'I do' to wedding class." Thanks for watching. less

Hi, it's Thursday, the 12 day of June, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Oprah Winfrey is number one on the Forbes magazine... more

Hi, it's Thursday, the 12 day of June, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Oprah Winfrey is number one on the Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 list for the second year in a row. The talk show host reportedly earned $275 million over the past 12 months. Forbes looks at each star's past year of income, web hits and press exposure to determine the rankings. Golfer Tiger Woods took home second place and actress Angelina Jolie came in third. Jolie's significant other, Brad Pitt, sits at number ten. Other celebrities in the top ten include husband and wife pair, Beyonce and Jay-Z, soccer star David Beckham and author J.K. Rowling. Madonna isn't commenting about an upcoming memoir written by her younger brother, Christopher Ciccone. Publisher Simon & Schuster announced yesterday Ciccone's book, called "Life With My Sister," will be released on July 15. The book will apparently have a first printing of 350,000 copies. The Material Girl's rep told the AP the singer hasn't condoned any biographies about herself and added Madonna isn't close to her brother now, even though they've worked together in the past. Meanwhile, Lynne Spears is reportedly planning to release her memoir this fall. The book will reportedly document the mother's experiences raising her celebrity daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn. A rep for publisher Thomas Nelson says the book was put on pause when Jamie Lynn found out she was expecting a baby. He adds the memoir is titled "Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" and says Lynne Spears wants to tell her daughters' stories from her perspective. That's all according to People magazine. Hulk Hogan is opening up about his family's recent struggles. The wrestler spoke out about his son Nick Bollea's car accident on "Larry King Live" Tuesday, saying his 17-year-old "made a mistake." Bollea is behind bars in Florida for a crash that left his friend with serious injuries. Hogan said he's "soul searching" in the wake of the accident and his wife Linda's decision to file for divorce. Linda Bollea is reportedly now trying to cite Hogan for allegedly not paying for a property they share in Las Vegas. "The Love Guru" premiered yesterday at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The film's star and writer Mike Myers stepped out for the event. Justin Timberlake was also at the premiere. He plays a well-endowed hockey player in the film. Verne Troyer, who played Mini Me alongside Myers in Austin Powers, was on hand. Troyer plays a hockey coach in the movie. "The Love Guru" hits U.S. theaters on June 20. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and from all of us here at UPI, have a great day. less

(NAT -- Maggie) "Today we're talking about Ch. 14, floral décor." TALK OF FLOWERS, RINGS, PHOTOGRAPHY...THAT'S NO SURPRISE IN THIS CLASS. (Bite --... more

(NAT -- Maggie) "Today we're talking about Ch. 14, floral décor." TALK OF FLOWERS, RINGS, PHOTOGRAPHY...THAT'S NO SURPRISE IN THIS CLASS. (Bite -- Rasheena) "I'm learning so much about the wedding industry." AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERISTY IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, STUDENTS LIKE WILSON ARE LEARNING HOW TO BECOME WEDDING PLANNERS. (NAT -- Floral guy) "This is a good floral to hold up in bouquets." TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER - A FLORAL DESIGNER. (NAT -- Floral guy) "I'm going to force a little more pink by adding some Calas" (Maggie) "I found that students consistently in event management wanted to do planning for weddings as their project. We teach event management. We do it on the macro level. But that was more a micro level. So I designed the course because of that." GEORGE MASON IS THE FIRST FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION TO OFFER A WEDDING PLANNING COURSE FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT...AND STUDENTS SAY IT'S NOT AN EASY ONE. (Brandi -- student) It's the same as taking an economic class where you have to know all of the numbers and details of that class. You have to put in a lot of effort. (Brandi -- student) The price of a wedding is around $30K, but it's gone up from $15K. It's dramatically increased in the last 10 years. WITH BIGGER BUDGETS FOR TODAY'S WEDDINGS... STUDENTS ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT ELABORATE DÉCOR. (floral guy) "If you spotlight your arrangement or pinspot it, it makes your arrangements look a lot better." BUT ELABORATE OR NOT, DANIELS SAYS THAT IN AN AGE OF INCREASING GLOBALISM...IT'S IMPORTANT TO TEACH RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL WEDDING TRADITIONS. (NAT-Daniels) "If you have a Jewish ceremony, what is the canopy that we're going to use? Chuppah, right, it was on the mid-term!" (Daniels) "Each bride and groom, they come to the table with different backgrounds and ideas and they may or may not want to play off their culture. I think that's one of the most important things that we do is we take the culture, we take the religion into consideration, but first and foremost, we get to know the clients and what makes them tick." AND STUDENTS SAY THERE'S NO HARM IN TAKING A CLASS THAT HIGHLIGHTS A CAREER OPTION THAT MOST ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IGNORE. I think it should be offered everywhere, even at community colleges and universities. It's just another elective, but it's also informative. I've taken western civ and biology, but I don't think that applies. this is also giving people another alternative in the job market that they may not know about, that they may not know they have a creative niche in wedding planning. AND IF STUDENTS DON'T MAKE THIS A CAREER, THE CLASS CAN EASILY PLANT A SEED FOR THE FUTURE. Yes! Looking at the stuff today, I wanted to keep that bridal bouquet. I'm taking this home! FOR UPI.COM, I'M KRISTIN VOLK. less

President Bush says he has no regrets about invading Iraq and taking down Saddam Hussein. Bush made the comment while speaking at a press conference in Germany... more

President Bush says he has no regrets about invading Iraq and taking down Saddam Hussein. Bush made the comment while speaking at a press conference in Germany during his final visit to Europe as president. He also reiterated his stance to force Iran to halt its nuclear program. Yesterday, the U.S. and European Union issued a joint declaration urging tougher action against Iran if it doesn't suspend its nuclear enrichment plan. Rep. Dennis Kucinich has introduced a resolution into the House of Representatives to impeach President Bush. The former Democratic presidential candidate from Ohio says the president manufactured a false case for the Iraq war and violated U.S. and international law to invade the country.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she won't support a resolution calling for Bush's impeachment, saying such a move was unlikely to succeed and would be divisive. Last year, the congressman introduced a resolution to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney. It's now in the House Judiciary Committee where the chairman has taken no action on it. Residents along the Mississippi River are bracing for what may be the worst flooding in 15 years. Rising rivers wiped out an Iowa railroad bridge yesterday and flooded farmland in Illinois. In Cedar Falls, Iowa, residents evacuated the downtown area as the Cedar River threatened to spill over a levee. Levee breaks did happen in southeastern Illinois, forcing the evacuation of homes. Officials there say water was up to the roofs in some places. The National Weather Service is predicting crests of 10 feet above flood stage and higher over the next two weeks. Senator Barack Obama's vice presidential search team is reportedly considering about 20 people to be the presumptive Democratic nominee's running mate. The team shared their list with Democratic senator Kent Conrad yesterday to apparently get his impressions about the possible picks. Conrad said some are considered top officials now, others are former lawmakers, and others are former top military leaders. He also said some have been mentioned in the media, but some were quote outside the box. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain hasn't picked his VP yet, but joked on Monday that Google has made his job of investigating a possible running mate a little bit easier. less

Hi, it's Wednesday, June 11, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update. Shia LaBeouf is reportedly embarrassed about a YouTube video that... more

Hi, it's Wednesday, June 11, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update. Shia LaBeouf is reportedly embarrassed about a YouTube video that shows him saying a derogatory term. In the video, LaBeouf apparently uses a gay slur toward his friend during a slapping contest at a house party. The actor's rep says the video was produced a few years ago. YouTube has since removed the clip, which was circulating earlier this week. That's all according to an exclusive E! News report. Meanwhile, Paul Newman's agent is denying rumors that the actor is suffering from lung cancer. Newman apparently stepped away from a directing engagement last month due to an illness. Talk of serious health complications increased when photos of a gaunt-looking Newman surfaced at the end of last week. Anne Hathaway's boyfriend is running into some legal trouble with his charity. Raffaello Follieri's philanthropic organization is being investigated by the New York State Attorney General. The investigation reportedly stems from the businessman's failure to keep adequate financial documentation for the charity. The Follieri Foundation helps bring vaccines to poor children in developing countries. Hathaway was on the board of directors until last year, but her rep says she's not involved. Follieri dodged separate charges in April for bouncing a $215,000 check. Marissa Jaret Winokur is apparently playing catch up on preparations for her baby boy's arrival. The Tony award-winner says she thought she'd get kicked off "Dancing With the Stars" early on, but her lengthy run on the show set her back. A surrogate is carrying the baby for Winokur, who had a hysterectomy during her battle with cervical cancer. The little one is due July 22. Coldplay's North American tour has reportedly been pushed back. The band will take its show on the road two weeks later than expected because of production setbacks. Their first show is now scheduled to take place on July 14 in Los Angeles. Fans can get refunds for canceled dates or use their tickets for different shows. Previously scheduled free concerts are still set to go on this month in London, Barcelona and New York. Coldplay's fourth album hits stores on June 17. That's all according to Billboard. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and keep up with all the day's headlines at UPI.com. Have a great day. less

Hello on this Tuesday, the 10 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama are use the... more

Hello on this Tuesday, the 10 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama are use the campaign trail to talk about the troubling U.S. economy. Earlier today, Senator McCain told a group of small business owners that his goal as president would be to get the economy at full strength again. The Arizona senator supports making Bush's tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent, believing lower tax rates would in turn increase savings. McCain's rival, Senator Obama is calling for another round of tax rebate checks and would like to keep the Bush tax cuts in place for most Americans, but not for those who make about $250 thousand a year or more. President Bush is trying to rally European leaders to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Bush called on his allies earlier today in Slovenia during his final European Union-U.S. summit as president. He said their nuclear risk is an incredible danger to world peace. Both Bush and EU leaders were ready to threaten Iran with further financial sanctions unless it suspends its nuclear enrichment. President Bush's former spokesman will testify before a House committee next week in the case of leaking CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. Scott McClellan will reportedly discuss whether Vice President Dick Cheney ordered him to make misleading public statements about the leak. Plame's CIA identity was disclosed to the news media by several top Bush administration officials five years ago, including former White House adviser Scooter Libby and former top White House political adviser Karl Rove. A growing number of restaurants and supermarkets are pulling tomatoes from their menus and store shelves after a recent salmonella outbreak. Federal officials have reportedly found that a 17-state outbreak is linked to three types of raw tomatoes - red plum, red roma and red round tomatoes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that since mid-April, 167 people have been indentified as having salmonella with the same genetic fingerprint. At least 23 have been hospitalized. Thanks for watching today's news update, and for all of us at UPI, have a good day. less

Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update on this Tuesday, June 10, 2008. "Brokeback Mountain" will apparently be returning to a different... more

Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update on this Tuesday, June 10, 2008. "Brokeback Mountain" will apparently be returning to a different kind of theater. The Oscar-winning movie, featuring performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger, is being revived as an opera. The New York City Opera plans to bring the love story of the two cowboys to the stage during its spring season in 2013. Tori Spelling is now a mother of two. The actress gave birth to her second child yesterday afternoon through C-section at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Spelling and her husband Dean McDermott named their baby Stella Doreen McDermott. A source reports the baby's middle name comes from her late grandmother, McDermott's mother, Doreen. The family is gearing up for the third season of their Oxygen reality series, which will be called "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood." Spelling has also signed on for a guest appearance in this fall's "90210" comeback. That's all according to E! News. Amy Winehouse's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, is reportedly facing years in jail after pleading guilty to assault and witness tampering. Twenty-six-year-old Fielder-Civil changed his plea from not guilty to guilty last week, but British media restrictions prevented the news from spreading until yesterday. E! News reports he could receive up to five years in prison for assault and a potential life sentence for attempting to pervert justice, but experts say the life sentence is unlikely. The charges stem from an altercation he allegedly had with a London barkeeper back in 2006. Winehouse hasn't commented. Jessica Simpson is adding lingerie to her clothing and accessory line. The singer's fashion brand already includes handbags, shoes, sunglasses and swimsuits. Now she plans to debut underwear and sleepwear. Simpson tells "Women's Wear Daily" she likes to match her own lingerie to her mood and the occasion. The intimates collection is set to show up on department store shelves in spring 2009. Meanwhile, country star Taylor Swift will reportedly make an appearance in the upcoming "Hannah Montana" movie. Swift tells People magazine she'll be in the background of a scene playing one of her own songs. The singer says she's excited to be working with Miley Cyrus and her father Billy Ray Cyrus. In an interview on the "Today Show," Swift called Miley "awesome." The "Hannah Montana" film is set to hit theaters in 2009. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and tune in tomorrow for another one. Have a great day. less

Hi and welcome to a UPI news headline. I'm Kristin Volk on this Monday, the 9 day of June 2008. Senator Hillary Clinton is now charged with a new task of... more

Hi and welcome to a UPI news headline. I'm Kristin Volk on this Monday, the 9 day of June 2008. Senator Hillary Clinton is now charged with a new task of making sure her supporters back Senator Barack Obama for president. Clinton officially ended her presidential campaign over the weekend in front of thousands of people. She told her crowd to put all of their energy, strength, and passion into helping elect Obama in November. In a recent CNN poll, 60 percent of Clinton voters say they would vote for Obama, but 17 percent said they would vote for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain. 22 percent said they wouldn't vote at all if Clinton weren't the nominee. Meanwhile, Senator Barack Obama is kicking off a two-week campaign swing today that will focus on the economy. His first stop is in North Carolina today where he's expected to compare John McCain's economic plan to George Bush's. North Carolina is predominately a red state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 32 years. But the campaign says they're confident that they can make it a competitive state this year. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain has been emphasizing national security more than any other issue and has made it clear that he would like to fight the election primarily on that ground. Iran's supreme leader says the presence of American troops in Iraq is that country's biggest problem. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly made the comment to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during a meeting earlier today. Khamenei said he's certain that the American dreams for Iraq won't materialize. U.S. and Iraqi officials are negotiating a security deal that would allow American forces to remain in that country beyond December 31, when their U.N. mandate expires. The hope that Big Brown may win horse-racing's so-called Triple Crown is now just a dream. Over the weekend, Big Brown finished last at the Belmont Stakes in New York. That was a highly unlikely spot for the horse that recently won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Last week, Big Brown was treated for a crack in his left hoof. It's not clear whether that affected him. The underdog Da'Tara won the weekend race. That's all for now. Go to upi.com for more on these stories and all of the day's news. less

Hi, it's Monday, June 9, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Jessica Alba is a new mom. The actress reportedly gave birth to a... more

Hi, it's Monday, June 9, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Jessica Alba is a new mom. The actress reportedly gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday. Alba and her husband, Cash Warren, named their daughter Honor Marie Warren. This is their first child. The couple married last month at the Beverly Hills courthouse after getting engaged last December. In a recent interview, Alba told "Fit Pregnancy" she plans to be the kind of mother who strikes a balance between being an authority figure and being a gentle parent who's open to hearing about her child's problems. Patrick Swayze isn't slowing down. Despite his battle with pancreatic cancer, the actor plans to move forward with his work on a new television project this summer. Swayze will play FBI agent Charles Barker in a drama called "The Beast," which will air on A&E. The actor went public with his cancer diagnosis three months after shooting the pilot of the show, which is now set to film in Chicago and premiere in early 2009. The "Dirty Dancing" star is reportedly responding well to treatment he's receiving at Stanford University Medical Center and he'll continue with his care while working on the new show. Actress Lynda Carter says she responded like any other person when she found a woman's body in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. The actress, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s television series, was reportedly out in a boat by herself when she first saw the body. She wasn't carrying a cell phone, so she motioned to nearby fishermen and instructed them to call police. Carter then directed officials to the body when they arrived. D.C. authorities haven't announced the cause of death. "Kung Fu Panda" shot to the top of U.S. box offices during its opening weekend. The animated movie, featuring the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Lucy Liu, came in at No. 1 with $60 million. "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" starring Adam Sandler, sits at No. 2 with an estimated $40 million in ticket sales. And the latest installment of "Indiana Jones" with Harrison Ford dropped to No. 3, after bringing in nearly $23 million. Last week's box office winner, "Sex and the City," with Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker, fell to No. 4 this week. That's all according to Box Office Mojo. Stars stepped out for the premiere of "The Incredible Hulk" in Los Angeles this weekend. Actor Lou Ferrigno was at the event with his wife. He's the voice of the Incredible Hulk in the film. Other cast members including Liv Tyler, William Hurt and Edward Norton were also on hand for the premiere. "The Incredible Hulk" hits U.S. theaters on Friday. That's it for now. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and go to UPI.com for more headlines. Have a great day. less

Hello on this Friday, the 6 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk your UPI news update. Not much is known about what Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton... more

Hello on this Friday, the 6 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk your UPI news update. Not much is known about what Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton discussed when they secretly met in Washington, D.C last night. In a statement that the two sides released shortly afterward, the two said they had a productive discussion about how to succeed in November. There's no word as to whether they talked about Clinton becoming Obama's vice-president -- something that the New York senator's supporters have strongly endorsed. Clinton plans to suspend her campaign in the coming days as Obama earned enough delegates earlier this week to become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. There's one person that Senator Obama can take off his VP list. Former presidential candidate and senator John Edwards reportedly says he has no interest in the job. Edwards made the comment today to two separate newspapers while traveling in Spain. He said he had the privilege of running for vice president in 2004 with Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, and he won't do it again. The nation's unemployment rate soared to its highest level in more than two decades in May. That's according to a government report released today that also showed more than 49 thousand jobs were cut last month. The rate jumped to 5 and a half percent...up from 5 percent in April. That's a full percentage point higher than it was a year ago. The dramatic shift is considered a warning sign of a recession. The two most senior officials in the U.S. Air Force have been forced to resign over the handling of nuclear weapons. Defense Secretary Robert Gates accepted the resignations yesterday of Air Force Secretary, Michael Wynne and the Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley. In August, a B-52 bomber flew from North Dakota to Louisiana with the crew unaware that six nuclear-tipped missiles were on board. Last year, components designed to arm nuclear warheads were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan. That's all for now. Go to upi.com and check out our wrap-up from the White House. For all of us at UPI, have a safe and pleasant weekend. less

Hi, it's Friday, the 6 of June, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Hulk Hogan's son is now sharing a jail cell with other... more

Hi, it's Friday, the 6 of June, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Hulk Hogan's son is now sharing a jail cell with other juveniles. Nick Bollea was taken out of solitary confinement and placed in a communal cell yesterday. That's according to E! News. Bollea is behind bars for a DUI crash that left his friend with serious injuries. The move came two days after a judge turned down the 17-year-old's request to be transfered out of maximum-security. A rep from the jail says space opened up after a routine assessment of housing assignments. Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff are reportedly parting ways. The former Dancing With the Stars partners are ending their off-screen relationship after two years of dating. Smirnoff's rep tells People magazine their partnership wasn't going in the "right direction." Just last month both stars rejected rumors that their relationship was on the rocks. Lopez issued a statement saying he is happy to have Smirnoff in his life...and he called her "a phenomenal and talented woman." A new scholarship fund is being established in honor of Heath Ledger, who died five months ago. The scholarship will benefit struggling Australian actors. Ledger's friend, Gregor Jordan, who directed the actor in the movie "Two Hands," announced the news last night at the Australians in Film 2008 Breakthrough Awards in Beverly Hills. Jordan highlighted Ledger's generosity and said of the late actor, "when he had nothing, he still found a way to give to others." Jordan added that Ledger's ex-girlfriend, Michelle Williams, said she would be glad to be the first benefactor. Shania Twain is speaking out about her split from husband Robert "Mutt" Lange. The country singer posted a message on her Web site yesterday, thanking her fans for their support during what she called "a rough time." Twain added that she communicates best through her music and said she looks forward to bringing her future songs to her fans. Rumors have circulated that Lange became involved with another woman, causing the downfall of his marriage to Twain...but he has denied those accusations. Author J.K. Rowling delivered the commencement address at Harvard University yesterday. The author also received an honorary degree from the institution. Rowling called upon her personal journey from poverty to literary fame and encouraged graduates to use the power of imagination to make changes in their lives. She said, "We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already." That's all for this entertainment update. Thanks so much for watching and have a great weekend. less

Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update on this Thursday, June 5, 2008. Sharon Stone continues to apologize for remarks she made about the... more

Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update on this Thursday, June 5, 2008. Sharon Stone continues to apologize for remarks she made about the recent earthquake in China...but it won't get her an invite to the Shanghai International Film Festival, which kicks off on June 14. That's according to the AP. The actress expressed her dissatisfaction with China's rule in Tibet during the Cannes Film Festival in May. She went on to suggest it was bad karma that brought about the earthquake in the country. A rep from the Shanghai International Film Festival says organizers for the event sent Stone a letter protesting her comments. Entertainment Tonight is taking a closer look at one of its recent stories. The celebrity news show reported last Friday that Angelina Jolie had given birth to her twins. The report was subsequently shot down by reps for Jolie and Brad Pitt, as well as other media outlets. ET issued a statement yesterday saying the show had been the victim of a hoax...and the anonymous source they attributed the information to had in fact been someone posing as Jolie's assistant. The show is reportedly working with authorities to investigate the matter. Bridget Moynahan is opening up about being a single mother. In an interview for the July issue of Harper's Bazaar, the actress reportedly said she was frightened when she first brought her son home last summer. But now she calls motherhood "the best thing in the world." She went public with the fact she was expecting just after her relationship with New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, came to a close. Moynahan tells the magazine it was her friends and family who got her through the break up and her pregnancy...a time she called "traumatic." Ed McMahon is facing some real estate troubles. The former Star Search host is reportedly up against a possible foreclosure on his Beverly Hills home, which has been on the market for two years. He's apparently $644,000 behind on mortgage loan payments. A rep for the TV personality says McMahon hasn't been able to work since he fell and broke his neck a year and a half ago. That caused him to fall behind on payments for the six-bedroom house. McMahon and his wife are reportedly in talks with their mortgage lender but it's unclear whether or not they will stay in the house. That's all according to E! News. Meanwhile, Cyndi Lauper took her "True Colors" tour to the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto last night. The tour aims to promote gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. Lauper sang at the event. The Indigo Girls and the B-52's also performed...and Rosie O'Donnell stepped out to deliver a comedy stand-up. Lauper plans to make other stops throughout the U.S. and Canada in the coming weeks. That's all for now...go to upi.com for more entertainment headlines and thanks for watching. less

Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update on this Wednesday, the 4th day of June, 2008. Gina Gershon is requesting a retraction from Vanity... more

Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update on this Wednesday, the 4th day of June, 2008. Gina Gershon is requesting a retraction from Vanity Fair for a report the magazine published implying former U.S. president Bill Clinton has been visiting the actress. Both Clinton and Gershon have denied the insinuation, which was printed in an article written by the magazine's national editor, Todd Purdum. Gershon's rep called Purdum's report "irresponsible journalism"...but a Vanity Fair rep maintains the article doesn't suggest the pair had any inappropriate relations and says a retraction isn't justified. Brigitte Bardot is reportedly facing a fine of more than $23,000 after a Paris jury convicted her of inciting discrimination and racial hatred. The 73-year-old French actress and animal-rights activist reportedly wrote a racially charged letter to Nicolas Sarkozy back in December 2006. Bardot criticized a Muslim festival in the letter and claimed that Muslims were "destroying" France. President Sarkozy was the Interior Minister at the time. This marks the actress's fifth race-related conviction over the past 11 years. Tatum O'Neal is thanking the police who arrested her Sunday for allegedly purchasing crack cocaine in New York. The actress is reportedly having a hard time dealing with the death of her dog. She says the loss is bringing back the sadness she felt when her mother died and that's what pushed her to look for drugs this weekend. But the Oscar winner is apparently still sober and she credits the officers for keeping her drug-free. That's all according to the New York Post. Female stars stepped out in London last night for the "Glamour Women of the Year Awards." British actress Kate Beckinsale, American actress Hayden Panettiere and British singer Lily Allen all took home awards. Kelly Osbourne won the theatre award after performing in the musical "Chicago" in London's West End. Geri Halliwell, Mel B and Emma Bunton from the Spice Girls were also at the ceremony. They won the award for best band. Meanwhile, a group of brides competed for a different kind of prize in New York City's Times Square yesterday. The women raced to the top of a 10-foot wall covered in icing. The wall was meant to represent a wedding cake. The competition is part of a promotion for the T.V. show "Bridezillas," launching on June 8. Megan Gressler of Baskinridge, New Jersey took home the $25,000 prize after being the first bride to conquer the cake. Thanks for watching today's update and tune in tomorrow for more entertainment headlines. less

Hello, I'm Kristin Volk with today's news webcast on this Wednesday, the 4 day of June 2008. Senator Barack Obama is now looking to unify Democrats after... more

Hello, I'm Kristin Volk with today's news webcast on this Wednesday, the 4 day of June 2008. Senator Barack Obama is now looking to unify Democrats after becoming the first African-American to win the presidential nomination of a major U.S. party. Last night, the Illinois senator received the 2,118 delegates he needed to clinch the nomination. His rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, hasn't conceded and said she would consult with party leaders and supporters to determine her next move. Obama will face presumptive Republican nominee Senator John McCain in November's election. With Obama moving ahead in the race, he now faces the task of choosing a running mate. Senator Hillary Clinton has reportedly indicated that she'd be willing to sign up on a joint ticket. - that move could help heal the Democratic party after weeks of divisive campaigning. Other possible frontrunners include Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, or Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel. Meanwhile, Senator John McCain responded to Obama's win, saying he would bring the right kind of change to the U.S. presidency. His comments come as he launches a general election campaign against the Illinois Senator. In a speech last night, McCain called for widespread reforms in health care, energy and the environment. He also cited the success of U.S. troop efforts in combating insurgency in Iraq, and said if Obama had his way, soldiers would have been withdrawn and all progress would have been lost. The cost of removing more than 450 children from a polygamist sect compound and then reuniting them with their families will be about $7 million. Texas taxpayers will foot that bill. Children from that compound are returning to their families this week after a Texas Supreme Court found that the state didn't have enough evidence to show that abuse was happening inside. The price tag includes costs of fighting a court battle, retaining custody of children, and reuniting them with their parents. That figure doesn't includes the $500 thousand in costs from local governments whose law enforcement agencies were involved in the ranch raid two months ago. Thanks for watching this UPI news update, and for all of us at UPI, have a good day. less

Hello on this Tuesday, the 3 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Senator Barack Obama is expected to declare himself the Democratic... more

Hello on this Tuesday, the 3 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Senator Barack Obama is expected to declare himself the Democratic Party's presidential contender tonight. The Democratic primary season is finally wrapping up today as Montana and South Dakota hold nominating contests. Obama needs just 42 delegates to clinch the nomination. Montana and South Dakota don't have enough pledged delegates at stake to put Obama over the top, but the Illinois senator could receive a rush of endorsements from the remaining undeclared superdelegates by the end of the day to allow him to claim victory. Senator Hillary Clinton is 201 delegates shy of capturing the nomination. Meanwhile, the House majority whip says he's backing Senator Barack Obama for president. Rep. James Clyburn, who's the top-ranking African-American in Congress, had been neutral in the Democratic presidential race until today. Clyburn said Obama is our nation's best hope for much needed change. General Motors says it's shutting down four truck and SUV plants. GM's chairman and CEO made the announcement earlier today, saying high gas prices have changed consumer preferences. Instead, GM plans to roll out more fuel-efficient vehicles. Two U.S. plants will close, one in Moraine, Ohio and the other in Janesville, Wisconsin. The other two shutting down are located in Canada and Mexico. Senator Edward Kennedy is recovering today after undergoing surgery yesterday to reduce the size of his brain tumor. Doctors gave few details about the procedure and didn't say how much tumor was removed. The 76-year-old is expected to stay in the hospital for about a week before returning home to Massachusetts to start radiation and chemotherapy. That's all for now. For all of us at UPI, have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow for more news and updates. less

Hi, it's Tuesday, June 3, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update. The rock 'n' roll community is saying goodbye to Bo Diddley. The... more

Hi, it's Tuesday, June 3, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update. The rock 'n' roll community is saying goodbye to Bo Diddley. The 79-year-old guitarist and singer died of heart failure yesterday. The music industry icon received a place in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He produced numerous hits like "Who Do You Love?," "Road Runner" and the song that matched his namesake, "Bo Diddley." The rock 'n' roll legend is famous for his distinctive guitar beat....it became known as the "Bo Diddley" beat and has been used by many musicians who have followed him. Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy praised the creativity of late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in a French newspaper yesterday. Seventy-one-year-old Saint Laurent died Sunday in Paris after struggling with a brain tumor. President Sarkozy said the fashion icon believed "beauty was a luxury that every man and woman needed." Sarkozy's wife, who is a former fashion model, called Saint Laurent "an artist and an exceptional human being." A memorial mass to honor the designer is set to take place in Paris on Thursday. Kelsey Grammer is resting in a Hawaiian hospital, after suffering a mild heart attack over the weekend. The "Frasier" star's rep reports the actor is comfortable and is scheduled to be released early this week. The 53-year-old actor reportedly started experiencing discomfort after paddle boarding with his wife, Camille. The couple is vacationing at their home in Hawaii. Officials now report the fire that damaged part of Universal Studios in Los Angeles was an accident. That's according to CNN. The Los Angeles County Fire Chief said the blaze was started by workers who were using a blowtorch to heat shingles on a movie set facade. The workers reportedly finished their work at 3 a.m. Sunday morning and monitored their site for an additional hour before going on break. The chief said that's the standard policy. Authorities also plan to follow up on reports that low water pressure affected firefighters' efforts. Universal's theme park reopened to visitors on Monday. Kristin Davis is trying her hand in fashion. E! News reports the "Sex and the City" star is starting her own clothing line, set to launch this fall. The new collection will include dresses, sleepwear and handbags ranging in price from $38 to $240. Davis is partnering with a North Carolina-based department store called Belk Inc. for her journey into the fashion world. She released a statement saying she connects with the fashion sense of Southern women and adds that Belk is the only store she'd team up with for a clothing line. That's it for now. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and have a great day. less

Hello on this Monday, the 2 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Senator Edward Kennedy is having brain surgery today to treat a... more

Hello on this Monday, the 2 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Senator Edward Kennedy is having brain surgery today to treat a malignant brain tumor. The procedure, which is taking place at Duke University, is expected to last four to six hours. Afterward, the Massachusetts senator is likely to stay in the hospital for about a week before going home to start radiation and chemotherapy. The 76-year-old Democratic icon suffered a seizure last month, which led to the discovery of his tumor. Democratic Party leaders are predicting that the fight between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may end this week. Clinton did have a good weekend, winning Puerto Rico's primary with a landslide win, but it did little to slow Obama's momentum. The Illinois senator reportedly needs only about 50 more delegates to wrap up the nomination. Clinton is trailing her rival by about 150 delegates. There are two primaries remaining tomorrow in Montana and South Dakota. Obama is favored in both states. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee decision over the weekend regarding Florida and Michigan's delegates didn't give much of a boost to Senator Hillary Clinton. The rules and bylaws committee reinstated both states' delegates to its party convention, but each gets half a vote as a penalty for moving the primaries earlier than the party had approved. That move still gives Senator Barack Obama the lead over Clinton. The meeting was met with both supporters and protestors of seating all of the delegates. A suicide bombing at a Danish embassy in Pakistan today has left at least 8 people dead. More than two dozen are injured. The blast tore the façade off the front of the building and destroyed cars. No group has claimed responsibility yet for the explosion, but the Danes have been the subject of numerous threats in the controversy over anti-Muslim cartoons. Thanks for watching, and have a good day. less

Hello on this Friday, the 30 day of May 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI news headline. At least one person is dead after a construction crane fell more than... more

Hello on this Friday, the 30 day of May 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI news headline. At least one person is dead after a construction crane fell more than 20 stories from the top of a Manhattan building today. There are no reports on the status of any injuries yet. The collapse left a pile of wreckage in front of an apartment building on the city's Upper East Side. Two months ago, seven people were killed when another construction crane collapsed in Manhattan. Senator Barack Obama is apologizing for another pastor problem. On Sunday, Rev. Michael Pfleger (Flay-ger) mocked Senator Hillary Clinton and used racially-charged language during a sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. That's the same church where Obama attended services and where his controversial pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright used to preach. The Illinois Senator says he's deeply disappointed by Pfleger's remarks. The Clinton camp has also condemned the pastor's comments. But despite this recent controversy, Obama has picked up two more superdelegates. That brings the Democratic presidential hopeful within 42 delegates of securing his party's nomination. The chairman of the Texas Democratic Party and his wife backed the Illinois Senator for president late yesterday. They were among a handful of superdelegates remaining in Texas who hadn't committed to Obama or his rival, Senator Hillary Clinton yet. The terrorist group, Al-Qaeda, is losing influence in the Middle East. That's according to the chief of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, Michael Hayden. In a recent interview, Hayden said that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is losing his ability to exploit the war in Iraq to recruit more members. This news largely differs from a CIA study conducted two years ago that concluded the war had become a propaganda and marketing tool for the terrorist group. That's all for now. Check out our White House wrap-up today on upi.com. For all of us at UPI, have a safe and pleasant weekend. less