BON JOVI: Drug Charges Against Daughter Dropped

Drug charges against Jon Bon Jovi's daughter Stephanie have been dropped.

The 19-year-old reportedly overdosed on heroin Wednesday in her dorm room at Hamilton College in upstate New York. Drug charges have also been dropped against her 21-year-old male companion. According to the district attorney in Oneida County, the charges were dropped because of a New York law that specifically prohibits prosecution of people experiencing a drug overdose -- as well as the people who help them seek medical care.

Stephanie is the oldest of Jon's four children and his only daughter.

BP: To Pay Record Fine for Gulf Spill

BP is reportedly on the hook for a record criminal fine for the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

Sources tell Reuters that the oil giant has worked out a plea deal with the Department of Justice in which it would pay a monetary penalty, and in exchange, it won't face further prosecution. There's no word on how much BP will pay, but the current record is $1.3 billion drug maker Pfizer paid for its pain drug Bextra. The penalty won't cover any civil claims.

An announcement could come as early as today (Thursday).

WEIRD NEWS: A Pain in the Glass

A New Mexico man called the cops on himself after he went to his bank and made an illegal withdrawal – of the building's windows.

Charles Scribner went to a branch of Bank of America and began ranting about how the bank had "sold him out," before methodically busting out the windows in the front of the building. He then paused to dial 911 and ask that someone come by because, as he put it, "Y'all might want to come and arrest me … I don't want to have to keep having to break them."

The dispatcher asked Scribner if he was on drugs, and he said no, then berated them for taking so long to come and arrest him. An officer finally responded after receiving a call from an eyewitness, and took Scribner into custody. (KOAT)

WEIRD NEWS: Bogey in the Court

A Montana judge gave a couple the shaft when they attempted to sue for damages after having more than a thousand golf balls hit into the yard behind their home – which was built alongside the 18th hole of a golf course that had been there for years.

Robert and Katherine Brady filed the suit against the Hamilton Golf Club, claiming trespass, nuisance and breach of duty, but the judge hearing the case said that the two – who actually played at the golf course from time to time – knew very well what they were getting themselves into.

The Bradys built a cedar fence and then topped it with a 14-foot-high net in an attempt to keep the balls at bay, but to no avail. Still, the court ruled that the club had no responsibility to change the course layout, and that the two sides should try to iron things out on their own. (Ravalli Republic)

WEIRD NEWS: It's All About the Abrahams

A Rhode Island man will have plenty of time to brush up on the U.S. history lessons he clearly skipped – now that he's behind bars for trying to pass fake $100 bills bearing Abe Lincoln's face instead of Benjamin Franklin's.

Dana Leland was busted after a cashier at a Target store noticed the phony money and called security. Leland was found to have used the counterfeit bills in three other stores, spending less than $25 each time in order to get the maximum amount in real cash back. 

He pled innocent on all counts, and his attorney is asking for leniency, claiming he had recently had a relapse into drug addiction after a long period of sobriety – which might help explain the forgetfulness about ol' Benjamin. (Attleboro Sun-Chronicle)

As Thanksgiving approaches, it's time to start thinking about all the wonderful things in our lives to be thankful for – family, friends, love, health, happiness. But what about random trivial things that make us happy – like Channing Tatum being the "Sexiest Man Alive"!  (TheFrisky)

CARS VS. PLANES

If you’re doing everything you can to avoid flying for Thanksgiving this year, you’re not alone.

Triple A released its “Thanksgiving travel forecast” recently and said that there will be an increase in people on the road and a decrease of people in the sky.

It could be that prices for plane tickets have skyrocketed in some places, or it could be based on complications from Superstorm Sandy, or even airlines running hot and cold from pilot strikes and bankruptcy.

Either way, if you’re traveling for turkey day, do it safely! (Daily Record)
 

NO FACE TATS FOR RIHANNA

Rihanna has a whole bunch of tattoos, but it turns out a tattoo artist wouldn't give her a tattoo in a place she really wanted – her face. Rihanna told GQ, "The tattoo artist said, ‘Nope, I’m not gonna do it, because if you’re looking at your face, it’s right there staring at you.'"

Rihanna is on the cover of the December issue of the magazine. (TheSun)

FIRST LADY GETS FIRST LOOK

Michelle Obama has found that one of the perks of being the First Lady is getting TV shows delivered to you before they are even aired. In this case, it's Downton Abbey. The First Lady loves the show so much that she gets the DVDs sent over from the UK. In fact, the third series was sent over to her so she could check it out before the rest of America.

A source from Downton Abbey says, "We’d heard the Obamas liked to watch it but we were very surprised when someone from the First Lady’s office got in touch asking for the series. They were very polite and we were more than happy to sort out some DVDs for them to send over. Obviously we hope they keep the spoilers to themselves as our U.S. fans may not know about ... well, you know what!" (TheSun)

LIVING NEAR THE EX

Taylor Swift officially has a home in Cape Cod – right near her ex, Conor Kennedy. The couple recently split up, although there's buzz that they are still together. Either way, this got us thinking about living near an ex ...
 

ENCORE OUTFIT

Because Kate Middleton is royalty, she never has to wear the same outfit twice. But she does.

The Duchess showed off her lace Temperley floor-length gown at the premiere of War Horse, as well as at a recent event for the royal couple’s alma mater.

Another famous lady who dusts off an outfit more than once is First Lady Michelle Obama, who wore the same Michael Kors dress for her husband’s victory speech as she has on two other occasions.

This hereby gives the rest of us permission to wear something we’ve already worn instead of hunting for another dress we can’t afford! (Yahoo) 

PET OWNER NO-NOS

It’s no secret that you love your pet. But there are some things you do that, even though YOU think are cute, actually make you the world’s most annoying pet owner.

Here are some examples of ways to avoid being “that guy” when it comes to your pet:

• Posting Facebook updates as your pet – We know your dog doesn’t actually care that you made pancakes for breakfast or that your favorite football team is winning, so please do pass that off as your pooch’s perspective.
   
• Throwing birthday parties for your pet – Though it’s fun to do things that make your dog happy, parties are for people – so cancel the beef-flavored cake and knock it off. (The FW)
   
• Treating your pet like a child – Pets don’t need to ride in buggies or wear clothes. Those are things that people need … dogs don’t.

FAB FIRST DATE QUESTIONS

There’s got to be more to a first date than asking someone where they’re from, what they do, or how many siblings they have.

Here are a few out-of-the-box questions that you and your date can actually have fun with:

• What's a secret skill that you have?
• What was your favorite childhood toy?
• What's the best present you ever gave someone?
• What's the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in elementary school? (Yahoo)

SEXY SEXTING

Let’s face it – sexting can be hot, but it can also be complicated.

When you’re trying to wind your partner up with your words, there are some rules you should follow so the whole thing doesn’t go from hot and steamy to WTF …

• Keep it simple – Save big words and nuanced innuendos for another conversation. Sexting should be kept simple, because nothing’s less sexy than trying to figure out what the heck your partner meant to say.
   
• Keep it playful – Sexting doesn’t have to be all serious. It can be really hot when one of you throws in a little joke or a playful pun.
   
• Watch what you type – There is no romance killer quite like the auto-correct setting on a smart phone. So make sure what you typed is what you meant to say BEFORE you push send! (The Frisky)

LINDSAY LOHAN: Gains a 17-Year-Old Half-Sister

Lindsay Lohan’s dysfunctional family has grown by one. Today on the syndicated “Trisha Goddard” talk show, Michael Lohan will take a DNA paternity test. And he tests positive. Lindsay has a half-sister she never knew. Her other sister, Ali is 18 years old.

Lindsay’s dad has denied for years that he fathered a lovechild back in 1995. On today’s show he comes face-to-face with his 17-year-old daughter. Ashley’s mother, Kristi Horn, has tried several times to gain child support from Lohan. He always refused. Perhaps today he’ll change his tune. Or maybe not. A tease from the “Trisha Goddard” show has Lohan going in to hug his daughter, and she refuses it, yelling “No, no, no.”

JUSTIN BIEBER: Paparazzi Case Tossed Out

A Los Angeles judge has thrown out charges against a photographer who allegedly pursued Justin Bieber through the streets of L.A. at high speeds earlier this year. The chase ultimately got the Bieb pulled over by cops.

Paul Raef was the first person charged under a new California law designed to keep paparazzi from driving recklessly in the pursuit of the money shot. But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas Robinson called the state's anti-paparazzi law "problematic" and "overly inclusive," saying it was written too broadly to be enforced.

Raef could have faced up to a year in prison and $3500 in fines, if convicted.

ADAM LEVINE, CHANNING TATUM: Big People's Choice Awards Nominees

The Voice judge and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive Channing Tatum are among the big nominees for the People's Choice Awards.

The nominations were announced this morning (Thursday) in Los Angeles, and Levine leads the pack with six. Justin Bieber picked up five nominations in music categories, and Tatum got four nods. Also picking up multiple nominations were Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence.

The People's Choice Awards air live on CBS on January 9th. You can vote for your favorites at PeoplesChoice.com.

TAYLOR SWIFT: Kennedy Romance Back On?

Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy might very well still be an item.

An insider says that the couple concocted the break-up story to throw the family off their trail. OK magazine quotes a source saying, "The lovers hatched the scheme because the Kennedys were putting huge pressure on Conor, saying he needs to concentrate on getting through high school and into a top college."

The cause of the alleged break-up was supposedly distance -- especially with Taylor all over the world promoting her album Red, and Conor in boarding school.

SELENA GOMEZ: Wants No Contact With the Bieb

Selena Gomez wants nothing to do with Justin Bieber. TMZ says she's blocked her phone numbers and other communication devices so the Bieb cannot contact her.

Justin has been trying to win Selena back, trying to patch things up during a sit-down last Sunday and posting cute Instagram pics with messages to his ex, but she's not having it. 

Also, the gossip blog says "the break-up absolutely, positively involved another woman," but they're not sure if the other woman was a Victoria's Secret model.

AEROSMITH: Rumors on the Road

The New York Post reports that the Aerosmith tour is not exactly going as planned. The band members are “barely speaking to each other.” There’s deep disappointment that CD sales have lagged below expectations. Demand for their new music is lackluster. Not one date on their concert tour is sold out. Plus, lead singer Steven Tyler appears to be distracted trying to juggle a tour and a failed engagement.

But a spokesman for the band refutes the whispers: “It’s clear that someone is spreading false and malicious rumors. To give them any credence would only empower them to disseminate more lies.”

JUSTIN BIEBER & SELENA GOMEZ: Let's Spend the Night Together

Stop the presses: Selena Gomez may have had a change of heart. Despite several reports that she was over Justin Bieber, and that she'd blocked his number, apparently he didn't need to call her on Wednesday night. That's because, according to TMZ, the young couple spent the night together -- at her house. They have the photos to prove it.

They say Bieber picked Selena up at the airport on Wednesday night. She'd traveled earlier to Texas for a publicity event. They went straight to her home. Yesterday morning, they arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. TMZ says they opted to walk in separately -- just seconds apart, but not hand-in-hand -- so as to avoid the ensuing chaos or fresh rumors that they've reconciled their relationship. But that didn't stop TMZ from speculating.

GUY FIERI: Fires Back at Reviewer

Guy Fieri isn't swallowing that over-the-top poor review of his New York restaurant. He says that New York Times scribe Pete Wells must've had "another agenda."

Wells's review -- written entirely in question form -- has gone viral over the past 36 hours. He asks such scathing questions as:

• At your five Johnny Garlic’s restaurants in California, if servers arrive with main courses and find that the appetizers haven’t been cleared yet, do they try to find space for the new plates next to the dirty ones?
• How did nachos, one of the hardest dishes in the American canon to mess up, turn out so deeply unlovable?
• When you hung that sign by the entrance that says, WELCOME TO FLAVOR TOWN!, were you just messing with our heads?

But Guy is having none of it. This morning on NBC's Today show, he said, "I just thought it was ridiculous. I mean, I've read reviews. There's good and bad in the restaurant business. But that, to me, went so overboard, it really seemed like there was another agenda. The tone, the sarcasm, the question style."

Guy added that he's not backing down. "I stand by my food and I stand by my team. We'll continue to do great."

Source: E!

LISA WHELCHEL: Has West Nile Virus

After battling her way through Survivor: Philippines, Lisa Whelchel is facing another fight -- West Nile virus.

The former Facts of Life star Tweeted the bad news this week: "Dr. just called with blood test results... I have West Nile. Ugh. I'm fine, just tired. Takes a year to recover." There's no word if her diagnosis is related to her stint on Survivor, which wrapped up filming in April. Though the disease is spread by mosquitoes, there have been nearly 4000 cases in the U.S. this year. The symptoms include fatigue and body aches.

Lisa later wrote that she's "expecting a full recovery."

Source: People

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY: Gretchen Rossi Triumphs in Defamation Suit Against Ex

Real Housewives of Orange County's Gretchen Rossi is half-a-million dollars richer.

The reality star scored the big payday in her defamation lawsuit against ex-boyfriend Jay Photoglou today (Thursday) when a judge ruled in her favor. Gretched claimed Jay trashed her in the media.

SOURCE: TMZ

CHELSEA HANDLER: Apologizes to Kathie Lee, Koda -- Sort Of

Chelsea Handler's feud with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb seems to be over.

Chelsea sort of apologized to the Today show co-hosts for lying about why she bailed on her scheduled appearance Monday. On her late-night E! show, Chelsea said, "I have to apologize to the Today show because I didn't show up for an interview, and then they saw me on Jimmy Fallon [that night], and they were like, 'What?' And I lied. I've been lying to everyone lately about why I didn't show up. I don't know -- I don't have a good reason." But then the comedienne went on to intentionally mispronounce the co-hosts' names, saying, "So to Hoda Kota-ba and Kathie Lee Jifford, I'm sorry. I really am sorry. I'm very professional usually, but I just couldn't make it."

The ladies seem to be OK with the mea culpa, though. On the Today show this morning (Thursday), Kathie Lee said, "It's half-hearted, but at least she's not lying. Apology accepted." She added that they would "welcome [Chelsea] back anytime."

SOURCE: Us Magazine

LUCILLE BLISS: Voice of Smurfette Passes Away

Lucille Bliss has passed away at the age of 96. She was probably best remembered as the voice of Smurfette in the animated series. Katy Perry has taken over the role in the "Smurfs" movie and upcoming sequel.

Bliss’s first job in Hollywood was a voice role in 1950 as the stepsister Anastasia in Disney's "Cinderella." She also had roles in animated classics such as "The Flintstones" and "The Jetsons," where she played the son Elroy. She eventually lost that job after refusing to change her name in the credits to disguise the fact that she was a woman voicing a little boy.

Having released her Christmas in the Sand album last month, Colbie Caillat finds her calendar chock full of seasonal events:

• Yesterday she taped a holiday episode of the syndicated medical talk show The Doctors in L.A., where she performed her album's title track and "Merry Christmas, Baby." It'll air in mid-December
• Sunday, she'll join The Backstreet Boys, Michael Bolton and Melanie Fiona for the lighting of the Christmas Tree at The Grove in Los Angeles -- L.A.'s counterpart to the tree lighting at New York's Rockefeller Center.
• Thursday, she'll be in New York City to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
• On December 6th, she'll join Phillip Phillips, James Taylor and Babyface at the 90th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House. It won't be her first time meeting the First Family. Last year, she sang for them at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

  Colbie Caillat on her first experience with the First Family at last year's White House Easter Egg Roll. OC:...four years. :23

  “I got to sing on the balcony next to the First Family. The President and the entire family they were so sweet. They went out on the lawn and shook everyone’s hands and just – normal people. Like, if you didn’t know they were the First Family, they would just be this wonderful group of people that you’d want to meet and be friends with and go to the beach with. They’re so cool. I love them and I’m looking forward to seeing them again and I’m really happy that he has another four years.”

  Download
• On December 20, she'll be seen on ABC-TV's CMA Country Christmas special, which airs from 9 to 11pm ET. The show -- which she taped in Nashville back on November 3rd -- will also air the evening of December 22nd and the afternoon of December 23rd.
• She's also got December appearances on Live with Kelly and Michael and Katy lined up -- dates to be announced.

DAVID PETRAEUS: Will Testify to Congress on Benghazi

Friday, former CIA Director David Petraeus will visit Capitol Hill to testify in front of the House Intelligence committee. Representatives are interested in hearing the General’s knowledge concerning the tragic deaths of the U.S. ambassador in Libya and three others on the anniversary of September 11th.

Some have charged the White House with an attempted cover-up of their fatal mistakes prior to the attack. Many believe Petraeus will be more forthcoming with the details of that night and the intelligence the White House knew in advance. His testimony will be closed to the public.

POSTAL SERVICE: Record Loss Approaches $16 Billion

The United States Postal Service is failing fast. For the last fiscal year, which ended September 30th, the Postal Service lost $16 billion. If drastic steps are not taken, it could run out of cash within a year. If that were to occur, postal delivery would abruptly stop. Several Fortune 500 companies that rely on the US Postal Service are lobbying for a fix from Washington DC. A spokesperson said (quote) “If Congress fails to act, there could be postal slowdowns or shutdowns that would have catastrophic consequences.”

WEIRD NEWS: Laptop #1 on Kids' Christmas Wish List

While Santa Claus is making a list and checking it twice, children across the country are writing a wish list of their own. A survey of more than 1100 children between the ages of 8 and 18 shows that the #1 item on their Christmas list is a laptop.

If you can believe the Ebates 2012 Holiday Wish List Survey, an iPhone is the second most popular, followed by clothing. It must have been a multiple choice survey. The kids had to be prompted to wish for clothes, right?

WEIRD NEWS: An Over-Exposed Joke

A Rhode Island man was arrested for indecent exposure after driving fellow bar patrons nuts with a joke that involved him flashing his own.

Kiel Jefferies was sentenced to 24 months probation after he was convicted on the charge – which stemmed from a drunken night of nutty humor. The 25-year-old, who was wearing a long T-shirt that his fellow revelers assumed was covering a pair of shorts, repeatedly approached strangers at the bar and said, "Knock, knock." Whenever anyone replied "Who's there?" Jefferies wouldn't say a word, but would lift his shirt to expose his genitals.

He's been ordered to undergo alcohol treatment, and is banned from that bar for life. (Norristown Patch)

LANCE ARMSTRONG: Cancer Charity Erases His Name

Disgraced cycling champion Lance Armstrong has officially been erased from the charity he helped found in 1997. The Lance Armstrong Foundation filed paperwork to change its name to the Livestrong Foundation. Spokeswoman Katherine McLane said yesterday (quote) “For most of its life, the organization has been known as the Livestrong Foundation, but making that change official is necessary and appropriate during a time of change for the organization.”

In recent weeks, Armstrong has been stripped of most of his titles and his corporate sponsors have fled. Last month, he stepped down as the Livestrong Chairman of the Board, and resigned from the Board of Directors.

SANDY RELIEF: Obama Visits New York ()

It may have been temporarily bumped from the top of the national headlines, but President Obama is trying to make sure the rest of the country doesn't forget about those still struggling in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. On Thursday he toured the areas of Queens and Staten Island that were devastated by flooding and fire.