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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

McConaughey ready to walk the aisle

From Wire Reports

Matthew McConaughey is engaged to marry his longtime girlfriend, Camila Alves.

The 42-year-old actor proposed to the Brazilian model on Christmas Day. He announced the move in a tweet that included a photo of the couple kissing and read, “just asked camila to marry me, merry Christmas.”

McConaughey’s publicist confirmed the engagement Tuesday.

McConaughey and Alves have two children together, son Levi and daughter Vida.

His film credits include “We Are Marshall,” “Tropic Thunder” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.”

Van Halen, Diamond Dave touring

The rock band Van Halen has posted a video on its website announcing a new tour.

The black-and-white video shows guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen, along with original lead singer David Lee Roth and Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, on bass. The ticker at the bottom of the video reads: “Van Halen on Tour 2012. First tickets on sale January 10.”

Van Halen, with its flamboyant frontman “Diamond Dave,” was one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s, but Roth left the band in 1985. Van Halen toured with him in 2007-2008.

‘Darth Vader’ swears in sheriff

Not every county sheriff gets to be sworn in by the voice of Darth Vader.

Actor James Earl Jones performed that duty Thursday for his longtime friend and neighbor Adrian “Butch” Anderson, the sheriff in Dutchess County, N.Y., where Jones lives.

Anderson’s fourth term as sheriff in the Hudson Valley county began with Jones administering the oath of office in place of a judge.

Jones told about 250 attendees at the ceremony in the town of Poughkeepsie that his many movie roles included playing a judge in “Sommersby,” a 1993 post-Civil War film that starred Richard Gere and Jodie Foster. Jones provided the voice for the Darth Vader character in the “Star Wars” films. His distinctive voice also was featured in Disney’s “The Lion King.”

The birthday bunch

Country musician Harold Bradley is 85. TV host Jack Hanna is 64. Actress Wendy Phillips is 59. Movie director Todd Haynes is 50. Actress Tia Carrere is 44. Actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. is 43. Model Christy Turlington is 42. Actor Taye Diggs is 40. Rock musician Scott Underwood (Train) is 40. Rock singer Doug Robb (Hoobastank) is 36. Actor Dax Shepard is 36. Actress Paz Vega is 35. Country musician Chris Hartman is 33. Rock musician Jerry DePizzo Jr. (O.A.R.) is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kelton Kessee (IMX) is 30. Actress Kate Bosworth is 28.