Usher’s ex-wife loses bid for child custody
A judge in Atlanta on Friday dismissed an emergency request by R&B singer Usher’s ex-wife seeking temporary custody of their two children.
Tameka Foster Raymond requested the hearing a day after the former couple’s 5-year-old son got caught in a pool drain while in the care of the Grammy winner’s aunt. Raymond’s court filing had said the boy “suffered a near-death accident” while left unsupervised at Usher’s home when the singer was out of town.
After a hearing in which both Usher and Raymond took the stand, Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger dismissed her request for temporary primary custody and decision-making authority. Based on the evidence presented at the hearing, Goger said he wasn’t certain anyone really could have done anything to prevent the accident.
After the judge issued his ruling, Usher approached his ex-wife and gave her a long hug.
Baldwin joining MSNBC stable
MSNBC’s lineup may be getting some serious firepower: Looks like Alec Baldwin is signing up to host a show on the cable news network.
Baldwin, the 55-year-old former co-star of NBC’s sitcom “30 Rock,” would bring his famously liberal point of view to a show that would air at 7 p.m. Pacific time on Fridays, according to the site Mediaite.
The cable news wars are heating up again. News of Baldwin’s possible show broke the same day that reports indicated Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly would get the time slot currently occupied by Sean Hannity.
Bynes’ mom granted conservatorship
A California judge granted the mother of Amanda Bynes a temporary conservatorship on Friday to make decisions about her daughter’s treatment in case the former child actress is released from a facility where she is being treated for mental health issues.
The decision by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Glen Reiser came more than two weeks after Bynes, 27, was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital after months of erratic behavior.
The ruling permits Lynn Bynes to control decisions involving the health and finances of her daughter. It will be in effect until Sept. 30.
The birthday bunch
Actress Rhonda Fleming is 90. Actor-director Tom Laughlin (“Billy Jack”) is 82. Singer Ronnie Spector is 70. Rock singer-musician Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) is 66. Country musician Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio) is 64. Singer Patti Austin is 63. Actress Rosanna Arquette is 54. Actor Antonio Banderas is 53. Actress Angie Harmon is 41.