Roberts selected for Cronkite award
“Good Morning America” co-host Robin Roberts will receive the 2014 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism from Arizona State University’s Cronkite School.
The university announced that Roberts will receive the award during an Oct. 6 luncheon in Phoenix.
Cronkite School Dean Christopher Callahan says Roberts has made outstanding contributions to journalism and demonstrated great personal courage.
Roberts faced public battles with breast cancer in 2007 and a bone marrow disorder in 2012.
Roberts worked for several radio and television stations and ESPN before being named co-anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America” in 2005.
Hamster actor faces disability fraud
A man who played a dancing hamster in Kia car commercials and was a backup dancer for Madonna has been charged with California disability fraud.
The California Department of Insurance says 27-year-old Leroy Barnes of Los Angeles collected $51,000 in workers compensation benefits in 2010 and 2011. Barnes claimed he was disabled when a piece of ceiling fell on him.
But the department says he made at least one Kia commercial, performed in a rap group, assisted in recording the song “Cat Daddy,” and was a backup dancer for Madonna, Kelly Rowland and Chris Brown.
Barnes was arrested last month and is free on bail.
Chicago hopes to book ‘Tonight Show’
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon have made a pact to bring the show to the Windy City – with one condition.
During Emanuel’s appearance Tuesday on NBC’s “Tonight Show,” Fallon agreed to bring his production to Chicago for a few shows if Chicago Public School students read 2.4 million books this summer. That would mean the school system’s more than 400,000 students would have to read six books each.
Emanuel’s appearance with Fallon was the result of a previous deal between the two men. The mayor agreed to appear on the show if Fallon participated in Chicago’s Polar Plunge into Lake Michigan in February.
The birthday bunch
Broadcast journalist Bill Moyers is 80. Rock singer Laurie Anderson is 67. Financial guru Suze Orman is 63. Jazz musician Kenny G is 58. Actor Jeff Garlin is 52. Actor Ron Livingston is 47. Rock musician Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) is 35. Actress Sophie Lowe (TV: “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland”) is 24.