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

Official says Barbra will sing in Israel

From Wire Reports

An Israeli government official says Barbra Streisand is coming to town.

The official said the celebrated American Jewish singer will perform in Israel in June in honor of Israeli President Shimon Peres’ 90th birthday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to brief reporters. There was no immediate comment from Streisand.

The official said Streisand’s appearance will coincide with a yearly speakers conference headed by the Israeli president. This year’s conference takes place June 18-20 in Jerusalem.

Peres told reporters five years ago that Streisand was set to perform at that year’s presidential conference, but she didn’t show up.

Israeli media said Streisand would also perform in two concerts.

Kate hopes for boy; William wants girl

The Duchess of Cambridge says she doesn’t know the sex of her first child, but she hopes it’s a boy.

Her husband, Prince William, however, would prefer a girl.

The former Kate Middleton, who is five months pregnant, made the revelation to a soldier Sunday at a St. Patrick’s Day ceremony honoring the Irish Guards.

Guardsman Lee Wheeler said the duchess told him: “I’d like to have a boy and William would like a girl.”

The duchess wore a green dress coat and a shamrock lapel pin as she presented sprigs of shamrock to soldiers in the annual ceremony at a barracks in Aldershot, southern England.

Tone Loc collapses on stage

Rapper Tone Loc didn’t want to be hospitalized after collapsing on stage during a weekend performance in Iowa.

Loc, whose real name is Anthony T. Smith, collapsed after finishing a song during a Saturday night concert on a downtown Des Moines bridge. The concert ended abruptly while the 47-year-old was treated.

Police Sgt. Steve Woody said paramedics responded, but Loc refused to be taken to a hospital.

Loc’s representative did not immediately respond to messages Sunday.

Loc, best known for his 1980s hits “Funky Cold Medina” and “Wild Thing,” collapsed and had a seizure during a 2009 concert in Pensacola, Fla. Authorities said he had apparently overheated.

The birthday bunch

Country singer Charley Pride is 75. Actor Kevin Dobson (“Knots Landing”) is 70. Singer Irene Cara is 54. Singer-actress Vanessa Williams is 50. Keyboardist Scott Saunders (Sons of the Desert) is 49. Rapper-actress Queen Latifah is 43. Actress Sutton Foster (“Bunheads”) is 38. Singer Adam Levine (Maroon 5) is 34. Actress Julia Goldani Telles (“Bunheads”) is 18.