Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminates Spending Programs
2. Ozzy Osbourne Sues Over Former Band’s Name
3. Rihanna to Be a Witness Against Chris Brown
4. Hugo Chavez Does a Venezuelan Talk-Show Marathon
5. Pop Singer Disses Obama
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminates Spending Programs
Several weeks back Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger warned California voters that if his five ballot initiatives didn’t pass, he’d have to initiate budget cuts that would be “draconian.”
After the measures failed, Schwarzenegger used for his proposed cuts the phrase “beyond draconian.”
Now he’s making good on his description by wielding his red pen and slashing items that have left coast liberals screaming at the top of their lungs.
The most controversial item is the closure of 200 of the state’s 279 state parks.
The parks that 80 million people visited last year will be boarded up at the beginning of the 2009 summer season.
That’s not all. Arnold says that around 235,000 state workers will have to take a 5 percent pay cut; student financial aid will be eliminated; and tuition will be raised.
State healthcare plans will be scaled down or abandoned, including a Senate bill which would have created a state-run system to provide healthcare to every Californian, a program that would have provided medical, dental and vision care to 90,000 children, and a plan to overhaul healthcare in state prisons.
Hundreds of other spending programs have been purged by the Governator.
The reason why? California is a fiscal disaster with a $24.3 billion deficit in a $92 billion general fund budget.
Fortunately, the Golden State can’t just print the money it needs. Unfortunately, that’s not the case at the federal level.
Some analysts have suggested that Arnold is bluffing.
But H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the governor, says the proposals are “not a test.”
2. Ozzy Osbourne Sues Over Former Band’s Name
Ozzy Osbourne is suing his old band mate, Tony Iommi, over the Black Sabbath name.
Osbourne has filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing Iommi of falsely claiming to be the sole owner of the group’s name.
He wants a piece of the Black Sabbath trademark too, and the profits that the band took in when they toured in the 1990s.
The funny thing is, Osbourne is apologizing for bringing the lawsuit, and he has put his “I’m sorry” in writing.
He claims he tried for three years to resolve the matter but it was to no avail.
Guess it’s possible. But then again it’s also possible that, like the rest of us, Iommi couldn’t understand a word Ozzy said.
3. Rihanna to Be a Witness Against Chris Brown
Chris Brown had a bad week.
Rihanna’s former boyfriend released a YouTube video in which he told fans he wasn’t a “monster.”
But then he found out that the upcoming court drama is probably going to tell a very different story.
Prosecutors are going to subpoena Rihanna, and she’ll reportedly testify at a preliminary hearing in the case against Brown.
According to the police report, she’s going to have to give the ugly details of that supposed brutal night.
Brown has pled not guilty to the alleged Rihanna beating, and he’s hired high-profile lawyer Mark Geragos to defend him.
If things go along as expected, Rihanna will be subject to cross-examination by Geragos.
Most celebrity cases end up with plea bargains, but if Brown’s convicted he could end up spending more than four years in the slammer.
There’s no truth to the rumor that Rihanna's working on a new book: “How I Lost 180 Pounds of Unwanted Fat — by Dumping Chris Brown.”
4. Hugo Chavez Does a Four-Day Talk-Show Marathon in Venzuela
Hugo Chavez has a new way to keep his dictator mug in front of the enslaved citizenry.
He’s taking over his nation’s TV airwaves.
The Venezuelan president has had a television show for 10 years in his country, boring folks with his policy announcements, demonizing his opponents (including the U.S.) and even singing with full-throated mediocrity.
Chavez’s program, “Alo Presidente,” usually airs on Sundays but recently ran Thursday through Sunday.
In 2007 His Lowness refused to renew the license of Venezuela's largest TV station, RCTV, claiming it was involved in a coup against him.
Now he’s got Globovision, a station that airs opposing viewpoints to his, in his sights.
Chavez used his recent marathon broadcast to read excerpts from a letter written by his fellow tyrant and buddy Fidel Castro.
Castro complemented Chavez on his media takeover, writing, “Never has a revolutionary idea made use of the media so effectively.”
Makes you wonder who’s taking notes.
Editor's Note:
5. Pop Singer Disses Obama
Leona Lewis just turned her back on an invitation to sing for President Obama.
The British pop star says she's just too busy.
A source tells the U.K. Daily Mirror that the singer was “thrilled” at being asked to perform but “it clashed with her tight schedule.”
Lewis is actually in a Los Angeles recording studio laying down tracks for a new CD, and she doesn’t have the time right now to entertain the first family.
Michelle Obama is reportedly a big fan of Lewis and listens to her first album, “Spirit.”
Could it be that we’re seeing some loyal royal payback?
You might recall that President Obama gave some bizarre gifts to the prime minister and queen of England a while back.
Remember the iPod and the clips of, well, him?
Lewis might think about softening her White House snub.
She could return the British favor by giving the president and his wife a Nano.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.