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05:09 PM EDT 11/10/2009

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Ex-Astronaut Lisa Nowak Makes Plea Deal in Kidnapping Case

Originally posted 11/10/2009 04:20PM

Lisa Nowak, the former astronaut arrested in an attack against her romantic rival, has agreed to a plea agreement that will keep her out of jail.

Nowak, 46, was charged with attempted kidnapping after a Feb. 5, 2007, altercation with Colleen Shipman, who was dating Nowak's ex-boyfriend Cmdr. William A. Oefelein.

Nowak admits that she drove from Texas to Florida to confront Shipman about the relationship. Although she claims she just wanted to talk, prosecutors accused her of spraying Shipman with pepper spray in an attempt to kidnap her. After pleading guilty to lesser charges of burglary and misdemeanor battery, Nowak was sentenced to one year of probation and 50 hours of community service. She was also ordered to stay away from Shipman.

In an emotional plea to the court, Shipman described the emotional toll the attack took on her. "She was going to kill me," Shipman said, her voice breaking. "I could see it in her eyes."

Permalink | Filed Under: Crime & Courts

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Babies

Expectant Jenna Elfman: I Still Feel Sexy

Originally posted 11/10/2009 04:10PM

How can an expectant mom stay stylish in her second trimester? Accentuate the positive, says Jenna Elfman.

Wearing a clingy sweater dress that showed off her toned legs, the actress told PEOPLE about her sure-fire pregnancy style strategy at Monday's premiere of Old Dogs.

"I found I’m showing the things that are still intact," Elfman, 38, says. "That helps with my beauty morale. The legs and the arms – those are hanging in there, I’ll show those. That makes me feel like I’m still sexy despite my whole center of gravity being completely altered."

Permalink | Filed Under: Accidentally on Purpose, Jenna Elfman

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Nasty Breakups and Divorces

Shaquille O'Neal's Wife Files for Separation

Originally posted 11/10/2009 03:45PM

When it comes to marriage, Shaquille O'Neal has thrown a brick.

Wife Va'shaundya has filed for legal separation in Los Angeles from the 37-year-old basketball star, court papers show.

In papers filed Monday, Va'shaundya O'Neal cites irreconcilable differences for the break in their seven-year marriage, and is seeking sole custody of their four minor children, ages 3 to 9, with visitation for O'Neal.

Permalink | Filed Under: Nasty Breakups and Divorces Shaquille O'Neal

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David Letterman Suspect Seeks Dismissal of Case

Originally posted 11/10/2009 02:55PM

Former CBS producer Robert Joel "Joe" Halderman – accused of attempting to extort $2 million from David Letterman – appeared in a Manhattan courtroom Tuesday, where his attorney sought to have the indictment against him dismissed.

Defense attorney Gerald Shargel told reporters outside the courtroom, "There was no extortion. This was a commercial transaction, nothing more. [Letterman's] celebrity is why we are here today."

Also speaking with reporters, Letterman's attorney, Daniel Horowitz, said he rejects the notion of a "transaction," terming this a case of "classic blackmail … Dave Letterman is not on trial," he said. "He is the victim in this case."

Horowitz added, "Mr. Letterman is fully prepared to see this through to the end – including testifying at trial."

Permalink | Filed Under: Crime & Courts, David Letterman

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Music News

Britney Spears Weighs In on Lip-Synching Flap – Sort Of

Originally posted 11/10/2009 02:30PM

Despite a recent flap over alleged lip-synching at a concert in Australia, Britney Spears isn't letting the media storm deter her from what matters most: her fans.

"I hear there is a lot of controversy in the media about my show," the singer said in a statement. "Some reporters have said they love it and some don't. I came to Australia for my fans!"

While scrutiny about whether or not Spears's singing would be live or pre-recorded arose last week, it was actually report of fans walking out of her concert that put the singer on the defensive.

"It's the biggest lie I've ever heard," Spears's tour promoter Paul Dainty told The Australian about the reports. "I'm so angry. We can take heat if there's something wrong and people can review shows badly – that's something you have to live with – but to say people stormed out of the show was an absolute fabrication."

Meanwhile, the Musicians Union of Australia released its own statement in response to the lip- synching controversy, saying that concert-goers should be told if they're buying tickets to a lip-synched performance.

Permalink | Filed Under: Music News Britney Spears

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Monday's Dancing: What You Didn't See

Originally posted 11/10/2009 02:15PM

Susan Boyle sings, Sabrina Bryan returns, Derek's costume turns him on, and more from inside the ballroom

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Health

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Son Helps Him Deal with Cancer Diagnosis

Originally posted 11/10/2009 01:50PM

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn't have to look far for advice after he was diagnosed with leukemia. His middle son, Amir, 28, is a third-year medical student in San Francisco.

"He was a real great source for me, just that I can talk to him about it. Being a doctor, he understood what was happening, and gave me realistic viewpoint on it," Abdul-Jabbar said in an interview with PEOPLE. "That means a lot to me."

Abdul-Jabbar, 62, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in December 2008 after having hot flashes and sweats. His blood work revealed that his white blood cell count was "sky high," he said. Now taking medication for the blood disease, he is expected to have a regular life span.

"When the doctor told me I had cancer, I was scared," said Abdul-Jabbar. "My grandfather and my uncle both died from colorectal cancer, my dad almost died from it and I have the gene for it. It's in my family, so I thought this was something else along those lines, but it's not."

Permalink | Filed Under: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Music News

POLL: Who Could Replace Aerosmith's Steven Tyler?

Originally posted 11/10/2009 01:35PM

Only six weeks ago, Joe Perry optimistically told PEOPLE that he and his Aerosmith bandmates were "pretty much counting on getting back together sometime in 2010," once lead singer Steven Tyler recovered from the fall he took over the summer.

But now the guitarist has changed his tune, telling the Las Vegas Sun that "Steven quit as far as I can tell." He added, "We'll probably find somebody else, and then we'll be able to move Aerosmith up a notch."

Perry later posted more comments on Twitter, writing, "Aerosmith is definetly NOT breaking up. One of the members is doing his own thing and said so in the press. That's all I know ... In the meantime Aerosmith is positively looking for a new singer to work with."

Tell us: Who should replace Steven Tyler?

Permalink | Filed Under: Music News, Aerosmith, Joe Perry, Steven Tyler