Cool 101.3 ~ Delaware's Greatest Hits


Delaware Unemployment in April Delaware's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.2% in April unchanged from March, but down from April 2012 when it was 7.5%. Sussex County's rate did drop in April down .8 to 7.3%. Kent County also saw a lower rate in April, also 7.3 down from 7.9% in March. According to the Department of Labor non-farm employment was 424,400 down from 300 in the previous month.

Indian River School District has Principal of the Year A Principal in the Indian River School District has been chosen as Delaware's National Distinguished Principal for 2013. Laurel Schneider of Phillip C. Showell Elementary School in Selbyville was announced Thursday during a special assembly at the school. She is in her fifth year as Principal of Phillip C. Showell which has been rated as a "Superior school in Delaware each year during her tenure. Schneider will be eligible for the National Distinguished Principal Award presented by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The National Distinguished Principals program honors outstanding elementary and middle-level administrators who ensure that America's children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement. The program was established in 1984.

Promising Future Leaders Program The Delaware Department of Education is accepting applications for a six-week summer program for promising future leaders who have a passion for education and want to gain hands-on exposure to policy work. The program has been developed specifically for current students, recent graduates and junior teachers as they explore career paths in education and seek exposure to careers in state government. The program begins on Monday, July 1st. You can find more information at Delaware1059.com. This is an unpaid internship. Participants each will lead individual pieces of work critical to Delaware’s policy agenda. They also will participate in weekly sessions with Delaware leaders in state government, district and school leadership, the business community and non-profit organizations intended to develop them as leaders and push their thinking on education issues of national importance. The six weeks will culminate in a presentation of their work and policy recommendations to department staff and leadership. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2013. More information, including details on how to apply, is available here.

Specialty Crop Block Grant Delaware officials are accepting applications for projects promoting or enhancing the production of and access to Delaware specialty crops. The Specialty Crop Block Grant program, funded through the federal Farm Bill, covers products including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. A review team will rank applications for a final decision. All applicants must reside in Delaware or have a business or educational affiliation here. For applications, or more details click the link at Delaware1059.com. Applications are available at de.gov/scbg2013, or from marketing specialist JoAnn Walston at 302-698-4592 or joann.walston@state.de.us. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on June 10.

More on Smugglers A New York man connected to the East Coast cigarette smuggling ring is being held at SCI after he was stopped by Troopers Wednesday on Rt. 1 near Milford. Adel Abuzahrieh of Staten Island, N.Y., is being held on $12.5 Million cash bail. Police say they found 201 cases of cigarettes in the box truck he was driving and seized between $15,000 and $20,000 in cash. Abuzahrieh is awaiting extradition to New York. The two reputed leaders of the smuggling ring, brothers Basel and Samir Ramadan, remain in custody at the Worcester County jail after being arrested Wednesday in Ocean City. Authorities said Basel Ramadan, 42, and his 40-year-old brother allegedly obtained cigarettes from a wholesaler in Virginia and smuggled the untaxed cartons to a storage facility in Delaware.

Two men arrested for auto breakins Early Wednesday morning Ocean City Police responded to the 8800 Block of Rusty Anchor Road when a citizen reported three people tampering with parked cars. When Police arrived, they found two men trying door handles to see if the vehicles were unlocked. Officers confronted the two suspects at which time one of the suspects fled from police. 25 year old Harry Gardner Holmes, III of Clarksburg, MD allegedly assaulted an officer. Holmes was subdued and arrested by an officer equipped with a Taser. The second suspect 22 year old Christopher Ryan Holmes of Clarksburg, MD was taken into custody without incident. Officers located several witnesses and victims and determined the suspects had gained entry to at least two vehicles.

Treatment for aquatic nuisance at ponds During the next three weeks, weather permitting, DNREC's Division of Fish and Wildlife will be treating six downstate ponds for aquatic nuisance weeds that, left unchecked, can choke the waters, crowd out beneficial plant species, and prevent fishing and boating access. The ponds to be treated are: Abbotts Pond and Tub Mill Pond near Milford; Millsboro Pond; Horseys Pond and Tussock Pond near Laurel; and Concord Pond near Seaford. In most of the ponds, the primary target aquatic species is hydrilla, a non-native plant that likely entered the state through the aquarium trade. Signs will be posted in the boat ramp area of each pond on the day of treatment. The only special precaution for residents is a 30-day restriction from the day of treatment on the use of water from the ponds. For more information on the treatment of the ponds, please call the Fisheries Section of the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 302-739-9914. For information on obtaining an irrigation permit from the Division of Water, please call Patty Murray, Water Allocation Section, at 302-739-9945. For more information, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/wr/Services/OtherServices/Pages/WaterSupplyWaterAllocationBranch.aspx. For the permit application, scroll down and click the link to “Short Form.”

Delaware Weekend Events It'll be a busy weekend in Delaware. The Fourth annual "Peace, Love, & Horsecrabs" Festival Saturday from 10-4 near Slaughter Beach at the du Pont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve. Also Saturday, both Laurel and Wyoming have Strawberry Festivals, The Lewes Farmers Market opens from 8-12, it's the 30th annual Sidewalk Sale in Rehoboth and Dewey. Georgetown holds it's Spring into Spring Festival from 1-9.

Vance Phillips' accuser: "I refuse to be a victim anymore" The woman who accuses Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips in a lawsuit alleging sexual assault and molestation says she "refuses to be a victim anymore." Katelynn Dunlap released a statement to Delaware 1059, saying - quote - "this is not about money, but about justice and truth." Dunlap declined to be interviewed for the record or expand beyond her statement. You can read her comments at Delaware 1059.com.. The Attorney General's Office investigated allegations against Phillips after an anonymous letter was distributed last year, but no charges were filed. --- Katelynn Dunlap, the plaintiff in a lawsuit against Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips has issued the following statement to The Dan Gaffney Show on Delaware 105.9 Published here in it's entirety: 05/17/13 "As painful and difficult as it is, I am glad that the truth is being laid out for all to see. While I have diligently sought justice through the criminal legal system, because of the way Vance Phillips orchestrated the events, I am unable to receive justice at this time. I refuse to be a victim anymore. Therefore, in order to seek justice I have chosen the only other option open to me which is through a civil action. This is not about money, but about justice and truth. This is not only about me, it is about all the other women who have suffered and have been hurt as I have. I know that there are other women who Vance Phillips has harmed and I for one refuse to be silent anymore. I implore all those women to come forward and stand with me. You are not alone, so let us stand together. It is time for the truth, it is time for justice and it is time for our healing. He has taken so much from us already. It is time we say, "no more!" Katelynn Dunlap "

Accident leaves Milford pedestrian hospitalized State Police are investigating an accident on Bay Road in Milford that sent a pedestrian to the hospital. According to troopers, a southbound vehicle struck 18-year-old Brandon Williams as he was trying to cross the busy highway near Williamsburg Drive Thursday night at about 10:15 p.m. His injuries are not life-threatening. The driver and a teenage passenger were not hurt. State Police also urge pedestrians to be very careful, especially at night - utilize crosswalks, wear bright colored clothing and reflective material if you have it, and carry a flashlight.

Prosecutors detail OC-based cigarette smuggling operation NY authorities probe money trail in smuggling ring TOM HAYS,Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said Thursday. The traffickers lived modestly and had alleged links to known terrorists, including Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind cleric serving a life sentence for a conspiracy to blow up New York City landmarks. That combination has raised concerns about where the money went. "We know they made tens of millions of dollars but so far we've only found a fraction of that," state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said while announcing enterprise corruption and other charges against 16 people, all Palestinian immigrants. Two reputed ringleaders, brothers Basel and Samir Ramadan, were arrested Wednesday in Maryland. Investigators found $1.5 million — some stashed in black plastic garbage bags — in the home and car of Basel Ramadan, authorities said. Arrests also were made in New York City, New Jersey and Delaware. A yearlong investigation found that the Ramadans and other suspects formed a distribution chain that began with the purchase of mass quantities of cigarettes from a Virginia wholesaler, authorities said. The cigarettes were hidden in a public storage facility in Delaware, where distributors picked up about 20,000 cartons a week for sale at markets throughout New York City and at grocery stores in upstate New York, authorities said. Schneiderman and city Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters that similar schemes in the past have raised money for militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. "This is not the end of our investigation," the attorney general added. "We are following the money. We will work to track it down wherever it went." According to Kelly, one of the men previously ran a business in the 1990s that was partly bankrolled by the blind sheik; another was a "confidant" of Rashid Baz, the Lebanese immigrant convicted of the 1994 deadly shooting assault on a van full of Hasidic students on the Brooklyn Bridge; and a third lived in the same Brooklyn apartment as the secretary of a key Hamas fundraiser and leader in the 2000s. Neighbors of the Ramadans in Ocean City, Md., described seeing a dozen or more federal agents and New York Police Department officers show up at the brothers' homes. The investigators brought one man out in handcuffs and also pulled out a safe, put it on the front porch and used tools to break into it. The neighbors, Charles Mack and Roger Flather, said in phone interviews that one officer turned to them and asked as an aside, "Have you ever seen a million dollars in cash?" The Ramadans were being held without bail pending extradition to New York. The names of their attorneys were not immediately available. The total amount of money involved in the scheme remains unclear. But financial records show the traffickers deposited at least $55 million in proceeds in small banks in and around Ocean City. The Ramadan brothers sometimes showed up at the banks carrying cash in beer cooler bags, authorities said. The scheme cost the state an estimated $80 million in tax revenue. ___ Associated Press writer Jessica Gresko in Washington contributed to this report.

Crusin' weekend underway in OC Ocean City's 23rd annual Cruisin' is underway. The car show features over 3,400 hot rods, customs, classics, street machines, muscle cars and more. Live entertainment, celebrity guests, special attractions, boardwalk parades, manufacturers vendor midway and more. Hours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m through Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m at the Inlet, and 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the OC Convention Center.

Local News courtesy Delaware 105.9


VIDEO: Keough claims Wilmington Grand Prix after three-way sprint After 35 miles and nearly 75 minutes of racing, Luke Keough outsprinted two other racers to claim the 2013 Wilmington Grand Prix Saturday afternoon. In front of a festival crowd on an overcast, but warm, afternoon, the racers went up and down the hills of Market, King, and French Streets in one of the ten Tier I events in the country. The lead changed several times over the course of the race, but in the end it became a showdown between UCI CT: Team SmartStop's Shane Kline and United Healthcare teammates Hilton Clark and Keough. Kline made the first move as they made the turn past the World Cafe Live, but Keough broke out to his right and won by about two to three bike lengths. Clark was able to edge Kline by .07 seconds in a photo finish for second place. Keough, who's background is in BMX bike racing said the hills, especially the finishing one up Market Street is tough. "Obviously you've got this 300 meter drag, it's a challenging course, I actually dread racing it, but I love winning it." The victory was the Sandwich, Mass. rider's third title of the year, after winning races in Georgia and Arizona earlier in the season. Keough was quick to credit his teammates, including Clark, who helped him get to the front. "We keep racing together week after week, and we know how each other ride. It works out really well when it comes out like that." The earlier Women's Pro division went to Kelly Fisher-Goodwin of Alexandria, Virginia who held off Jessica Prinner and Mary Zider for the title.

Votto, Arroyo lead Reds over Phillies Bronson Arroyo pitched five-hit ball over 7 2-3 innings, Joey Votto was 4 for 4 with a homer, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-0 Saturday. Arroyo (4-4) struck out six and allowed one runner to reach third in winning his third straight start against Philadelphia. He was 1-7 in his first 10 games against the Phillies, but has figured them out over the last two seasons. Votto had a two-run shot and walked twice to reach safely six times. Ryan Hanigan hit a three-run homer. Kyle Kendrick (4-2) gave up four runs and eight hits with a season-high four walks in six innings. Kendrick hadn't allowed more than two runs in his previous seven starts.

Johnson powers Rays to 12-10 win over Orioles Kelly Johnson hit a three-run homer and an RBI single, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 12-10 victory over the slumping Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Johnson and Yunel Escobar had three hits apiece in Tampa Bay's highest scoring game of the season. Escobar also drove in three runs and Desmond Jennings added two hits and two RBIs. The Orioles surrendered a season-high 17 hits for the second straight game and gave up their most runs in any game this season. Baltimore has allowed 27 runs and 52 hits while losing four of its last five games. Chris Dickerson hit a three-run homer in Baltimore's six-run eighth inning, but the Orioles' rally stalled from there.

Oxbow upsets Orb in Preakness Oxbow has won the Preakness, ruining Orb's bid to capture the Triple Crown. Oxbow led from start to finish. It was the sixth Preakness victory for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and 15th Triple Crown victory, most in horse racing history. Orb finished fourth. The Kentucky Derby winner was a 3-5 favorite in Saturday's race, but he became another casualty of starting on the rail in the Preakness. Since 1950, only two horses have won the middle jewel of the Triple Crown from the No. 1 post position. Orb's five-race winning streak ended on an overcast, windy day at Pimlico Race Course. The brown colt had not lost since Nov. 24.

Boys' Lacrosse Tournament - Round 2 The top eight seeds all advanced in the opening round of the state tournament which will continue Saturday around Delaware. Saturday, May 18 2nd Round No. 8 Wilmington Friends at No. 1 Salesianum (Baynard Stadium) - 2pm No. 2 Cape Henlopen 16, No. 7 Dover 7 No. 6 Caesar Rodney at No. 3 Polytech - 7pm No. 5 St. Mark's at No. 4 Tower Hill - 7pm Wednesday, May 22 Semifinals No. 2 Cape Henlopen vs. Polytech/CR Sallies/Friends vs. Tower Hill/St. Mark's Saturday, May 25 Championship 1st Round Tuesday, May 14 No. 1 Salesianum 17, No. 16 Concord 0 No. 2 Cape Henlopen 16, No. 15 Charter 2 No. 4 Tower Hill 9, No. 13 Smyrna 4 No. 5 St. Mark's 15, No. 12 Appoquinimink 5 Wednesday, May 15 No. 3 Polytech 12, No. 14 Sussex Tech 4 No. 6 Caesar Rodney 14, No. 11 Delmar 5 No. 8 Wilmington Friends 11, No. 9 Delaware Military 9 No. 7 Dover 10, No. 10 Archmere 9

Girls' Lacrosse Tournament - Round 1 Cape Henlopen along with three upstate private schools have advanced to the DIAA Girls' Lacrosse Semifinals. 1st Round Saturday, May 18 No. 1 Cape Henlopen 19, No. 8 St. Andrew's 7 No. 2 Tower Hill 20, No. 7 Sussex Tech 8 No. 6 Archmere 12, No. 3 Wilmington Charter 11 No. 5 Ursuline 9, No. 4 Polytech 7 Semifinals Tuesday, May 21 No. 1 Cape Henlopen vs. No. 5 Ursuline - TBA No. 2 Tower Hill vs. No. 6 Archmere - TBA Championship Thursday, May 23 Site TBA

Girls' Soccer Tournament - Round 1 Wilmington Charter and Padua are the top two seeds for the DIAA Girls' Soccer tournament that begins Tuesday and Wednesday at Caravel and Smyrna. 1st Round Tuesday, May 21 at Caravel No. 2 Padua vs. No. 15 Concord - 6pm No. 1 Charter vs. No. 16 Newark - 8pm at Smyrna No. 3 Caesar Rodney vs. No. 14 St. Mark's - 6pm No. 8 Polytech vs. No. 9 A.I. duPont - 8pm Wednesday, May 22 at Caravel No. 6 Archmere vs. No. 11 St. Georges Tech - 6pm No. 7 Appoquinimink vs. No. 10 Wilmington Friends - 8pm at Smyrna No. 5 Caravel vs. No. 12 Indian River - 6pm No. 4 Sussex Tech vs. No. 13 Dover - 8pm 2nd Round Saturday, May 25 (Sites/Times TBA) Charter/Newark vs. Polytech/AI Padua/Concord vs. Appo/Friends CR/St. Mark's vs. Archmere/St. Georges SussexTech/Dover vs. Caravel/IR Semifinals Wednesday, May 29 (Sites/Times TBA) Finals Friday, May 31 OR Saturday, June 1 (Sites/Times TBA)

VIDEO: Salesianum's Kelly - WDEL Male HS Athlete of the Week Salesianum lacrosse attacker Jason Kelly is this week's WDEL Male High School Athlete of the Week. The junior scored four goals in both victories over Archmere and rival St. Mark's last week. Jason was quick to point out his teammates helped him achieve the goal totals. "All of those goals, I'm pretty sure, were off assists. My team has been looking out for me, helping me out, and I try to do the same." While Jason makes goal scoring look easy at times, the Sals' star says some research goes into his success. "Knowing the goalie, where he's going to try to save it, you have to try to put fakes on him, look for the open part of the net, and shoot hard." The 2-time defending state champs opened the state tournament with a 17-0 win over Concord Tuesday, but Jason says they've been working hard looking for the "3-peat". "It all starts with pre-season. We've been lifting together and doing things together. Throughout the season we've been playing big games, big teams that help us get ready for the big games at the end." Jason says he's seriously considering UMBC for college, and whoever gets his considerable talents should be happy to know the best advice he says he's received involves teammwork. "Always give the ball up, because it's always going to come right back to you. Just playing as a team, once you start playing as a team it helps everyone flow together and you start scoring goals."

Local Sports courtesy 1150AM WDEL


	Report: Syria's Assad vows 'no dialogue with terrorists' LIMA - Proposed peace talks for Syria would not curb "terrorism" in the country and it is unrealistic to think they would succeed, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview published in an Argentine newspaper on Saturday.�Speaking in Syria...

	Ax hovers over food stamp program as costs grow By Andrew Rafferty, Staff Writer, NBC NewsA heated battle is brewing on Capitol Hill over cuts to the food stamp program, with lawmakers quoting Bible verses at each other and benefits for millions of people hanging in the balance.Nearly 47 million...

	Why sign up for a one-way Mars trip? Three applicants explain the appeal A one-way trip to Mars sounds like something you'd wish on your worst enemy - so why would more than 78,000 people from around the world pay up to $75 for a chance to die on another planet?"I can say I have an ulterior motive," said David Brin, who...

	Obama tries to do damage control <img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653378/s/2c1d11ef/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a...

	Winning ticket for huge Powerball jackpot sold in Florida Do you have the lucky ticket? A winner for the huge Powerball jackpot was sold at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., a Florida Lottery official confirmed to NBC News early Sunday.The winning Powerball numbers drawn late Saturday were 10, 13, 14, 22,...

	Oxbow upsets Orb in Preakness Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes. Thanks to Oxbow's...

	Lucky numbers for biggest Powerball jackpot are ... Do you have the lucky ticket? The winning Powerball numbers drawn late Saturday are 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 with Powerball number 11.Four out of every five possible combinations of numbers were in play, Powerball officials said. The jackpot of the 43-state...

	Plains states on edge under tornado watches Large sections of the Plains states came under tornado watches Saturday as a wave of storms swept through.The greatest threat late Saturday was in eastern Kansas and Oklahoma, weather.com reported, with central Oklahoma seeing a spike on Sunday.But...

	Fed's chairman tells graduates that the best tech is yet to come WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says pessimists forecasting that the economy will not reap sizable benefits from the computer revolution are likely to be proven wrong.Bernanke told a college graduating class Saturday that the...

	Thousands rally in Italy to oppose austerity measures Thousands of people protested in Rome on Saturday against austerity policies and high unemployment, urging new Prime Minister Enrico Letta to focus on creating jobs to help pull the country out of recession. "We hope that this government will finally...

	Will China mediate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process? BEIJING - An official visit to Beijing by Israeli and Palestinian leaders last week has prompted speculation that China may finally be ready to claim its place as a world power by trying to negotiate an end to one of world's most caustic...

	Hofstra student shot in home robbery was killed by police, officials say The New York college student who was shot during a home robbery early Friday was killed by police gunfire, officials said at a news conference Saturday.According to NBC New York affiliate WNBC, Nassau County Police said Andrea Rebello, 21, was killed...

	Should FBI manhunts use drones? US lawmakers debate At Friday's house hearing on privacy and domestic drones, government representatives and civil rights advocates tried to wrap their brains around a drone-filled future.Once drones are a common sight as scheduled in 2015, activists have suggested that...

	Puzzling! Swine flu virus detected in elephant seals off West Coast The H1N1 virus strain that caused a 2009 swine flu outbreak in humans was detected in northern elephant seals off the coast of central California.Scientists say this is the first time marine mammals have been found to carry the H1N1 flu strain, which...

	Chinese spooked by food scandals take action - by growing it themselves BEIJING - Shopping for groceries is a painful process for Tan Yinghong, a mother in her mid-30s.�Just to buy meat, vegetables and milk for her 7-year-old son she has to pick her way through a minefield of possible perils - fake lamb, diseased...

	Car barrels through Virginia parade crowd, injuring at least 50, official says About 50 to 60 people were injured Saturday when a driver described by witnesses as an elderly man drove his car into a group of hikers marching in a parade in a small Virginia mountain town.Washington County director of emergency management Pokey...

	Car barrels through Virginia parade crowd, witnesses say Witnesses in southwestern Virginia said a car drove into a crowd at a parade Saturday and hurt several people, but the nature of their injuries wasn't immediately known.It happened around 2:30 p.m. during the Hikers Parade at the Trail Days festival,...

	'Absolutely staggering': Dozens injured in Connecticut train crash Officials toured the scene of a two-train collision in Connecticut that injured dozens of people and halted rail traffic from New York to Boston on Friday.Area hospitals reported seeing 70 people after the rush-hour collision. Two remained in critical...

	Deadly Greenwich Village shooting possible 'hate crime,' police say Authorities are investigating the overnight shooting death of a 32-year-old man in New York's Greenwich Village as a hate crime after police said the shooter may have hurled anti-gay slurs."This clearly looks to be a hate crime," NYPD Commissioner...

	A 'moral' issue: Vote on lifting Boy Scouts' gay ban divides members Tracie Felker and Joe Marion share a deep passion for Scouting. Each has a son who attained the top rank of Eagle, and each has spent numerous years and thousands of hours volunteering as Scout leaders, promoting Scout values.And that's where they...

	Scientists respond to planet hunter's plight with pointers – and poetry NASA is getting plenty of advice�- and sympathy�- as it assesses whether its Kepler planet-hunting telescope can be revived after the failure of its reaction-control system. The reactions from scientists and engineers range from repair tips to an...

	Teen's invention could charge your phone in 20 seconds Waiting hours for a cellphone to charge may become a thing of the past, thanks to an 18-year-old high-school student's invention. She won a $50,000 prize Friday at an international science fair for creating an energy storage device that can be fully...

	Restaurants fear tough drunk-driving law will be buzzkill for light drinkers Imagine having a drink with dinner at a restaurant only to be pulled over on the way home and slapped with a DUI. That could happen under a proposed plan to toughen the drunk driving laws across the country, and it has restaurateurs alarmed.The...

	Students can't resist distraction for two minutes ... and neither can you Are gadgets making us dumber? Two new studies suggest they might be. One found that people who are interrupted by technology score 20 percent lower on a standard cognition test. A second demonstrated that some students, even when on their best...

	Are Beyonce and Jay-Z expecting another baby? It's the hottest not-yet-confirmed story in entertainment at the moment: Are Beyonce and Jay-Z about to announce that baby No. 2 is on the way?E! Online and other outlets seem positive this is the case, though thus far "sources" are the only place...

DAVID BECKHAM IS RETIRING

David Beckham has announced that this season playing for Paris Saint-Germain will be his last. The 38-year-old released a statement to thank his team for the opportunity but added that it feels like the right time to finish his career.

David said, "If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy. I'm fortunate to have realized those dreams." He continued, "I'm honored to represent England both on and off the pitch...I want to thank all my teammates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from. I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed."

Beckham still has two games left to play this season.

CANDICE GLOVER IS THE NEW AMERICAN IDOL

Last night (May 16th), on American Idol, Candice Glover was named the winner during the season 12 finale.

The show featured many guest performances including Amber Holcomb who performed "Next To Me" with Emeli Sande, and Psy who performed "Gentleman". Kree Harrison performed "Where the Black Top Ends" with Randy Jackson, Keith Urban and Travis Barker and Candice performed "Inseparable" with Jennifer Hudson. Also making an appearance The Band Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, and judge Mariah Carey singing a medley of her hits.

After the nationwide vote, the winner of Idol season 12 was Glover. After her win she performed her single "I Am Beautiful".

TWO POWER RANGERS REFUSE TO TAKE PART IN REUNION

Two of the six actors who made up the original cast of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers have rejected invitations to take part in a reunion episode of the show. Walter Jones, who originated the role of the black ranger, is showing solidarity with former blue ranger David Yost by refusing to sign on.

Yost previously accused the show's producers of harassing him about being gay while he was a part of the show from 1993-1996. Jones released a statement to TMZ saying, "I'm very sorry to disappoint the fans as I would have loved to be a part of it. David, who I still keep in touch with regularly, is a very great guy and it would have been fun to work together again on something we helped originate." Sources tell the website that the show isn't offering them enough money to make up for the way producers treated them during the original run of the series.

The only former star to agree to the reunion has been the original green ranger played by Jason David Frank.

Thuy Trang, who played the original yellow ranger, died in a car accident in 2001.

WADE ROBSON SPEAKS ON MJ ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

Wade Robson appeared on The Today Show yesterday (May 16th) to set the record straight about the molestation allegations against the late Michael Jackson. He told Matt Lauer, "You know I said what I understood and I said what I was able to say. From 7-years-old, from day one of the abuse, Michael told me that we loved each other and this is love, that this was an expression of our love and they he'd follow that up with, 'but if you ever tell anyone what we're doing, both of our lives are careers will be over.' He would call me every day and role play and he would tell me the same sort of things and also tell me then that if anyone ever thought that we did these sort of things, these sexual things, that both of us would go to jail."

Wade added that he didn't decide to take action until he saw a therapist after having nervous breakdown. He said, "For the first time in my life I began to realize that my completely numb and unexplored feelings in relation to what Michael did to me might be a problem and maybe I need to speak to someone about it."

He added that he thinks Michael was a "troubled man" who was an amazing talent but also a "pedophile."

MICHAEL'S ESTATE RESPONDS

In response to the interview, Howard Weitzman, the attorney of Michael's estate told TMZ, "Mr. Robson has adamantly denied under oath and in numerous interviews over the past 20 years that Michael Jackson ever did anything inappropriate to him. He now wants us to believe that he committed perjury at least twice and has been lying to anyone and everyone about Mr. Jackson since the early '90s so he can file a claim for money. Mr. Robson's transparent lawsuit comes nearly 4 years after Michael passed. His claim is outrageous and sad."

Michael Jackson's nephew Taj Jackson also spoke on the interview -- saying that Wade is full of it, Michael helped him get through his own molestation when he was a kid. Taj -- the son of Tito Jackson has revealed that he was molested by a family member on his mother's side. He tweeted, "That is how I KNOW Wade is lying. Because I AM a survivor. I was sexually abuse (sic). By a family member on my mom's side of the family when I was a kid."

He added that Michael "was a support system for me and my mom" during his abuse ordeal. He even tweeted a picture of a note that MJ wrote to his mom, which had an article about child molestation to help Taj. ."

Click here to listen to: TODAY SHOW - WADE ROBSON ON THE MICHAEL JACKSON MOLESTATION ALLEGATIONS

GWYNETH PALTROW SNUBBED BY MADONNA AT MET GALA

The MET Gala may have happened over a week ago but people are still trying to figure out the real reason Gwyneth Paltrow said she had a bad time at the event. US Weekly claims that Madonna may to blame.

Sources tell the magazine that Madonna went all mean girl on her former friend by snubbing her the entire night and then chatting it up with Gwyneth's current pal Beyonce. The magazine also claims that Madge was dropped from Gwyneth's circle of friends and has been hell bent on making her suffer for it.

An insider close to the situation told Gossip Cop that there was no snubbing and that the pop star and the Iron Man 3 actress simply avoid each other in social situations.

EMMA WATSON NOT IN A RUSH TO GROW UP

Emma Watson has been in the public eye since she made her debut as Hermione Granger as a child in the first Harry Potter film and now at 23 years old she says she has never been in a rush to dress like a grown up. She appears on the cover of the June/July issue of W magazine where she discusses embracing a more adult style.

The Bling Ring star says, "I've never wanted to grow up too fast. I wanted to wear a sports bra until I was 22! The allure of being sexy never really held any excitement for me. I've never been in a terrible rush to be seen as a woman."

Emma was the face of Burberry's 2009 Autumn/Winter campaign and their 2010 Spring/Summer collection.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

NINA DOBREV REUNITES WITH HER EX AT CW UPFRONTS: Nina Dobrev and former boyfriend Ian Somerhalder kept things professional as they both attended the CW upfronts in New York City on Thursday (May 16th.) The exes avoided any awkward run-ins on the red carpet and didn't even interact when they both joined network president Mark Pedowitz on stage.

ROB KARDASHIAN IS STILL TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT: Even while fighting off a lawsuit against a paparazzi photographer accusing him of battery, Rob Kardashian is working hard to shed his extra pounds for summer. The 26 year old was spotted on a vigorous hike in Culver City on Wednesday (May 15th) rocking some slimming black workout gear.

MACAULAY CULKIN MAY BE SMOKING HIMSELF SICK: The National Enquirer is reporting that Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin has a nasty habit of smoking around 60 cigarettes a day. A source told the tabloid, "He's put his nicotine addiction into overdrive. Almost every time I see him, he has a cigarette dangling from his lips and is puffing furiously. He's coughing a lot, his teeth are yellowing, and friends and family are worried he's killing himself."

SETH MEYERS OWES JIMMY FALLON A DEBT OF GRATITUDE: Newly announced Late Night host Seth Meyers says he owes a debt of gratitude to former Saturday Night Live co-star Jimmy Fallon for showing that there is a natural progression to go from show to show. Seth said, "I think I owe a debt of gratitude to Jimmy for having gone from Update to Late Night and having shown it's a nice progression, so I'm very happy to be doing it. I think if you sit at that Update desk, you learn how to talk about topical stories, and certainly with the guests you learn to talk to crazy people. Although when you do late night, they're real crazy people as opposed to Bill Hader pretending to be one."

'SCANDAL' STAR SAYS HIS WIFE DOESN'T LIKE HIS SEX SCENES: Scandal star Tony Goldwyn says that his wife refuses to watch the hit ABC show because of the steamy sex scenes between his character and Kerry Washington's. He told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live, "The honest answer is, my wife doesn't watch it. She watched the pilot and thought it was great, but yeah...I don't encourage it."

INDUSTRY NEWS

ANNE HATHAWAY SIGNS ON FOR 'SONG ONE': Anne Hathaway is keeping the music going after winning an Oscar for her work in Les Miserables. She has signed on to star in Song One about a young woman who falls in love with her sick brother's favorite musician. Anne and her husband Adam Shulman will also be producers on the film.

MTV EYEING 'BIG BROTHER'-STYLE SPECIAL FOR 'TEEN MOM' STARS: Radar Online is reporting that MTV is toying with the idea of doing a one-off special that will fix the estranged relationships between the stars of Teen Mom and their mothers. The reality stars will reportedly live in a house with their moms for a week or more while being documented on camera similar to CBS' Big Brother.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON JOINS ROBERT DOWNEY JR. FILM: Scarlett Johansson is set to reteam with her Avengers costar Robert Downey Jr. for a new film from Iron Man 2 director John Favreau. The film is called Chef and follows Favreau as a top chef who hits the road with a food truck venture.

'CARRIE DIARIES' WILL INTRODUCE 'SEX AND THE CITY' CHARACTER NEXT SEASON: Now that CW's The Carrie Diaries has been picked up for a second season, it has been revealed that writers plan to introduce Samantha Jones in season two. There is no word on who will fill the role previously played by Kim Cattrall on the original HBO series.

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