CNN: The company behind 'American Idol' has filed for bankruptcy

Related: What the 'American Idol' finale looked like from the inside

CNN MONEY

Core Media Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday, saying it has not yet found a way to replace revenue earned from "American Idol."The show was once a ratings juggernaut and huge profit driver for Fox. It averaged more than 20 million viewers every season from 2003, it's second year on the air, through 2011, according to ratings tracker Nielsen.

It reached a high point with an average of nearly 31 million viewers in 2006, and was the top rated show on television for eight consecutive seasons.

But its ratings fell hard afterward. By the end, it was no longer even Fox's top rated program, losing that distinction to the new drama Empire. 

http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/29/media/american-idol-bankruptcy-core-media-group/

WSJ: Core Entertainment Wins Approval to Tap Lenders’ Cash

Company behind ‘American Idol’ has yet to secure a bankruptcy loan, but is still negotiating with its lenders

“We do expect to sign a restructuring support agreement with those lenders within the next week,” said Core lawyer Matthew Allen Feldman. “We’re actively drafting a plan.”

Core Entertainment Inc., the company behind the “American Idol” TV series, won approval from a bankruptcy judge on Friday to tap its lenders’ cash and move forward with its chapter 11 proceedings.

Judge Stuart Bernstein of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York approved Core’s so-called first-day requests, including paying its employees and its taxes. 
Judge Bernstein speaking to CORE Attorney Andrew Mordkoff

Core, as well as Los Angeles-based 19 Entertainment Ltd., and related companies that own and produce content for the global “American Idol” franchise, and “So You Think You Can Dance,” and “Prison Wives,” sought chapter 11 protection Wednesday night and Thursday morning in New York.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/core-entertainment-wins-approval-to-tap-lenders-cash-1461957551

Ex-Manson family member seeks parole for 1969 murder

AP
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ex-manson-family-member-seeks-parole-for-1969-murder/ar-BBrJDab

CHINO, Calif. — Leslie Van Houten, the youngest of Charles Manson's followers to take part in one of the nation's most notorious killings, is trying again for parole.

 Leslie Van Houten, the youngest of Charles Manson's followers to take part in one of the nation's most notorious killings, is trying again for parole. 
Van Houten took the stand in the 1970 murder trial. Artwork by Bill Robles

The homecoming princess who descended into a life of drugs before joining Manson's cult in the 1960s is scheduled for her 21st hearing before a parole board panel on Thursday at the California Institution for Women in Chino.

Van Houten, 66, has spent more than four decades in prison, completing college degrees and demonstrating exemplary behavior.

She was convicted for her role in the 1969 murders of wealthy grocer Leno La Bianca and his wife Rosemary in their Los Angeles home. The La Biancas were stabbed numerous times and the word "WAR" was carved on his stomach.

The couple was killed a day after other so-called "Manson family" members murdered actress Sharon Tate, pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski, and four others. The killings were the start of what Manson believed was a coming race war. He dubbed it "Helter Skelter" after a Beatles song.

Van Houten's lawyer, Rich Pfeiffer, said she presents no danger to the public and should be freed.

2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Regional & Ebook Results

2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Regional & Ebook Results: Here are the results of the 2016 Independent Publisher Regional and Ebook Awards, presented to the year's best titles published in these important and growing divisions of independent publishing.Listed below are the Regional fiction and non-fiction medalists and the Ebook fiction and non-fiction medalists.To view the National and Outstanding medalists, click the links below.Congratulations to all!

E6. BEST ADULT NON-FICTION INFORMATIONAL E-BOOK

GOLD: The Road to Cuba: The Opportunities and Risks for US Business(Wharton Digital Press)

SILVER (tie): Young Performers at Work: Child Star Survival Guide, by Sally Gaglini (Zip Celebrity Media)

Marriages End. Families Don’t. Divorce Wisely, by Suzanne Grandchamp (Self-Published)

BRONZE: The Illustrated Courtroom: 50 Years of Court Art, by Elizabeth Williams and Sue Russell (CUNY Journalism Press)

Gary Lee- Assistant District Court Executive

Gary Lee with the banner for the 225th anniversary courtroom art show in 2014. Gary was integral to the court art show. 

   Gary Lee  passed away last week. He was 53.
   Gary and his wife Helen were married on October 10, 1999. They are the proud parents of 14 year old twins, Robert and Caitlin. 

Gary was a graduate of Stuyvesant High School and Pace University. In 1984, he was appointed as the procurement officer for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. He later served in progressively more important positions as director of space and facilities, District's budget officer and Assistant District Court Executive. Gary served as secretary to many Court committees, and was a member of many government interagency Committees. He served as coordinating editor of the Court Management and Administration Report from 1990-2009. Gary will be sorely missed by his SDNY family. 
Services: 
True Light Lutheran Church 
195 Worth Street 
New York City (directly across from the Courthouse) 
Monday, April 11 from 3pm - 7pm 
Tuesday, April 12 from 9:30am - 11:30am. 
Sermon will be delivered at 10:30am. 
Condolences may be sent to Gary's wife and children: 
Mrs. Helen, Robert and Caitlin Lee 
53 Peoples Line Road 
Somerset, NJ 08873 

 The District Executive's Office, in conjunction with FEEA, has set up the Gary Lee Memorial Fund, which can be accessed atwww.feea.org/GaryLeeFund. All donations made via this webpage will be designated for Gary and Helen's children, Robert and Caitlin's education.  Donors will receive a customized thank you email that also serves as a receipt for tax purposes.

If donors prefer to write a check, it should be made out to FEEA, with "Gary Lee Fund" on the memo line.  Please send your check to me at:  Elly Harrold, U.S. Courthouse, Room 820, New York, NY 10007-1312.  If you prefer, you can mail your check directly to:  FEEA, 3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80227.