Dr. Sally Ride, the first U.S. woman to travel to space, died Monday at age 61 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. "Sally lived her life to the fullest, with boundless energy, curiosity, intelligence, passion, commitment, and love," says a statement on the Sally Ride Science website, which announced her death. "Her integrity was absolute; her spirit was immeasurable; her approach to life was fearless." On June 18, 1983, Ride captivated the nation when at age 32 she became not only the first American woman but also the youngest American to enter space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. She traveled to space again aboard the Challenger the next year, and was later named to the Presidential Commission investigating the 1986 explosion of the shuttle just 73 seconds after takeoff, killing its seven crew members. Ride worked at NASA headquarters as Special Assistant to the Administrator for long range and strategic planning before joining the University of California, San Diego, as a physics professor and director of the University of California’s California Space Institute. Ride is survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy, along with her mother, sister and other family members.

Second “Person Of Interest” Sought In Colorado Shooting, Attended School With James Holmes

A second person of interest is being sought by Denver police in connection with Friday’s mass shooting that left 12 dead and close to 60 injured.  The identity of the person was not identified because the person has not been charged. Neighbors of the person of interest said SWAT teams and police cars have been in the alley and in unmarked cars in the street. “I woke up this morning with cops still here trying to look inside his home.  At 5:00 a.m. cops showed-up and asked me about (him).” It was not clear if the person of interest had an actual involvement in Friday’s shooting at a midnight premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises.”  Justin Joseph that someone made a phone call or text from the person of interest’s phone threatening violence if James Holmes was not released from jail. Police said Holmes had been planning the massacre for months, stockpiling a cache of weapons and purchasing 6,000 rounds of ammo online. The second person of interest is being sought by all law enforcement jurisdictions, including local, state and federal agencies.

 

Alleged Colorado Gunman's Family Stands by Son

The family of suspected gunman James Holmes said they will support the Ph.D student accused of entering a movie theatre last Friday and not leaving until he had killed 12 people and wounded another 58. Asked if they stand by Holmes, lawyer and family spokeswoman Lisa Damiani said at a press conference today, "Yes they do. He's their son." Damiani said the family was holding up "as well as anyone could under the circumstances." "I think everyone can imagine how they're feeling," Damiani said, "anyone who's ever been a parent." Damiani would not comment on the family's whereabouts or their relationship with Holmes. The spokeswoman said the family had spoken to investigators from California, but had not been contacted by police in Colorado. "No one from the Aurora Police Department has contacted us, or asked for assistance," she said. Through Damiani, the suspect's mother Arlene Holmes wanted to clarify a statement she made to ABC News in the immediate aftermath of the shooting Friday morning. ABC News phoned Arlene Holmes at 5am PST, at her home in San Diego, Calif., according to notes and email records by ABC News producer Matthew Mosk, who placed the call. Through her lawyer, Holmes today sought to clarify the remarks she made in that phone interview. "I did not know anything about a shooting in Aurora at that time," Arlene Holmes's said in statement read by her lawyer today. "He [Mosk] asked if I was Arlene Holmes and if my son was James Holmes, who lives in Aurora, Colorado. I answered yes, you have the right person. I was referring to myself. I asked him to tell me why he was calling and he told me about a shooting in Aurora. He asked for a comment. I told him I could not comment because I did not know if the person he was talking about was my son and I would need to find out." Mosk said today that he awoke Arlene Holmes and informed her that a man, he believed was her son had been arrested in Aurora and asked to confirm their relationship. "You have to tell me what happened… You have to tell me what happened," the woman on the phone said, according to Mosk. Mosk said he told her that ABC News had learned the 24-year-old had been identified by police as the lone suspect in the mass killing in Aurora, Colo and that the details of the events were still taking shape. "You have the right person," was her response, he said. "I need to call the police. I need to fly to Colorado."

 

Brett Favre Returns to Football as a High School Coach

We all knew Brett Favre wouldn't stay away from the football field for long. The man craves the thrill of competition and his love for the game is unparalleled. It's not surprising that Favre is back in action, but the real shocker is that he decided to make his return at the youth-league level rather than college or the pro ranks. Favre is expected to be named the new offensive coordinator at Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove High within days and the move may be official as early as the evening of July 23.

 

 

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Anthony Mackie, and Jeffrey Wright have all signed on to The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, an indie drama about two children who are left to their own devices after their respective mothers are taken into government custody. George Tillman Jr. (Notorious) will direct the script by first-time feature writer Michael Starrbury.

Camilla Belle, Kellan Lutz talking 'Love'

Camilla Belle and Kellan Lutz are in final negotiations to star in Wingspan Pictures' "Love Is All You Need?" Kim Rocco Shields penned and directed the original short and will write the feature adaptation with David Tillman. Set in a world where homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuals are scorned, the original short follows a young girl who is bullied for having a crush on a boy at school. Feature version will include multiple storylines that illustrate the effects of prejudice in a middle-American college town. Belle will play the star quarterback of Sparta U. football team and Lutz will play a fraternity pledge and aspiring sports journalist.
 Just 10 days old, Faith Evangeline Elise Grammar is already a budding sports fan. Proud parents Kelsey and Kayte Grammer took in a soccer game in Los Angeles this weekend with their newborn daughter – the first glimpse of the infant, who was born July 13. Faith spent most of the time nestled snug under a blanket, although she did emerge to be transferred to and from her car seat, and to get a kiss on the head from Mom.
 

Mariah Carey to Earn $18 Million on American Idol

With her new gig as a judge on American Idol, Mariah Carey is set to see a massive payday -- to the tune of $18 million. "Mariah is getting paid $18 million with a one-year option to do Idol, making her the highest paid judge on any music competition show," an American Idol insider says.  Carey's show predecessor Jennifer Lopez pulled in about $12 million dollars per Idol season; Christina Aguilera negotiated a reported $10 million for the third season of The Voice, while Britney Spears will rake in an approximate $16 million for her stint on The X Factor. "As a singer, songwriter and producer, it's going to be fun and rewarding to help find new talent and give back to American Idol," Carey said in a statement. "I'm currently in the studio working on my new album and its first single, 'Triumphant,' which will be out early next month," she added. "I can't wait to channel my creative energy as a part of this show which is a massive global phenomenon."

Cybill Shepherd Is Engaged

It appears Cybill Shepherd has found the one! The Client List star, 62, is engaged to jeweler-turned-psychologist Andrei Nikolajevic. Until her recent engagement, Shepherd – who was formerly married to David Ford and Bruce Oppenheim – ruled out the possibility of finding a permanent life partner. "I never thought I'd get married again," the former Moonlighting and Cybill star tells the paper, adding that Nicolajevic's proposal was, "Very romantic and on one knee." Shepherd three grown children from her previous marriages.


TV NEWS
CBS is staging a Lost reunion of sorts this fall, tapping Ken Leung to guest star opposite Michael Emerson on Person of Interest. Also set to turn up on the sophomore drama this fall is Justified Emmy winner Margo Martindale. This marks the third project Emerson and Leung have worked on together. In addition to Lost, they both co-starred in the original Saw film. Leung will appear in P.O.I.‘s opener on Sept. 27, while Martindale will make her entrance in Episode 2. Details on the duo’s characters were not made available.


Is that a smile we see on your incredibly full lips, Trouty Mouth? Chord Overstreet will be back for Glee’s Season 4 as a series regular.


John Casey is comin’ for ya, Captain Cragen. Chuck alum Adam Baldwin has booked a three-episode arc during Law & Order: SVU‘s upcoming Season 14. He’ll take over sex crimes boss duties while Dan Florek’s longtime captain character is away after having been suspected of murdering a prostitute in last year’s finale. The NBC cop drama’s new season kicks off with a two-hour premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 9/8c. Baldwin will appear in the first three episodes.


Laurence Fishburne has apparently not lost his appetite for the small screen. The former CSI detective is in talks to join the cast of Hannibal, NBC’s contemporary series take on the characters from Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon novel.


Fox has renewed the Gordon Ramsay-produced Masterchef for a fourth season.


Dunder Mifflin hasn’t seen the last of Kelly Kapoor after all! Mindy Kaling — who is relocating to Fox this fall via The Mindy Project – will return for at least two episodes of The Office‘s ninth season. In fact, “I think I’m going to be in the premiere, which I’m really excited about,” she shared Monday during the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour in Beverly Hills.


Desperate Housewives alum Richard Burgi will guest-star in the Blue Bloods Season 3 premiere. He’ll play a Councilman with a checkered past. The cop drama kicks off Friday, Sept. 28 at 10/9c


USA Network has ordered 10 episodes of The Choir, a musical reality series based on the heartwarming program that ran on BBC America. Choir director Gareth Malone will return to make over 10 singing groups across the United States.