Volcano delays musical performers, pro wrestlers
LOS ANGELES — The ash spat out by an Icelandic volcano that has left thousands of air travelers stranded is also affecting celebrities, filmmakers, musicians and even pro wrestlers.
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With almost two-thirds of Europe’s flights grounded, cancellations and postponements were popping up across the entertainment landscape Saturday.
Organizers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., tweeted that some acts were forced to pull out of the weekend event, including British rockers The Cribs and Bad Lieutenant, Scottish rockers Frightened Rabbit, and British dance trio Delphic. It also appears unlikely that British synth singer Gary Numan will make it to Coachella for his slot today.
However, several performers from Europe scheduled to perform at Coachella were already across the Atlantic or had boarded planes before the volcanic cloud forced a rash of flight cancellations, including Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Gorillaz, Muse, Hot Chip, Fever Ray and Florence and the Machine.
Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos! canceled their Friday appearance at the Culture Shock Festival in Purchase, N.Y., as well as their Saturday concert in Hoboken, N.J. Pop singer Mika postponed his Friday concert in Lisbon, Portugal, after unexpectedly finding himself stranded in Paris.
World Wrestling Entertainment spokesman Kevin Hennessy said it was unclear if everyone would arrive in time for Monday night’s scheduled “WWE Raw” event at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Prosecutors oppose Polanski dismissal
LOS ANGELES — Roman Polanski’s victim cannot ask for the 32-year-old sex case to be dismissed against the fugitive director or otherwise impact the case, prosecutors argued in a court filing Friday.
In a filing to the California Second District Court of Appeal, Los Angeles County prosecutors argue that a recent constitutional revision spelling out crime victims’ rights does not grant them the power to determine the outcome of criminal cases. They are also asking the appeals court to reject requests by Polanski’s victim, Samantha Geimer, to have the case heard in another county and unseal recent testimony by a former prosecutor.
Geimer petitioned the appeals court to dismiss the case and make the other rulings in a March petition, arguing that a 2008 constitutional amendment gives victims more input into criminal cases. Geimer’s attorney has argued that the amendment meant his client’s request for dismissal should be considered.
Washington’s library books overdue
NEW YORK — If George Washington were alive today, he might face a hefty overdue library fine.
New York City’s oldest library says one of its ledgers shows that the president has racked up 220 years’ worth of late fees on two books he borrowed, but never returned.
One of the books was the “Law of Nations,” which deals with international relations. The other was a volume of debates from Britain’s House of Commons. Both books were due on Nov. 2, 1789.
New York Society Library head librarian Mark Bartlett says the institution isn’t seeking payment of the fines, but would love to get the books back.
The ledger also lists books being taken out by other Founding Fathers, including Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and John Jay.
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