NEW YORK — After several weeks in a tryout role, the Rev. Al Sharpton has officially been named host of a weeknight hour on MSNBC.

The program, now called “PoliticsNation,” will air at 6 p.m. Eastern and premieres next Monday, the network announced Tuesday.

In his new role, the well-known civil rights activist and minister will lead a lively and informed discussion of the day’s top headlines, MSNBC said.

Sharpton called the hosting job “a natural extension of my life work and growth.”

Sharpton already hosts a nationally syndicated radio show. He was a candidate for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination that eventually went to U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

The 6 p.m. hour serves as an important lead-in to MSNBC’s weeknight slate that includes Chris Matthews, Laurence O’Donnell, Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz. The network has done a swift reconfiguration in prime time since the abrupt departure of its marquee host, Keith Olbermann, in January. Olbermann took his show to Current TV.

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In addition to being a guest on MSNBC throughout the network’s history, Sharpton has also served as an occasional guest host on several of its programs.

“I’ve known Rev. Sharpton for over a decade and have tremendous respect for him,” said MSNBC President Phil Griffin. “I’m thrilled that he’s now reached a point in his career where he’s able to devote himself to hosting a nightly show.”

Report: No illegal drugs in Amy Winehouse’s system

LONDON — Amy Winehouse’s family says toxicology tests show there were no illegal drugs in her system when she died.

They say the tests showed “alcohol was present,” but it hasn’t yet been determined if it played a role in the singer’s death last month.

The 27-year-old soul diva was found dead in her London home on July 23, and an initial post-mortem failed to determine the cause of death.

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A statement released Tuesday by spokesman Chris Goodman said the family awaits the outcome of an inquest that is due to begin in October.

Levi Johnston too busy to run for mayor, lawyer says

JUNEAU, Alaska — Levi Johnston won’t be mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, anytime soon.

Johnston, who toyed with running as part of a reality show, isn’t an official candidate for the Oct. 4 election. His attorney, Rex Butler, says Johnston is too busy to run. Butler declined to give specifics but says Johnston has a book coming out next month and plans a tour.

Johnston was thrust into the national spotlight in 2008, when Sarah Palin was running for vice president. Johnston was the boyfriend of Palin’s daughter Bristol, who was pregnant at the time with the couple’s child. The couple has since split.

Johnston went on to pose partially nude for Playgirl, and has said his book will set the record straight about the Palin family, with whom he’s had a rocky relationship.

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‘Girls’ creator charged with attacking woman

LOS ANGELES — “Girls Gone Wild” creator Joseph Francis has been charged with assault, false imprisonment and other misdemeanor crimes over allegations he attacked a woman he met at a Hollywood club.

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office says the 38-year-old video king and his driver/bodyguard are charged for a January altercation that began when three women got into his limousine outside the Supper Club. Prosecutors say the women thought they were being driven to their car but were taken to Francis’s gated home, where a struggle occurred. Francis says the women were fighting among themselves.

 


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