Urban News

Last Update on March 12, 2010 03:09 EST

TIGER WOODS: HE'S BACK

DORAL, Fla. (AP) -- There are signs Tiger Woods is preparing for a return to golf. But it's still unclear just when that will happen. Two people with knowledge of his plans tell The Associated Press that Woods plans to stay away from golf at least until the Masters next month. Woods has been practicing near his Orlando, Florida home the past two weeks -- and his swing coach was in over the weekend to work with him. There are other reports that Woods plans to make his return to golf at Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational -- where he's defending champion and a six-time winner on a course that is a short drive from his home. Bay Hill is the only regular PGA Tour event that Woods has never missed since turning pro.

TIGER WOODS: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) -- Tiger Woods has not played golf since November 15, when he won the Australian Masters. It was his 82nd career victory. Just 12 days later, he crashed his SUV into a tree near his Florida home. That set in motion a series of revelations that he had been cheating on his wife. In a televised statement last month, Woods acknowledged he had been unfaithful, apologized for his behavior and said he was getting help to be a better person. At that time, he also said he would return to golf -- and didn't rule out that he would do so this year.

TIGER WOODS: EX-WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL MUM ON REPORTS HE'S JOINED WOODS CAMP

UNDATED (AP) -- Sometimes, it seems Tiger Woods' life gets as much scrutiny as a head of state. So it should be no surprise there are reports Woods is looking to someone who has experience in the extreme media spotlight to represent him. Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer isn't commenting on reports he's been asked to help with Woods' return to golf. In an e-mail to the AP, Fleischer said he could neither confirm nor deny he's working for Woods now.

TIGER WOODS: FLA. H'WAY PATROL GETS COMPLAINTS FOR HANDING OF WOODS CASE

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The agency that looked into Tiger Woods' crash last November is drawing criticism for the way it handled the investigation. The Florida Highway Patrol got hundreds of e-mails in the days after the crash near Woods' home near Orlando. The Orlando Sentinel newspaper finds most of the e-mails to the patrol and its umbrella agency criticized the investigation -- accusing officers of treating Woods more like a celebrity than a suspect. Relatively few of the e-mails praised the highway patrol's work. A spokeswoman for the agency says the highway patrol handled the Woods' investigation professionally.

"AMERICAN IDOL": A "FOUR-GONE" CONCLUSION

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Big Mike made it -- but for four more contestants on "American Idol" the news wasn't so good. And so, the field has been whittled down to the final 12 who will compete for this year's title. Among those voted off was Todrick Hall of Texas. He's a dancer by trade whose fate was likely sealed Wednesday when the judges dismissed his efforts as being better suited for Broadway. The other three who were ousted: Alex Lambert, Lilly Scott and Katelyn Epperly. Michael "Big Mike" Lynche is seen as one of the favorites in the final group of 12. The new dad moved Kara DioGuardi to tears on Wednesday with his performance of "This Woman's Work."

DIANA ROSS: HITTING THE ROAD

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- That comeback tour with ex-members of the Supremes several years back didn't go over so well. But Diana Ross is hoping her upcoming solo tour will do better. The concert series kicks off on May 15 in Boston and runs through June 12. The tour will take her through New York; Atlantic City, N.J.; Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit and Los Angeles.

RAY CHARLES: HEADED FOR BROADWAY

NEW YORK (AP) -- From the people who brought us the Ray Charles story in the movies -- Ray Charles the musical. This fall, the musical "Unchain My Heart" is to open on Broadway. Producing the effort will be Stuart Benjamin, who also did the movie "Ray." No word on who will play Charles on Broadway. Jamie Foxx took on the role of Charles in the movie and won an Oscar.

PHIL SPECTOR: LAWYERS LAUNCH APPEAL

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- They are offering a number of reasons. But lawyers for music producer Phil Spector have just one goal -- to get a new trial for their client. Spector's lawyers have asked an appeals court in Los Angeles to throw out his second-degree murder conviction because of judicial error and prosecutorial misconduct. Among the claims in the 148-page brief is that prosecutors used a series of women to convince the jury that Spector engaged in a pattern of threatening women.

DARRENT WILLIAMS: SUSPECT CONVICTED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF NFL PLAYER

DENVER (AP) -- The man convicted of the shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams could end up in prison for the rest of his life. A jury in Denver has convicted Willie Clark of first-degree murder in the New Year's Day, 2007 incident. He was also convicted on the 20 other counts he faced, including the attempted murder of the 16 others in the limousine in which Williams was hit. Clark is to be sentenced April 30. The defense claimed Clark was made a scapegoat by prosecutors.

BARACK OBAMA: SOME OF NOBEL PRIZE $ TO GO TO HAITI RELIEF

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The relief effort for Haiti is one of the groups that will be getting a chunk of the money President Barack Obama won along with his Nobel Peace Prize. The Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund will receive $200,000 -- money that will help the effort by the two former presidents to rebuild Haiti after January's earthquake. Other groups to benefit from the $1.4 million prize are six groups that help kids go to college.

GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 2007, the first rap group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group to receive the honor: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

CHARLIE "BIRD" PARKER: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 1955, saxophone player Charlie "Bird" Parker died in New York of heart failure. He was 34. He's known as the inventor of bebop.

BILLIE HOLIDAY: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 1958, singer Billie Holiday was given a year's probation on a narcotics possession charge. She died the next year of alcohol and drug abuse.

AL JARREAU: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) -- A birthday today for singer Al Jarreau. He turns 70.

MARLON JACKSON: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) -- Singer Marlon Jackson of The Jacksons has a birthday today. He turns 53.