Spike Lee Photo by Charley Varley

In his documentary, If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, the follow-up to When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, Lee blames BP for “cutting corners” and causing the biggest oil spill in history.

“There is no industry on this planet that makes more money than the oil and gas industry. It’s obvious they are very powerful. They can tell the United States government what to do, and dictate to the coast guards what to do,” says Lee, who was initially just filming a follow-up piece to Hurricane Katrina when the oil disaster struck on April 20th.

“This film is trying to tell what has happened in the last five years since August 29th, 2005, so therefore, we have to include the biggest oil disaster in the history of the world. We just went out and made more trips to New Orleans. It changed the structure,” he adds.

In the four-hour, two-part documentary, Lee is not only outraged about the oil giant’s drilling, but upset that President Barack Obama “showed little emotion,” calling the president’s actions “too laid back.”

“The government response to the BP oil disaster was much better than the Bush response to Hurricane Katrina, but I think the people in Louisiana wished they would have seen a little more emotion from him because I know he cares, but his persona is too laid back and cool, so he looked like he didn’t care. You have fisherman whose livelihood has been completely wiped out. BP is not God. F*** BP. It was due to greed that the rig blew up, because they were glossing over safety procedures, and now 11 people are dead. Every time you cut corners, it’s going to come back and bite your ass!” slams the filmmaker.

Featuring personal stories from residents in Houston, where an estimated 150,000 New Orleans evacuees remain, the film also looks at other areas along the Gulf where rebuilding has progressed.

“Some parts of the city are rebuilt, but a lot of houses in those areas are in the same condition they were in five years ago,” explains Lee, who also references the earthquake in Haiti.

“We thought it was very important to include what happened in Haiti. A lot of people don’t understand the historical significance between Haiti and New Orleans. Plus we had Sean Penn, who was in the middle of the war two days after the breach of the levees trying to help people. He was in Port-au-Prince three days after the earthquake. His permanent residency now is Haiti. I have major love for Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. These are genuine people who care about their fellow human beings and are making a big difference.

With more than 300 people, including former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin, weighing in on the aftermath of Katrina and the oil disaster, the documentary also focuses on the progress and failures in education, housing and population relocation since the hurricane.

“This thing is still playing out,” continues Lee, “we knew when we finished the first film that the story wasn’t over. It was clear it would take a long time for the city to get back on its feet, and I’m proud HBO has given me the opportunity to tell the stories of these great Americans. I still don’t believe the oil is all gone,” says Lee, who also briefly touches on the impact the oil industry has had all over the world, particularly in Nigeria, which is one of the world’s largest oil exporters.

“A lot of the gas and oil we use comes from this region. It affects us all and films like this will make people connect the dots. This is all about big, big money. A bigger point, which comes up in the film is that we have to get off our addiction to fossil fuel and start recycling. That’s one of the reasons why we gave Brad Pitt love in this film. He’s just a private citizen with a lot of money and connections, but he is building solar homes for people in New Orleans. The big question is why can’t the United States government do that? Why is Brad Pitt doing it?”

As for Tony Hayward, who became a lightning rod for public outrage for saying he “wanted his life back”, and going yachting while the colossal environmental disaster spiraled out of control, Lee has a question for him: “Did you get your life back?”

If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise airs Aug. 23, 24 exclusively on HBO.

Emma Thompson as Nanny Mcphee with Maggie Gyllenhaal as Mrs. Green

Thompson, who returns to this children’s tale about a magical nanny who uses her powers to tame children, is talking about casting friend and fellow actress Maggie Gyllenhaal in this sequel to the 2005 flick.

“I think on a film like Nanny McPhee, it’s vital that you cast people you know are company members. People who play with the team,” continues the Academy Award-Winning actress, who is know for her work in such films as “Howards End” and “Sense and Sensibility. “It’s bliss working with someone you are close to. It’s always much easier than working with someone you are not close to, or you don’t like. Maggie was so fantastic with the kids and really did mother them.”

In this wonderful family movie, scripted by Thompson, Nanny McPhee, this time, appears at the door of Mrs. Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a young mother who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. Mrs. Green is at the end of her rope. Her three children are constantly fighting each other, her husband, Rory (Ewan McGregor), is away at war and hasn’t been heard from, and her brother in-law is pressuring her to sell the farm. To add to her existing woes, her posh niece and nephew have been sent to the farm for an unlimited time, and are not getting along with their cousins. She is trying in vain to stop the feuding when she hears a knock on the door, and opens it to reveal the unsettling figure of Nanny McPhee, who quickly takes control of the Green household. Aided by a magical walking stick, and relying on everything from a flying motorcycle and a stature that comes to life to a tree-climbing piglet, the loving but stern McPhee uses her magic to teach the children several lessons. As the children begin to discover McPhee’s magical powers, they soon realize that she is no ordinary nanny.

“She’s a bit like Batman in that she has her magic powers, and can operate in whatever way she deems necessary for the situation,” says Thompson. “I wanted her to visit a family in which the dad was away at war, and the mother was home trying to hold everything together. New problems for the children and new problems for the parents, and five new lessons for Nanny McPhee to teach,” continues Thompson who covers all the well-trodden bases of children’s entertainment in this family fantasy-comedy.

A magical tale perfect for the family to enjoy together, this mischievous, warmhearted flick, which is loosely adapted from the Nurse Matilda books by Christianna Brand, is a clever charming fantasy which every age will love.

Gina Yashere

The Afro-Brit (Nigerian and British), who broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearance on NBC’s Last Comic Standing has wowed audiences with TV appearances, and shows which include her own 1 hour Comedy Special “Skinny B*tch” on Showtime, The Jay Leno Show, and The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

One of the funniest women in the business, she has also appeared in the stage play, “The Vagina Monologues,” and the movie “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.” Now an L.A. resident, Yashere, who has consistently proven to deliver wit at its best, is sure to entertain with her infectious personality and cheeky observations when she performs at the Hollywood Improv on Tuesday July 27th.

For more information visit: http://www.laughstub.com/improv/buy.cfm?id=17272

Minott (MY’-naht) died Saturday at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, his wife Maxine Stowe said Sunday. She did not disclose the cause of death.

Two months ago, Minott had canceled performances in Canada after suffering chest pains.

Born in Kingston in May 1956, the singer, whose real name was Lincoln Barrington Minott, launched his musical career as a youngster in the late 1960s as a member of the African Brothers reggae trio.

He started a successful solo career in the 1970s, gaining a following in Jamaica’s dancehalls with songs like “Vanity” and “Mr. DC” while recording for the famed Studio One, the Caribbean island’s first black-owned music studio.

In 1981, he had his biggest hit with a cover of the Jackson Five’s “Good Thing Going,” which reached No. 4 in the United Kingdom’s singles chart in March of that year.

Minott was known for nurturing young talent with his own Black Roots record label and Youthman Promotion company. Reggae and dancehall artists such as Junior Reid and Tenor Saw began their careers under his tutelage.

“Sugar Minott was a man who gave a lot of strength to the music although he got no love from the business,” Reid said.

A new Album from Minott, “New Day,” is scheduled to be released in coming weeks.

Stowe said funeral arrangements had not yet been made.

CARSON – The LA Galaxy will return to the Rose Bowl for the second time in as many years to take on Spanish power Real Madrid on Saturday, August 7.

The game, presented by Pechanga Resort & Casino, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and replaces the Galaxy’s previously scheduled friendly against Inter Milan, which the clubs have mutually agreed to look to re-schedule in the future.

“While we were looking forward to playing Inter Milan, we are very pleased to be able to bring our fans a game against one of the world’s biggest clubs, one that features a host of the world’s top players in Real Madrid,” said Tom Payne, LA Galaxy President of Business Operations.

“Many fans will remember Madrid’s last visit to Los Angeles when the teams played in front of a capacity crowd at The Home Depot Center in 2005, and now we will be hosting them at the historic Rose Bowl in what will prove to be another memorable game for soccer fans throughout Southern California.”

This game is included in all Galaxy full season ticket plans as Bonus Game C. All season seat holders will receive new tickets in the mail for this game within the coming weeks. Additionally, all fans who purchased tickets for the friendly against Inter Milan will be issued new tickets for the game against Real Madrid or receive a full refund.

A special ticket pre-sale is underway now for all current Galaxy ticket plan holders wishing to add additional tickets at a discounted price to the game against Real Madrid. Additionally, fans who wish to purchase a 2010 full season seat or mini-plan that includes the friendly with Real Madrid can do so at this time.

Tickets are also on sale now to the general public as part of a special two-game pack starting at $46 that includes the Galaxy’s July 4^th showcase against Seattle Sounders FC. That game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will feature a postgame fireworks extravaganza, which is powered by 104.3 MYfm. Single game tickets will go on sale at a future date.

A nine-time European champion, and 31-time champion of Spain’s La Liga, Real Madrid finished second in Spain’s La Liga this season just three points behind league champion, Barcelona, despite losing just four times all season long. In late May, the club named two-time Champions League winner Jose Mourinho as the club’s new head coach.

He is expected to lead his full roster of international stars, including 2007 FIFA Player of the Year Kaka, 2008 FIFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, Dutch midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart, Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain, Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas and many others to Southern California.

Ten of Real’s current squad are currently playing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, while another three have played in a previous World Cup.   The Galaxy, who first played Real Madrid on July 18, 2005 at The Home Depot Center, with Madrid claiming a 2-0 victory, will return to the Rose Bowl for the second time in as many years.

The club’s home stadium from 1996-2002, the Galaxy lost 2-1 to Barcelona in front of 93,137 in their return to the stadium last August.   The match against Real Madrid will be the Galaxy’s fourth international friendly played this year.

They played to a 0-0 draw with CD Aguila of El Salvador on March 21 and defeated Boca Juniors of Argentina 1-0 on May 23 at The Home Depot Center. LA also defeated Puntarenas FC of Costa Rica 1-0 at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif. on March 10.

For more information about this game or to purchase tickets, please contact the Galaxy by calling 1-877-3GALAXY (342-5299) or by visiting www.lagalaxy.com.

USA Healthcare

GRAND ISLE, La. (AP) _ The mind-boggling news that the oil leak at the bottom of the sea may be twice as big as previously thought could have major repercussions for both the environment and BP’s financial health, killing more marine life and dramatically increasing the amount the company must pay in fines and damages.

Scientists now say the blown-out well could have been spewing as much as 2 million gallons of crude before a cut-and-cap maneuver started capturing some of the flow, meaning more than 100 million gallons may have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico since the start of the disaster in April. That is more than nine times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, previously the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

The larger estimates, while still preliminary and considered a worst-case scenario, could contribute to breathtaking liabilities against BP. Penalties can be levied against the company under a variety of environmental protection laws, including fines of up to $1,100 under the Clean Water Act for each barrel of oil spilled.

Based on the maximum amount of oil possibly spilled to date, that would translate to a potential civil fine for simple discharge alone of $2.8 billion. If BP were found to have committed gross negligence or willful misconduct, the civil fine could be up to $4,300 per barrel, or up to $11.1 billion.

“It’s going to blow the record books up,” said Eric Schaeffer, who led the Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement office from 1997 to 2002.

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Flash Floods Kill at Least 20 People in Arkansas, Many of Them Campers

CADDO GAP, Ark. (AP) _ Floodwaters that rose as swiftly as 8 feet an hour rushed into a remote Arkansas valley early Friday, killing at least 20 people, many of them campers who became trapped by a devastating wall of water. Dozens more were missing and feared dead.

Heavy rains caused the normally quiet Caddo and Little Missouri rivers to climb out of their banks during the night. Around dawn, floodwaters barreled through the Albert Pike Recreation Area, a 54-unit campground in the Ouachita National Forest that was packed with vacationing families who were probably still asleep when their tents began to fill with water.

The water poured through the valley with such force that it overturned RVs, peeled asphalt off roads, and swept away tents and their occupants.

Two dozen people were hospitalized. Authorities rescued 60 others.

Marc and Stacy McNeil of Marshall, Texas, survived by pulling their pickup truck between two trees and standing in the bed in waist-deep water.

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Barraged With Cries of `Murderer,’ Van der Sloot Taken to Prison on First-Degree Murder Charge

LIMA, Peru (AP) _ Angry Peruvian onlookers shouted “Disgrace!” and “Murderer” at Joran van der Sloot on Friday after a judge ordered him jailed on first-degree murder and robbery charges in the violent killing of a 21-year-old Lima woman.

Prosecutors said the Dutchman, who was taken to a segregated block of an eastern Lima prison, acted with “ferocity and great cruelty” in killing business student Stephany Flores in his hotel room after they met playing poker.

Van der Sloot remains the lone suspect in the 2005 disappearance of U.S. teen Natalee Holloway on the Caribbean resort island of Aruba, and Peru’s criminal police chief says the defendant told interrogators he knows where her body is.

Aruba’s attorney general, Taco Stein, told The Associated Press on Friday he is skeptical Van der Sloot was telling the truth about Holloway’s body. He said Aruban officials will decide whether to sent investigators to Peru to question him once they learn exactly what he is offering.

Lima Superior Court Judge Juan Buendia issued a detention order before dawn for Van der Sloot on the murder charge. He was first taken with other prisoners in an armored truck to Lima’s judicial palace, then alone to the maximum-security Castro Castro prison.

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Rescue Boats Heading to 16-year-old Sailor Drifting in Frigid Indian Ocean on Damaged Yacht

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) _ A 16-year-old sailor on a round-the-world journey alone was drifting in the frigid, rough southern Indian Ocean on Friday as rescue boats headed toward her yacht, damaged by 30-foot waves that knocked out her communications and prompted her to set off a distress signal.

After a tense 20 hours of silence, a search plane launched from Australia’s west coast made radio contact with Abby Sunderland on Friday.

Her boat’s mast was broken _ ruining satellite phone reception _ and was dragging with the sail in the ocean, said search coordinator Mick Kinley, acting chief of the Australia Maritime Safety Authority that chartered a commercial jet for the search.

But the keel was intact, the yacht was not taking on water and Sunderland was equipped for the conditions, he said.

“The aircraft (crew) spoke to her. They told her help was on the way and she sounds like she’s in good health,” Kinley told reporters in Canberra.

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Pope Begs Forgiveness for Abuses by Priests, Vows to ‘Do Everything Possible’ to Protect Kids

VATICAN CITY (AP) _ Addressing the clerical abuse scandal from the heart of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI begged forgiveness Friday from victims and promised to “do everything possible” to protect children at a Mass celebrated by 15,000 priests from around the world.

While symbolic, Benedict’s pledge failed to satisfy victims groups who said promises were useless without a clear-cut action plan to root out pedophile priests, expose the bishops who protected them and change the Vatican policies and culture that allowed abuse to continue.

His comments came during a Mass at St. Peter’s Square marking the Vatican’s Year of the Priest _ a year marred by revelations of hundreds of new cases of clerical abuse in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, as well as cover-ups by bishops and evidence of long-standing Vatican inaction.

It was the first time Benedict had spoken of the crisis from St. Peter’s Basilica, the center of the church.

Benedict implied the devil was behind the timing of the scandal, saying the Year of the Priest was supposed to have been a year in celebration of the priesthood and encouragement for new vocations.

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Deafening Noise, Dazzling Color: Africa’s First World Cup Begins Amid National Euphoria

JOHANNESBURG (AP) _ Nelson Mandela would have loved it. The joy, the pulsating music and dazzling colors, the big party to celebrate the world’s embrace of South Africa _ even the scrappy 1-1 draw.

Dashing the hopes of many, the anti-apartheid hero and former president couldn’t make it to the opening of the World Cup Friday. Nearly 92, Mandela is frail, and his family was sent into shock when his 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in car crash on the way home from Thursday night’s gala pre-tournament concert.

But Mandela sent a message, via South African President Jacob Zuma, that the revelers should enjoy themselves. They took it to heart.

From the start of the ceremony to the final whistle of the first match, four hours later, Soccer City was abuzz with vuvuzelas _ the plastic horns favored by South African fans that collectively sound like the amplified interior of a beehive.

Most of the crowd of 84,000 wore the yellow jerseys of Bafana Bafana, the host country’s team, with a few pockets of green _ fans of Mexico, South Africa’s foe in the opener.

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Despite Obama’s Assurances, New Health Care Law Will Force Changes in Employer Plans

USA Healthcare Update

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Over and over in the health care debate, President Barack Obama said people who like their current coverage would be able to keep it.

But an early draft of an administration regulation estimates that many employers will be forced to make changes to their health plans under the new law. In just three years, a majority of workers _ 51 percent _ will be in plans subject to new federal requirements, according to midrange projections in the draft.

Republicans said Obama broke his promise. Employer groups were divided.

It’s more evidence that the law will raise costs, said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. But the Business Roundtable _ representing CEOs of major firms _ saw encouraging signs of flexibility, though it’s withholding final judgment. Some experts believe increased regulation will lead to improved benefits for consumers.

“On the face of it, having consumer protections apply to all insurance plans could be a good thing for employees,” said Alex Vachon, an independent health policy consultant. “Technically, it’s actually improved coverage.”

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Kagan Played Role in Defending Clinton in Jones Sex Suit, But Many Memos to Be Kept Secret

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Bill Clinton’s presidential library won’t publicly release memos and notes Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan wrote about the sexual harassment lawsuit that triggered Clinton’s impeachment.

Kagan was involved in defending Clinton in the lawsuit brought by ex-Arkansas state worker Paula Jones, according to documents released Friday. Clinton’s testimony for the Jones lawsuit, denying a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, led to his impeachment.

The library held back several of Kagan’s memos to Clinton’s top advisers in the case, saying that publicly releasing them would divulge confidential advice. They were turned over to the Senate Judiciary Committee that will hold hearings on Kagan’s nomination, however.

It’s clear from files that were made public that Kagan had a hand in the Jones case. In a September 1996 memo, Kagan writes that she’s been in touch with other lawyers on a brief in the Jones lawsuit and, “I am happy with the direction they seem to be taking.”

Earlier that year, she forwards to colleagues a brief written by then-Solicitor General Walter Dellinger supporting Clinton’s bid to postpone the civil trial until after he had left office.

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Allergic Reaction: Feds May Ban Airlines from Serving Peanuts as Mile-High Grub

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) _ Federal regulators are considering a snack attack on the nation’s airlines that would restrict or even completely ban serving peanuts on commercial flights.

Advocates say the move would ease fears and potential harm to an estimated 1.8 million Americans who suffer from peanut allergies. Peanut farmers and food packagers, however, see it as overreaching and unfair to their legume.

“The peanut is such a great snack and such an American snack,” says Martin Kanan, CEO of the King Nut Companies, an Ohio company that packages the peanuts served by most U.S. airlines. “What’s next? Is it banning peanuts in ballparks?”

Twelve years after Congress ordered it to back off peanuts, the U.S. Transportation Department gave notice last week that it’s gathering feedback from allergy sufferers, medical experts, the food industry and the public on whether to ban or restrict in-flight peanuts.

The peanut proposals were listed in an 84-page document including several other proposed consumer protections for air travelers. Three options were given: banning serving of peanuts on all planes; prohibiting peanuts only when an allergic passenger requests it in advance; or requiring an undefined “peanut-free zone” flight when a passenger asks for one.

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Nebraska asks Big Ten for Membership, Confident it Will Be Accepted in Another Blow to Big 12

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ Nebraska fans accustomed to making road trips to Columbia, Mo., better get ready to reset their GPS units for Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska made it official Friday and applied for membership in the Big Ten Conference, a potentially crippling blow to the Big 12 and the biggest move yet in an offseason overhaul that will leave college sports looking much different by this time next year.

Chancellor Harvey Perlman disclosed the plan during a meeting of the university’s Board of Regents, proposing that play in the new conference begin in 2011 after one more year in the Big 12.

The move offers stability “that the Big 12 simply cannot offer,” Perlman said, and the regents unanimously approved a resolution supporting a move to the Big Ten.

Nebraska must be accepted by Big Ten presidents and Perlman said he expected that vote to come soon. The Big Ten confirmed it had Nebraska’s application but offered no timeline for a decision.

As cutdown day approaches for the U.S. soccer team, coach Bob Bradley can sense nerves are increasing for players on the bubble.

“You say to yourself, I’ve been this far. How much closer can I come?” said Bedoya, a 23-year midfielder who didn’t make his national team debut until January. “You’re so close. You don’t want to just not make it because maybe the extra effort wasn’t in there or that extra play wasn’t in there to get you through it.”

Final decisions should fall into place after Tuesday night’s exhibition against Czech Republic, the first of three warmups ahead of U.S. World Cup opener against England on June 12.

Just 23 of the 30 players can dress for the match at Rentschler Field, and only six substitutes can be used. Plans are underway for Bradley to make a televised announcement of his 23-man roster on Wednesday at ESPN’s studios in nearby Bristol.

Bradley’s preliminary roster that began practice May 17 had three goalkeepers, nine defenders, 12 midfielders and six forwards, and no cuts were made as the group bused north Sunday after a week of training at Princeton, N.J. The average for final rosters is 3-8-8-4, and Bradley hopes to reach FIFA’s 23-man limit by the time the team heads to Philadelphia on Wednesday ahead of a weekend exhibition against Turkey.

“It is really important now to get to 23. It’s important for the group that’s going to know they’re going,” Bradley said. “The nerves that you sense at times _ once the decisions are made, a little of that goes away. We can then begin sort of next steps in the team-building process.”

Bradley figures to use Tuesday’s game to test players for roster spots more than to deploy a potential World Cup starting lineup. While he said April 29 that only 16-18 roster spots had been decided, he’s inched up to just 17-19 after watching eight days of workouts.

“It’s going to be a tough decision for coach Bob Bradley to make,” Clint Dempsey said. “Right now, it’s just people are very anxious, very hungry, trying to get on this team. You never know when you’ll get another opportunity. Everybody feels that sense of urgency.”

Since there are only three goalkeepers, all are locks.

Among the defenders, Chad Marshall and Heath Pearce appear to be on the bubble. In the midfield, veteran DaMarcus Beasley is fighting to reach his third World Cup, competing with Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers and Jose Torres for one or two roster spots.

At forward, only Jozy Altidore is assured a berth, but Brian Ching is likely if his hamstring is healthy. Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, Eddie Johnson and Robbie Findley are in competition that remained wide-open when Charlie Davies failed to heal in time from severe injuries sustained in an October car crash.

“It is tough to kind of stay calm,” Findley said. “You’ve got to just focus, stick to the things that you’ve been doing that have gotten you this far, and work hard.”

The Czech Republic thumped the U.S. 3-0 in the Americans’ 2006 World Cup opener. Jan Koller, the 6-foot-71/2-inch forward who scored five minutes in, retired from the national team after the 2008 European Championship. And Tomas Rosicky, who scored the other two goals, didn’t make the trip following an injury filled season with Arsenal. Galatasaray forward Milan Baros also didn’t accompany the team.

While it’s just an exhibition, some players know whether they’re on the plane Sunday from Washington Dulles International Airport depends on their performance.

“Tomorrow’s a really important game for the fringe guys like me,” said Bedoya, who used to play at Boston College.

But they also are looking ahead. Before Monday’s training session in the brilliant spring sunshine, players watched a little of England’s 3-1 exhibition victory over Mexico at Wembley on television.

“As we were passing through the lobby, everyone ended up watching I think at one point,” midfielder Stuart Holden said. “No many how many times you see them, you can always watch more.”

By having 30 players around instead of 23, players realize the coaching staff is watching them at all times.

“I think it creates a good competitiveness,” Holden said. “Sometimes, you come into camps and the first couple days are slow. This one, everyone was coming in flying from the get-go.”

L to R: Bill Clinton,Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Bloomberg, Robert Iger, Mia Hamm and Robert Kraft

The former president will serve as honorary chairman of the nation’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. The United States submitted the paperwork for the bid to FIFA last week; hosts for each tournament will be selected Dec. 2.

“We now have seven months of hard work ahead,” Clinton said after raising a jersey with his name and the number 11 on it at FC Harlem Field at the Children’s Aid Society. “The passion for soccer has never been more visible.”

Clinton joins New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former U.S. women’s star Mia Hamm among the members of the board of directors for the bid committee.

Clinton was in office when the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup and the 1999 Women’s World Cup, attending games at both events.

“At the 1994 World Cup opener in Soldier Field, I was the first president to watch a World Cup game on U.S. soil,” he recalled. “I was grateful to have the chance to be the president during a World Cup.”

Adding that the ‘94 tournament resulted in a $50 million surplus for U.S. Soccer and for the event’s organizers, Clinton mentioned how profitable a future World Cup in the United States could be. Because each of the 18 cities that would stage games has a large stadium _ average capacity would be more than 76,000, which no country currently can match _ and is home to large contingents of football fans who root for other nations, the projected economic stimulus is $400-$600 million per city. A record 5 million tickets could be sold for about $1 billion in tickets revenues. An overall economic impact of $5 billion is reachable, according to the bid committee.

But Clinton stressed other issues as highlights of the U.S. bid, particularly the 12 percent of Americans who are foreign born and provide a solid base of fans for whatever teams make the tournament.

Most significant, he said, is the effect the sport has throughout the world.

“Soccer is a metaphor for the way the world should work in the 21st century,” Clinton said. “What we have in common is more important than our differences. We want the world to look more like the world of soccer.

“I have spent much time in countries that are extremely poor, but they know about soccer everywhere. They play, sometimes barefoot on rocky ground with makeshift goals. But they play.

“I’ve seen countries stop fighting because of the game. It’s a sport that brings people together across all lines.”

Also vying for both tournaments are England, Australia, Russia, and joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal.

Bidding for 2022 only are Japan, South Korea and Qatar.

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati believes Clinton is the perfect chairman for the U.S. bid because the former president will take an active role in the entire process.

Clinton already was doing so Monday.

“I hope the announcement today gets a lot of people to sign the (online) petition,” Clinton said. “I think if 10 million people go online at goUSAbid.com and sign the petition, it will be more important than me being named honorary chairman.”

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Ucla former student kidnap hoax

The city attorney will decide whether to file a civil claim against Nancy Salas for overtime, helicopter fuel and other expenses, Sgt. Tom Lorenz said Friday, a day after she turned up in Merced and claimed she had been kidnapped at knifepoint.

The city attorney’s office might determine that it’s not cost effective to try to seek repayment of more than $10,000, he said.

Merced police didn’t take a report and immediately called Glendale investigators, so they won’t charge Salas with filing a false police report, said Merced police Lt. Andre Matthews.

Salas, 22, told friends and family that she was about to graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in sociology to prepare for a career in public health, but detectives discovered that she hadn’t been enrolled since September 2008.

Salas stuck to her story about being kidnapped until she returned to Glendale and police told her that the game was up. Her parents _ everyone_ knew the truth.

“But up until that point she had no idea the extent of the search that was going on, nor did she have any idea that our investigators had unraveled the facade that she kept up for two years,” Lorenz said.

Salas told police she used her baby-sitting job in Westwood as cover, hung out on campus and complained about midterms on her blog, never letting on that she ran into academic and financial problems at school.

Lorenz said Salas told detectives that she dropped out after her scholarship money ran out and her grades weren’t good enough to earn another one.

She intended to get her act together and return in a semester, but it never happened and she never told her parents. Instead she told her friends about applying to graduate school and continued to show up in a campus lab to talk to her professors.

Salas’ father was recently laid off from his job at a trucking company and her mother cleans houses for a living.

Parents Henry and Joanna Salas were “crushed” when detectives told them their prized daughter wasn’t studying at UCLA, Lorenz said. Her friends from the university and Chevy Chase Baptist Church, who plastered the neighborhood with flyers, insisted that there was some clerical error and refused to believe police.

“They didn’t budge right up until the point that she told us why she did what she did,” he said. Her parents “could care less about the circumstances that surrounded her disappearance.”

Detectives questioned Salas’ younger brother, Henry Jr. Salas, 19, because he said he was close with his sister and proudly told police about her plans for a career in public health. Police wanted to find out if he had helped her plan her disappearance or cover her tracks when she claimed to be at school.

“But he was just as fooled as anyone and she admitted to us that her brother didn’t have any idea,” Lorenz said.

Lorenz said the police department is getting e-mails complaining that they spent taxpayer money on an unnecessary search.

“It’s the cry wolf thing. People are worried that resources were diverted and maybe our PD wouldn’t react the same way that we did in a real case,” he said.

When Salas returned home, there were at least 40 people jammed into her family’s tiny living room waiting to hear from her. She confessed, thanked them for supporting her family and promised to be honest in the future.

“You all see how many people are here. It’s absurd that I couldn’t have the courage to talk with you,” she said as her face crumpled into tears. “Why didn’t I open my mouth? I never thought of you.”

Her friends lingered outside the family’s apartment, trying to sort out their feelings about a friend they loved and respected. They refused to talk to reporters and said the family needed time and privacy to process the ordeal.

The welcome home sign that hung on the door was gone Friday morning. A car parked outside still had a license plate frame that said, “UCLA Mom.”

Juan-Carlos Cruz, one-time host of “Calorie Commando” on the cable television network, was arrested Thursday and booked on suspicion of solicitation to commit murder, Sgt. Jay Trisler said. He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

Homeless people told the city’s homeless liaison officers that Cruz asked them to kill someone, Trisler said. They agreed to help police investigate the alleged murder-for-hire plot.

“They felt confident that they could divulge this information and be treated fairly and be listened to,” he said.

Detectives discovered where, when and how the targeted individual was to be killed and how much money Cruz allegedly offered, Trisler said.

Police notified the intended victim, who was not identified publicly because of the ongoing investigation, he said.

Cruz, 48, is being held on $5 million bail. Trisler said his bail was raised because of information discovered during the investigation.

He did not know if Cruz had hired an attorney. Attempts to reach Cruz were not successful.

Cruz was the pastry chef at Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles, made custom wedding-cakes and spoke about low-calorie cooking at health fairs, according to the biography on his book, “The Juan-Carlos Cruz Calorie Countdown Cookbook.”

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has been under fire since he acknowledged this week that he authorized a lobbying firm to help the government contest the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who presides over a barricaded neighborhood in the west Kingston area that Golding represents in parliament.

Golding has not yet publicly addressed the outcry. The leadership of his Jamaica Labor Party called an emergency meeting for Sunday in the resort city of Ocho Rios to discuss its biggest political crisis since Golding was elected in 2007.

“He is calm and in good spirits and has the full support of the Cabinet,” Information Minister Daryl Vaz said after the Cabinet meeting at Golding’s office.

At the heart of the outcry is the appearance that Golding is helping a man described by the U.S. Justice Department as one of the world’s most dangerous drug kingpins. Coke, 41, is wanted in New York on charges he smuggled drugs and guns between the two countries as leader of the notorious “Shower Posse” gang.

The calls for Golding to resign have come from opposition parties, civic groups and hundreds of islanders who have expressed outrage on Facebook and other social networking sites.

“I think there is growing grounds that he no longer has the moral authority to lead the country,” said Peter Bunting, a national security spokesman for the main opposition party, the People’s National Party.

The human rights group Jamaicans for Justice said Golding should quit because he has abused citizens’ trust and hurt the country’s international standing.

“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the nexus of politics and criminality and the deception and moral degradation that this engenders. To do so risks the capture of our democracy by criminal elements and would fail Jamaica, our children and history,” the group said in a statement.

Gang leaders in Jamaica have loose allegiances to both major parties dating to the 1970s, when political factions provided guns to intimidate elections rivals.

Since the U.S. revealed an indictment of Coke last August, Golding has led opposition to the extradition request, claiming evidence was illegally obtained. His stance has strained relations with Washington, which earlier this year questioned Jamaica’s reliability as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking.

It became a full-blown scandal on the Caribbean island of 2.8 million people after Golding told parliament Tuesday that he authorized his party to pursue a lobbying contract with the Los Angeles-based firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Golding, who denied any government role in the contract, said he acted in his capacity as party chief, not prime minister.

Golding said the $50,000 paid to the law firm came from party donors and not Coke.

Coke is accused of leading a gang that sold marijuana and crack cocaine in New York and elsewhere and funneled profits and weapons back to his stronghold in the Tivoli Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, a city with one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere.

A

Information Minister Daryl Vaz says the legislation allows the government to create the Casino Gaming Commission to grant licenses.

He said Saturday that the island’s deputy governor-general signed the bill this week because Gov. General Sir Patrick Allen was on vacation.

Allen is a former leader of a Seventh-day Adventist Church and opposed the bill.

Jamaica currently has a few hundred slot machines at hotels in Kingston and tourist areas.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has said that companies seeking a gambling license need to invest a minimum of $1.5 billion and build a hotel with at least 2,000 rooms.

In the last match on Saturday, May 8^th at Qwest Field, the LA Galaxy continued their march up the Western Conference with a convincing win, 4-0 against the Seattle Sounders.  LA went to Seattle where they had never won at Qwest Field.  Indeed, they shocked the 37,000 fans who came to watch their beloved Sounders.

For the first 20 minutes into the game, Seattle was aggressive and they had the fans behind them.  They seemed to have better possessions and scoring opportunities, but did not take advantage.  All four players who scored for the Galaxy recorded their first goal of the season.

The Galaxy took the lead in the 2nd minute.  Galaxy Forward Jovan Kirovski took a cross ball from Michael Stephens and blazed a right foot cross pass veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller.  Kirvoski made his first start of the season.

Although the Galaxy were in front, they should not be happy with how the 1st half went. They were off to a slow start, but brought their ‘A’ game in the 2nd half.  The Galaxy  came out with a lot more confidence and scored 3 goals.

Galaxy Defender Omar Gonzalez header off the cross bar and in the box on the 52nd minute was his 2nd career goal, with an assist to Landon Donovan.

The Galaxy got on the board again in the 57^th minute, with a diving header into the box by Defended Todd Dunivant.

Finally, Galaxy ‘skipper’ Landon Donovan scored in the 67th minute on an Edson Buddle cross-pass to the Sounder’s box.

For the 1st month of the season, it was all Buddle, now the Galaxy have scoring from the back-line — Jovan Kirovski (FWD), Omar Gonzalez (DEF), Todd Dunivant (DEF).

Galaxy Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made a season-high seven saves in the game for LA and now has six clean sheets in eight games thus far in the season.

Colorado Rapids Wednesday, May 5th:

Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena made three changes to the team that defeated Colorado 1-0 on Wednesday night, bringing in Bryan Jordan, Jovan Kirovski and Chris Klein for their first starts of the season. They replaced A.J. DeLaGarza, who missed the game because of back spasms, Juninho and Alan Gordon.

Next up for the Galaxy:

The game kicks off at 7:30pm Saturday night (May 15th )  against Toronto FC at The Home Depot Center, Carson, California .

The athlete has requested the B sample be tested, the Jamaica Observer reported, citing unnamed sources.

The athlete was part of a team that won gold in the women’s 60 meters and bronze in the women’s 4×400 relay at the March meet in Qatar.

Howard Aris, president of Jamaica’s track and field federation, told The Associated Press on Friday that he had no information.

“I haven’t heard anything about any failed drugs test,” he said.

Last year, four Jamaican runners admitted to using a banned stimulant before Jamaica’s National Championships.

Yohan Blake, Lansford Spence, Marvin Anderson and Allodin Fothergill were suspended for three months.