Racer gets green light

Helio Castroneves can leave the country for an IndyCar event this month in Australia after a federal judge agreed yesterday to modify bail conditions on tax charges the driver is facing. Prosecutors argued that the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner has ample reason to flee, and the assets in Brazil and elsewhere to facilitate such a move. But US Magistrate Judge William Turnoff said he was convinced that "the dumbest thing Mr. Castroneves could do" would be to flee to his native Brazil and not show up for court, given his lucrative racing and endorsement career based in the United States. Castroneves, who also won the 2007 TV "Dancing With the Stars" competition, is charged with conspiracy and tax evasion for allegedly dodging US taxes on about $5.5 million in income using offshore accounts. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $10 million bail. (AP)

A woman accused of stalking John Cusack accepted a plea deal yesterday that will allow her to avoid state prison. Emily Leatherman pleaded no contest to a felony count of stalking. A judge immediately sentenced her to five years' probation and mandatory psychiatric counseling. The judge ordered Leatherman to stay away from the 42-year-old actor, his home, and business for 10 years. Leatherman, 33, was arrested outside Cusack's home in March. (AP)

A publicist for Meat Loaf said the 57-year-old rocker was hospitalized in London for three days following an awards ceremony this week. Publicist Kirt Webster said Meat Loaf was admitted to a private hospital in central London on Monday, immediately after winning Q Magazine's "Classic Song" award for his rock epic "Bat Out of Hell." The reason for the hospitalization wasn't disclosed. (AP)

Academy Award-winning actor Tim Robbins played comedian yesterday while getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "I used to take the bus from here to Burbank to go to work," he recalled. "When the bus was late, I would walk up and down and throw my cigarettes down. Now I have the honor of having this done to my star." Guests included Robbins's longtime partner, Susan Sarandon, and actor Jack Black, who said he has known Robbins for 25 years. (AP)

Angelina Jolie, an advocate of adoption, credits partner Brad Pitt with her decision to have biological children. In an interview with W magazine, Jolie says: "One of the life-changing things that he did, one of many, is that I was absolutely never going to get pregnant. I never felt that it was the right thing to do." She says she changed her mind while watching Pitt bond with adopted children Maddox and Zahara. "He stopped talking about having other kids in the other way," she says in the magazine's November issue. "So I suppose in my heart I realized he was happy with them as his children, completely. I knew he would never see them as different, and that gave me a certain peace." The couple welcomed daughter Shiloh in May 2006 and twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline in July. (AP)

"My parents shut down Disneyland for me, so I'm good for a while."-- Miley Cyrus, celebrating her 16th birthday at an over-the-top Disneyland soiree