'Sopranos' actor acquitted of murder

A former "Sopranos" actor was cleared of second-degree murder yesterday in the 2005 shooting death of an off-duty New York policeman. Lillo Brancato was convicted of attempted burglary. He faces a minimum of three years in prison but could get credit for time served. (AP)

An author claims that Michael Jackson is suffering from a rare respiratory condition and needs a lung transplant, The Washington Post reported yesterday on its website. The report quoted Ian Halperin, the author of a new Jackson biography, as saying the pop star has Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, a potentially fatal genetic condition. Halperin was quoted as saying Jackson "can barely speak" and that "the vision in his left eye is 95 percent gone."

The Phoenix Police Department has gotten some high-powered goodies courtesy of actor David Spade. The onetime Phoenix resident donated $100,000 so that the department can buy approximately 50 AR-15 rifles. Spade said he wanted to make the donation after seeing a TV news report about Phoenix officers having to buy their own rifles. Spade grew up in the Phoenix area. (AP)

"I'm a very good loser. I've actually got it down, I think. I have a formula I could sell." Kate Winslet, who's been nominated for an Oscar five times and has yet to win