Brown charged

Chris Brown has been charged with two felonies stemming from what police describe as a brutal argument between the singer and his girlfriend, singer Rihanna. Brown appeared in a Los Angeles court yesterday and postponed until next month his arraignment on charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats. The 19-year-old R&B singer remains free on $50,000 bail. A court commissioner ordered him not to harass, threaten, or harm anyone. At the request of an attorney representing Rihanna, the commissioner did not order Brown to stay away from Rihanna. According to the affidavit, the two got into a fight Feb. 8 after Rihanna checked Brown's cellphone and found a text message from another woman. Brown pulled his car over and tried to push Rihanna out, the report says, but she was wearing her seatbelt. Brown pushed Rihanna's head against the window, punched her, bit her ear, and continued driving while hitting her, the affidavit states. (AP)

Brad Pitt was busy in Washington yesterday, holding a secret meeting with President Obama and draining entire congressional offices of their female employees and quite a few male aides as well. The actor met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss his charity efforts in New Orleans. Pitt also met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. (AP)

Robin Williams needs heart surgery and must cancel the remainder of his one-man comedy show, "Weapons of Self-Destruction." The 57-year-old actor needs an aortic valve replacement, his publicist said. (AP)

Peter Tork, a former member of the pop group the Monkees, says he has a rare form of head and neck cancer but that the prognosis is good. The 67-year-old had surgery on Wednesday and will begin radiation treatment after a short recovery. (AP)

Michael Jackson told a crowd of screaming fans in London that he would play a series of concerts there before retiring from public performance. He said the shows in July will be his "final curtain call." Jackson appeared at the 02 Arena - where the concerts will be staged - to announce the gigs. "This is it. This is it," Jackson said. "These will be my final shows, performances, in London. This is it. And when I say this is it, I mean this is it. This is really it." (AP)

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are teaming up to headline a benefit concert in New York City. The former Beatles will headline the Radio City Music Hall concert April 4 for the David Lynch Foundation. Other performers joining the two superstars include Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Moby, and Bettye LaVette.

Pop star Jewel and TV host Nancy O'Dell are dropping out of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." The network says both women sustained injuries during training for the show that prevent them from continuing. Jewel was diagnosed with a fractured tibia in both legs, while the "Access Hollywood" host will need surgery to repair a torn knee cartilage, the network says. Both are still slated to appear on the show's season premiere Monday (AP).