Former Beatle raises funds to fight cancer

Paul McCartney helped raise $150,000 at a benefit dinner and charity auction for the Garland Appeal, an organization launched last year that aims to raise money for cancer research that doesn't involve animal testing.McCartney's wife, Linda, a passionate supporter of animal welfare, died of breast cancer in 1998.

"My personal experience with this is terrible tragedy, but we're getting on, the kids and I," McCartney said at the benefit Thursday. "We're staying positive about it. One person who wouldn't want us to sit around and moan would be Linda herself." McCartney also has collaborated with several other composers on a new CD, "A Garland for Linda. A commemoration of the life of Linda McCartney."

A copy of the CD autographed by McCartney and four of the composers who worked on the musical tribute fetched $1,000 at auction. Other auctioned items included two tickets to "A Garland for Linda" concert at the Riverside Church here on June 3, which brought $1,100, and two photos of Linda and Paul McCartney, which he signed, that each went for $6,000.

Clinton, Canada chief play golf in Virginia

President Clinton took to the golf course Saturday for a head-of-state matchup with Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Joining them in the 18-hole match in suburban Virginia was Democratic fund-raiser and frequent golf partner Terrence R. McAuliffe.

The White House press office did not identify the final member of the foursome and, as is customary, did not post the scores.

1998 verdict upheld in Cochran libel case

If it doesn't dis, you must dismiss.

Or, as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Friday, Johnnie Cochran wasn't libeled by a New York Post column that said he "will say or do just about anything to win, typically at the expense of the truth."

The court upheld a Los Angeles federal judge's 1998 decision that columnist Andrea Peyser was merely exercising her constitutionally protected right to criticize Cochran's defense strategy in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. The column, clearly labeled an opinion piece, did not accuse Cochran of violating legal ethics or lying in court, the judge said.

Cochran's lawyer, Deborah Drooz, said she disagreed with the ruling but would not appeal further. Slade Metcalf, a lawyer for the Post, called the ruling "a reaffirmation of the 9th Circuit's protection for really robust opinion under the First Amendment."

Movie producer gets Hollywood Walk star

Producer Irwin Winkler, whose films have received 12 Academy Awards and 45 nominations, including four nominations for best picture, has been honored with the 2,157th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Winkler's films include "Rocky," "Raging Bull," "The Right Stuff," and "Goodfellas."

Winkler and co-producer Robert Chartoff won the best picture Oscar in 1976 for "Rocky."

"My idols are Irving Thalberg, Darryl Zanuck and Cecil B. DeMille. These people have stars on the Walk of Fame and my star is certainly a dream come true," Winkler said.

Sylvester Stallone was among the 300 people who attended the ceremony Friday.

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