Walter Cole, known as the iconic drag queen who performed for decades as Darcelle XV, has died at 92. Cole died of natural causes in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. Cole was crowned the world’s oldest working drag performer in 2016 by the Guinness Book of World Records. Darcelle was known for hosting the longest-running drag show on the U.S. West Coast. Off-stage, Cole championed LGBTQ+ rights and charitable work in the Portland community. The nightclub Darcelle founded more than 50 years ago said on Facebook that its shows will go on as scheduled.

Gwyneth Paltrow has testified about a 2016 ski collision at a Utah ski resort where a man is suing her, saying he's since suffered from broken ribs and brain damage. Paltrow says Friday that the 76-year-old Utah man is the culprit for the collision at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, and her legal team has raised questions about the man's motivations to bring a suit that could exploit her fame. After a judge threw out an earlier $3.1 million dollar lawsuit, the man is now seeking at least $300,000. In a counterclaim, Paltrow is seeking a symbolic $1 and attorney fees.

It was the stuff of novels: For years, a con artist plagued the publishing industry, impersonating editors and agents to pull off hundreds of literary heists. But the manuscripts obtained from high-profile authors were never resold or leaked, rendering the thefts all the more perplexing. Thursday's sentencing of Filippo Bernardini in Manhattan federal court brought the saga to an end and, with it, finally some answers. After pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in January, Bernardini was sentenced to time served, avoiding prison. In a letter to the judge, Bernardini apologized and said he longed to feels part of the publishing world.

A former contestant on the long-running television game show “Family Feud” has been charged with first-degree murder and home invasion in the slaying of his estranged wife in western Illinois. Court records show that 39-year-old Timothy Bliefnick pleaded not guilty Friday at his arraignment. KHQA-TV reports that Bliefnick was indicted Thursday. The body of 41-year-old Rebecca Bliefnick was found in February by a family member inside her Quincy home. She had been shot multiple times. Timothy Bliefnick was arrested March 13. The television station reports from court records that the couple was separated and going through divorce proceedings. KHQA reported that in 2020 Timothy Bliefnick and several of his family members appeared on ABC’s “Family Feud.”

Reese Witherspoon and her husband say they are divorcing after nearly 12 years of marriage. Witherspoon and her husband, Hollywood agent Jim Toth, announced their breakup Friday in a joint statement on Instagram. Their wedding anniversary is Sunday. Witherspoon and Toth have one son together and they said he remains their biggest priority, asking for privacy. Witherspoon's representative confirmed the statement's authenticity. No records of a divorce filing could be found in Los Angeles Superior Court. Witherspoon was previously married to Ryan Phillippe and the actors have two children together.

From Lana Del Rey's latest album to the new spy thriller series “The Night Agent,” here's a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.

A Florida charter school principal has been forced to resign after a parent complained sixth graders were exposed to pornography during a lesson on Renaissance art that included Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that the principal, Hope Carrasquilla, of Tallahassee Classical School resigned this week after an ultimatum from the school board’s chairman. Carrasquilla said one parent complained the material was pornographic and two other parents said they wanted to be notified of the lesson before it was given to their children. The instruction also included Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” painting and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.”

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.

The specter of missing GoPro camera footage documenting the 2016 ski collision between Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired optometrist has been raised at trial in Park City. The daughter of a man suing Paltrow has testified Thursday that her father Terry Sanderson's health and cognitive function deteriorated after the collision, when he broke his ribs and suffered from a concussion. Paltrow has claimed that Sanderson was actually the culprit for the collision, and her attorneys also questioned the daughter about her father's mentions of Paltrow's wealth and celebrity. Paltrow is likely to be called to testify Friday or early next week.

Unions for service workers at Walt Disney World have reached a tentative deal with the company that would raise the starting minimum wage from $15 to $18. Disney World service workers who are in the six unions that make up the Service Trades Council Union coalition planned to vote on the contract proposal next Wednesday. They rejected an earlier offer last month. The agreement reached Thursday covers around 45,000 service workers at the Disney theme park resort outside Orlando. Union leaders say workers could see their hourly wages rise between $5.50 and $8.60 an hour by the end of the five-year contract, if it’s approved.

Seven law enforcement officers have sued rap artist Afroman. They are accusing him of improperly using footage from a police raid on his Ohio home last year in his music videos. Four deputies, two sergeants and a detective with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office brought the suit earlier this month. Other law enforcement officers who were involved in the raid are not named as plaintiffs. The plaintiffs say the rapper used footage of their faces from the August 2022 raid in music videos and social media posts without their consent. They say that has caused them “emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation."

NEW YORK (AP) — Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022, according to a new report from the American Library Association released Thursday.

The soap opera “The Young and the Restless” celebrates its 50th anniversary this month as the No. 1 daytime drama for 35 consecutive years. Created by the late William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, “The Young and the Restless” concerns the goings-on of several Midwestern families. Among the cake-flinging food fights and evil twins, there have also been important firsts — it aired the first live facelift on TV, became the first daytime drama character to have a mastectomy and, perhaps most importantly, it welcomed leading Black actors in the 1980s before many other soaps.

No one is objecting to a settlement agreement to resolve allegations of workplace safety violations in the 2021 shooting death of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of a Western movie. After a 20-day vetting period with no objections, the agreement between New Mexico workplace safety regulators and Rust Movie Productions has been finalized along with a $100,000 fine against the company that bankrolled the movie “Rust.” Environment Department spokesman Matthew Maez confirmed Tuesday the conclusion of the state's workplace safety probe. Separately, Baldwin and a weapons supervisor have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

California prosecutors have dropped domestic violence charges against Justin Roiland, who created the animated series “Rick and Morty” and provided the voices of the show’s two title characters. Orange County district attorney’s spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said Wednesday that the two felony counts involving a former girlfriend of Roiland’s were dropped “due to a lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.” Roiland said on Twitter that he has always known the charges were false and would be dismissed, and that he's disappointed so many were quick to judge him. He was dropped from the animated series when the charges were reported in January.

Doctors testified on the second day of trial in Utah, where Gwyneth Paltrow is accused of crashing into a skier at Deer Valley Resort, leaving him concussed and with four broken ribs. A radiologist testified Wednesday morning that the ski collision left 76-year-old Terry Sanderson with lasting injuries including brain damage. A neuropsychologist told jurors the crash caused Sanderson to rapidly deteriorate. Paltrow, an actor-turned-wellness tycoon, has vehemently denied the allegations and has filed a symbolic $1 countersuit alleging that the man suing her was responsible. Paltrow may testify Thursday, but likely will take the stand Friday.

Actress Lindsay Lohan, rapper Akon and several other celebrities have agreed to pay tens of thousands of dollars to settle claims they promoted crypto investments to their millions of social media followers without disclosing they were being paid to do so. Lohan, Akon, recording artists Ne-Yo, and Lil Yachty, boxer and internet personality Jake Paul, and adult film performer Michele Mason, all agreed to pay more than $400,000 combined to settle the claims. That's according to the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday. Two others, rapper Soulja Boy and pop singer Austin Mahone, did not reach a settlement. The SEC claims the celebrities were paid to promote Tronix and BitTorrent, crypto asset securities that were illegally offered for sale.

For over 20 years, the work of gospel music composer Charles Henry Pace sat in 14 unorganized crates, dirty and decomposing. This was until a music historian at the University of Pittsburgh was inspired to uncover the true history behind the photo negatives, printing plates and pieces of sheet music the university acquired in 1999. As a result, they’ve discovered that Pace was an early pioneer of gospel music whose independently owned publishing company helped elevate and expand the genre. This week the community will honor Pace and his wife Frankie with a free concert in the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh, showcasing some of his work.

Celebrity stylist Law Roach helped reinvent Zendaya and turned Celine Dion into a fashion icon. Last week, he shocked the fashion world when he announced his retirement from dressing the rich and famous. On Tuesday, Roach told The Associated Press in Los Angeles that he plans to work on his health after 13 years as a Hollywood stylist. He said he's had nothing but support from the industry after his surprise announcement. Roach has dressed Kerry Washington, Anya Taylor-Joy, Megan Thee Stallion, Ariana Grande, Dion and many other top celebrities. He helped transition Zendaya from Disney kid to grownup A-lister and the two enjoy a close bond.

Newsmax is returning to DirecTV after a dispute between the parties saw the conservative network removed from the satellite carrier. The duo were initially unable to agree to financial terms on an agreement, which led to DirecTV losing the rights to distribute Newsmax programming on Jan. 25. The companies said Wednesday that they’ve now reached a multiyear distribution deal that will see the Newsmax channel return to DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse starting on Thursday. DirecTV emphasized in a statement that the dispute that led to dropping Newsmax was always entirely financial, and “never about limiting conservative voices.”

“Grey’s Anatomy” has long championed women’s rights and female leadership on and offscreen. Not only does the long-running hospital drama cover contentious topics like abortion, but it also offers women on the show a chance to expand their roles behind the scenes. Kim Raver is the latest cast member in that spotlight, playing both the new hospital chief in front of the camera and a first-time director behind it. Raver, who portrays surgeon Teddy Altman, has directed “Training Day,” an episode airing Thursday with a storyline that discusses reproductive rights.

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he is recovering from an attack outside a Florida hotel. Allen was in South Florida earlier this month for a show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. He was attacked while taking a smoke break outside the Four Seasons hotel in on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Police arrested a 19-year-old man, but have no motive for the attack. They didn't identify the suspect, or Allen, in the police report. In a social media post, Allen says he’s thankful for all the support from his fans. Police say the man ran at Allen, knocking him to the ground.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s lawyer called the story of a retired optometrist who is suing her over a 2016 ski collision “utter B.S.” during the trial’s opening day in Utah, where the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer appeared in court. The trial started Tuesday in the ski town of Park City, where Paltrow is accused in a lawsuit of crashing into a skier, who says he has brain damage and four broken ribs. Paltrow has countered that the retired optometrist suing her was actually the culprit in the collision, is overstating his injuries, and is trying to exploit her celebrity and wealth.

Fox News and a voting machine company that claims the conservative network defamed it by amplifying baseless allegations of fraud following the 2020 presidential election are facing off in a courtroom over whether journalists have a responsibility to be cautious with explosive and implausible allegations. Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems argued Tuesday that Fox recklessly repeated false accusations from supporters of former President Donald Trump that its machines and the software used were responsible for Trump's 2020 election loss. Documents released during the lawsuit have shown that top Fox executives and personalities didn’t believe the claims but aired them anyway.

Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne are among the “John Wick: Chapter 4” stars honoring Lance Reddick, their co-star who died unexpectedly last week, at the film’s Los Angeles premiere. The 60-year-old actor died unexpectedly Friday. A visibly moved Fishburne described Reddick's death as like the loss of a brother and said many who worked on the film are still in shock. Reeves says he will cherish working with Reddick for the rest of his life. Many of those who worked on the film wore blue ribbons to honor Reddick, who was a prolific character actor with prominent roles in “The Wire,” “Oz” and the “John Wick” film franchise.

A Florida jury has convicted three men of first-degree murder in the 2018 killing of star rapper XXXTentacion, who was shot during a robbery that netted $50,000. The jury deliberated a little more than seven days before finding 28-year-old Michael Boatwright, 26-year-old Dedrick Williams and 24-year-old Trayvon Newsome guilty on Monday. The jury also convicted them of armed robbery. They will receive mandatory life sentences on April 6. Prosecutors tied them to the slaying through extensive surveillance video from a motorcycle shop and cellphone videos the men took of them flashing fistfuls of $100 bills hours after the killing.

Longstanding disagreements about content in school libraries often focus this year on books with LGBTQ themes. Iowa's Republican governor is backing a bill that could result in the removal of books from school libraries in all state districts if they’re successfully challenged in any one of them. School boards and legislatures nationwide also are facing questions about books and considering making it easier to limit access. One transgender parent in Iowa says it's a symptom of a backlash from those who hope limiting discussion will return American society to an era that didn’t acknowledge people with different sexualities.

Gloria Dea, touted as the first magician to perform on what became the Las Vegas Strip in the early 1940s, has died. She was 100. One of Dea's caretakers says she died Saturday at her Las Vegas residence. A memorial is being planned. Dea also appeared in several movies in the 1940s and ’50s, including “King of the Congo," starring Buster Crabbe, in 1952. Dea was 19 when she performed at El Rancho Vegas on May 14, 1941. The Las Vegas Review-Journal says Dea's show at the Roundup Room is the first recorded appearance by a magician in Las Vegas. After appearing in some moves in the mid-1940s and 1950s, Dea moved from California to Las Vegas in 1980.

Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” "Fringe” and the “John Wick” franchise, has died. He was 60. Reddick was often put in a suit or a crisp uniform during his career, playing tall taciturn and elegant men of distinction. He was best known for his role as straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series “The Wire,” where his character was agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department. He earned a SAG Award nomination in 2021 as part of the ensemble for Regina King’s film “One Night in Miami.”

Cities across the United States are celebrating St. Patrick's Day Parades, kicking off a weekend of revelry. New York City's parade bills itself as the largest and oldest drawing tens of thousands to Fifth Avenue to listen to bagpipes, bands and give homage to Ireland’s patron saint. In Savannah, Georgia, people were planting their lawn chairs in prime viewing spots to watch a flow of floats, dancers and marching bands in another huge celebration. In Portland, Oregon, the city’s oldest Irish bar attempted to brew a record-breaking 264-gallon Irish coffee. Some cities, like Boston, will hold parades over the weekend.

After playing the con-artist attorney Saul Goodman for six seasons on “Better Call Saul," Bob Odenkirk is returning to his comedic roots with the series “Lucky Hank.” Premiering Sunday on AMC, the series is about a college professor named Hank Deveroux who uses humor and sarcasm to express himself while in a mid-life crisis. Odenkirk says it's fun to play a character who “is making jokes.” He got his start in comedy and even was a writer on “Saturday Night Live.” Odenkirk stars opposite Mireille Enos of “The Killing,” who also gets a rare opportunity to make jokes and smile in the show.