“Psycho” actress Leigh dies at age
77
LOS ANGELES “”mdash; Janet Leigh, whose shocking murder in the
classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller
“˜”˜Psycho” made generations of film fans
think twice about stepping into a motel room shower, died at her
Beverly Hills home, her daughter’s publicist confirmed
Monday. She was 77. “˜”˜She died peacefully at
home,” Heidi Schaeffer, spokeswoman for Leigh’s
daughter Jamie Lee Curtis told The Associated Press. The stunning
blonde beauty enjoyed a long and distinguished career, appearing in
such films as the 1962 political thriller “˜”˜The
Manchurian Candidate” and in Orson Welles’ 1958
film noir classic “˜”˜Touch of Evil.” But
she gained her most lasting fame in 1960’s
“˜”˜Psycho” as the embezzling office worker
who is stabbed to death in the shower by cross-dressing madman
Anthony Perkins. The role earned her an Oscar nomination as best
supporting actress.
LGBT task force reaching out in Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO “”mdash; Two years after the killing of the
transgender teenager born Edward Araujo made national headlines,
gay, lesbian and transgender groups in the San Francisco Bay area
are reaching out to young people in hopes of teaching tolerance and
acceptance. The Santa Cruz County Task Force for Lesbian, Gays,
Bisexuals and Transgenders is one of several Bay Area groups
working to create an atmosphere of greater tolerance in their
communities. Monday marks the second anniversary of Araujo’s
death, and October is recognized nationally as Queer History Month.
Stuart Rosenstein, chair of the Santa Cruz County task force, said
the often cruel forms of bullying and harassment begin in grade
school, and misplaced anger is often tagged with derogatory terms
related to gender issues. “˜”˜K through 12 student
education is very important (regarding) sexual orientation and
gender identity,” Rosenstein told The Associated
Press, “˜”˜so that LGBT young people are integrated
within the fabric of our communities and not singled out for
harassment and ridicule.”
Three teens charged with providing
mushrooms
VENTURA, Calif. “”mdash; Three teenagers charged with giving
hallucinogenic mushrooms to a 17-year-old girl who was killed while
walking in a stupor on Highway 101 dramatizes the surging
popularity of the 1960s-era drug Experts say users of mushrooms
think it is less harmful than LSD and heroin. Victoria Nugent, 17,
was walking naked on the freeway when she was hit by a car and
killed after taking so-called magic mushrooms while partying Aug.
14 with friends, who are now charged with providing the drug that
led to her death. Deputy District Attorney Ryan Wright said each
person reacts differently to mushrooms. Wright said that until
recently he had not filed any mushroom-related cases in years.
“˜”˜In the past six months, I’ve probably had nine
or 10 cases come in,” Wright said. Brian Mitchell and
Alissa Ruef, both 18, of Thousand Oaks and Jonathan James
“˜”˜J.J.” Martinez, 19, of Camarillo have
pleaded not guilty to drug-related charges. Preliminary hearings
are scheduled in November and December.