The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has approved publication of a book by an agent who told Congress about the agency’s failed gun smuggling sting operation “Fast and Furious.” The Justice Department said ATF on Wednesday was notifying the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents special agent John Dodson, that he may publish […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Nothing much interferes with “South Park” lampooning its targets. But Comedy Central says an ill-timed power outage shut the show down Tuesday night, preventing completion of this week’s scheduled episode. Comedy Central said Wednesday that all the computers at South Park Studios were down for hours, from animation to editing to […]

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Aretha Franklin says “the side effects were rough” from her treatment for an undisclosed condition. The Queen of Soul spoke Wednesday at the Southfield Westin hotel, where she sang Etta James’ “At Last” at the piano. The 71-year-old Franklin tells reporters that she’s “glad to be back in it.” The Detroit […]

AUSTIN, TEXAS The South by Southwest Music Festival released its first list of artists for 2014 on Wednesday, featuring acts ranging from New Orleans rapper Vockah Redu to Texas country singer Rodney Crowell and Swedish rock band INVSN. The first batch of 183 acts from 27 countries will only be the first of many, said […]

NEW YORK (AP) — A book deal, tabloid attention and now a new television show — it’s a busy time in the public eye for 25-year-old Ronan Farrow. MSNBC announced Wednesday that it had hired Mia Farrow’s son, a human rights activist and former Rhodes scholar, to host a weekday program on the left-leaning cable […]

PITTSBURGH The decision to hold the world-renowned Prague Writers’ Festival in western Pennsylvania isn’t as unlikely as it seems, considering the festival’s home base was once the capital of a nation born 95 years ago in a Loyal Order of Moose lodge in Pittsburgh. The festival has given writers a platform to promote their works […]

BATH Beginning Oil Painting Classes with Eric Glass will begin Oct. 19 for five sessions ending Nov. 23 at Centre St Arts Center, 11 Centre Street in Bath. The class will meet from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $150. Beginners and those with some experience are welcome. Students may use acrylic paint […]

FREEPORT — The Merrill Memorial and Freeport Community libraries will host Barbara Walsh, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of “August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm,” 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Community Meeting Room at Freeport Community Library. In “August Gale,” Walsh — who has interviewed killers, bad cops and […]

DAMARISCOTTA — Chats with Champions is proud to present the founder of the Carp enter’s Boat Shop, the Rev. Robert Ives, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the Porter Meeting Hall of Skidompha Library. Ives graduated Bowdoin College in 1969 and the University of Edinburgh. He worked for a brief period in the Bowdoin […]