Mary Foster

Attorney: Lil Boosie lyrics don’t prove crime

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A defense attorney for the rapper known as “Lil Boosie,” who is on trial for a murder charge, says violent imagery and lyrics in music are not evidence of a crime.

During closing arguments Friday, defense attorney Jason Williams said the prosecution of the rapper, whose real name is Torence Hatch, was influenced by the nature of his music. Williams says the violent imagery is part of a branding effort meant to sell records.

The 29-year-old Hatch is already serving an eight-year prison term on separate drug charges.

Prosecutors say he hired Michael “Marlo Mike” Louding to kill 35-year-old Terry Boyd, who was shot to death through a window while he was inside his home in 2009. Hatch faces life in prison if convicted.

Springsteen packs them in for Jazz Fest

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bruce Springsteen has closed out the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with a 2 ½-hour show that combined crowd-pleasers such as “Born to Run” with the cover tune of his new CD, “Wrecking Ball.”

Fans began staking out spots when the Fair Grounds opened at 11 a.m. Sunday, rushing from the entrance gates to spread blankets and set up chairs as close to the stage as possible. By the time Springsteen stepped on stage fans stretched around the fairgrounds track, some standing 10 to 12 people deep.

At one point New Orleans legend Dr. John took the stage with Springsteen for a number.

Springsteen last played Jazz Fest in 2006.

But if Springsteen was the biggest draw of the day, he was far from the only one.

Soul singer Al Green closed out the day on the Congo Square stage, drawing his faithful.

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Associated Press writer Chevel Johnson contributed to this story.

Biography of Ernie K-Doe captures quirks, talent

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Biography of Ernie K-Doe captures quirks, talentIn this 2001 image released by The Historic New Orleans Collection, Ernie K-Doe poses outside of his Mother-In-Law Lounge during Jazz Fest in New Orleans. A new book published by the Historic New Orleans Collection, "Enie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans," by Ben Sandmel, captures the quirks and talent of one of New Orleans' most celebrated and eccentric entertainers, his ups and downs and the era that shaped him. (AP Photo/The Historic New Orleans Collection, Pat Jolly)(Credit: AP)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A new book captures the quirks and talent of one of New Orleans’ most celebrated and eccentric entertainers, his ups and downs, and the era that shaped him.

The title of the book, published by the Historic New Orleans Collection, is “Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans.” Later in life, K-Doe proclaimed himself the “Emperor of the World,” and few of his fans would disagree. K-Doe emerged in the 1960s, and until his death in 2001 was one of the most unforgettable figures in the New Orleans music scene.

Author Ben Sandmel, who lives and plays music in New Orleans, tells K-Doe’s story in lively detail and colorful anecdotes that will keep even those who don’t know him reading.

Former Red Sox lefty Mel Parnell dies at 89

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Former Red Sox lefty Mel Parnell dies at 89FILE - This Sept. 10, 1949 file photo shows Boston Red Sox pitcher Mel Parnell throwing against the Philadelphia Athletics in Philadelphia. Parnell, the left-handed pitcher who faced the infamous Green Monster at Fenway Park and some of the best hitters of the 1940s and early 1950s, has died at age 89. His son, Dr. Mel Parnell Jr., said Wednesday, March 21, 2012 he informed the team of his father's death. (AP Photo/File)(Credit: AP)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mel Parnell, the left-handed pitcher who spent his entire 10-year career with the Boston Red Sox and faced some of the best hitters of the 1940s and early 1950s, has died. He was 89.

Parnell, a New Orleans native, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, said his son, Dr. Mel Parnell Jr.

Mel Parnell was masterful at Fenway Park even though he pitched in front of the Green Monster, a home run hitter’s dream at only 310 feet down the left field line. Parnell had a career record of 123-75, but he was 70-30 at Fenway.

He still holds the club record for left-handed pitchers in games started, innings and victories. Parnell’s victories rank second in team history, behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens, who each had 192 victories.

“The Green Monster never bothered me,” Parnell said in an April 2005 interview with The Associated Press. “It was the lack of foul room that bothered me. A foul ball would go into the stands, letting the batter stay alive. I always thought I could manage the Monster, I couldn’t manage the lack of foul territory.”

Parnell’s best season was 1949 when he went 25-7, leading the American League in victories, ERA (2.77), complete games (27) and innings (295.1). He helped the Red Sox pennant run that year, which came down to the final two games of the season.

Boston lost both, 5-4 and 5-3, to the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium.

“It was a fierce rivalry,” Parnell said. “We just couldn’t get past them.”

In later years, he disparaged the modern system that limited pitches and had starters, long relievers, short relievers and closers.

“You got guys that go five or six innings and everyone thinks it’s great,” said Parnell, who pitched 113 complete games and had 20 shutouts, including a no-hitter in 1956. “In 1949, I started 35 games and completed 27 of them. In the minors I pitched an 18-inning game and was thrown out at the plate in the 17th inning.”

Parnell had a number of health problems. He had a stroke in 1984. A tumor was removed from his heart in 1999, and he was diagnosed with lymphoma.

“My biggest problem is my back,” Parnell said in 2005. “That’s an old pitcher’s problem.”

His house in New Orleans was a monument of memorabilia to the team, which remained an important part of his life long after his playing career ended, his son said.

Parnell Jr. said he has informed the team of his father’s death.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete Wednesday.

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Former Red Sox lefty Mel Parnell dies at 89

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mel Parnell, the left-handed pitcher who faced the infamous Green Monster at Fenway Park and some of the best hitters of the 1940s and early 1950s, has died at age 89.

His son, Dr. Mel Parnell Jr., said Wednesday he informed the team of his father’s death.

Parnell, a New Orleans native, spent his entire 10-year major league career with the Boston Red Sox. His house was a monument of memorabilia to the team, which remained an important part of his life long after his career ended.

Parnell was masterful in Fenway Park, where pitchers fought the green wall, a home run hitter’s dream only 310 feet down the left field line. Parnell had a lifetime record of 123-75, but was 70-30 at Fenway.

Mardi Gras Museum’s Glitz, Glamor Auctioned Off

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KENNER, La. (AP) — They came in T-shirts and jeans to bid on crowns, scepters and capes of Mardi Gras kings and queens, or the jewels and coins tossed to their eager subjects.

The glitzy pageantry and history of New Orleans’ Carnival was sold to the highest bidder Thursday. The baubles might have been faux, but several hundred collectors eagerly bid on exhibits from the city’s once-thriving Mardi Gras Museum.

Designed as a celebration of Mardi Gras when it opened in the suburb of Kenner in 1992, it closed after a souring economy cut into tourism and the city, like many communities around the country, was forced to tighten its budget and cut back on what it funded.

From towering costumes covered with plumes and faux jewels, to an 1891 Rex invitation — everything went.

“It’s kind of sad to see it all being carted off,” said Karen King, as she watched a bidder celebrate the purchase of a massive “collar,” the part of a Mardi Gras costume that rises from the shoulders several feet into the air and may be six feet or more wide. This one was silver, pink and blue, heavily beaded, bearing clouds, soaring birds and flowers.

“At least people that really want the things are getting them,” she said.

Or not: Charlie Durr bid on a plaque from a ball he attended in 1957, but watched it go home with someone else.

“It went for $40 and was worth it, just not to me,” he said.

Prices were relatively modest: A 1970 Gremlin automobile, covered in designs made of Mardi Gras beads, right down to the hubcaps, but without an engine, sold for $800. A mannequin wearing the glittering 1987 King Poseidon costume, complete with mannequin and glass showcase, drew a $1,500 bid.

The remains of the now-defunct Toy Train Museum, which had been just down the street for 25 years until it closed in 2009, were also sold Thursday.

Another auction of artifacts for a museum that never opened is planned this summer in Pennsylvania.

Last week, The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa., reported that 8,000-plus Wild West artifacts will be auctioned off in mid-July, with the money going to city coffers. Former Mayor Stephen R. Reed paid $8.3 million for the collection with the idea of creating a museum but it never developed.

These are tough times for museums, especially smaller ones.

On Tuesday, Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler, who oversees 17 mostly tiny museums run by volunteers and part-time workers, said most could be endangered under a proposed budget from Gov. Bobby Jindal. Only the two largest, the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge and the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport, would stay open.

Where there were once 12 museums around the Mardi Gras Museum, there are only four or five now, and at least two of those are open only by appointment, said Kenner’s director of Parks, Recreation and community Services, Ken Marroccoli.

“The amount of funding we can afford for our museums is not what it once was,” Marroccoli said. “Our sales tax is not as plentiful as it was before the downturn. So this is what we’ve had to do.”

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