Swift donation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Taylor Swift has taught a generation of kids to appreciate country music over the last five years. Now, she's donating $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to make sure that education continues.
The gift is the largest given to the museum by an artist and is the second largest from an individual, officials said. It will fund the Taylor Swift Education Center, an exhibit and classroom space scheduled to open in 2014.
The 22-year-old singer-songwriter is country music's top-selling artist and current ambassador to the world. She has a long history with the museum. One of her first public performances was on the building's plaza. She signed her record contract there. And she has donated her time to the museum's "All For The Hall" fundraisers.
Drummer arrested
DENVER - The drummer for OneRepublic has pleaded not guilty to charges filed in Denver after his girlfriend said he grabbed her head and threw her down during a fight.
Eddie Fisher pleaded not guilty Wednesday to assault, destruction of private property, wrongs to a minor and two counts of disturbing the peace. Police had indicated a child was present.
Fisher is free on $550 bond.
Lonnie Weygant told officers she tried to hide in the bathroom after the fight Tuesday, but the 38-year-old forced the door open.
Fisher told police Weygant hit him in the head and he tried to leave, but she came out and took his dog.
'Three Cups' appeal
HELENA, Mont. - Four people who bought Greg Mortenson's books are taking their claims of fraud against the humanitarian to a federal appeals court.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon dismissed their lawsuit that alleged that Mortenson, his publisher, his co-author and his charity lied in his books "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones Into Schools" to boost sales and donations.
Haddon had called the allegations flimsy, speculative and "fraught with shortcomings."
On Wednesday, attorneys for the readers from Montana, California and Illinois filed a notice of appeal with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The lawsuit was filed last year after "60 Minutes" and author Jon Krakauer reported that Mortenson fabricated parts of those books.
Marvin Winans carjacked
DETROIT - Popular Detroit pastor and gospel singer Marvin Winans has been assaulted and carjacked at a gas station on the city's west side.
Detroit police say the attack happened about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday and say the suspects fled in Winans' SUV after taking an unknown amount of money.
The 54-year-old minister tells WXYZ-TV that four or five young men followed him from inside the gas station and attacked him while he pumped gas into his vehicle.
Winans says he wasn't seriously hurt, but planned to seek medical attention.
He says his attackers appeared to be among 10 young men he passed by inside the station.
Winans is pastor of the 4,500-member Perfecting Church on Detroit's east side. In February, he gave singer Whitney Houston's eulogy.
'Swamp People' autopsy
DONALDSONVILLE, La. - Authorities in Louisiana say a man who starred in the reality television show "Swamp People" died from natural causes.
Ascension Parish coroner, Dr. John Fraiche, made that determination after a preliminary autopsy on Mitchell Guist.
Guist, who appeared in segments of the "Swamp People" with his brother, Glenn, died after collapsing Monday while working on a houseboat he was building on Belle River.
Authorities tell The Advocate of Baton Rouge, La. Guist had just launched the houseboat and was pushing it when he collapsed.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday in Gonzales.
'Terminator' actor missing
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police say "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" actor Nick Stahl has been reported missing by his wife.
Police Officer Cleon Joseph confirmed on Thursday that the missing persons report was filed this week and the 32-year-old actor hasn't been found. The Los Angeles Times reports Stahl's wife last saw the actor on May 9.
Foul play isn't suspected.
People magazine reports the couple has been embroiled in a child custody fight.
Stahl was a child star who first got attention of his performance in the 1993 film "The Man Without a Face."
As an adult, he appeared in the 2003-2005 HBO series "Carnivale'" and in 2003's "Terminator 3" as John Connor. He also starred in "Mirrors 2" in 2010.
