Priest fit for trial
A priest accused of stalking talk-show host Conan O’Brien was found fit to stand trial Friday. The judge issued the ruling after a court-appointed psychologist examined the Rev. David Ajemian, of the Archdiocese of Boston. Ajemian, 46, was arrested last week while trying to enter a taping of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in New York City despite being warned to stay away. Ajemian, who allegedly began writing O’Brien in September 2006, has been placed on leave by the Boston Archdiocese. NBC said O’Brien would not comment on Ajemian.
Update
Girl out of surgery
A 2-year-old Indian girl born with four arms and four legs regained consciousness Friday, wiggled her toes and smiled at her parents, 48 hours after massive surgery removed the extra limbs. Lakshmi has been revered by some in her village as a reincarnation of the four-armed Hindu goddess she was named for.
People
Neverland report denied
Michael Jackson is refinancing his Neverland Valley Ranch in California and is not in danger of losing it to foreclosure as media reports have suggested, his spokeswoman said Friday. Spokeswoman Raymone Bain denied the pop superstar had defaulted on a $23 million loan on the ranch. Records from Santa Barbara County this week showed that Neverland was listed on its monthly foreclosure report.
Good news
Words for rice
A food-linked word game put on the Internet a month ago has already generated enough rice to feed 50,000 people, the United Nations World Food Program said Friday. FreeRice (www.freerice.com) offers participants multiple-choice definitions to the meaning of a word, with each correct click generating 10 grains of rice for the WFP.
Passages
Former Venezuelan President Luis Herrera Campins died Friday at age 82.
Today in History
1928: Japanese Emperor Hirohito was formally enthroned, almost two years after his ascension.
1982: The newly finished Vietnam Veterans Memorial was opened to its first visitors in Washington, D.C.
Today’s Birthdays
Actor Roy Scheider, 75. Actor-comedian Sinbad, 51. Actor Michael Jai White, 43. Actress Ellen Pompeo (”Grey’s Anatomy”), 38. Rapper-producer Warren G, 37. Actress Brittany Murphy, 30. Rapper Eve, 29.
Seattle Time news services