UGGIE, 'WAR HORSE' AMONG PAWSCAR AWARD WINNERS: LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Oscars aren't until Feb. 26, but winners of the Pawscars are already celebrating.
The American Humane Association, which advocates for animals on film and TV sets, announced the top animals Thursday being honored with Pawscar awards.
Uggie, the four-legged star of "The Artist," was named best scene stealer. Fellow Jack Russell terrier Cosmo, whose thoughts were communicated through subtitles in "Beginners," won best animal speaking role.
"War Horse" was recognized for "best perception versus reality" for a scene that shows the title horse becoming entangled in barbed wire that was actually made from soft rubber.
Other winners include "Dolphin Tale," ''We Bought a Zoo" and "Mr. Popper's Penguins."
LA POLICE SEARCH FOR ESCAPEE WHO STALKED MADONNA: LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police are asking for the public's help in locating a man who was convicted of threatening to kill Madonna and walked away from a Los Angeles-area mental hospital last week.
Los Angeles police say Robert Dewey Hoskins left the state hospital Friday. He had been committed there last year.
Hoskins, 54, is "highly psychotic" and can be extremely violent and should not be approached by members of the public, police said in a news release Thursday. They urged anyone who sees him to call authorities immediately.
Hoskins served a 10-year prison sentence for stalking and threatening Madonna after being convicted by a jury in 1996. The singer reluctantly testified against the man, who was shot by her personal security after he jumped the fence of her Hollywood Hills home.
OSCAR LANDS IN LOS ANGELES AFTER CHICAGO FLIGHT: LOS ANGELES (AP) — Passengers on United Airlines Flight 531 from Chicago to Los Angeles didn't just get to travel with a world-famous celebrity, they also had their picture taken with him.
The affable celebrity was Oscar — as in the Academy Awards statuette — who rode in first class alongside film academy president Tom Sherak before making the rounds during the five-hour commercial flight to pose for photos.
Sherak surprised passengers just before they boarded the flight, dubbed "Oscar 1," at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. He arrived with the Oscar in hand and announced that the famous golden guy would be flying with them.
Actually, there were two Oscars in the cabin on the Thursday flight. And not just any Oscars. These guys will be presented for best picture at this year's Academy Awards.
Passengers used cellphones and pocket cameras to snap photos with the Oscars as airline workers held a show-related trivia contest, awarding
US MARINES POSED WITH NAZI SYMBOL IN AFGHANISTAN: SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Marine Corps on Thursday once again did damage control after a photograph surfaced of a sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS — a special unit that murdered millions of Jews, gypsies and others.
The Corps said in a statement that using the symbol was not acceptable, but the Marines in the photograph taken in September 2010 will not be disciplined because investigators determined it was a naïve mistake.
The Marines believed the SS symbol was meant to represent sniper scouts and never intended to be associated with a racist organization, said Maj. Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman at Camp Pendleton, where the Marines were based.
MARINE SERGEANT NOT GUILTY IN HAZING CASE: KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — A military jury on Thursday found a Marine sergeant not guilty after authorities charged him with hazing a lance corporal who later committed suicide in Afghanistan.
The general court martial panel of three officers and five enlisted Marines deliberated about an hour before announcing their verdict that Sgt. Benjamin Johns was not guilty of violating a lawful order by wrongfully humiliating and demeaning Lance Cpl. Harry Lew.
Tim Bilecki, Johns' attorney, said his client feels relieved and exonerated by the outcome. The sergeant told Bilecki the verdict was a victory for Marines and non-commissioned officers.
JERSEY CITY CLEARS 'JERSEY SHORE' SPINOFF: JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jersey City taxpayers won't be footing the bill for police assigned to security for the women of "Jersey Shore" and all the attention that comes with them.
New Jersey's second largest city has issued a permit to producers to film a spinoff of the reality series, featuring Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Jenni "JWoww" Farley. Filming is expected to begin later this month in the city's Grove Street Path neighborhood.
Police spokesman Edgar Martinez said Thursday the production company in charge of the show will pay for off-duty police officers to provide security and will pay for any additional officers if they are needed. In addition, he said, the production crew won't be taking parking spots from residents but will use pay lots.
Nearby Hoboken last week denied the show a permit to film, citing safety and quality of life concerns for residents of the city along the Hudson River.
