*Former “Cheers” mailman and popular Pixar Studios voice John Ratzenberger became the latest celebrity casualty Tuesday on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” Ratzenberger thanked his partner, Edyta Sliwinska, saying, “Her kindness and patience and friendship has really been astounding.”
*R. Kelly has written a new song, “Rise Up,” about healing in the aftermath of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech. A gunman killed 32 people and himself on the university’s campus in Blacksburg, Va. “Rise Up” will be available digitally May 15, and 100 percent of the net proceeds from its sale will go to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, says Jive Records, Kelly’s record label.
*Al Sharpton plans to lead his National Action Network in a march Thursday in New York calling for record labels to censor “ho” and other words they term offensive from rap music, Billboard.com reports. Marchers plan to rally in Columbus Square after stopping at each of the major record labels. The late James Brown’s daughters are expected to join the event, according to the Web site.
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Personals was compiled by Kim Profant from Tribune news services and staff reports.
