*Two Northwestern University faculty members, engineering professor Jan Achenbach and chemistry professor Tobin Marks, have been named recipients of the National Medal of Science, the highest U.S. honor for scientific research. They are the first NU professors to win the award.
*Katherine Heigl told Entertainment Weekly that cast mate Isaiah Washington apologized to her on the set of “Grey’s Anatomy” after she publicly denounced his use of an anti-gay slur. Washington came under fire for using the epithet at the Golden Globe Awards in January while denying he’d used it against co-star T.R. Knight.
*Universal Orlando Resort is opening a Harry Potter theme park that will let fans visit many of the iconic locations in the books and movies about the boy magician. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to debut at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park in late 2009.
*Jon Lovitz has made a lifelong commitment — to the Laugh Factory. The comic announced Wednesday that he has signed a contract to appear at the Sunset Strip club every Wednesday night for the rest of his life. Lovitz said he’s expecting a long run. “Who knows? I could become the Don Ho of Los Angeles,” he said. “God knows I’ve got enough Hawaiian shirts.”
*Pierce Brosnan and his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, have donated $100,000 to help replace an unsafe playground at a school on Kauai, Hawaii, where they own a home.
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Personals was compiled by Alan Leo from Tribune news services and staff reports.
