On Sunday, March 13, chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, Michael D. Eisner, announced that he would resign from his position after two decades. According to the New York Times,Robert A. Iger, president of the company, will succeed Eisner. Iger will take over Eisner’s position in September of 2005, a year earlier than expected. Iger has worked under Eisner for the last five years and has helped defend Eisner and the management team of the company in the past turbulent years, while at the same time trying to differentiate himself from his boss. Meg Whitman, the chief executive of eBay and a former Disney executive, was the only other person seriously considered for the position. The transition will hopefully be a smooth one since over the next six months both Eisner and Iger will share the chief executive duties.
Clinton released from hospital
According to msnbc.com, Former President Bill Clinton had surgery on Thursday, March 10, to remove scar tissue and fluid that developed after his bypass surgery six months ago. Clinton noticed the problem when he began to experience shortness of breath during his daily four-mile walk. On Monday he was released from the hospital after he was expected to spend three to 10 days in the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. The procedure was low-risk and the problem only occurs in about 1 percent of bypass cases. Jim Kennedy, Clinton’s spokesman, said that he enjoys watching college basketball games as he continues his recuperation. Clinton also spent the day before his surgery playing golf in Florida.
‘Idol’ contestant withdraws
Mario Vazquez, a contestant on “American Idol” withdrew from the competition on Sunday, March 13, citing “personal reasons.” Nikko Smith, who was voted off on Wednesday, was bumped into Vazquez’s spot because he got more votes than Travis Tucker, the other contestant who was voted on Wednesday. Smith, son of baseball legend Ozzie Smith, said he was not surprised to be voted off, but is excited that he now gets a second chance to be back in the competition. Vazquez has not been the only contestant to ever leave the show unexpectedly, last year, Donnie Williams was cited for a DUI and had to leave the show. In 2003, three contestants were forced to leave the show for failing to disclose arrest records and for posing on an adult-oriented website, according to cnn.com.
Warrants issued for Nichols
Brian Nichols is being held at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary three days after police said he shot and killed a judge, a deputy sheriff, a court reporter and a federal agent. On the morning of March 12, at the apartment of Ashley Smith, a woman Nichols held hostage, he surrendered to police. Paul Howard, the district attorney for Fulton County, where the shootings occurred, said that they plan to charge him with the murders of the four Fulton County residents in addition to a number of aggravated assaults and carjackings. Nichols escaped police custody after his retrial on charges of rape and false imprisonment.
Posted to the web by Ryan Norris
