Celebrity news

Ajudge in the Bahamas has ordered a mistrial in the case of an alleged extortion attempt against actor John Travolta. A new trial is not likely until next year.

The judge said she was reluctantly ordering a new trial because a politician announced that one of the defendants would be freed, giving the appearance of an improper leak from the jury room.

An ambulance driver and his attorney are accused of demanding $25 million from Travolta to keep them from releasing private information about the death of Travolta's 16-year-old son, Jett, at the family vacation home on Jan. 2.

. . .

• Lil Wayne, the rap star who owned last year's best-selling album and is currently No. 1 on the pop charts, pleaded guilty yesterday in New York to attempted weapon possession in 2007 and expects to receive a one-year jail sentence in February.

Actress Nicole Kidman says Hollywood probably has contributed to violence against women by portraying them as weak sex objects. She testified Wednesday before a House panel that is considering legislation to address violence against women overseas. -- From Wire Reports