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Cole's Hepatitis C Diagnosis Blamed On Past Drug Use

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 17, 2008

Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole has been diagnosed with hepatitis C, her publicist said in a statement Wednesday.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease spread through contact with infected blood. The statement said the disease was revealed during a routine examination and was likely caused by her drug use years ago.

"I've been so fortunate to have learned so much from my past experiences," Cole said. "I am embraced by the love and support of my family and friends; I am committed to my belief in myself and in my abiding faith to meet this challenge with a heartfelt optimism and determination."

Cole spoke out against defiant drug abuser Amy Winehouse's Grammy victories in February, saying the "Rehab" singer's triumph sent a bad message to youngsters.

Her physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Graham Woolf, said Cole has had a "terrific response to her medication and is now virus negative."
Andy Dick Caught Urinating In Public

Former "NewsRadio" star Andy Dick was arrested Wednesday in front of the Buffalo Wild Wings eatery in Murietta, Calif., after someone called police to complain that a man was urinating outside.

Witnesses said Dick, 42, also accosted a 17-year-old girl outside the wings emporium and pulled down her tank top and bra. Police who said they found drugs on Dick, charged him with several felonies and misdemeanors, including sexual battery, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

Trump Revels In $100 Million Sale Of Mansion

The real estate market might be slumping, but not for Donald Trump, who sold his Palm Beach mansion for $100 million, his spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"In an age of so many people getting hurt in real estate, it shows that you can still do well in real estate," Trump told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

His spokeswoman says $100 million is the most ever paid for an estate in the United States, though there is no way to verify that.

Russian fertilizer billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev purchased the roughly 60,000-square-foot oceanfront home, which Trump fixed up after buying it for about $41 million in 2004.

He assigned renovations to "Apprentice" winner Kendra Todd, who dressed it up with 24-karat gold fixtures. The home, called Maison de L'Amitie, is spread over several buildings.

Wood Is Back In Rehab

Ronnie Wood has checked into rehab, a rep for the Rolling Stones said Wednesday. Wood, whose relationship with his wife, Jo Wood, took a difficult turn recently when the 62-year-old guitarist shacked up with an 18-year-old cocktail waitress, has battled alcohol and drug addiction for four decades.

Today's Birthdays

TV personality Art Linkletter is 96. Comedian Phyllis Diller is 91. Actor Donald Sutherland is 73. Actress-singer Diahann Carroll is 73. Actor David Hasselhoff is 56. TV producer Mark Burnett ("Survivor") is 48. Singer Regina Belle is 45. Rapper Guru (Gang Starr) is 42. Actor Andre Royo ("The Wire") is 40.

Source: The Associated Press, McClatchy-Tribune

CORRECTIONS

It is the policy of The Tampa Tribune to correct all errors of fact. To report an error, call (813) 259-7600.

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