NEW YORK (AP) — R. Kelly, the R&B superstar known for his anthem "I Believe I Can Fly," was convicted Monday in a sex trafficking trial after decades of avoiding criminal responsibility for numerous allegations of misconduct with young women and children.

NEW YORK — For Tennessee Williams, Rome was a longtime love affair, "the capitol of my heart" with its skies of "stainless blue" and cathedral domes "bathed in golden light."

NEW YORK — Comedian Norm Macdonald, a former "Saturday Night Live" writer and performer who was "Weekend Update" host when Bill Clinton and O.J. Simpson provided comic fodder during the 1990s, has died.

LONDON — Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rock's greatest rhythm sections and used his "day job" to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.

ROME (AP) — Archaeologists in the ancient city of Pompeii have discovered a remarkably well-preserved skeleton during excavations of a tomb that also shed light on the cultural life of the city before it was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79.

NEW YORK (AP) — Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, a founding member of the long-running soul-funk band Kool & the Gang known for such hits as "Celebration" and "Get Down On It," has died. He was 70.

An unreleased Wu-Tang Clan album forfeited by Martin Shkreli after his securities fraud conviction was sold Tuesday for an undisclosed sum, though prosecutors say it was enough to fully satisfy the rest of what he owed on a $7.4 million forfeiture order he faced after his 2018 sentencing.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Prompted by Britney Spears' conservatorship fight, a bipartisan legislative effort has emerged to reform the process created to protect the rights of more than 1 million people across the United States under the protective arrangements.

TOKYO — Keigo Oyamada, a Japanese composer working on the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, quit Monday after coming under fire for bullying classmates during his childhood.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Those looking for definitive answers about Naomi Osaka and how she copes with the demands of her career and fame shouldn't expect to find them in a new Netflix docuseries about the four-time Grand Slam champion.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears' court-appointed attorney on Tuesday filed documents to resign from her conservatorship, the latest of several such moves that have come in the fallout from the pop singer's comments in court decrying the legal arrangement that controls her money and affairs.

Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) is excited to launch its SAAC Fellowship, funded in part with a 2-year grant from the Windgate Foundation. SAAC seeks 1-2 artists for this inaugural Fellowship, which is designed to expand SAAC's art education efforts while also building professional skill…

A brisk and bright sun-dappled fable of above-ground adventure and below-the-surface identity, Enrico Casarosa's "Luca"  — a summery, shimmering fish-out-of-water fairy tale — is one of Pixar's most pure and condensed enchantments.

NEW YORK (AP) — Ned Beatty, the Oscar-nominated character actor who in half a century of American movies, including "Deliverance," "Network" and "Superman," was a booming, indelible presence in even the smallest parts, has died. He was 83.

Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) is excited to announce the latest Art in Public Places (AiPP) exhibit featuring works by Jackson native, Gary Walters. This exhibit features 23 watercolors, along with a collection of assorted unframed works.

GHENT, Belgium — Look closely, and one panel of the brilliantly restored lower half of the Ghent Altarpiece still has old varnish, right next to the vivid coloring that has come to life again in one of the most iconic works of Western art.

With nominations set and just over a month until showtime, details are trickling out about the 93rd Oscars and neither sweatshirts nor zoom made the cut.

LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace said Tuesday that allegations of racism made earlier this week by Prince Harry and Meghan were "concerning" and would be addressed privately by the royal family.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Carla Wallenda, a member of "The Flying Wallendas" high-wire act and the last surviving child of the famed troupe's founder, has died at the age of 85.

SENECA FALLS, N.Y. — Former first lady Michelle Obama and soccer star Mia Hamm have been chosen for the National Women's Hall of Fame as part of a Class of 2021 announced Monday that also includes former PepsiCo Chief Executive Indra Nooyi and retired Brig. Gen. Rebecca Halstead.

LOS ANGELES — Lady Gaga's dog walker, who was shot last week during a robbery in Hollywood when two of the singer's French bulldogs were stolen, described the violence and his recovery "from a very close call with death" in social media posts  Monday.

Shailene Woodley confirmed that she's engaged to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Emrick spent decades narrating hockey's biggest moments happening live in front of him.

LOS ANGELES — "Kimye" is kaput.

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Basketball legend Michael Jordan is donating $10 million to launch two medical clinics in underserved communities near his hometown in North Carolina, a regional health care system announced Monday.

NEW YORK — Last year, Taylor Swift gave us a lot of new music. This year it will be old — the pop star has announced she's dropping the first of her re-recorded albums.

LOS ANGELES — Lucasfilm says Gina Carano is no longer a part of "The Mandalorian" cast after many online called for her firing over a social media post that likened the experience of Jews during the Holocaust to the U.S. political climate.

Starkville Area Arts Council is excited to announce our first AiPP Exhibit of 2021: Betty Jane Chatham Retrospective. This hybrid exhibit will be on display for in-person viewing in the lobby of the Partnership in downtown Starkville starting Tuesday, February 1, 2021, during business hours …

NEW YORK (AP) — After a year where the pandemic nearly emptied movie theaters, Netflix dominated nominations to the 78th Golden Globe Awards on Wednesday, with David Fincher's "Mank" leading film nominees with six nods and "The Crown" topping all television series.

The Starkville Area Arts Council is excited for the next Business Skills Workshop "Facebook Marketing Basics for Creatives" with Kathy Jacobs of Kathy Jacobs Design & Marketing on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 12 pm (noon). Jacobs is a graphic designer, content writer, and marketer servi…

NEW YORK — R&B star Jazmine Sullivan and country singer Eric Church will join forces to sing the national anthem at the next month's Super Bowl, where Grammy-winning singer H.E.R. will perform "America the Beautiful."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR will attempt some normalcy at the season-opening Daytona 500 with a live pre-race concert — the first big performance at a track during the pandemic — featuring country music star Luke Combs.

JACKSON — A Mississippi college marching band is set to participate in an official event celebrating diversity ahead of the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

NEW ORLEANS — A subdued Carnival season began Wednesday after the coronavirus pandemic put an end to the crowd-heavy balls and street parades that draw thousands of people to the city every year.

Development for the Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) 25th Anniversary Arts & Culture Cookbook is underway. SAAC is looking for submissions of title and cover art for the cookbook.

When Pedro Pascal started to think about his “Wonder Woman 1984” villain Max Lord, one name came to mind: Gordon Gekko. Who better to model his power suit-wearing striver on than the embodiment of 1980s greed and callousness?

Visit the AiPP's annual Winter Showcase, this hybrid exhibit is currently on display for in-person viewing in the lobby of the Partnership in downtown Starkville starting, during business hours (8 am - 5 pm weekdays), subject to mask requirements and social distancing guidelines. The online …

LONDON (AP) — Johnny Depp's high-stakes libel case against a British tabloid that accused him of assaulting ex-wife Amber Heard wrapped up Tuesday in a London court, with the star's lawyer calling Heard "a compulsive liar" and claiming that Depp was the real victim of abuse in the relationship.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The son of Lisa Marie Presley has died. He was 27.

An ongoing global pandemic will not deter the city of Starkville from hosting its annual Fourth of July fireworks show, but attendees are asked to follow certain guidelines to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

J.L. King Memorial Park will play host on Saturday to the county’s first large-scale Juneteenth celebration to commemorate freedom while raising awareness of issues impacting the local African-American community.

The city of Starkville moved closer to making its Streatery concept a reality Tuesday night.

One popular Starkville salon is taking ample precautions to protect its customers as Mississippi nail salons reopen after nearly two months due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library on the Mississippi State University campus played a pivotal role in the upcoming History Channel miniseries, titled simply “Grant,” which will air beginning on Memorial Day.

Kate Mattox has not slowed down much.

Local liquor stores may have seen changes in policy, but have seen little slowing in business as they continue to serve their customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the first picture that comes to mind when someone says “pottery” is a coffee mug, then it’s time to meet Jane Dill. Fortunately, one doesn’t have to travel very far, either, to find her brightly colored, unusual, cheery works. That’s because Jane grew up here in West Point, Mississippi.

Mississippi State University's Mitchell Memorial Library will look to bring late 19th and early 20th centuries to life during the 14th annual Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival this week.