Syndicator to review alleged Coulter plagiarism

New York – The syndicator of Ann Coulter’s newspaper column is looking into allegations that the right-wing pundit has lifted material from other sources.

“We are reviewing the material and expect to have a response some time next week,” Kathie Kerr, a spokeswoman for Universal Press Syndicate, said Friday.

The New York Post and the Web sites Raw Story and the Rude Pundit have raised numerous questions about Coulter’s columns, which appear in more than 100 newspapers, and her best-selling “Godless,” already notorious for the author’s calling four 9-11 widows, who supported Democrat John Kerry for president in 2004, “harpies” thriving on their husbands’ demise.

Kerr said the press syndicate had not discussed the allegations with Coulter, who was not immediately available for comment Friday.

Lamp to blame for latest fire at Ozzy’s English mansion

London – Flames that scorched Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s English country mansion were the result of a faulty lamp, the fire service said.

Neither the couple nor their children, Amy, Jack and Kelly, were at the house in Jordans, 26 miles west of London, when the fire broke out Thursday morning, a family spokesman said. Paramedics treated a member of the household staff for smoke inhalation.

Kelly Osbourne, 22, had left shortly before the blaze started.

The blaze, which caused minor fire and smoke damage to the mansion’s entrance hallway, was the latest in several domestic mishaps to befall Ozzy Osbourne and his wife in recent years.

The couple had to flee their home last year when a fire broke out in the living room.

In 2004, Ozzy Osbourne unsuccessfully tackled a thief as he raided the house and stole a large amount of jewelry, and in 2003, he broke his collarbone, several ribs and a neck vertebra in an all-terrain vehicle accident on the estate grounds.

Interim lead singer steps in for Journey’s tour journey

New York – Journey will have a new lead singer on its summer tour with Def Leppard while Steve Augeri recovers from a chronic throat infection.

Jeff Scott Soto, who has performed with Journey guitarist Neal Schon, has stepped in for Augeri starting with Friday’s show in Bristow, Va.

Augeri’s doctor will monitor his condition to determine when he may be able to rejoin the tour, which includes a Sept. 6 stop at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Bonner Springs.