Supermodel Naomi Campbell a no-show for NYC court date

New York – Supermodel Naomi Campbell, accused of assaulting her maid with a cell phone, failed to show up in court Wednesday, puzzling the judge who asked for but never got a reason for her absence.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge James Gibbon responded by issuing a bench warrant for Campbell’s arrest, but then decided not to put it into effect after Campbell’s attorney explained that he and the prosecutor had an agreement.

Defense attorney David Breitbart told Gibbon the prosecutor knew Campbell was going to be absent and had agreed not to seek her arrest. Gibbon said he would stay the warrant – not put it into effect – until the next court date, Nov. 15.

The 35-year-old supermodel was arrested on March 31 for allegedly throwing a cell phone at one of her employees in a dispute over a missing pair of jeans.

Joseph ‘Rev. Run’ Simmons, wife suffer loss of newborn

Ridgewood, N.J. – A daughter born to rap pioneer Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons and his wife, Justine, died shortly after delivery last week, an MTV spokesman said Wednesday.

Simmons issued a statement through the network, which airs his reality show, “Run’s House,” saying his wife “is doing fine.” He thanked his supporters for their prayers and condolences.

“On Sept. 26, 2006, Victoria Anne Simmons for some unknown reason chose to come early and unfortunately did not survive,” his statement said. “We must accept whatever is there and once you accept unconditionally, then everything is beautiful. Every pain has a purifying effect. So whatever comes your way, just be thankful. We see life in death and believe in the celebration of life in death.”

Fox News chief: Clinton’s reply ‘an assault on all journalists’

New York – Fox News chief Roger Ailes says former President Clinton’s response to Chris Wallace’s question about going after Osama bin Laden represents “an assault on all journalists.” Ailes said Clinton had a “wild overreaction” in the interview on “Fox News Sunday.”

“If you can’t sit there and answer a question from a professional, mild-mannered, respectful reporter like Chris Wallace, then the hatred for journalists is showing,” Ailes said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. “All journalists need to raise their eyebrows and say, ‘hold on a second.”‘

Wallace has said he asked Clinton about bin Laden partly because of ABC’s recent docudrama “The Path to 9/11,” widely criticized as full of falsehoods by former Clinton administration officials for depicting a bungling effort at going after the terrorist leader.

Clinton said his administration did more than President Bush to go after bin Laden before the terrorist attacks. While Clinton said Wallace’s question was legitimate, he called it a “conservative hit job” and accused Fox of not being similarly tough on Bush.