Prosecutors name suspect in slaying of Jam Master Jay

New York – Federal prosecutors have alleged that a low-level career bandit may hold the key to one of the more high-profile mysteries of the hip-hop world: Who killed rap pioneer Jam Master Jay?

In court papers, the prosecutors identify Ronald “Tenad” Washington as the armed accomplice of a second unidentified gunman who shot Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, inside his New York recording studio in 2002. They say Washington also is a suspect in the 1995 fatal shooting of Randy Walker, a close associate of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.

The papers were filed earlier this month in the federal trial of Washington, 45, who was convicted in a string of armed robberies that occurred just after Jay was killed. Prosecutors declined on Tuesday to discuss the unsolved slayings.

Bermuda cut as stop on Rosie’s gay family cruise

San Juan, Puerto Rico – A summer cruise for gay and lesbian families organized by Rosie O’Donnell has cut Bermuda from its planned itinerary because of possible protests by church groups in the British island territory.

O’Donnell’s charter company said it would replace the Bermuda stop with two other ports of call in Florida. It will also stop at a private island in the Bahamas. The tour is scheduled to leave New York in July on a ship owned by Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line.

The charter company, R Family Vacations, said on its Web site that it wanted to avoid the type of protests that greeted passengers when one of its cruises stopped in Nassau, Bahamas, in 2004.

In the statement, the company said Bermuda’s prime minister had assured them they would be welcome as tourists and they had also received hundreds of supportive e-mails from people who live in the wealthy British enclave.

Hilton ordered to appear in court for probation violation

Los Angeles – Paris Hilton was ordered Tuesday to appear in court May 4 for allegedly violating her probation in a reckless driving case by driving with a suspended driver’s license.

City prosecutors are seeking to revoke Hilton’s probation on grounds that she violated its conditions, which could result in a sentence of up to 90 days in jail.

In January, Hilton pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving stemming from a Sept. 7 arrest in Hollywood and was sentenced to 36 months’ probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines.

On Feb. 28, she was ticketed for misdemeanor driving with a suspended license after her car was pulled over on Sunset Boulevard. Police said they saw her car speeding with its headlights off.

Dave Chappelle breaks club’s record, performs for 6 hours

Los Angeles – Now that he’s back on the standup circuit, Dave Chappelle has a lot to say.

The comic, who walked out on a $50 million deal to continue his TV show and briefly took a respite in South Africa, shattered the Laugh Factory’s endurance record by taking to the comedy club’s stage for six hours and seven minutes Sunday.

“He was absolutely amazing, for six hours making people laugh,” the club’s owner, Jamie Masada, said Tuesday.

Masada said the previous record of three hours and 50 minutes was accomplished earlier this month by Dane Cook. But until then the mark had stood at two hours and 41 minutes since Richard Pryor set it in 1980.

Chappelle walked out on the third season of his hit Comedy Central show last May, leaving fans and industry observers to question his motives and even his sanity.