Man pleads not guilty to Hudson family killings

Chicago — Jennifer Hudson’s brother-in-law pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges he shot to death the Oscar-winning actress’s mother and brother and the 7-year-old son of his estranged wife.

William Balfour, 27, entered not guilty pleas to first-degree murder and home invasion charges after nodding to members of his family gathered in the last of three Cook County courtrooms he appeared in Tuesday.

Balfour is married to Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia Hudson. He is charged in the October deaths of the sisters’ mother, Darnell Donerson, their brother, Jason Hudson, and Julia Hudson’s 7-year-old son, Julian King.

Prosecutors allege Balfour shot the three in a jealous rage because he was upset Julia Hudson had been dating another man.

Polanski lawyer wins stay of court hearing

Los Angeles — A California appeals court on Tuesday halted a Los Angeles court hearing on fugitive director Roman Polanski’s bid to have his 1977 rape case dismissed.

The highly anticipated hearing had been set for today.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal issued the stay of the hearing in response to an 11th-hour motion by Polanski attorney Chad Hummel who argued that the Los Angeles Superior Court is biased against the filmmaker.

The appellate court asked the prosecution for written arguments on the issue.

Hummel argues that a neutral judge from outside Los Angeles County should be appointed to the case. The Superior Court’s presiding judge, who was scheduled to conduct the hearing, turned down the original claim of bias last week.

District attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons declined to comment on the issues involved but said, “The court has requested that we file something and we intend to do that.”

Polanski, director of such classic films as “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Chinatown” and “Tess,” pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977 but fled to France before he was sentenced, and has lived there since.

Cruise brings ‘Valkyrie’ to Berlin

Berlin — Tom Cruise said Tuesday he felt a huge burden of responsibility to history in bringing the story of one of Germany’s few anti-Nazi heroes to the screen.

In “Valkyrie,” Cruise plays Col. Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg — the aristocratic army officer who was among those executed after a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in July 1944.

“I think it’s the most challenging film I’ve ever made,” Cruise said at a news conference in Berlin before the movie’s European premiere.

“The whole time, we carried a huge burden of the responsibility of the history,” he said. He added that he and the crew wanted “to represent the spirit of the resistance and history in the most accurate way and also … deliver a piece of entertainment.”

The movie was shot in Berlin in 2007, at locations including the site where the anti-Hitler plotters were executed — the so-called Bendlerblock, part of the Defense Ministry grounds and now a memorial to the anti-Nazi resistance.

Country singer Messina delivers baby boy

Nashville, Tenn. — Country singer Jo Dee Messina and her husband have announced the birth of their first child, a boy.

Craig Campbell, the singer’s spokesman, says Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born Monday afternoon at a Nashville-area hospital. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces.

Messina, 38, and Chris Deffenbaugh were married in October 2007.

Messina’s hits include “Bye, Bye” and “Bring on the Rain.”

Marcia Cross’ husband diagnosed with cancer

New York — A representative for Marcia Cross says the husband of the “Desperate Housewives” star, stockbroker Tom Mahoney, has been diagnosed with cancer and is responding well to treatment.

Publicist Heidi Slan didn’t provide further details Tuesday.

Cross and Mahoney were married in June 2006. They have 23-month-old twin daughters, Eden and Savannah.

The 46-year-old Cross portrays Bree on the ABC show.

Alyssa Milano granted restraining order

Los Angeles — Alyssa Milano has received a restraining order against a man she says has repeatedly tried to contact her and showed up at her home unannounced.

Records show a judge in Ventura County granted Milano a three-year restraining order on Dec. 23 against Jeff Turner, who lives in Northern California.

Milano wrote in court documents that Turner had hiked miles to try to meet her and repeatedly called to get access to an event where she was appearing.

Milano, who recently announced her engagement to Hollywood agent David Bugliari, is best known for her roles on television series such as “Who’s the Boss?” “Charmed” and a recurring role on “My Name is Earl.”