Allwine, latest voice of Mickey Mouse, dies

Los Angeles — Wayne Allwine, the actor who voiced Mickey Mouse for more than 30 years, has died.

The Walt Disney Co. says Allwine died Monday of complications from diabetes, with Russi Taylor, his wife of 20 years and the voice of Minnie Mouse, by his side. He was 62.

A Southern California native, Allwine joined Disney in 1966 when he took a job in the mail room. He went on to work in the sound effects department and began voicing the company’s main mouse in 1977.

His falsetto can be heard in 1983’s “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” 1988’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and at Disney theme parks around the world.

Allwine was the third man behind Mickey’s voice. The first was Disney himself, then Jimmy MacDonald, who became Allwine’s mentor and passed him the reins after voicing the mouse for 30 years.

CBS moves ‘Mentalist,’ picks up ‘Medium’

New York — A couple of television crime-fighters are on the move: Patricia Arquette and “Medium” from NBC to CBS, and Simon Baker’s “The Mentalist” to CBS’ Thursday-night lineup.

CBS, the last of the top four broadcasters to reveal its fall schedule to advertisers this week, said it was canceling “Without a Trace,” “The Unit” and “Eleventh Hour.” New series with Jenna Elfman and Julianna Margulies are moving in.

The nation’s most popular network is a model of stability in a roiled broadcast industry. It’s the only network with more viewers this season than last, yet had less advertising revenue than its previous year because of a depressed market.

Sensitive about a stodgy image, CBS Corp. chief executive Leslie Moonves cited in a presentation to advertisers on Wednesday a newspaper article that talked about the network’s ratings successes despite not being “sexy.”

“When you come right down to it, winning really is the only sexy thing out there,” Moonves said.

Murder charge filed in rapper’s killing

Los Angeles — A lawyer for the man accused of killing Dolla acknowledged that his client pulled the trigger Wednesday, but said he did it in self-defense.

Prosecutors charged Aubrey Louis Berry, 23, with murder and a pair of assault charges in connection with Monday’s shooting in a valet area at an upscale mall.

Berry made his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon and his bail was raised to $5 million. He postponed entering a plea until a Friday court hearing.

Berry’s attorney, Howard R. Price, said his client was acting in self-defense when he killed Dolla, 21, and fired at two other people.

Price said Berry feared for his life after he and Dolla, whose real name is Roderick Anthony Burton II, had an altercation at an Atlanta nightclub earlier this month.

Natalie Cole kidney transplant successful

Los Angeles — Ailing Natalie Cole now has a new kidney.

The 59-year-old singer underwent successful kidney transplant surgery “and is resting comfortably,” publicist Maureen O’Connor said Wednesday. Cole will postpone her summer tour, which was set to begin June 5 and run through November, as she recovers.

Cole had been receiving dialysis three times a week since September. She still continued to perform, even overseas, in support of her latest album, the Grammy-winning “Still Unforgettable.”