‘King of Cartoons’ dies

Boston — William Steig, an illustrator for The New Yorker who was known as the “King of Cartoons” for his award-winning, best-selling children’s books including “Shrek,” has died. He was 95.

Steig died of natural causes Friday night at his home in Boston, said his agent, Holly McGhee.

His 1990 book about a green monster, “Shrek!,” was made into the hit film that in 2002 became the first winner of an Oscar in the new category of best animated feature.

Steig sold his first cartoon to New Yorker editor Harold Ross in 1930 and was hired as a staff cartoonist.

During the following seven decades, he produced more than 1,600 drawings and 117 covers for the magazine. He also wrote more than 30 children’s books, inducing Newsweek to dub him the “King of Cartoons.”

No refund for Tyson

Columbus, Ohio — Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is not entitled to a refund of $5.8 million in state taxes he paid when he owned a home near Cleveland, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals ruled.

Tyson bought the 62-acre estate in 1991, a year before he was imprisoned in Indiana on a rape conviction. He was paroled in 1995, and his probation was transferred to the authority of Ohio, which named him as a resident. Tyson said he had moved to Las Vegas upon release from prison and had mistakenly paid the Ohio taxes.

The state said a paper trail proved Tyson was an Ohio resident because he lived in the state for at least 120 days each of the two years.

Virtuoso’s violin

New York — Jazz violinist Regina Carter made history when she played the famous Niccolo Paganini violin at its home in Genoa, Italy. Now, she’ll be able to repeat the feat in the United States.

Carter, the first black, nonclassical musician to play the 18th-century virtuoso’s revered instrument, is set to play the violin once again in a special performance at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall next month.

The Guarneri violin, known as “the cannon” because of its booming sound, will travel to New York City for the first time in three years for the Nov. 3 concert.

Battle for Steve

Brisbane, Australia — A tug of war has erupted among municipalities in Queensland state hoping to lure — or keep — crocodile hunter Steve Irwin’s crocodile park and zoo.

Irwin and his American wife, Terri, run the Australia Zoo in the northeastern town of Beerwah, which attracts tourists from Australia and abroad.

But recent claims by Irwin that he had bureaucratic problems getting his $27 million expansion plans approved by the Caloundra City Council prompted Gold Coast City Mayor Gary Baildon to promise a red-tape-free ride if Irwin relocated to the world-famous Gold Coast.

Irwin is negotiating with three local councils about relocating the park, Australian Associated Press reported Friday.