The briefs
Rape statute changed
Accusations against late soul singer James Brown have inspired a change in the Illinois law on rape lawsuits. Right now, a person claiming rape has two years to file a civil lawsuit in Illinois. But a law signed Monday will suspend the statute of limitations when the victim has been intimidated or manipulated into staying quiet. The law takes effect Jan. 1 and doesn't make any change in the handling of criminal charges. The shift is a response to a legal defeat for Woodstock resident Jacque Hollander, a former publicist for Brown, who died late last year. She says the singer raped her at gunpoint in 1988 and threatened to have her killed if she told anyone. Hollander waited until 2005 to sue Brown, and the courts rejected her lawsuit as long past the deadline. Brown's attorneys have denied the rape allegation.
Museum returns remains
The Field Museum returned the tattooed head of a Maori and bones from 13 others Monday in Wellington, New Zealand. "The ancestors were welcomed back on to Te Papa's marae (National Museum meeting place)" and were placed in a sacred area with scores of other returned remains, said Arapata Hakiwai, director of Maori treasures at Te Papa National Museum. Representatives of Maori tribes took part in the ceremony, along with staff from the Field Museum and American Indian First Nation tribal members.
'Oprah' appearance fought
Mary Winkler's former in-laws are trying to stop her from appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Winkler is scheduled to be on the show Wednesday to talk about fatally shooting her husband, Matthew Winkler, a Church of Christ preacher in the small town of Selmer, Tenn. She was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. But she served only five months in jail, followed by two months in a mental health treatment facility. Dan and Diane Winkler filed a motion in Carroll County circuit court seeking to stop Mary Winkler from appearing on the show. They are currently fighting with Mary Winkler over who should have custody of her three young daughters. They say the TV appearance would harm the children.
Parent workshop in Roselle
Lake Park High School in Roselle will sponsor a free program for parents about teenage psychology. It will feature Dr. Anthony Wolf, child psychologist and author of numerous child-rearing books including the best-selling "Get Out of My Life, But First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall: A Parents' Guide to the New Teenager." It will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the East Campus, 600 South Medinah Road. Wolf is a frequent contributor to parenting magazines and has appeared on many television shows. For details, call (630) 295-5402.