Maria Puente
USA TODAY
United States
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Recent articles by Maria:
Roman Polanski sues Oscars academy seeking reinstatement after 'improper' expulsion
Oscar-winning filmmaker Roman Polanski sues to get back in to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, after it expelled him last year. → Read More
Cardi B rejects plea deal in strip club brawl case, facing up to one year in jail
Cardi B rejected a deal to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count in strip club brawl, even though it would keep her out of jail. → Read More
Harry and Meghan's royal baby: What we know, what we don't know, and why
Duchess Meghan's American royal baby will be unprecedented, but she and Prince Harry aren't answering all questions, including where it will be born. → Read More
Prince died three years ago, his estate is still unsettled: Here's why
Of the lessons learned after Prince died on April 21, 2016, the most obvious is: If you die without a will, you leave behind a shambles for your heirs. → Read More
Harvey Weinstein sex-crime case: Both sides want to bar media, public from hearing
Harvey Weinstein's next hearing in his sex-crimes case in New York is set for April 26, but both sides want to keep the media and public out of the courtroom. → Read More
Melania Trump's rep disses 'small-minded' Anna Wintour over interview about first ladies
Melania Trump's name didn't come up in an interview Vogue's Anna Wintour did with CNN about first ladies, but her spokeswoman believes the chat suggests she's been banned from appearing on the cover. → Read More
Many of Notre Dame Cathedral's irreplaceable artworks may be gone; some moved just in time
Art and architecture lovers around the world, and millions of Roman Catholics, feared the worst in a savage fire that consumed much of Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. → Read More
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announce plans to keep baby's arrival 'private'
Buckingham Palace officials announced Thursday morning that the Sussexes plan on keeping the birth of their first child "private," a move from previous royal babies. → Read More
Lori Loughlin indicted by federal grand jury, charged with money laundering
Federal prosecutors increased the pressure to negotiate plea agreements on Lori Loughlin, 15 other parents in the college admissions scam: They were indicted by a grand jury with an added charge of money laundering. → Read More
Felicity Huffman pleads guilty in college admissions cheating scam, feds say
The Oscar-nominated actress is among a group of parents who were accused of bribery and test cheating to get their kids into elite colleges. → Read More
Bill Cosby: 'I didn't settle' defamation lawsuit and 'I'm not paying' but my insurer will
Seven Bill Cosby accusers have settled their civil defamation lawsuit against him, but he denies he agreed to it or to pay them, blaming his insurance carrier. → Read More
Jussie Smollett, Chicago officials face off in nasty legal battle over civil fine
Jussie Smollett's pugnacious lawyer, Mark Geragos, told Chicago officials to prepare for legal battle over city's demand for $130,000 fine for hate-crime investigation. → Read More
Harry and Meghan's new Instagram account is a record-breaking hit with millions
In another sign of Harry and Meghan's new independence, they launched their own Instagram account, separate from Will and Kate's - and they already have millions of followers. → Read More
R. Kelly sex-crimes case back in court; lawyers want to see correspondence with Avenatti
Lawyers in the R. Kelly sex-crimes case were in court Monday to argue over pretrial motions, including Kelly's demand that prosecutors turn over copies of communications from Michael Avenatti, arrested himself last week on extortion charges. → Read More
Experts: Jussie Smollett fiasco could taint Chicago prosecutors preparing to try R. Kelly
Reeling from the outcry over dropping the charges against Jussie Smollett this week, Chicago prosecutors prepare to try R. Kelly on multiple sex crimes. → Read More
Jussie Smollett: With criminal charges dropped, is his career ruined or can he recover?
Jussie Smollett's record is expunged but there's still a possibility of leaks about what happened and why the charges against him were dropped. So where does the "Empire" actor go from here? → Read More
Exclusive: Crew member recounts what happened on stranded, storm-tossed Viking Sky cruise ship
All on board the Viking Sky cruise ship are safe now, but it was touch-and-go for 48 hours: Dead engines, wicked storm, dangerous rocks, harrowing helicopter rescues. → Read More
Exclusive: Crew member recounts what happened on that stranded, storm-tossed Viking Sky cruise ship
All on board the Viking Sky cruise ship are safe now, but it was touch-and-go for 48 hours: Dead engines, wicked storm, dangerous rocks, harrowing helicopter rescues. → Read More
Duchess Kate steps out with Queen Elizabeth at King's College London
In the first of her two appearances on Tuesday, Duchess Kate joined Queen Elizabeth II to open a new teaching-and-research facility at King's College London. → Read More
Prince Harry and Meghan formally set up office separate from Will and Kate's
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex are getting their own "household," to be based at Buckingham Palace. → Read More