Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Mar 25, 2011

The daughter of PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN:

is using a Time magazine essay to let loose on JOHN HINCKLEY, the man who nearly killed her father 30 years ago. Fifty-eight-year-old PATTI DAVIS is fuming that Hinckley is allowed unsupervised visits away from his mental hospital and could someday be released.
   She writes in part, "There are times when the American legal system works brilliantly. There are times when it fails... The story of John Hinckley should always include this: As far as the victims are concerned, he beat the legal system. He had wealthy parents who bought him a tenacious lawyer."
   Davis adds, "(NANCY REAGAN still) remembers the noise and chaos of the hospital that day and a nurse coming in to tell her that time was running out to find the bullet (in Reagan's chest)... My mother will hear the echoes of that day, and remember the deathly paleness of my father's skin." (Pacelli)

Crisis in Japan:

Radiation levels in Tokyo's tap water are back down to levels safe for infants. The government, however, will continue with plans to distribute bottled water to parents in the city --nearly a quarter-million of them were handed out yesterday.
   It's believed there are about 80-thousand babies in Tokyo, which has a population of 13 million.
   Other food stuffs in Tokyo are now in short supply as a result of the alarm --milk, rice, even toilet paper.

Those two workers at the Fukushima plant who had to be hospitalized due to radiation exposure will recover.
   The men suffered radiation burns on their feet caused by what are called beta rays as a result of standing in contaminated water while laying electrical cables. (Maiman)

Guilty Pleasures:

Both big national lotteries are over $100 million this weekend...
   --No winner in Tuesday night's drawing for the Mega Millions Lottery. That means tonight's drawing is valued at $304 million ($193.6 million cash value). Mega Millions is played in 42 states and Washington DC. Chances of winning the big prize are 1 in 175.7 million.
   --No winner in last night's drawing for the Powerball Lottery. That means Saturday night's drawing is valued at $125 million ($63.7 million cash value). Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington DC and the U-S Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the grand prize (all five numbers plus the powerball) are 1 in 195.2 million.

Sucking the life out of the wire services:

ELIZABETH TAYLOR was laid to rest yesterday afternoon in a private service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Us Weekly reports her final resting place is right next to her parents and close to those of CLARK GABLE, JIMMY STEWART and MICHAEL JACKSON.
   People magazine reports Liz asked in her will that she be carried into the funeral 15 minutes late to make an arrival... "She wanted to be late for her own funeral" a source said.
   While fans around the world are sad about her passing, DEBBIE REYNOLDS is happy her longtime friend is finally out of pain. The one-time wife of Liz's ex, EDDIE FISHER, told "Access Hollywood" the legendary actress was struggling toward the end and admitted that getting old is just plain tough.
   Theatres on Broadway will dim their lights for one minute tonight in a tribute to Liz, who was nominated for a best actress Tony for her appearance in the 1981 revival of Lillian Hellman's "The Little Foxes." She also starred in Noel Coward's "Private Lives" in 1983 opposite her ex-husband, RICHARD BURTON.
   Meanwhile, the tough old lady enjoyed her life up until the very end and loved going to a watering hole called The Abbey in West Hollywood. The gay bar has set up a huge memorial complete with candles and flowers in honor of Liz's life and named a drink in her honor. Profits from the Blue Velvet Martini will be donated to her AIDS charity all weekend. (Lee)

CHARLIE SHEEN may not be completely nuts. According to Us Weekly magazine, the actor chose to stay away from his twin sons second birthday even though his ex, BROOKE, begged him to come. Turns out she sold pics of the party to the tabloids and would get more money if Charlie showed. Charlie felt like she was trying to set a trap for him since she has a restraining order against him so he stayed away.