Usher helps New Orleans school rebound from Katrina

Usher went to work yesterday, but instead of recording a new album or perfecting his famous abs, the Grammy-winning R&B singer volunteered to help a New Orleans school clean up the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Usher worked at the International School of Louisiana, the state's first foreign-language-based charter school, which has been closed since Katrina hit last August 29.

The singer first visited storm-damaged neighborhoods in New Orleans and nearby St. Bernard Parish, saying that he was hoping to motivate others to follow his example of volunteerism in the battered region. The Atlanta resident also met with local business leaders and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco in Baton Rouge. (2:30 p.m.)

Rolling Stones guitarist Wood enters rehab

First the Rolling Stones had to postpone their "A Bigger Bang" tour because lead guitarist Keith Richards needed brain surgery after falling out of a coconut tree in Fiji, and now they might need to do so again because the band's other guitarist has entered rehab.

Ronnie Wood, 59, checked himself into celebrity rehab center The Priory in London last night for treatment for alcohol abuse, putting the band's upcoming European tour in jeopardy once again. The guitarist reportedly relapsed recently after staying sober since the last time he entered rehab in April 2005.

A Stones spokesman said Wood will be ready when the tour picks up again in Milan July 11. "Ronnie needs some rest, but he will definitely be fit for the first night of the European tour," a Stones spokesman said. (2:00 p.m.)

J-Lo wins lawsuit filed by Flashdance inspiration

Jennifer Lopez was vindicated by a federal appeals court this week in a lawsuit filed against her by the woman who inspired the movie Flashdance. Maureen Marder, played by Jennifer Beals in the 1983 film, had sought damages from J-Lo and her record label for using moves that mimicked scenes from Flashdance in the video for her song "I'm Glad."

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected the claims, upholding a lower court's decision that Marder gave up her rights when she signed a release form with Paramount Pictures in 1982. The ruling stated "there is simply no evidence that her consent was obtained by fraud, deception, misrepresentation, duress, or undue influence." (1:00 p.m.)

Idiot cover art tips girl off to grenade

Green Day's punk-rock opera American Idiot calls President Bush to task for his handling of the war on terror and in Iraq, but the album's cover art helped a 12-year-old British girl identify a live grenade from World War II in her backyard this week.

Ruby Wilson of Halifax in the UK found the grenade in her backyard and said she knew what it was because of the Idiot image on her Green Day T-shirt, which depicts a hand holding a bleeding, heart-shaped hand grenade.

"I saw what looked like a round metal object and realized it looked like a hand grenade," Wilson told Halifax Today. A bomb disposal unit was dispatched, and the neighborhood was evacuated until the grenade was transported out of the area and detonated in a controlled area. (11:45 p.m.)

Dubya, Koizumi to visit Graceland

Self-confessed Elvis fan Junichiro Koizumi, the prime minister of Japan, will have a special escort when he visits Graceland for the first time on June 30. President George W. Bush will accompany Koizumi, who is visiting the US later this month as part of an official visit. Koizumi wrote the liner notes to a compilation of Presley songs after being elected into office. (4:00 p.m.)

Korn frontman Davis leaves hospital

Four days after what he called "one of the scariest days of my life," Korn singer Jonathan Davis left a London hospital yesterday, where he was treated for a blood disorder known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura. The ailment forced Korn to use guest vocalists for its performance at UK's Download Festival last weekend and postpone its remaining European tour dates.

"The doctors have determined that this was an isolated incident, and that after a few weeks, my recovery will be complete," Davis said in a statement. "I will be ready to rock on the Family Values tour this summer." (4:00 p.m.)