Harassment charges dropped in Hurley case

LONDON -- Charges were dropped Friday against a man accused of harassing Elizabeth Hurley after the model-actress failed to provide a statement to a London court.

Petar Mihajlovic, 32, was released from custody by the West London Magistrates Court after prosecutors said they didn't have enough evidence to continue the case.

Mihajlovic said he was pleased to be freed and was leaving Britain immediately to return to his home in France.

Mihajlovic was arrested outside Hurley's London home 10 days ago, just hours after the birth of her son, Damian Charles.

Hurley, 36, has not returned home since leaving the hospital last week, instead staying at the house of close friend Elton John.

Duvall fractures ribs in riding accident

LOS ANGELES -- Robert Duvall fractured several ribs in a horse-riding accident while preparing for a new Western.

The 71-year-old actor fell off the horse on Monday while rehearsing for the film "Open Range," a publicist said Thursday.

Duvall was treated for his injuries and is recovering at home in Virginia, said publicist Kristin Borella, who's working with him on another upcoming film, "A Shot at Glory."

He's expected to recover by the time production begins on June 3, Borella said. The film co-stars Kevin Costner.

Duvall, who won a best-actor Oscar for 1983's "Tender Mercies," will next appear as Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the Civil War drama "Gods and Generals."

Ventura sends message on marijuana laws

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Gov. Jesse Ventura sent a video address to the conference of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which is meeting in San Francisco through Saturday.

"I'm sending you this greeting to show my support for the good work you're doing, especially in the field of medical marijuana," he says, according to a transcript of the video.

He adds: "What are we waiting for? How much should people suffer because others won't use common sense?"

Ventura has long been an advocate of legalizing marijuana for medical use.

Sam Donaldson visits Texas alma mater

EL PASO, Texas -- Sam Donaldson made an appearance at the University of Texas at El Paso, his alma mater, to lend his name to the school's journalism center.

"This gives us the confidence to begin marketing the program," UTEP President Diana Natalicio said Thursday. "We will have the kind of immediate reaction from people that we wouldn't otherwise get."

The Sam Donaldson Center for Communications Studies will include a Latin American media institute and internship, visiting lecturer and fellowship programs, said Department of Communication Chairwoman Pat Witherspoon.

Donaldson, a 35-year ABC News veteran, graduated from the university in 1955 when it was known as Texas Western College. He was the manager of the school's FM radio station where announcements were accompanied by live piano.

German city makes Marlene Dietrich a citizen

BERLIN -- Ten years after the death of movie legend Marlene Dietrich, Berlin -- the city where she was born but which she shunned for most of her life -- is making her an honorary citizen.

The city legislature decided Thursday to bestow the honor on Dietrich as "an ambassador for a democratic, freedom-loving and humane Germany." It added in its decision that the move "would symbolize the city of Berlin's reconciliation with her."

Dietrich was born in Berlin on Dec. 27, 1901. She left for the United States in 1930 and turned her back on Germany after Adolf Hitler rose to power three years later, rejecting approaches from the Nazis to return.

She became a U.S. citizen, and sang for American troops as they fought her countrymen.

Tennis star gives $10,000 to schools

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Tennis star Serena Williams donated $10,000 to a predominantly black, rural South Carolina public school district.

Clarendon District 1 will use the money to buy computers that students from three county schools can check out for help with math and reading and to prepare for the SAT.

"It is my hope that this money will help inspire children in Clarendon County to realize that education opens up a world of opportunities," Williams said this week.

The donation also will go for a scholarship to be awarded to one outstanding student of a local high school.

Top woman golfer would take on Tiger

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. -- Annika Sorenstam, the most dominant player in women's golf, says she would welcome a one-on-one match with Tiger Woods, the most dominant player in the men's game.

"I don't know if Tiger wants to, but I love the challenge," Sorenstam said during an appearance at Eagle's Landing Country Club.

"I'd love to play. I'm sure we could work out the distance issues somehow," she said, referring to the shorter tee distances for women golfers.

-- From wire reports