Maine

NEW YORK — Being Britney Spears is as bad as being a prisoner — according to Spears, anyway.

Spears said in the MTV documentary “Britney: For The Record” that when people go to jail, they know they’ll get out, but in her situation, “it’s never ending.”

For her, she said that it’s like the movie “Groundhog Day.”

As for her past behavior, Spears said, “I’m having to pay for it for a really long time.”

Spears said that she has good days and bad days and she’s a little better each day.

“Britney: For The Record” will air later this month on MTV.

Her latest album, “Circus,” comes out in December.

Previous Stories:

• October 14, 2008: Britney Spears Gets Naked In New Video

Interest appears to be on the decline in “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe’s Broadway debut — a controversial play in which the actor appears nude.

According to Broadway World online, ticket sales for “Equus” have been uneven since the play debuted in September at New York City’s Broadhurst Theater, and in a steep decline in the last three weeks.

The Web site reported that only 5,484 of the available 9,648 seats were sold for the week ending Nov. 16 — which is 56.8 percent capacity of the week’s eight performances. Last week the show sold 61.1 percent of its available tickets and the week before, 60.4 percent of its capacity. (Read the full post about ‘‘Potter’ Star’s Nude Play In Sales Slump’…)

LONDON — A judge will decide Thursday whether Michael Jackson is really sick.

Jackson’s lawyers said that he’s too sick to travel to London to testify in a $7 million suit filed by Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

Jackson lawyer Robert Englehart said, “It would be unwise for him to travel, given what he’s got now.” He did not elaborate.

A lawyer for the sheik told the court Jackson’s condition could be treated with a bandage “if the diagnosis is positive.” The sheik’s lawyer also noted that “it’s not the first time a sick note has been presented by Mr. Jackson.”

Al Khalifa is suing Jackson, claiming he gave Jackson money as an advance for an album and an autobiography that never materialized. (Read the full post about ‘Judge To Decide If Michael Jackson Is Sick’…)

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cockpit recordings have been released from the September crash of a Learjet that killed four people, including the pilots, and critically burned a musician and celebrity disc jockey.

The jet’s co-pilot is heard telling the control tower at Columbia’s main airport: “Roll the equipment, we’re going off the end.”

The plane shot off the end of the runway, ripped through a fence and crossed a highway before coming to rest in flames.

Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM were severely burned in the crash. (Read the full post about ‘Pilot Heard On Barker, DJ AM Crash Tape’…)

When the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. this Friday, theaters across the country will usher in a new breed of a vampire movie.

No, this isn’t your grandpa’s “Dracula” type of movie — this one is geared specifically at teen girls.

The film is “Twilight,” the hotly anticipated vampire romance thriller has some analysts like Business Week online mulling whether it could be this holiday movie season’s “Harry Potter.” If online ticket seller Fandango’s numbers are any indication, “Twilight” at the very least is on pace with another ‘tween movie sensation — “High School Musical 3″ — with more than 100 midnight shows already sold out across the country.

Time will only tell how the box office take will pan out. (Read the full post about ‘‘Twilight’ Develops Monster Following’…)

SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Scarborough’s rejection of slot machines has been upheld by an inspection of ballots by the clerk’s office.

The proposal to allow the slot machines was defeated 5,804 to 5,565 on Nov. 4, and officials found no flaws that required a change in the vote.

The ballots were inspected Tuesday at the request of Scarborough Downs, the harness racing track which wants to operate slot machines. Voters have until the end of the day next Monday to request a formal recount.

PORTLAND, Maine — Portland’s holiday tree is now in Monument Square.

The city’s tree was cut down around 8 a.m. Wednesday from the front yard of Joyce Smith’s Main Street home in Gorham.

The giant blue spruce was a gift from her daughter, which they planted together, more than 30 years ago.

Smith said donating the tree was bittersweet, but a fitting finale.

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A medical answering service company based in South Portland will be cutting about 200 jobs over the next three months.

Intellicare, a telephone based nursing care service offers health care providers and hospitals information about dealing with diabetes patients and the equipment they need.

The company currently employs about 250 people, but 150 of them work remotely –with some in Maine.

100 employees work out of the South Portland headquarters.

A representative for the parent company –Medco — said Intellicare does not fit into Medco’s long-term plans.

PORTLAND, Maine — A water main break on Presumpscot Street in Portland has forced the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and nearby Presumpscot school to close on Wednesday.

A News 8 crew discovered the the water main break at about 4 a.m. Wednesday in front of the BMV.

The road is down to one land and repair work is expected to be complete by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Officials are asking people to avoid the area.

The Children’s Adventure Center is also closed for the day. Officials said about six homes are affected by the water main break as well.

ROCHESTER, N.H. — Investigators are focusing on a set of tire marks discovered near the body of a woman found behind a church in Rochester on Tuesday.

Authorities await the results of an autopsy scheduled Wednesday to determine whether foul play contributed to the death of Marcie Lyn Grenier, 31, whose last known address was in Rochester.

“At this point, this death is considered suspicious in nature until an autopsy is scheduled,” Rochester Deputy Police Chief Mike Allen said. “We haven’t been able to determine the manner or cause of death.”

A member of Christ the King Church on Route 108 found the body behind the church just after 1 p.m. (Read the full post about ‘Police Identify Body Found Behind N.H. Church’…)