Wow, it's a new world record: 68 dogs! Joey Chestnut, defended his title in the 2009 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Saturday.  The 25 year-old, from San Jose, CA, beat rival Takeru Kobayashi of Japan.

"I've been practicing hard," Chestnut said after competition.  "After the second minute I knew my body was cooperating."  

The annual event, held at Coney Island, offers prize money of $20,000 to whoever can down the most Nathan's Famous hot dogs in 10 minutes.  This wacky American tradition (this is its 94th year) takes center stage every July 4, and is even broadcast live on ESPN.

Major League Eating, the governing body of competitive eating, ensures the contest follows safety standards and is judged professionally.

Attending Michael Jackson's memorial service for free is now a possibility for 17,500 fans.  The Jackson family has announced that if you would like to go to the public service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, you must register at http://www.staplescenter.com.

More than 1.2 million people have registered so far, hoping to be a part of an event sure to be watched by the world.  So many people visited the website that it briefly crashed.  The free tickets will be given out randomly to those who register at the site by 6 p.m. today.

In an effort to avoid enormous crowds of fans, officials have announced that no funeral procession will be held.  Access to the Staples Center will only be granted to those with a wristband, press credentials, or proof that they are an employee.

Governor Sarah Palin has surprised the country again. On Friday, she announced that she is resigning as the Governor of Alaska at the end of July. She also said she will not seek a second term in 2010.

With two years left of her term, Palin said, "I don't really want to disappoint anyone with this announcement, not with the decision I have made.  All I can ask is that you trust me with this decision."  Making the announcement from her home in Wasalia, Alaska she also said, "People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing's more important to me than our beloved Alaska. Serving our people is the greatest honor I could imagine."

Palin stepped onto the national stage when she was chosen by Arizona senator John McCain as his 2008 Vice Presidential candidate.  Rumors are now swirling that Palin is gearing up to seek the Republican nomination for President in 2012.

The new Alaska governor will be Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell. He will be sworn in on July 26th at the Alaska Governor's Picnic.

Algerian pop star Cheb Mami, whose real name is Mohamed Khelifati, was sentenced to 5 years in French prison for forcing his former girlfriend to have an abortion. He had been on trial for kidnapping and administering a harmful substance, among other charges.

Mami, 42, is best known around the world for collaborating with Phil Collins in the 2000 hit song "Desert Rose."

He was charged for arranging a 2005 kidnapping of his French Photographer girlfriend, several days after she let him know she was pregnant. Four other men, including Mami's agent Michel Le Corre, and two women were said to be involved with the crime. One of the men was said to have put a tranquilizer into the victim's orange juice, they then drove her to Mami's house. There, several members of the group attempted an abortion on the victim, which was confirmed by a doctor for the court.

The victim went back to France, and found out that she was still pregnant. In March 2006 she gave birth to a baby girl.

Mami was charged in late 2006, yet he managed to skip bail and went to Algeria. He was present at the trial in France.

That's quite a story...

A plethora of fireworks will be blazing and popping this holiday weekend. Enjoy yourself, but make sure to keep your family safe.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission put out a warning urging everyone to put safety first. "We know that 70 percent of all [fireworks-related] accidents occur between June 20 and July 20," stated the commission head Inez Tenenbaum. The largest number of young people injured range in age from 14 - 17.

According to the latest report from the CPSC, seven people died and approximately 7,000 people were injured from fireworks-related accidents in 2008.

Make sure to supervise your children around fireworks and never buy illegal products. Even simple sparklers can cause children's clothing to catch on fire. Illegal fireworks sometimes have faster burning fuses that do not give a person enough time to get away after lighting.

Tenenbaum added "never pick up a firework that is a dud [and] hasn't fired, because it might go off in your hand."

So, moral of the story is enjoy the holiday, but supervise your kids around fireworks. And, for your teens, educate them about the dangers of illegal fireworks.

The eldest Jonas brother, Kevin Jonas, proposed to his girlfriend, Danielle Deleasa. Jonas told People magazine that  Deleasa said "yes, yes, yes' -like, 500 times superfast in a row."

Jonas surprised his girlfriend by flying overnight from Vancouver to pop the question at her New Jersey doorstep. He dropped to one knee and proposed with a cushion-cut diamond ring that he helped design with Jacob & Co., according to People.

The 21-year-old singer told People, "It was tough performing last night, knowing that I was going to ask the biggest question in my life to the most amazing girl in the world."

Jonas met Deleasa, 22, in May 2007 in the Bahamas. 

Cheryl Lee, a registered nurse, came forward with a statement that Michael Jackson begged her for Diprivan, a powerful sedative, to help him with insomnia.

Lee met Jackson in January when she treated his children for cold symptoms. She states that Jackson requested the drug stating "I just want to get some sleep. You don't understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep."

Lee said "I told him - and it is so painful that I actually felt it in my whole spirit - 'If you take this you might not wake up.' "

Jackson family attorney Londell McMillan questions Lee's assertions. "I wonder why someone would make a comment about drugs they haven't seen him take the drug or anyone who administered it."

The drug, known also as Propofol, is administered through and IV as an anesthetic drug. Doctors say that the first dose puts you to sleep and an overdose can lead to cardiac arrest.

Lee goes on to state that four days before Jackson died, someone called her to tell her that the singer was complaining that one side of his body was cold while the other was hot.

Lee told the staff member to take Jackson to the hospital. Lee did not go to the police when she heard about Jackson's death. "When I saw it on the news, I really didn't know what to do. I was saddened. I heard there was a physician there."

Toxicology reports will hopefully reveal the truth about what actually killed Michael Jackson.

Melissa Rycroft, famous for living a nationally-televised breakup from Bachelor Jason Mesnick, is engaged to Tye Strickland, according to PEOPLE.

Strickland proposed at White's Chapel in Southlake, Texas and then celebrated with both sets of parents at a nearby restaurant. 

After heartbreak on reality TV, she came in third-place on Dancing With The Stars. She was recently offered a job on Good Morning America.

Rycroft told Us Weekly that "we've been really good friends, but the timing was never right. They started dating soon after Mesnick called off their engagement. It's been a little over four months.

When you know, you know... Good luck to the happy couple

Billy Mays spent his life appearing in commercials and infomercials pitching gadgets ("as seen on TV") and household products. The 50 year-old was found by his wife in their Tampa, FL home.

An autopsy will be completed by Monday afternoon and foul play is not suspected, according to police. 

Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times, " stated Mays wife, Deborah.

Mays was probably best known for his TV promos of Orange Glo and OxiClean. He was also featured on the reality show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel.

Mays was on the US Airways flight that blew out its front tires as it landed in Tampa on Saturday. Authorities have not stated whether Mays' death was related to this.

Mays was adored by fans due to his vivaciousness and larger-than-life personality.

Our condolences to his family.

A pop legend is gone. Nobody can quite believe it. How can the one-gloved superstar who brought us Thriller and Beat It really be gone? He was a fixture in our generation. One minute he’s here, the next gone. Life cut short at 50, unbelievable.

It’s all everyone is talking about… in the news, on Twitter, on Facebook.

Michael was a music icon, the “King of Pop.” Michael was an amazing musician who united black and white music. His music dominated the charts and he was an amazing performer.

Fans from around the world are mourning his death. Modern Mom was outside UCLA Medical Center tonight with hundreds of others paying tribute to the icon. 

Photo Credit: Aleve Loh / Modern Mom

I'm so unhappy to report that Michael Jackson just passed away. He was only 50.

Michael suffered a heart attack this afternoon and despite attempts by the paramedics, he could not be revived. According to reports, Michael did not have a pulse when the paramedics arrived.

Michael had three children, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.

First Farrah and now Michael. It's a sad sad day.

Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox, two of the hottest women in Hollywood, are up for the same role and Angie is not pleased.

She is furious, according to a source, that Megan most likely will reprise her role as Lara Croft's character in the new Tomb Raider film. The prequel will feature a younger Croft, so Angie is being cast aside for a younger model (11 years younger).

According to The Sun "Angie was intent on reprising her role. She feels it's something she helped define and feels robbed that it looks likely to be handed to someone who she considers less capable than her."

A source continued by saying "Angie isn't a fan of the Transformers films and believes Megan won't do the Lara Croft character justice. She's also annoyed because she thinks Megan copies everything from her, from her tattoos to her style."

Interesting... jealousy or truth?

Do you think Angie should come back for the 3rd film or do you think the execs are making the right call?

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo have officially parted ways.

Minnillo's rep told PEOPLE that "They have amicably split but remain good friends who still greatly care for one another."

The news comes after rumors of relationship turmoil swirled around town, but were always denied. Just last month Minnillo, 28, told PEOPLE that she and Lachey, 35, were "very much still on."

Minnillo says that she and Lachey are "still friends. It was the right thing for both of them to do." They were together since 2006.

Did you think they'd last?

Ed McMahon, the longtime boisterous sidekick of Johnny Carson, died at the Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center early this morning.

McMahon will be remembered for his "Heeeerres Johnny" announcement every night for Johnny Carson's 30 year stint on The Tonight Show. He hosted a variety of shows including "Star Search" and "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes."

McMahon was hospitalized with pneumonia in February. McMahon was married to Pamela and had six children. McMahon's son Michael died in 1995.

Our condolences to your family. You will be missed.

I must be totally out of the loop because I didn't even know Burger King had Apple Fries, but they do and they are POPULAR (29 million servings were sold since their launch last year).

What a great idea, they are french fries made from fresh skinless red apples and they are not fried. They are available in the BK Kids Meal, but now Burger King Corp. signed a licensing agreement to sell the BK Apple Fries in supermarkets starting this fall.

A single serving of this nutricious treat will cost around $1 whereas a multiple serving-pack will cost between $4 and $5.

BK execs say the Apple Fries move into retail is more for brand visibility than revenue, as consumers are cutting back on fast-food visits and eating at home.

Sounds like a tasty alternative to fried food, but couldn't I cut an apple myself or are these extra special? 

We all love raw cookie dough... who can resist it?

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning Friday that the prepackaged refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough may be contaminated with a potentially fatal strain of E. coli.  Since March more than 60 people have been taken ill, and 25 have been hospitalized with a severe condition resulting from eating contaminated raw cookie dough.

So, bake those cookies and be sure that your children don't lick their fingers after touching the dough.  It just isn't worth it.....

America's best selling cereal Cheerios, is now a target of the Food and Drug Administration for its health benefit claims. Cheerios makes the following statements on the packaging:

1. "Cheerios is clinically proven to reduce cholesterol 4 percent in 6 weeks."

2. "Cheerios can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, by lowering the 'bad' cholesterol."

In a letter to General Mills, the manufacturer of Cheerios, the FDA said, "Based on claims made on your product's label, we have determined (Cheerios) is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation and treatment of disease."

Under President Obama, the FDA has begun to examine truth in labeling on food packaging. "During the Bush administration the Food and Drug Administration essentially took a policy of non-enforcement," Bruce Silverglade of the Center for Science in the Public Interest told Fox News.  "The Obama administration is reversing course, thank goodness, and enforcing the law."

Both the FDA and General Mills declined to issue a comment about the investigation.  Nearly 1 in 8 boxes of cereal sold in the United States is Cheerios.

Japanese commuter trains are notoriously crowded. To avoid awkward encounters with male passengers, some train operators have introduced women-only cars during rush hour. At Seibu Holdings, an operator in the Tokyo area, ten shareholders have proposed men-only cars in the interest of gender equality.

"While measures against groping, such as getting women-only carriages, have been effective to a certain extent, no measures have been taken against false charges of groping... In the spirit of gender-equality, a male-only carriage must be introduced," the shareholders said in their annual meeting on Wednesday.

According to police data, in 2007, more than 2,000 people were arrested for groping.

That's different.

Think your teen spends too much time text-messaging friends?  For one fifteen year old girl, the fancy finger work has paid for itself (and then some!) Kate Moore, from Des Moines, Iowa won $50,000 in the LG U.S. National Texting Championships on Tuesday.

More than 250,000 people competed to make it to the final rounds held in New York City.  Early stages involved online accuracy and speed challenges, local in-person competitions, and even "text-ins" on MTV shows.

After completing a variety of challenges, including texting while blindfolded, Moore prevailed.  She clinched the competition by texting (with proper spelling AND punctuation) a chorus to the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

Moore, who sends 400 to 500 texts per day said, “I’m just, like, completely stunned right now.  You’d never think a girl from Iowa would win something this big in New York.”

LG will be sponsoring a “mobile world cup” this fall, said Ehtisham Rabbani, LG’s VP of product strategy and marketing.

Wow, I don't know what is more shocking... sending 400 - 500 texts a day or knowing how to spell "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah."

Billy Joel and his wife Katie Lee Joel, after five years of marriage, are separated.

According to a statement by their reps, "This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration. Billy & Katie remain caring friends with admiration and respect for each other."

The third time is not the charm in this case. Joel (60) was also married to his business manager and Christie Brinkley. He has a daughter with Brinkley, Alexis Ray.

Katie Lee (27) was the host of "Top Chef" in 2006.