"Dancing with the Stars" Brooke Burke says she is cancer free

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Dancing with the Stars" co-host Brooke Burke said on Wednesday that medical tests indicate she is free of thyroid cancer.

"I just got the results back from all of my tests and great news - the thyroid cancer has been removed from my body and all my lymph nodes are clear," Burke, 41, said in her blog on the website Modernmom.com.

"So I'm hoping that this is the end of the story. Woohoo!!! And thank GOD!" the former model added.

Burke, a former winner of ABC's popular celebrity ballroom dancing competition, underwent surgery just over a week after the season finale of "Dancing with the Stars" on November 27.

The mother of four posted a picture of herself in Wednesday's blog entry with a small bandage on her throat. She said the surgery will leave her with a large scar across her neck.

The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones that regulate vital body functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure.

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Pete Rose's TLC reality show gets premiere date

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Pete Rose will take to the same playing field as Honey Boo Boo next month.

The former baseball great's reality series, "Pete Rose: Hits & Mrs." has been given a six-episode order from TLC, and will premiere Monday, January 14 at 10 p.m., the network said Tuesday.

The series will follow the 71-year-old Rose - who's been permanently barred from baseball due to gambling - and his new fiancee, former "Playboy" model Kiana Kim and their assemblage of kids from previous marriages. As the couple moves closer to marriage, they face various struggles: Will Rose's kids learn to accept the age difference between their dad and stepmom-to-be? Can Rose, who lives and works in Las Vegas, manage a long-distance relationship with Kiana, who lives in Los Angeles?

But perhaps the biggest question revolving around the series: How much indignity must Rose endure before he's welcomed back into the public's good graces?

"Pete Rose: Hits & Mrs." is produced for TLC by Creature Films, which seems appropriate, with Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez executive-producing.

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"Modern Family" star's dad granted control of her estate

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The father of "Modern Family" star Ariel Winter was given temporary control over the teenage actress' estate on Wednesday in a court-approved settlement in Los Angeles after allegations that her mother had abused her.

Winter, 14, who plays the brainy and precocious teenager Alex Dunphy on the Emmy-winning ABC comedy, will remain under temporary guardianship of her older sister, Shanelle Gray, under the settlement, court officials said.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas scheduled a hearing for March 29 in which he could hand permanent guardianship over to Gray and control of Winter's estate to her father, Glenn Workman.

Gray, 34, was first awarded temporary guardianship of the actress in October.

Winter's mother, Chrisoula Workman, has denied allegations, earlier submitted in court documents, that she verbally and physically abused her daughter.

Messages left with Winter's publicist and attorney seeking comment were not immediately returned.

"Modern Family" portrays the lives of three zany families and has won three consecutive Emmy awards as American television's best comedy series.

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Late BBC star Savile suspected of 199 crimes: UK police

LONDON (Reuters) - British television star Jimmy Savile is suspected of carrying out an unprecedented number of sex offences including 31 rapes, police said on Wednesday in their most comprehensive review of the scandal.

Revelations about Savile, who died last year, provoked outrage across Britain where he had been a household name since the 1960s.

News of Savile's crimes threw his main employer the BBC into turmoil, led to resignation of the BBC's director general just 54 days into his job and provoked awkward questions for his predecessor Mark Thompson, who recently took over as chief executive of the New York Times.

Detectives launched their inquiry 10 weeks ago following reports in a TV documentary that Savile had abused young girls on BBC premises and at hospitals where he did charity work.

Since then, 450 people had come forward with allegations about Savile, mostly dealing with sexual abuse, said police.

Savile was now a suspect in 199 crimes, the vast majority of them involving children or young people, the force added.

"These levels of reporting of sexual abuse against a single individual are unprecedented in the UK," the police said in a statement.

Detectives have been examining three categories of alleged offences: those involving only Savile, which make up the majority of cases; those involving Savile and others; and those which had no direct link to Savile.

So far six men have been arrested and another questioned by London police.

Those quizzed include Max Clifford, Britain's most high-profile celebrity publicist, former BBC radio DJ Dave Lee Travis and former glam-rock singer Gary Glitter.

They have all denied any wrongdoing.

"Our officers will continue to investigate allegations made against those who potentially can be brought to justice," the police statement said. "More arrests nationally will be forthcoming."

A one-time professional wrestler with a penchant for garish outfits, Savile became famous as a pioneering DJ in the 1960s before hosting prime-time TV shows until the 1990s.

He ran about 200 marathons for charity, raising tens of millions of pounds for hospitals, leading some to give him keys to rooms where victims now allege they were abused.

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HBO to develop "Game Change" sequel "Double Down"

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - HBO is going back on the campaign trail with Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.

HBO will develop Halperin and Heilemann's upcoming book "Double Down: Game Change 2012," about the 2012 presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, a spokeswoman for the network told TheWrap.

HBO also adapted Halperin and Heilemann''s book "Game Change," about the 2008 election between Obama and John McCain. That adaptation starred Ed Harris as McCain and Julianne Moore as his running mate Sarah Palin.

Penguin Press announced that it will publish the sequel to the 2010 bestseller "Game Change" in fall 2013. According to a release issued by Penguin, the new book "will, of course, break news; but, more importantly, it will create the lasting story of the 2012 race for the presidency."

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Americans Living Longer, Report Finds

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are living longer, a new report shows, with the average life expectancy going from 78.6 years in 2009 to 78.7 years in 2010.

Meanwhile, U.S. death rates dropped half a percent between 2009 and 2010, and hit the lowest rate ever, at 746.2 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the latest set of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

And while both heart disease and cancer stubbornly remain in place as the nation's leading killers (together accounting for 47 percent of deaths in 2010), death rates here declined as well. Mortality from heart disease went down 2.4 percent, while it dropped 0.6 percent for cancer.

The report is based on 98 percent of death certificates from 50 states and the District of Columbia available to the NCHS.

"In many regards, I think the health of the nation is improving and people are living to an older age so that's good news," said Dr. David McClellan, acting regional chair of family and community medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. "But we are starting to see age-related diseases have more prominence."

For instance, pneumonitis (aspiration pneumonia) often happens when people get old enough and debilitated enough to where they can't swallow. This could be due to dementia or as the aftermath of a stroke, he explained.

There's also "a long way to go in terms of combating the epidemic of smoking, obesity, poor diet and exercise," he said. "If we could get the smoking epidemic under control, we'd probably see the numbers improve even more."

Another expert was more optimistic.

"This is good news. We're making major progression in cancer and heart disease through decreases in smoking," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La.

Statins are also playing a part in reducing the death toll from heart disease, while cancer screening is also helping to save lives, Brooks added.

There were slight shuffles in the rankings of other causes of death.

Homicide fell out of the top 15 category for the first time since 1965, replaced by pneumonitis.

Kidney disease and pneumonia/influenza switched places, with the former now 8th and the latter now 9th.

"Pneumonia and influenza have really dropped a lot. Several years ago, they were the sixth leading cause of death," said Dr. Michael Niederman, chairman of medicine at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. "To me, this is very encouraging because we're dealing with older populations where many patients frequently have pneumonia, but this affirms the national priority on immunization, both influenza and pneumococcal."

The other leading causes of death (in order) were: chronic lower respiratory diseases, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), accidents, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, kidney disease, suicide, septicemia, liver disease, hypertension and Parkinson's.

Many of these are clearly diseases related to the aging population, Brooks noted.

Death rates also declined for influenza and pneumonia (by 8.5 percent), septicemia (3.6 percent), stroke (1.5 percent), respiratory diseases (1.4 percent) and accidents (1.1 percent).

Meanwhile, death rates increased for five of the top 15: Parkinson's disease (4.6 percent), pneumonitis (4.1 percent), liver disease and cirrhosis (3.3 percent), Alzheimer's disease (3.3 percent) and kidney disease (1.3 percent).

The death rate for HIV/AIDS (which was not among the 15 leading causes of death) declined 13.3 percent between 2009 and 2010. But the virus remains a significant concern, especially for people aged 15 through 64.

There was also good news in infant mortality, with rates in 2010 down 3.9 percent from 2009.

But Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a preventive cardiologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City cautioned against getting too excited over the findings.

"This is good news. I don't think it's great news," she said. "With the increased incidence in obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, we're going to start seeing people getting sicker younger."

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Glam Slam: The Friday Five -- Ways To Get Even Sexier

The number one hit "Sexy and I Know It" makes me laugh (I work ouuut!) and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, you may be looking for a little "get sexy" inspiration.

InStyle magazine shares five ways we can all get even sexier!!!!

PLAY IT NOW: 2012 People's Choice Awards Fashion Report Card

Apply Bold Color There's power in your pout. One study showed that both red and pink lipstick hold a man's attention for five seconds longer than a neutral lip. But a high-impact hue has to feel right--to you. Experiment with different shades of crimson and fuchsia and combine it with a subtle, smoky eye.

Master the "Bed-Head Bardot" For touchable waves (like J.Lo's!), start with a volumizing spray or powder. Loosely gather hair into two low ponytails and secure with rubber bands. Twist each pony around its base; pin and leave in for two hours. Shake out and voila--goddess bed head. Create waves on shorter 'dos by wrapping strand vertically around a 1-inch curling iron; begin at the top of your ears and continue down to the ends.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood Stars Who Take The Plunge!

Customize Your Curves When it comes to turning up the heat, a tailor can be a miracle worker. Alterations to the bust, waist and hips of a sheath dress can highlight your shape easily giving you a day-to-night look. Add definition with a thin or wide belt.

Work on Your Wink Fluttery fringe on the red carpet (like Eva Longoria's) is often achieved with false eyelashes or extensions, say pros. For DIY lashes at home, use these tips. Begin with a primer and secure your lashes to the bottom of your eyelid. Gently heat your lash curler with a blow-dryer before crimping. Finally, brush on waterproof mascara to seal the lash.

Embrace Lace A lacy stocking shows off your seductive legs in a seductive way that's not edgy or overt. Pair with an LBD and platform pumps for a saucy retro vibe.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Kristen Stewart's Best Red Carpet Looks

For more beauty tips, pick up a February issue of InStyle on newsstands today.

Instyle is also hosting its annual Beauty Lounge today and tomorrow at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars Step Out For GQ's 2011 'Men Of The Year' Party

To celebrate the 2012 Awards Season, stars like Malin Ackerman will get pampered at the lounge's complimentary hair and makeup touch ups by L'Oréal Paris and mini manicures by OPI! Good times!

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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9 Things You Shouldn't Buy at Grocery Stores

Grocery stores offer plenty of conveniences to make food-buying as simple as possible. Most of us head to the grocery store  to pick up fresh produce, meats, cheeses, snacks, and other convenience foods, and you can pick from dozens of brands and generic items that fit your budget. Still, there are a few things you don't want to pick up at your local supermarket. Certain types of produce are full of pesticides and you'll be better off heading to the local farmers market or buying organic. Buying non-grocery items at the supermarket usually means you'll spend much more than the average price in your area.

Here are nine items you shouldn't pick up from the grocery store:

[See 50 Ways to Improve Your Finances in 2012.]

1. Cosmetics and skin care items. Even though many grocery stores are stocked with popular brands of cosmetics and skin care products, you'll probably pay a premium for every item. Head to your nearest chain drugstore, Wal-Mart, or Super Target if you want to stock up on or sample makeup, moisturizer, cleansers, and scrubs.

2. Pre-ground coffee. Some grocery stores offer great prices on coffee beans that you can grind right in the store, but buying pre-ground coffee could put a dent in your grocery budget. The mark-up on pre-ground coffee is relatively high and you could get a much better deal on large coffee cans at your neighborhood big-box store. Remember you can also track down coupons and vouchers for certain brands.

3. Party supplies. As convenient as it is to pick up candles, balloons, and other party supplies for that last-minute get together, you'll end up paying a high price solely out of convenience. Plan to make a pit stop at the local dollar store or party supply store to take advantage of lower prices.

4. Kitchen appliances. Whether you're in the market for a new toaster, blender, or food processor, do your homework and track down a great price on kitchen appliances online. Grocery stores typically carry a very small stock of these items and you probably won't even find a quality brand. Stick with big-box stores and online merchants for your kitchen appliances and other small electronics.

[See 10 Kitchen Tools That Will Save You Money.]

5. Hardware. Light bulbs, extension cords, nails, and small tools don't come cheap at the grocery store. Again, these are considered to be specialty goods at a grocery store and most will only have a very small inventory of hardware items. Stick with big-box retailers, the dollar store, or even your local hardware store when you need to stock up.

6. Cookware and bakeware. If you're suddenly inspired to cook a banquet-style meal when shopping at the grocery store, make sure you pick up your basic supplies elsewhere. Cookware and bakeware items are usually heavily marked up at the grocery store and you could end up paying almost double the price for your items. Make a list of what you need then head out to a store that has a larger inventory of these specialty items.

7. Some fruits and veggies. PBS put together two lists of fruits and vegetables that are worth buying-and not buying-at the grocery store, based on the level of pesticides and chemicals present in each items. The recommendation is to stick with organic varieties of apples, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries and potatoes. Grocery stores are your best bet for fruits and vegetables like asparagus, sweet peas, eggplant, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and onions.

[See 5 Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Budget.]

8. Gourmet cheese. The deli section of most grocery stores is stocked with pricey items that also have a very short shelf life. If you're looking for cheese, head to the dairy section where you'll find processed varieties for a fraction of the price of the fresh, gourmet options. If it's gourmet cheese you're after, keep an eye out for deals on offerings from daily deal sites at local wine and cheese stores in your area. You can also get better pricing on cheese at your local warehouse club.

9. Name-brand spices. Fresh spices are another gourmet food item that you're probably paying a premium for at the grocery store. Your best bet? The ethnic food markets and local ethnic food stores. Some big-box stores also tend to stock a large spice inventory and will price these at lower price points than your neighborhood grocery store. Consider buying in bulk from the ethnic market to save even more.

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65-and-Older Population Soars

There are now more Americans age 65 and older than at any other time in U.S. history. According to a new Census Bureau report, there were 40.3 million people age 65 and older on April 1, 2010, up 5.3 percent from 35 million in 2010 (and just 3.1 million in 1900).

"The population age 65 and older has increased notably over time," says Carrie Werner, a Census Bureau statistician and author of the report. "It is expected to increase more rapidly over the next decade as more baby boomers start to turn 65 in 2011."

[See 10 Cities With the Most People Over 65.]

The 65-and-older population jumped 15.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, compared with a 9.7 percent increase for the total U.S. population. People age 65 and older now make up 13 percent of the total population, compared with 12.4 percent in 2000 and 4.1 percent in 1900.

Females significantly outnumber males at older ages, but the gap is narrowing. In 2010, there were 90.5 males for every 100 females among people age 65 and older, up from 88.1 males per 100 females the same age in 2000. "Women outnumber men in the older population at every single year of age," says Werner. "Males showed more rapid growth in the older population than females over the past decade." In the 2010 Census, there were approximately twice as many women as men beginning at age 89. This point occurred about four years older than it did in 2000, and six years older than in 1990.

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Why Some People Live to 110

SUNDAY, Jan. 8 (HealthDay News) -- People who live 110 years or longer have as many disease-associated genes as those in the general population, but they may also be blessed with protective genes that help them live so long, researchers report.

The team of U.S. scientists noted that supercentenarians, as they are called, are extremely rare, with only one per 5 million people in developed nations. There is growing evidence that genetics play a major role in living to such an old age.

In what they describe as a first-of-a-kind study, the researchers analyzed the whole genome sequences of a man and a woman who lived past the age of 114 and found that they had as many disease-associated genes as other people.

For example, the man had 37 genetic mutations associated with increased risk for colon cancer.

"In fact, he had presented with an obstructing colon cancer earlier in his life that had not metastasized and was cured with surgery. He was in phenomenal cognitive and physical shape near the time of his death," study senior author Dr. Thomas Perls, director of the New England Centenarian Study, said in a Boston University Medical Center news release.

The woman had numerous genetic variations associated with age-related disease, such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. She did develop congestive heart failure and mild cognitive impairment, but these conditions didn't become evident until she was more than 108 years old.

"The presence of these disease-associated variants is consistent with our and other researchers' findings that centenarians carry as many disease-associated genes as the general population," Perls said. "The difference may be that the centenarians likely have longevity-associated variants that cancel out the disease genes. That effect may extend to the point that the diseases don't occur -- or, if they do, are much less pathogenic or markedly delayed towards the end of life, in these individuals who are practically living to the limit of the human lifespan."

The study was published Jan. 3 in the journal Frontiers in Genetics, and researchers will be able to access the information at the U.S. National Institutes of Health data repository.

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