AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Country music star Randy Travis has filed a lawsuit to prevent the release of patrol car video of his 2012 drunken-driving arrest in North Texas.
The Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday that the lawsuit names the Texas Department of Public Safety and the attorney general’s office.
A judge originally granted a defense request to block the video from being released. But media groups requested the video from DPS, and the attorney general’s office ruled this month that the judge didn’t have discretion to bar the video’s release.
Prosecutors have said the singer was found naked by a road after crashing his Pontiac Trans Am. He pleaded guilty in January to driving while intoxicated and was sentenced to two years’ probation.
DPS and the attorney general’s office didn’t immediately comment Friday.
‘American Idol’ finale draws record low ratings
NEW YORK (AP) — Ratings for the “American Idol” finale plunged to a record low for the 12-year-old show.
According to Nielsen Co. figures Friday, Candice Glover’s victory over Kree Harrison was watched by 14.3 million viewers. That’s a 33 percent drop from the year before, when 21.5 million viewers saw Phillip Phillips claim the “Idol” crown. That represented the show’s previous record low finale audience.
“American Idol” saw an even steeper 44 percent drop among advertiser-coveted young adults for Thursday’s finale.
The lack of interest in the winner of this year’s contest parallels the show’s declining ratings for the season. Fox is scrambling to revive the singing contest that once dominated TV, revamping the judges’ panel and making yet-to-be detailed format changes.
Original judge Randy Jackson has already announced his exit.
