Celebrations

The brand of soul music that originated from a segregated Memphis, Tenn., in the 1960s sought to "create a little harmony with harmony," President Obama observed. The music is an important part of American history, he said, and it was celebrated Tuesday night at the White House. Obama spoke at a taping of the latest "In Performance at the White House" series, this one honoring Memphis soul. Whites and blacks came together in Memphis in the 1960s to create a soulful blend of gospel and rhythmic blues despite the segregation that was in place.

Entertainer Ryan Seacrest joined a rapidly growing list of celebrity victims in a so-called swatting prank, police said Wednesday afternoon. Details about the incident were not immediately available, the Beverly Hills Police Department said on Twitter that it had responded to a "swatting call" at Seacrest's home. "No signs of trouble," the tweet read. "Everyone OK. " PHOTOS: Celebrity 'swatting' targets Seacrest is the sixth celebrity in a week whose Los Angeles-area home was targeted, bringing the number of such swatting incidents to nearly a dozen in recent months.

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to consider a motion Tuesday to crack down on “swatting” incidents, in which police are dispatched to celebrities' homes on false crime reports. Councilman Paul Koretz will ask the council to consider assigning several city agencies to help with the effort. Koretz wants the police department's public safety committee to return within 30 days with suggestions on how the council can help limit the false police reports, which have led to at least one officer's injury.

LONDON - They weren't even born when she left office, but they still felt compelled Tuesday to lay a bouquet in remembrance of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. “She was very inspirational. She did a lot of good for this country, and she was the first woman prime minister,” said Stephanie Teed, 21, a university student from the town of Maidenhead, west of London. “I know she had a lot of criticism, but I think she left a great legacy and did a lot of good for Britain,” added her friend Matthew Chapman, 17. The pair left a bunch of roses outside Thatcher's home in central London along with a note saying that “you put the 'great' into 'Great Britain'” and pledging to “remember you as the greatest leader this country has ever had,” even though neither was alive during Thatcher's reign as prime minister from 1979 to 1990.

Rick Warren said it's been difficult to deal with some of the hate mail and online comments he's read since announcing Saturday that his son had committed suicide. "Grieving is hard. Grieving as public figures, harder. Grieving while haters celebrate your pain, hardest," Warren wrote on Facebook on Monday night. Warren has been deluged with words of support both at his Saddleback Church in Orange County and on the Web. “Kay and I are overwhelmed by your love, prayers, and kind words,” the pastor wrote.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tram will begin selling its summer pass on Monday -- for $50 to celebrate 50 years of carrying visitors to the cliffs of Chino Canyon. Pass holders receive unlimited tram rides through Aug. 9, along with 10% off guests' tickets and a 10% discount at Peaks Restaurant and Pines Café at the Mountain Station. Passes can be purchased online or at the Tramway's Valley Station. The Mountain Station also offers spectacular views, a natural exhibit area and two documentary films about the tramway, along with access to 54 miles of hiking trails within Mt. San Jacinto State Park.  The tram opened on Sept.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dozens of Gov. Jerry Brown's friends and campaign donors along with state business officials were off to Beijing on Sunday for the beginning of a weeklong trade mission -- but the governor was not among them. Brown, who turns 75, opted instead to spend his birthday in California with his wife, Anne. They plan to set out Monday to join the more than seven dozen others in the delegation. Earlier this week, Brown said he had originally planned to celebrate his milestone birthday with "a big party" at the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento, but that the logistics of the China trip and his schedule had overwhelmed that idea.

ATLANTA -- This Final Four will be "lights out" on the scoreboard only if there's a second-half power outage at the Georgia Dome. (Hey, it already happened at one football stadium this year.) Saturday's two games in a vacuous, 75,000-seat venue have the potential to rekindle memories of the 1940 NCAA tournament. The semifinal scores that year were 39-30 and 43-42. Wichita State is playing Louisville in Saturday's first semifinal; Syracuse and Michigan in the nightcap. What jumps out about these matchups is not the jump shooters.

Visitors to Honolulu will be able to mingle with the locals while learning more about Hawaiian culture at the Grow Hawaiian Festival on April 20. The event, the sixth-annual, will be at the Bishop Museum , 1525 Bernice St. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Great Lawn of the museum will play host to a variety of artisans and vendors. Craftspeople will demonstrate a variety of skills. Hawaiian cuisine will be available at various stalls. Musicians and hula dancers will entertain.