BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)—Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, who was bombed, beaten and repeatedly arrested in the fight for civil rights and hailed by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. for his courage and tenacity, has died. He was 89.

Relatives and hospital officials said Shuttlesworth died Oct. 5 at Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham. A former truck driver who studied religion at night, Shuttlesworth became pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1953 and soon emerged as an outspoken leader in the struggle for racial equality.

SOLDIERS—In a May 8, 1963 file photo, civil rights leaders, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., left, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, center, and Rev. Ralph Abernathy hold a news conference in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo, File)

by Jenny Barchfield

PARIS (AP)—Fashion’s most famous aficionado, music star Kanye West, turned pro on Saturday with a luxurious hard-edged women’s collection that bucked all the stereotypes about celebrity designers.

West has been a front-row fixture at fashion shows for years, but industry insiders had greeted news that he was planning to launch a line of his own with a more than hefty dose of skepticism and plenty of barbed quips about how it would surely be Lindsay Lohan’s leggings line all over again.

BUCKING STEREOTYPES—Rap singer Kanye West acknowledges applause at the end of his spring-summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

So, it was with slightly humbled wonder that the fashion editors, stylists and journalists hand-picked to attend Saturday’s late-night spring-summer 2012 show greeted the sophisticated, highly designed looks on the catwalk.

by Sopia Tareen

CHICAGO (AP)—Jennifer Hudson’s name has graced an Oscar and Grammy, but the Chicago native said she never imagined her name would be on a weight loss center that she could use to inspire others.

The singer and actress stopped in her home town Tuesday for the opening of “The Weight Watchers Jennifer Hudson Center.” Hudson, who lost about 80 pounds, is a spokeswoman for the company.

WINNING POSE—Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson poses at the opening of “The Weight Watchers Jennifer Hudson Center” in Chicago Sept. 27. Hudson has lost 80 pounds and is a spokeswoman for the company. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

The new center, where walls are covered with posters of the svelte star, is in a strip mall on Chicago’s South Side, not far from President Barack Obama’s home.

“I never thought I would make it to have my own center,” said Hudson, who wore a fitted, ruffled black dress and high-heeled studded black boots. “I’m so honored to be here and see this day.”

NEW YORK (AP)—Americans talk skinny but eat fat.

No matter that First Lady Michelle Obama has been on a crusade for a year and a half to slim down the country. Never mind that some restaurants have started listing calories on their menus. Forget even that we keep saying we want to eat healthy. When Americans eat out, we order burgers and fries anyway.