PIRATE’S COVE Stephen Kazmierczak’s former place of employment
Stephen Kazmierczak, the 27-year-old former Northern Illinois University grad student who fatally shot five NIU students before killing himself was, according to… READ ON

Barack Obama is expected to receive the coveted endorsement of the country’s largest union this afternoon. The AP is calling the backing of the nearly two-million-member Service Employees International Union… READ ON

BATTLEFIELD YOUTUBE Cruise in the original Scientology video
The “Message to Scientology” video that launched Anonymous’ attacks against the Church of Scientology was removed by YouTube yesterday due to a… READ ON

PAST DUE Spears
As word leaks that Spears blew $60 million in the last year, Johnny Wright, Spears’ former manager (and current Timberlake co-manager), is looking to collect on an… READ ON

Kudos to Star editor-in-chief Candace Trunzo for openly admitting what most other tabloid editors deny: That, yes, she will indeed provide you with hard cash in exchange for juicy gossip.… READ ON

In his ongoing quest to destroy the remaining vestiges of what he considers American journalism’s outdated standards and practices, Gawker Media emperor Nick Denton today followed in the footsteps of… READ ON

RELEASE ME Streep
The shooting at NIU that claimed five lives will not derail Dark Matter, film starring Meryl Streep that depicts a school shooting, the film’s distributor tells Radar.… READ ON

We’re sure you’ve been tossing and turning at night wondering what erstwhile “It Boy”/Nightlife Clown Fabian Basabe has been busying his pretty little head with days. Well, you’re in luck.… READ ON

BROS BEFORE POLITICOS Orleans
Regarding our earlier “Don’t Play Me Bro” piece, Radar contributor Nick Curran has alerted us to yet another instance of a rock anthem being swiped by… READ ON

TAIL AND TWO CITIES Represent!
Coke vs. Pepsi. Kennedy vs. Castro. Heidi vs. L.C. Epic yet minor rifts when compared to the timeless power struggle between New York and Los… READ ON

ROCK IT FROM THE CRYPT Tyler
• Spicy reply: In response to our earlier item about the Onion sounding the death knell for Aerosmith, story editor Todd Hanson responds:… READ ON

Everyone here at Radar is so proud of you! You’ve really earned the day off. If in fact you get the day off. Fresh Intelligence will return on Tuesday, February… READ ON

STEPPING DOWN Fidel
• See you in Florida!: After nearly 50 years in office, undead Cuban president Fidel Castro resigns, paving the way for little brother Raul to take… READ ON

DAWGED Jackson, Smithson (inset)
Not only is American Idol stacking its deck of supposedly amateur contestants with pros, judge Randy Jackson has helped propel into Idol‘s top 24 an artist… READ ON