More residents of Southern California were urged to leave their homes Sunday despite calming winds that allowed a major aerial attack on wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and blanketed the region in smoke. 

Lillo Brancato Jr. was a young actor with a solid resume: He made his debut in 1993 in "A Bronx Tale" and played a mobster wannabe in "The Sopranos."  Brancato's real-life troubles began not long after he befriended Steven Armento, a reputed low-level Genovese crime family associate.

Rolling Stone Picks Top 100 Vocalists...Aretha Franklin is not just the "Queen of Soul" -- she's the best singer of all, according to Rolling Stone.  The magazine has put Franklin at the top of its list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Franklin edges out Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Sam Cooke, in that order.

Former Contestant Found Dead Near 'A.I.' Judge's Home... "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul said that she is "shocked and saddened" by the death of a fan and former contestant on the reality show, who was found dead in a car near Abdul's home in Los Angeles Tuesday night.