QUICK TAKES

Hopper falls ill

Dennis Hopper was taken to an unidentified New York hospital Wednesday after developing flulike symptoms. The 73-year-old actor was forced to cancel a number of interviews and TV appearances, including The Associated Press, "Today" and "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." Hopper is currently playing music producer Ben Cendars in the Starz TV series "Crash," a version of the 2004 film.

Jean, company partner

The Timberland Co. is teaming up with singer Wyclef Jean to sell eco-friendly footwear and support reforestation of Haiti. Jean has collaborated with the company on a 16-boot collection that goes on sale in November. Timberland will also sell T-shirts designed by Haitian children, and a new line of organic shirts and hats to be sold at Jean's concerts. A cut of those profits will go to the singer's Yele Haiti foundation. The former member of The Fugees is a native of Haiti.

Author supports center

John Grisham spoke Tuesday at an event to support the North Carolina Center of Actual Innocence. According to the Herald-Sun of Durham, N.C., the former lawyer turned author said he thinks police should be required to videotape interrogations for serious crimes, that there should be tighter police procedures in witness identifications and a national certification for forensic experts. Grisham said his next book will be a collection of short stories and he plans another legal thriller for November 2010.

Still hurting

"I think we still are hurt." -- Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, which bankrolled what was to be Michael Jackson's "This is It" tour. He is a key player in the film of the same name about the tour.

Compiled from wire reports by Melissa Sullivan