In the spotlight

Former Channel 4 reporter Marie Rice is one of six broadcasters who will be inducted Nov. 12 into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame at its 5th Annual Induction Ceremony in New York City.

Rice, who two weeks ago was inducted in the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame, earned a reputation here as a trusted reporter credited with “giving a voice to the voiceless.”

In her 27 years at WIVB-TV, she covered the environmental disaster at Love Canal, criminal trials,

and papal and presidential visits.

Rice, who left Channel 4 about five years ago, said she adored Buffalo. “If it weren’t for personal reasons, I would still be there,” she said.

The other five broadcasters being honored Nov. 12 are CBS News Sunday Morning anchor Charles Osgood, legendary CBS radio personality HarryHarrison, Rochester morning radio personality “Brother Wease” (Alan Levin), Syracuse TV/radio personality Rick Gary and WGY radio host Don Weeks.

Capitol gains

The Dalai Lama, visiting Washington, D. C. earlier this week, may have been disappointed not to be able to meet with President Obama. But the Tibetan leader did get a performance by Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster Michael Ludwig.

Ludwig and his brother, Boston Symphony violist Mark Ludwig, entertained His Holiness with a Mozart duo. They played for him Tuesday at the U. S. Capitol after he was given the Lantos Human Rights Prize.

Joining the DalaiLamaweresuchfigures asSpeaker of theHouseNancy PelosiandSen. JohnMcCain, R-Ariz.

“It was very, very cool,” Ludwig said. “I shook hands with John McCain. He looks exactly like he looks on TV, fit and healthy. He made a nice speech.”

Ludwig was especially charmed by the Dalai Lama himself.

“After the ceremony, he was bestowing Tibetan scarves on all the dignitaries. They gave him enough scarves to give to all the big shots. But then he looked over, and he motioned to his assistants to bring him two more scarves. And he gave them to us.

“That touched me. He could have easily just have acknowledged us and walked right by. He presented the scarf to me with this big smileWe shook hands and hugged.”

Sign the papers

R&B star Usher has just released a new single, “Papers,” about his messy split from wife Tameka Foster Raymond. But the singer has yet to sign the real documents, note RaderOnLine.com and the New York Daily News.

The singer’s delay has reportedly been holding up a divorce settlement hammered out about a month ago and filed at Atlanta’s Superior Court.

“Tameka thinks that it’s ironic that ‘Papers’ is his comeback single when she just wants him to sign the paperwork and finalize the divorce,” said a source.

Married in 2007, the couple have two sons, 1-year-old Usher Raymond V, and Naviyd, 10 months.

DUIarrest

Actor Nick Nolte’s son was arrested for suspicion of DUI and possession of a controlled substance Tuesday in Santa Monica, says the gossip site TMZ.

The site quoted law enforcement sources as saying that Brawley King Nolte—who starred as the kidnapped kid in “Ransom” back in the day—struck another vehicle while making a lane change.

When cops arrived, the 23-year-old reportedly showed signs of impairment, so cops conducted field sobriety tests and arrested him.