Global News

While he was an Illinois legislator just a few years ago, Barack Obama spoke favorably of a “single-payer” or government-run system for health insurance like other wealthy nations. Source

Garden Detective Jessica Damiano spent a recent afternoon with celebrity chef Ina Garten, The Food Network’s “Barefoot Contessa,” touring her East Hampton garden and talking about plants, food and life. Source

For the past six years, celebrity chef Ina Garten has been a fixture on The Food Network, where, on her “Barefoot Contessa” show, she shops, cooks and entertains, demonstrating for viewers that simple is not only easier – it’s better. Not surprisingly, her casual elegance carries over from her kitchen to her garden. Source

The auditorium of Bay Shore High School was standing room only. Among the guests lucky enough to score a special green ticket – promising a Bay Shore variation of the venerable Irish blessing, “Where the Sea Breezes Are Always At Your Back” – were the local monsignor and a group of Hibernians. Source

Remaking big-screen flicks for the small screen may be the ticket for creating new hits. Source

Billy Joel and a gorgeous soap opera actress are not quite “dating” – but they’ve gone out on a couple of dates. Capeesh? Source

Don’t worry, Straylight Run fans, John Nolan isn’t leaving the Long Beach-based band. He’s just trying something new. Source

Whitney Houston says her daughter’s support helped fuel her as she geared up for her comeback record. Source

With the expressway next door turned into a movie set, Andrea Tofalli and Chad Denimarck opened their Seaford home to strangers Monday and had a brush with fame. Source

Off the Wall can read your mind.THIS SEASON’S SOLE NEW HIT. On the networks, that would be “The Mentalist” (tonight at 8, CBS/2), repeating its premiere episode on this special night. See where Simon Baker’s head-game crime-solving started. Video clips at cbs.com/thementalist. Source