LITTLE ROCK — During the auction part of Alicia Keys’ Black Ball Redux, one man was ready to jump his bid from $100,000 to $250,000 for a trip to South Africa - if Keys would join him and his friends.“I’ll go for a little more,” Keys said Thursday night at the Apollo Theater in New York, where her charity’s annual gala was held. The man - pharmaceutical billionaire Stewart Rahr - didn’t raise his bid, but he later pledged $1 million to Keep a Child Alive, helping the R&B singer raise more than $2.9 million. Keys’ charity assists those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. Thursday’s event was originally planned for Nov. 1, but was canceled because of superstorm Sandy. Keys honored Oprah Winfrey at the event for the entrepreneur’s philanthropic efforts, including her school, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, which was started in2007. Winfrey said she was honored to receive an award from Keys, and that it confirms she’s “moving in the right direction.”

Stand-up comedian Micah “Katt” Williams was a no-show Thursday morning at his arraignment in Seattle Municipal Court. But he had an excuse. Williams’ attorney, Thomas McAllister,told the judge his client was under the impression that he did not have to appear at the arraignment and has returned to California, where he lives. McAllister said Williams read a Seattle Times story earlier this week in which a spokesman for the city attorney’s office mistakenly said Williams did not have to appear if an attorney was in court on his behalf. Municipal Court Judge Willie Gregory rescheduled the arraignment for Wednesday, saying Williams received “misleading” information. Later Thursday, Williams was charged with three misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree assault stemming from two incidents in Seattle last weekend. According to the charges, Williams struck a man over the head with a microphone during his performance Nov. 30 at the Paramount Theatre. Williams was purportedly angry that the man was recording his show. Early the next morning, Williams threw a chair at two fans who were trying to meet him after the show, according to the city attorney’s office. An investigation into a possible harassment is still ongoing, law-enforcement officials said. Williams’ representatives could not be reached.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 12/08/2012