Names and faces

— Eva Longoria, George Lopez, Mario Lopez, Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno are among a group of prominent performers wh o w i l l gather Jan. 20 for “ Latino Inaugural 2013: In Performance at the Kennedy Center.” Details of the tribute performance were announced Tuesday. Longoria, a cochairman of President Barack Obama’s inauguration festivities, is hosting the event. Additional performers will include Jose Feliciano, Melanie Griffith, New York City’s Ballet Hispanico, Coro de Ninos de San Juan (the San Juan Children’s Choir) and others. In a statement, the former Desperate Housewives star said the inaugural events will foster more Hispanic engagement in Washington. “Latinos played a critical role in this year’s elections and helped tip the scales in President Obama’s victory. But we are not waiting another four years to make an impact on our country’s future,” she said. “What better way to establish our presence at these inauguralcelebrations than by showcasing the beauty and diversity of our culture at the nation’s premier performing arts center.” Millions of Hispanic voters turned out with 71 percent support for Obama. Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s 27 percent Hispanic support was the least of any presidential candidate in 16 years.

Amy Winehouse died from accidental alcoholpoisoning when she resumed drinking after a period of abstinence, a second coroner’s inquest confirmedTuesday. Coroner Shirley Radcliffe ruled that the 27-year-old soul singer “died as a result of alcohol toxicity” and recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. Tuesday’s verdict was identical to that produced by a first inquest in 2011. But the result of that hearing was annulled after the original coroner was found to lack the proper qualifications for the job. The Grammywinning singer was found dead at her London home on July 23, 2011, with empty vodka bottles scattered around her. In Britain, inquests are held to determine the facts whenever someone dies unexpectedly, violently or in disputed circumstances. Pathologist Michael Sheaff said at the inquest that Winehouse had likely suffered respiratory arrest after consuming so much alcohol. The level in her blood was 416milligrams per 100 milliliters, a blood alcohol level of 0.4 percent. The British legal driving limit is 0.08 percent.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 01/09/2013

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