American Idol has been consistently losing viewers over the past few years, despite the continued coverage and hype the show receives in the media and gossip arenas. Over one year ago, we speculated that just as Britain's "Pop Idol" was eventually replaced with X-Factor, the same thing would happen here in the U.S. It appears as though our predictions were on target.

According to the UK's Daily Mirror, Cheryl Cole, has been tapped by Simon Cowell to take X-Factor across the pond. Cole is a member of Girls Aloud and the wife of footballer Ashley Cole, and became an X-Factor judge in 2008.

Senior execs from NBC are scheduled to fly to Manchester this weekend to see her in action at the live auditions.

A source told the Mirror:

"Simon is on the brink of signing a deal to take The X Factor to America and, if he gets his way, Cheryl will be its star.

He thinks she has amazing presence and her down-to-earth Northern charm will appeal to the American public. She is also an incredibly beautiful girl.

She won’t get paid anything like the million pound salary she’s on here, because obviously she is not as well known in the States.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced Friday that she intends to resign from office at the end of the month, further fueling speculation that she will focus on a bid for the White House in 2012. The former GOP vice presidential candidate made the surprising announcement from her home in Wasilla on Friday morning, stating that she would step down effective July 26. Palin, however, did not elaborate on her plans.

In a statement released by her office, Palin said:

"Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose.

It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future, can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success."

Lt. Governor Sean Parnell will thus take over as the state's governor, and will be inaugurated at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks at the end of the month.

Yesterday, Roldo mentioned that Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland may be a one term Governor. It appears many voters in the state feel the same way. A new poll has been released shows a dramatic decrease in Buckeye State residents approving of the way Strickland is running the state.

In May, Strickland was judged favorably by 57% of people surveyed. Fast forward just two months later and only 46% of respondents said that they approve of how the Govenor is handling his job.

Uh oh. Busted. Rihanna's love of tattoos may have just landed her in some hot water. Last night the pop star picked up a tattoo needle at a parlor in NYC and tattooed three of East Side Ink's artists with umbrellas and the letter R. Neither of the three cared that she didn't have a proper license, but the NYC Law Department feels quite differently.

Tattooing without a license is highly illegal, and according to the NYC Law Dept., Rihanna could be slapped with three misdemeanors for the offense. Each also carries its own penalty - $300 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $1000 for the third. In addition, the tattoo parlor could also face considerable fines if an investigation is opened.

Speaking with TMZ, the NYC Health Department said:

A joint Australian-Vietnamese study investigating the links between diet and the bone health of humans has found that vegetarians have slightly weaker bones than their meat-eating counterparts. As a part of the study, the studied the diet and bones of more than 2,700 people.

Lead researcher Tuan Nguyen said that vegetarians had 5% less dense bones than meat-eaters. Vegans, who refrain from eating all animal products were found to have 6% weaker bones.

However, researchers found "rapctically no differnece" between the bone density of meat-eaters and ovolactovegarians - people who don't eat meat or seafood but include eggs and dairy in their diets.

The scientists have not yet determined whether the lower bone density, howver, is linked to an increased risk of fracture.

"Given the rising number of vegetarians, roughly 5% (of people) in Western countries, and the widespread incidence of osteoporosis, the issue is worth resolving." Nguyen said.

While most of the country is either on vacation or getting ready to enjoy the holiday weekend, the nation's gossip writers are being kept busy with the continuing onslaught of breaking Michael Jackson news. As long as there is news to share, we will be here relaying the messages. Instead of traveling from site to site searching for the latest Wacko Jacko news, we offer one-stop shopping here at the Cleveland Leader.

Sedative Diprivan Found at Jackson's Home

Sources told the press today that investigators found the powerful sedative Diprivan inside Michael Jackson's home. Diprivan is an intravenous drug used in hospital operating rooms to knock patients out, and would be highly unusual to have found in a private home. CNN said that sources told them that Jackson suffered from such a severe case of insomnia that he traveled with a private anesthesiologist during the 1990s.

Medical experts say that the drug can lead to cardiac arrest, especially if combined with other drugs. Perhaps not coincidentally, Jackson, 50, died suddenly on June 25 after going into cardiac arrest at his Bel Air estate.

Jackson Memorial Service Details Announced

While it is normally male athletes in the news for their bad behavior, one of the members of the fairer sex is in a bit of a legal bind today. Diana Taurasi, the WNBA star who made a name for herself after 4 stellar years at U Conn, has been charged with DUI. Taurasi, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was stopped by police at 2:30 Thrusday morning and failed sobriety tests. She was then given a blood test and released.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library System was named the top library system in the United States for a population of 500,000+, according to the 2009 Hennen American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR). A total of 9,080 libraries were included in the study.

In 2008, CCPL was named the second best library system in the country, topped only by another Ohio library system - Columbus Metropolitan Library. This year, however, the two systems swapped places, with CCPL rising to the top, and CML falling into second place.

CCPL has hit new circulation records in each of the last four years, and is on pace to set yet another record in 2009. Through June 2009, the system's circulation has already surpassed 9.4 million items, which constitutes a 7 percent increase over the first six months of last year.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library consists of 28 branches located throughout Cuyahoga County and the system's Administrative Offices.

80's sitcom legend Gary Coleman is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. His wife was arrested yesterday at their Utah home with charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and domestic violence.

Shannon Price, who a 5'7'' Redhead, married the 4'8'' child star a few years back and their relationship has been anything but tranquil. The latest reports say that Price locked out Coleman from her home and then took out her frustration with the former Different Strokes stars bedroom by destroying it. Before your start feeling too bad about Coleman, he has been in and out of courts himself for charges of domestic abuse.

Here is the couple from an appearance on Divorce Court last year.