Quick Takes: John Galliano to stand trial

Paris prosecutors on Wednesday ordered John Galliano to stand trial over alleged racial insults — a development welcomed by the famous fashion designer’s attorney, who said his client has been the victim of a “veritable lynching” in the court of public opinion.

The trial could take place between April and June, and Galliano, 50, could face up to six months in prison and $31,000 in fines if convicted, the prosecutors office said.

The news came shortly after the designer apologized for his behavior after fashion house Christian Dior sacked him as creative director over anti-Semitic remarks.

—Associated Press

If you’re running, don’t come back

The 2012 presidential campaign may not have officially kicked off, but the Fox News primary is off and running.

Under scrutiny for its employment of four potential GOP candidates, the top-rated cable news channel announced Wednesday that it had suspended the contracts of two contributors, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, because they have indicated they are seriously considering White House bids.

At least two possible Republican candidates remain on the air at Fox News: former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has his own weekly show on the network.

“As soon as each of them shows some serious intention to form an exploratory committee, we would take the same action,” said Dianne Brandi, the network’s executive vice president of legal and business affairs.

Gingrich and Santorum have until May 1 to tell the network whether they plan to run, or their contracts will be officially terminated.

—Matea Gold

Beyoncé gave away Kadafi fee

Beyoncé says she donated money she received for performing for the Kadafi clan to Haiti relief efforts more than a year ago.

The singer’s publicist said she performed at a private party on the island of St. Barts on New Year’s Eve in 2009. Once it was revealed that the performance was linked to the family of Libyan dictator Moammar Kadafi, she gave the money to earthquake relief in Haiti, the publicist said.

The revelation came Wednesday, two days after singer Nelly Furtado tweeted that she had gotten $1 million from the Kadafi clan to perform in Italy in 2007. Furtado said she’s donating that money to charity.

—Associated Press

Levine resigns from the BSO

Conductor James Levine announced Wednesday that he would be stepping down as Boston Symphony Orchestra’s music director after seven years because he wants to focus on dealing with lingering back problems.

The resignation is effective Sept. 1, but talks are in progress with the 67-year-old Levine to define a new, permanent role for him, BSO Managing Director Mark Volpe said.

The announcement came a day after Levine withdrew from his remaining BSO schedule this season because of ill effects from a recent procedure intended to fix lingering back problems and complications from a viral infection.

Levine, who also is music director of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, said he needs to “focus more of my attention on getting back to better health.”

—Associated Press

Sefton takes a job in Australia

David Sefton, former executive and artistic director of the UCLA Live performing arts series, is getting a new job in a new country.

Sefton, 48, was announced Wednesday as artistic director of the Adelaide Festival in Australia in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He said he will begin working with the arts festival in May and he and his family will move to Australia in the fall.

Sefton, who is from Liverpool, England, spent nearly a decade at UCLA Live, where he increased the artistic ambition and scope of the series’ programming. He resigned last May because of financial cuts.

—Karen Wada

Finally

Hall of Fame: Singers Reba McEntire and Jean Shepard and songwriter Bobby Braddock have been chosen to join the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Rock show: The Broadway rock musical “American Idiot” — which features hit songs by the punk band Green Day — will be making its Los Angeles debut at the Ahmanson Theatre in March 2012.