Human Race

Died

Environmental activist Larry Gibson, dubbed the Keeper of the Mountains, died Sept. 9 of a heart attack. For decades, Gibson, 66, traveled the country speaking against mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. His tagline, emblazoned on a signature neon green shirt and hat, was simple: "Love them or leave them; just don't destroy them."

Died

Jews for Jesus founding member Jhan Moskowitz died Sept. 4 at age 64. Moskowitz, the North American director of Jews for Jesus, sustained a severe brain injury after falling in a New York subway station. He had served previously as the Jews for Jesus New York and Chicago branch director and was also a pastor for Kehilat Y'shua (Assembly of Jesus), a Jewish Christian congregation in Manhattan.

Died

Chariots of Fire producer Jake Eberts died Sept. 6 at age 71. As executive producer Eberts helped into production other award-winning movies, including Driving Miss Daisy and Dances with Wolves.

Break

Hollywood actor Greg Elsasser has had small movie and TV parts until a breakthrough from the political stage: The star in the TV series Roman and Jorge is a dead ringer for vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan. "He has great talent but has never been noticed. Until now," said a producer.

Approved

A federal judge ordered Massachusetts prison officials to provide a taxpayer-funded gender-reassignment surgery to a transgender inmate. Robert Kosilek, who is serving life in prison for killing his wife in 1990, first sued in 2000 and later began receiving hormone treatment for gender identity disorder. But in 2005, Kosilek sued again, saying gender-reassignment surgery, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars and is considered elective by many insurance companies, was a medical necessity for him. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf said in his decision, "there is no less intrusive means to correct the prolonged violation of Kosilek's Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care." The state Department of Corrections will have to determine where to house Kosilek after the surgery. Meanwhile, Gov. Deval Patrick says his administration is reviewing the ruling before deciding whether to appeal.

Leaving

Open Doors USA president and CEO Carl Moeller is stepping down after nine years with the international ministry. He has accepted a position as president of Sequoia Global Resources, a new organization seeking to form alliances between business and ministry. Open Doors board member Steve Ridgway will serve as the group's interim CEO.

Decided

An Illinois jury found former cop Drew Peterson, 58, guilty in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, whose bathtub drowning was initially ruled an accident. Police had exhumed Savio's body and reopened the case after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, mysteriously disappeared in 2007. Peterson's sentencing is slated for November.