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Hollywood sources told LA Weekly columnist Nikki Finke late Friday that the medical condition of former President Ronald Reagan has worsened. Doctors have gone to the Reagans' Bel-Air home. "He really took a downslide today," an insider informed Finke. "Things aren't good." MSNBC, Fox and Newsweek each chased errant reports earlier in the day that the former president and governor, 93 and suffering from Alzheimer's, had died, Finke says. (via email)
* Saturday morning update: President Bush has been informed of Reagan's deterioration, according to wire stories, but a family spokesman called the reports just rumors.
** 12:30 p.m. Saturday: AP reports that the Reagan children have gathered bedside at the Bel-Air home, and that Nancy told Mike Wallace of CBS News, "This is it." No doubt that at this point, newsrooms are mobilizing. The Drudge Report says that whenever Reagan passes on, the streets around the St. Cloud Road residence will be closed.