We’re excited to announce that staff programmer Alex Robbin has now been promoted to become a Leaky senior staffer, with all the perks (uh…) and benefits (well…) that come with that. Like meetings. And more responsibility. And people to manage. And projects to oversee. And sitewide decisions to make. And more headaches, and phone calls …read more!

Our friends at Alivans have updated with a few new things for summer. They have added some nice tank tee-shirts and new house sweaters. In addition there is the one of a kind Solitaire Collection of wands, that once a wand is created for this collection, it is then retired and will never be duplicated …read more!

Forbes Magazine has published its list of Top 100 Celebrities, and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is ranked at number 19. The list is comprised of those who, according to the magazine, have ” . . . a combination of earnings and sizzle” making them ” . . . the most powerful names in the …read more!

As we told you previously, there is to be a special birthday party for the Queen on June 25, and several figures from the world of Harry Potter are involved in this event. We now have several updates for you regarding their involvement. First, Warner Brothers has updated their official Harry Potter website with more …read more!

In a new interview in the New York Observer, actor Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort) discusses award nominations, stage vs. screen performance and more — this despite the fact that he calls interviews “too exhausting to hate.” Mr. Fiennes will continue his Tony-nominated performance in the title role of the “Faith Healer” until the play closes …read more!

On Monday night, John Noe and I went to the Webby Awards, the “Oscars of the Net,” to represent you all and pick up the People’s Voice award for best Celebrity/Fan site; it was the first time a fan site has taken home a Webby and we were unbelievably thrilled to do it. We’ve uploaded …read more!

The Leaky Gallery has been completely redesigned! Thanks to John Noe and Super Alex, one of Leaky’s top programmers, it’s now boasting its own snazzy design that changes with every click. Since we unveiled this gallery in February, we have fielded your hundreds of complaints; the AJAX-based navigation, while easy on load times, is still …read more!

Last month we told you of a woman who lost her attempt to have the Gwinnett County school board in Georgia ban the Harry Potter books. The school board rejected this claim, allowing the books to remain on the shelves, and now Laura Mallory has filed a written appeal of this decision. Previously, this mother …read more!

Comedian John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick) has given a new interview where he says he plans to retire from “writing and performing sitcoms,” and will instead write a book “on the history of comedy and will hold classes explaining how to make people laugh.” Mr. Cleese, one of the founding members of the legendary Monty …read more!

The trailer for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was named winner in the “Best Animation/Family” category at the seventh annual Golden Trailer Awards. These awards honor movie trailers which they feel are ” works of art in their own right, expertly blending elements of cinema and advertising.” Congratulations to WB and The Ant …read more!