NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made a surprise return to her alma mater yesterday, picking up an honorary degree from Yale University 36 years after earning her law degree from the Ivy League school.

None of the 10 honorary degree recipients spoke during the ceremony held for the university at large, where Yale handed out 2,868 undergraduate and graduate degrees at its 308th commencement.

Clinton, 60, did speak briefly at Yale Law School's separate commencement event in the afternoon. There, Clinton reminisced about her days at Yale, saying the law school was an "encampment for protests and frivolity" when she arrived in the fall of 1969. She met her future husband, Bill Clinton, at the school the following year.

DRUMMER SUES 'PIANO MAN' JOEL

NEW YORK — A former drummer for Billy Joel claims the Grammy Award-winning singer of hits including "Uptown Girl" and "Movin' Out" has stiffed him out of royalties for years.

Liberty DeVitto has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan's state Supreme Court demanding Joel pay him overdue royalties. The 58-year-old says he was Joel's drummer from 1975 to 2005 and helped the piano man craft some of his biggest albums.

Joel has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

DeVitto's lawyer says he doesn't know how much his client is owed. He says Joel's sales are subject to an audit.

'IDOL' FINALIST TO THANK HIS HOMETOWN

MILWAUKEE — "American Idol" finalist Danny Gokey plans to thank his hometown of Milwaukee at an event that also will raise awareness and money for his charity.

The former church music director, who will tour with the Top 10 "American Idol" finalists this summer, is not expected to sing at the free event tonight for contractual reasons. But his church choir, including friend and former "American Idol" contestant Jamar Rogers, do plan to perform.

Gokey also will talk about Sophia's Heart Foundation, which he started in memory of his wife, who died last summer after surgery for a congenital heart defect.

FORMER WILCO MEMBER JAY BENNETT DIES

URBANA, Ill. — Jay Bennett, a former member of the band Wilco, has died at age 45.

Bennett died at his Urbana home Sunday and an autopsy was being performed, friend and fellow musician Edward Burch told the Chicago Sun-Times.