People 10B

Former Air Force One plane to be displayed

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- A Boeing 707 airliner that served as Air Force One for seven U.S. presidents should be on display sometime next year at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush used the plane.

The Air Force gave the plane to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation in 2001 after its last presidential flight that July.

The plane was on view for a private ceremony Friday to mark the start of lengthy process of getting it ready at its new home. It will have to be taken apart, transported in pieces and reassembled at the library.

President Reagan logged 631,640 miles on the plane, almost 400,000 more than its second most frequent flier, President Carter.

Diaz snubs Oscar limo for Toyota Prius

LOS ANGELES -- Star gazers won't see Cameron Diaz stepping out of a stretch limo at Sunday night's Oscars ceremony.

She's one of a handful of celebrities who will be chauffeured to the gala in hybrid cars powered by both gasoline and electricity.

Also arriving in a Toyota Prius, courtesy of environmentalists, will be Harrison Ford, Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams.

"This is to show that there are people who care about lessening our dependence on foreign oil and increased fuel efficiency," said Matt Petersen of Global Green USA, an affiliate of Green Cross International.

Alternative fuel vehicles "are part of the solution to global warming, pollution and lowering our gas bills," Petersen said.

Because of the war in Iraq, organizers canceled the splashy red-carpet arrivals at the Kodak Theatre.

'Joe Millionaire' romance is over

NEW YORK -- The made-for-television fairy tale has ended for "Joe Millionaire" winner Zora Andrich.

The 30-year-old former substitute teacher said it's over between her and Evan Marriott, star of the Fox reality-romance series. Marriott chose Andrich from 20 women competing for his affection who believed he was worth $50 million, when he was really a construction worker who earned $19,000 a year.

"I really liked him, but we haven't talked since the 'Joe' reunion in February," she told Us Weekly magazine for its March 31 issue. "He's so caught up in everything. I'd rather be with a construction worker than with someone who craves the spotlight like that."

Andrich has yet to receive her half of the $1 million prize. Once she gets the money, she said, "I'm going to help relatives in Serbia get medical care." She also wants to become a holistic nurse.

Public memorial service for Fred Rogers May 3

PITTSBURGH -- A public memorial service has been scheduled for Fred Rogers, host of the pioneering TV children's show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," who died in February.

Family Communications Inc., the company that produced "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for WQED in Pittsburgh, said Friday the memorial service will be held May 3 in the auditorium of downtown Heinz Hall.

Rogers died Feb. 27 at age 74 following a bout with stomach cancer.

He had produced the children's show that appeared nationally on public television for more than 30 years. He was buried in a private ceremony March 1.

An ordained Presbyterian minister, Rogers began producing the show in 1966, going national two years later. -- From wire reports

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On the Net:

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: http://www.pbskids.org/rogers

Family Communications: http://www.fci.org

Country star's boyhood home still up for sale

BETSY LAYNE, Ky. -- The boyhood home of country music star Dwight Yoakum has been on the market a month, and Kentucky tourism officials are surprised that it's not sold yet.

"I could see a country music lover making a good income supplement, buying the house and opening it to fans," said Fred James, spokesman for the Kentucky Tourism Cabinet. "It has appeal, no question about it."

List price for the single-story house is $89,500. According to a local advertisement, the house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It's completely remodeled, with new carpet.

Yoakum lived in the house only briefly as an infant, before his parents moved to Columbus, Ohio. He returned often, though, to spend weekends with his grandparents, Luther and Earlene Tibbs, said country music promoter Billie Jean Osborne.

Lots of fans drive by the house, said Trudy Hunter, whose son Randy Hunter, owns the property in eastern Kentucky.

"You can tell who his fans are," she said. "They slow down real slow looking at the house. Then they stop, get out and take pictures. There are people from all over the country who come."

War would put film release 'Against the Ropes'

LOS ANGELES -- Paramount Pictures said it has postponed the upcoming release of the Meg Ryan boxing comedy "Against the Ropes" because TV coverage of the war in Iraq could make it difficult to publicize the film.

"Our campaign was poised to go on air and we became concerned that our message would be lost amidst the current war coverage," studio spokeswoman Nancy Kirkpatrick said Friday.

The movie, about a woman boxing manager trying to succeed in the male-dominated sport, was originally set for release April 25. No new release date was set.

"We will reschedule the release once there is a return to normalcy in the media," Kirkpatrick said.

Manager wants his dues from Dru

BALTIMORE -- The man credited with discovering Dru Hill is suing the rhythm and blues group for $30 million for alleged lost record royalties and management fees.

Kevin Peck, a Baltimore entertainment manager, filed the breach of contract lawsuit Thursday, claiming his 1996 management agreement with the four original members of Dru Hill "is still in force" and he is owed millions of dollars from the band's three records, including 2002's "Dru World Order."

Band spokesman Courtney Barnes said Thursday that Dru Hill has no comment regarding Peck's lawsuit, which was filed the same day the group's new video, "I Love You," debuted on Black Entertainment Television.

-- From wire reports