People talk 04/28/03

Bridge honors North Carolina's James Taylor

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- James Taylor didn't have a guitar or even a microphone when he sang during the weekend, and he was backed up by Gov. Mike Easley and the Chapel Hill High School band.

The song was "The Star-Spangled Banner," and the occasion was a ceremony to unveil a sign naming a bridge in his honor.

The "James Taylor Bridge" sign will soon be posted where U.S. 15-501 South crosses Morgan Creek. The award-winning singer and songwriter spent much of his childhood in Chapel Hill in a home near the creek, and the memories inspired his hit song "Copperline."

Taylor told the crowd of hundreds he felt strongly connected to the area.

"It was a different time," he said Saturday. "Things have gotten a lot better in many ways. Things have gotten more complicated, too."

Robinson posthumously honored by Congress

LOS ANGELES -- Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball's color barrier in 1947, will be honored posthumously with Congress' highest honor, a Congressional Gold Medal, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced.

The honor recognizes the Hall of Famer's contributions to equality and civil rights.

"He is such an important part of our franchise's history, our pastime's history and our nation's history," Graziano said Friday. "Jackie was an extraordinary talent and pioneer and will forever be one of America's treasured symbols."

Robinson's daughter, Sharon, will accept the award Wednesday in Washington. Her father, who died in 1972, played 10 seasons in the major leagues, all with the Dodgers.

Auction to sell letters from Princess Diana

GRAY, Maine -- Eight letters and a Christmas card from Princess Diana will go on the auction block this week along with 300 other items from the estate of fashion editor Liz Tilberis.

Tilberis, who died of ovarian cancer in 1999 at age 51, often hobnobbed with celebrities like Diana through her work as editor of British Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

Other auction items include four Versace tops made for Tilberis with personalized labels, a sketch of Tilberis by designer Karl Lagerfeld, and a full set of Versace china. Some proceeds were earmarked for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

Enron whistleblower: More women leaders needed

BOSTON -- What the corporate world needs, according to Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins, is a few good women.

"Women can ask questions and not feel it's an insult, challenge or sign of distrust of the CEO. They're just asking because they want to know," she said Saturday at the Simmons School of Management women's leadership conference. "I think many of us don't look at personal consequences. There's more the feeling of wanting what is good for all of us."

Watkins, a former Enron accountant who warned then-company CEO Kenneth Lay of impending disaster before the company collapsed, said in an interview that women have qualities that the corporate world lacks.

"Power will not change the nature of women; women will change the nature of power," she said.

-- From wire reports