People talk 3/14/03

Springer: Trashy image may tarnish campaign

DAYTON, Ohio -- Jerry Springer said he's not sure he can overcome his trash talk-show host image for a possible run for a Democratic Senate seat.

"I can't imagine anyone voting for me at this point," the former Cincinnati mayor said Tuesday at a Democratic fund raiser.

Springer is expected to make about a dozen appearances around Ohio before deciding this summer whether to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. George Voinovich next year.

A University of Cincinnati poll released Monday found that 71 percent of Ohio registered voters surveyed had an unfavorable opinion of Springer, whose nationally syndicated "Jerry Springer Show" is known for racy topics and raunchy language.

He spoke to a crowd of about 900 at the Montgomery County Democratic Party's "Frolics for Funds" at a Dayton arena.

Springer, 59, began his speech with a stinging criticism of the Bush administration on the possibility of a war in Iraq.

"If the administration has its way, we are about to go to war, the consequences of which our children and our children's children will face," Springer said. "This is a war that gropes for justification and finds none."

John, Mayer to perform duet at fund raiser

LOS ANGELES -- Elton John plans to perform a duet with recent Grammy-winning singer-songwriter John Mayer at his upcoming Oscar-watching bash.

The annual party last year raised nearly $550,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has generated more than $45 million for AIDS prevention programs, John said in an interview Wednesday.

This year's event is set to take place at the Marquee club in West Hollywood, where about 200 guests will gather for a five-course dinner during the March 23 Oscar telecast.

Guests who correctly pick Oscar winners throughout the evening can win luxury gifts such as his-and-hers Chopard diamond watches, Jimmy Choo shoes and a MAC Viva Glam Swarovski crystal-encrusted lipstick.

Mayer, who defeated John at the Grammys last month for best male pop vocal performance with the romantic "Your Body Is a Wonderland," will begin singing at the end of the show. The 25-year-old's other hits include "No Such Thing."

"I'll be singing with him as well," John said. "We'll either do 'Your Body Is a Wonderland' ... and we'll probably do one of my songs together, which we haven't worked out yet." John's tour with fellow piano star Billy Joel is set to continue through May, and later this year he hopes to begin work writing music for the animated film "Gnomeo and Juliet," a take off on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" featuring a cast of garden gnomes.

D'Angelo reaches civil settlement in case

RICHMOND, Va. -- Grammy-winning R&B singer D'Angelo has reached a civil settlement with a woman who said he spit on her.

D'Angelo, who was charged under the name Michael Eugene Archer, was to have been tried Wednesday on misdemeanor assault and obstruction of justice charges. He reached a settlement Tuesday with a woman who said he cursed at her and spit on her during a Nov. 18 traffic confrontation. Settlement terms were not disclosed.

When a policeman tried to serve warrants at D'Angelo's home, he tried to shut the door on the officer, who then forced his way in and subdued the singer with pepper spray.

D'Angelo was fined $500 on the obstruction of justice charge after pleading no contest.

Prosecutors and D'Angelo's attorney, Ned M. Mikula, agreed that the singer didn't have to be in court Tuesday when the criminal charge was handled.

D'Angelo, 29, won Grammys in 2000 for best R&B album for "Voodoo" and for best male R&B vocal performance for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)." He grew up in the Richmond area, the son of a minister.

Eastwood to produce film about astronaut

BURBANK, Calif. -- Clint Eastwood plans to produce and direct a feature film about another American icon, astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.

The actor-director said he has acquired the rights to a forthcoming authorized biography on Armstrong by noted historian James R. Hansen. Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film, the studio announced Wednesday.

Eastwood, who produced, directed and co-starred in 2001's "Space Cowboys," doesn't plan to star in the Armstrong biopic, but he expects audience interest will still be high.

"Millions of people watched Neil Armstrong step out onto the moon's surface and millions more have seen those images since the event happened," Eastwood said. "However, Armstrong himself is a very enigmatic figure."

Hansen's book, "First Man: A Life of Neil A. Armstrong," recounts how the former Korean War fighter pilot joined the U.S. space program and went on to travel to the moon. The manuscript is expected to be completed late next year.

In the meantime, Eastwood, 72, is finishing post-production work on "Mystic River," a crime drama starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon.

His 1993 western, "Unforgiven," was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won four, including a best director Oscar for Eastwood and best picture.

Jacko may have violated zoning rules at ranch

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. -- Michael Jackson may have violated zoning rules on his Neverland Ranch when he claimed a tax break for preserving agricultural land, Santa Barbara County officials said.

Officials plan to visit Jackson's home in the Santa Ynez Valley in the next month to determine whether he's surpassed the development limit for those claiming the credit.

Santa Barbara County supervising planner Larry Appel said he would present the results to the county's Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee in April. He's scheduled to report his initial findings Friday.

Jackson can develop two of the roughly 2,600 acres on his property for nonagricultural uses and still claim major tax breaks. But Appel said the entertainer used nearly three times that amount.

Neverland's structures include a guardhouse, recreational buildings, barns, a playground and amusement rides.

The 2002-03 assessed value of Neverland Ranch is $12,292,618, according to Chris Lyons of the Santa Barbara County Assessor's Office. Jackson's property taxes this year are estimated at $13,000.

Without the tax break, the property's value, for tax purposes, would increase by about $6 million, Lyons said.

If the county finds Jackson violated zoning regulations, he may need to reduce the number of buildings on his ranch or lose the tax break.-- From wire reports