People news 10/9/03

Baldwin brings governor gift of dog biscuits

AUSTIN, Texas -- Alec Baldwin came bearing a gift when he attended a fund-raiser for House Democrats: a box of dog biscuits for Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

"I wanted to give this to Tom DeLay's lap dog, Rick Perry," the actor said Tuesday. "I thought maybe he had worked up a big appetite up there on the Capitol so Governor Perry, AKA Tom DeLay's lap dog in the Texas state Legislature, this box of dog biscuits is for you and I hope you enjoy it while you're toiling away at a redistricting plan."

Republicans have been working to draw a new redistricting plan to increase their strength in Texas' congressional delegation, which Democrats now rule 17-15. DeLay, the U.S. House majority leader from Sugar Land, has been one of the strongest advocates for redrawing the lines.

Democrats have been opposed to the move and a few of them joined Baldwin as he launched into a tirade about redistricting, the California recall and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican Party leadership and the Bush administration, of which he said half of its members were either stupid or sociopathic.

"Everything that Bush touches turns to manure in public policy and they're coming down here and they're telling Rick Perry what to do," Baldwin said.

Perry spokesman Gene Acuna shot back: "Mr. Baldwin's political views against President Bush and Republicans in general are well known and documented. I have no doubt that Texans will give the comments made by the star of 'Beetlejuice' all of the attention they are due."

The White House did not immediately comment on Baldwin's statements.

Charges against Affleck determined unfounded

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Charges against Ben Affleck were dropped after New Hanover County officials said they found no evidence to support a woman's claims that the actor threatened to kill her.

District Attorney John Carriker said Tuesday that repeated attempts by Kure Beach police to contact accuser Tara Ray were unsuccessful and he dismissed the warrant.

Ray took out the warrant Saturday, alleging that Affleck threatened her on Sept. 25.

A spokesman for Affleck said the 31-year-old actor had never met Ray and was at his Georgia home that day.

Carriker criticized a system in which Ray could obtain an arrest warrant without proof the alleged incident ever occurred or without input from Kure Beach police.

"This is a very good example of why people shouldn't be able to take out a warrant without any kind of police investigation," Carriker said.

He added that officials don't plan to file charges against Ray.

Ray said Sunday she was in a romantic relationship with Affleck that started in February 2002. According to the warrant, the "Pearl Harbor" star called her and said he was coming to "blow your (expletive) head off."

Magistrate Ralph Ellen II signed the warrant, stating there was probable cause to believe the incident occurred. Carriker, however, said an investigation revealed no credible evidence that Affleck had been to Kure Beach or called the woman.

Queens man arrested for stalking Crow

NEW YORK -- A Queens man suspected of stalking singer Sheryl Crow was arrested after he sneaked into the arena where she was doing a sound check, police said.

After the Monday evening sound check, 37-year-old Ambrose Kappos allegedly followed Crow out of the Hammerstein Ballroom on West 34th Street and tried squeezing into her limousine, police said.

Ballroom employees went to the police station around the corner from the ballroom and summoned help.

Police arrested Kappos on charges of burglary, stalking, harassment, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of marijuana.

Kappos' brother, Van Kappos, told the Daily News that his brother isn't dangerous.

"I want to apologize, from my whole family and myself, to Sheryl Crow and her family," Van Kappos said. "We are sorry if my brother caused her any grief. It must be somewhat frightening to the singer and her family. He's infatuated."

Randy Quaid gets star on Walk of Fame

LOS ANGELES -- Randy Quaid left Houston in 1971 to pursue an acting career in Hollywood -- against his parents' wishes.

Now he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, right near the spot where he ended up more than 30 years ago.

"I got off the plane, had no idea where I was going, saw a bus marked Hollywood, got on board and it brought me right here where we're standing today," Quaid told about 400 people who attended Tuesday's ceremony in front of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

"I couldn't afford to stay at the Roosevelt so I gathered my luggage and my trunk and dragged everything across the street to the Garden Court Hotel where I got a job as a janitor and lived for the first year I was in town," said the 53-year-old.

Quaid said he didn't have a car that first year in Hollywood, so he took buses to the studios.

"And of course, I would look at the names on the stars in the sidewalk and dare to imagine that one day my name would be among them. And so now it is," he said.

-- From wire reports