People talk 09/24/02

Trial date set for 'Stone Cold'

SAN ANTONIO -- A trial date has been set for the pro wrestling star known as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, charged with hitting his wife earlier this year.

The 37-year-old from San Antonio, whose given name is Steve Williams, is facing a misdemeanor charge, assault causing bodily injury, stemming from a June 15 domestic disturbance at the couple's home.

He is set for trial on Oct. 9.

Austin said Friday that he's reconciled with Debra Gale Williams, his wife of two years. "We're doing great, as a matter of fact," he said. "I just want to get past this."

He recently dropped divorce proceedings against her.

Prince Andrew visits City of Brotherly Love

PHILADELPHIA -- Great Britain's Prince Andrew made a visit to Independence Hall, kicking off a two-day tour of the Philadelphia area.

The Duke of York made the visit to launch the Jubilee International Education Fund, a program geared toward inner-city high school students. A dinner was held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Sunday night to raise money for the fund.

Prince Andrew told a crowd at Independence Hall that he was quite impressed with Philadelphia.

He said he was pleased with the strong relations the United States and Great Britain now share, 200 years after the Revolutionary War, when America fought bitterly for its independence.

"I seem to recall that it was some time ago, just over 200 years ago, that Britain's normally harmonious relations with this part of America went through a slightly sticky patch," he said.

Prince Andrew stands as the fourth in line to the British throne.

Robbins brothers banter about film scoring

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. -- Tim Robbins goes way back with a man who provides music for his movies. David Robbins, after all, is his older brother.

The Robbins brothers held a panel discussion of film scoring at the Woodstock Film Festival Sunday, mixing in tales of how they find the right music for their movies with a fair bit of brotherly banter.

"I first met Tim in Pomona, Calif., when Mom came home from the hospital," David Robbins deadpanned.

The brothers share the same philosophy when it comes to movie music: They eschew wall-to-wall strings for unusual instruments and spontaneity.

Robbins received the festival's Maverick Award, which is presented to a filmmaker whose work "demonstrates a commitment to artistry, independence, education and social responsibility."

Young urges support for small farms at show

BURGETTSTOWN, Pa. -- "Attention, shoppers. Attention, shoppers. Buy with a conscience, and save the family farm," rocker Neil Young told the crowd at the 15th annual Farm Aid concert.

More than 23,000 people crowded onto a field southwest of Pittsburgh Saturday to raise money for small family farms.

Co-founders Young, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp urged people to buy food from organic growers and farmers' markets, join groups that support family farms and pressure the government to support small farms.

Organizers say the number of foreclosures on family farms has slowed, but 20,000 were still lost in 2001.

Other artists in the Farm Aid lineup included Gillian Welch, Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Double Trouble and Dave Matthews, who joined Farm Aid's board of directors last year.

Since 1985, when the concert series began in Champaign, Ill., Farm Aid has raised approximately $24 million.

ALA announces 'Phlemmy Awards'

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- "Futurama" and "The Bernie Mac Show" have wheezed their way to the Phlemmy Awards, the annual dishonors bestowed by the American Lung Association for TV shows that portray smokers.

"The Bernie Mac Show" was named because its main character is partial to cigars, while the animated "Futurama" "gave lead roles to Marlboro and Camel cigarettes," according to the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails.

"Friends" and "24" won Pink Lung awards because their characters don't smoke, the chapter said in a statement.

"ER," which had been honored previously for its anti-smoking take, got a "dishonorable mention" because some of its medical-staff characters have been seen lighting up to relieve stress.

The awards were chosen by about 50 Sacramento teenagers who viewed hours of primetime network television.

Guitar suspected of being property of Woody Guthrie

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- It may seem extreme to pay $5,000 for a 40-year-old acoustic guitar in poor condition -- but not if it had belonged to folk singer Woody Guthrie.

The new owner, Jim Kalmenson, suspects just that.

Inside the Slingerland May Belle guitar is a pencil scrawl: "Property of Woody Guthrie OK." Kalmenson is convinced it's the real deal, though that may be difficult to confirm.

Guthrie emerged from the Dust Bowl to champion the nation's downtrodden through his music. His works include "This Land Is Your Land," "Deportee," "Roll on, Columbia" and many more -- songs that made powerful statements and inspired Bob Dylan and others to follow his example, seeking to affect social change through music.

Aside from the name and the "OK," the letters "WWG" are faintly scratched on the guitar's back -- Guthrie's initials.

The ultimate proof would be a photograph of Guthrie with the guitar. So far, no such photo has been found.

Pavarotti's partner pregnant with twins

MODENA, Italy -- Luciano Pavarotti's partner is four months pregnant with twins, the tenor's spokeswoman said.

The 66-year-old opera star has been living with Nicoletta Mantovani, 32, since 1996.

Pavarotti has three children from his marriage to Adua Veroni.

His spokeswoman, Renata Meroni, was asked Monday if Pavarotti, now on tour in the United States, and Mantovani plan to wed.

She replied that when Pavarotti was asked about his marriage plans, he quipped, "We always talked about getting married to have kids, and now it looks like it isn't really necessary."

-- From wire reports