People talk 2/3/03

Cole is a woman who knows about music

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Natalie Cole knows a little something about musical influences.

First, there was her father, Nat King Cole. Then, there were all of his friends.

"When I was growing up, I had so many musical influences I still feel a little schizophrenic," Cole told the audience at a benefit for California State University, Fullerton's arts program.

Cole, who turns 53 on Thursday, teamed with a recording of her father on "Unforgettable, With Love," which sold 14 million copies and won a Grammy for record of the year in 1991.

This year Cole is nominated in two Grammy categories: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Better Than Anything" with Diana Krall and Best Jazz Vocal Album for "Ask a Woman Who Knows."

Iditarod musher battles chemo to keep racing

WILLOW, Alaska -- Musher DeeDee Jonrowe is refusing to let a grueling course of chemotherapy keep her from taking on another grueling course -- the 2003 Iditarod dog sled race, which starts March 1.

Jonrowe, 49, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July and is recovering from treatment that sometimes left her so weak she couldn't close her hands.

"I was slapped completely flat," said Jonrowe, who has finished 19 Iditarod races.

During last year's Iditarod, Jonrowe fell away from the leaders because of exhaustion. She finished 16th.

Jonrowe discovered a lump during a self-exam. By then, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

After undergoing a double mastectomy, Jonrowe began chemotherapy in mid-August. She continued to care for her 85 sled dogs with the help of her husband, Mike, and her handler, Kelly La Marre.

Now she is testing new sleds and eager to get back to racing.

"The Iditarod is my wellness," Jonrowe said. "It represents what I love and what God has allowed me to do in my life."

Robinson nominated for Congressional Gold Medal

BOSTON -- Jackie Robinson will be nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his achievements as the first black player in Major League Baseball, the Boston Red Sox said.

The announcement that the nomination will be filed this week in Congress came at a symposium Friday on what would have been Robinson's 84th birthday.

The Red Sox, the last big league team to integrate, gave Robinson a tryout but chose not to sign him. Robinson went on to break baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Robinson, who died in 1972, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997 baseball celebrated the 50th anniversary of his rookie season by retiring his No. 42 on all teams.

Since 1776 there have been approximately 300 recipients of Congressional Gold Medals, including George Washington, Joe Louis, and Mother Teresa.

Paula Poundstone's probation terms eased

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A judge has eased terms of probation for comedian Paula Poundstone, who in December regained full custody of three adopted children she lost after pleading no contest to child endangerment.

Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins reduced Poundstone's psychological counseling sessions from four to two a month and her Alcoholics Anonymous meetings from three to two a week.

Poundstone, 43, pleaded no contest in September 2001 to one felony count of child endangerment and misdemeanor infliction of injury on a child. The endangerment charge involved driving drunk with children in her car.

Poundstone was sentenced to 180 days at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, plus five years of probation.

-- From wire reports