People talk 3/11/04

Ross ordered to jail over drunken-driving case

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Diana Ross was ordered to return to Tucson to serve a two-day jail sentence in her drunken-driving case. The singer, who pleaded no contest to DUI last month, had arranged to serve her sentence in Greenwich, Conn., where she lives. But during her stay, she left and returned multiple times, said City Court Magistrate T. Jay Cranshaw. Greenwich Police chief James Walters originally wrote Cranshaw to say that Ross, 59, had completed her sentence, spending 48 hours in custody over three days, including two overnight stays. Cranshaw asked for a full accounting of the time spent there, and it turns out Ross spent only 47 hours in police custody. Arizona law requires DUI defendants to spend at least 24 consecutive hours in custody.

Sorvino helps campaign against violence

LOS ANGELES -- Mira Sorvino is helping Amnesty International launch a two-year campaign to end violence against women. The actress said Tuesday the campaign is intended to put pressure on governments around the world to create policies that would discourage violence against women. "Even in the United States, violence against women is the number one threat to women's safety in terms of their health," she said. "Women are more likely to be injured or killed by violence than by any other threat."

Prosecutors argue about privacy in Limbaugh case

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Prosecutors who want to review Rush Limbaugh's medical records argued in court papers that privacy rights shouldn't be used to hide criminal wrongdoing. Seizing the conservative radio commentator's medical records in their investigation of his prescription drug use didn't violate his constitutional or privacy rights, Palm Beach County prosecutors said in documents filed Monday. The 53-year-old hasn't been charged with any crime. In October, he told listeners of his radio program he was addicted to painkillers and was entering a monthlong rehabilitation program.

Nixon among celebs lobbying in New York

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Cynthia Nixon, co-star of HBO's "Sex and the City," emerged from the office of state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to the TV cameras, microphones and tape recorders of a dozen reporters. She was among the celebrities lobbying at the state Capitol building in New York on Tuesday, and the 37-year-old actress wanted to talk education funding. Nixon, who has a child in New York City public schools, also came to Albany last year to push for more school spending.

-- From wire reports