People talk 9/25/02

Mr. Rogers, Cosby to lead parade

PASADENA, Calif. -- Fred Rogers, Bill Cosby and Art Linkletter will lead the 114th Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day.

"These three personalities have spent a lifetime entertaining children of all ages, offering insight into their imaginations, and in turn, serving as advocates for child welfare and development," tournament President Gary Thomas said Monday.

"We are honored to have them serve as grand marshals and we celebrate both their work with children and unique perspective on children's lives," Thomas said.

The theme will be "Children's Dreams, Wishes and Imagination."

"I'm especially honored to share the role of grand marshal with Bill Cosby and Art Linkletter, who are such advocates for children," said Rogers, host of the PBS show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for 34 years.

Cosby starred in "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992. Linkletter has been an entertainer for more than 65 years, including his "People Are Funny" and "House Party" shows.

Prince to leave Britain over fox hunting ban

LONDON -- Prince Charles' reported threat to leave Britain if it banned fox hunting has been welcomed by at least one lawmaker.

"I think it's wonderful. I was keen to vote to get rid of fox hunting. I'm doubly keen now -- what a bonus," Dennis Skinner of the governing Labor Party said Monday.

Several newspapers reported Sunday that Charles wrote a strident letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair accusing the government of destroying the countryside.

Charles reportedly passed on remarks made to him by a Cumbrian farmer that "if we, as a group, were black or gay, we would not be victimized or picked upon" -- a statement the prince apparently agreed with.

The Mail on Sunday newspaper also said that an unidentified senior politician had claimed to have heard the prince on some unspecified date threaten to emigrate if hunting was stopped. Downing Street and St. James's Palace both declined to say whether the letter existed or the meeting had taken place.

Charles' comments were reported on the day that more than 400,000 farmers, gamekeepers, hunting enthusiasts and rural residents gathered in London for a rally in support of fox hunting.

--From wire reports