FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, July 17, 1999

John F. Kennedy Jr...Gary Coleman...John Travolta...

By Joal Ryan Jul 17, 1999 9:30 PMTags
BREAKING NEWS: That search for a small plane carrying John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and her sister now centering on waters near Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

JFK ADD: The aircraft was to have arrived at Martha's Vineyard Friday night--but never got there. Last contact with the plane was recorded at 9:38 p.m. (ET). A suitcase belonging to the passengers has been recovered.

BUSTED: Gary Coleman due in court August 3 on charges he failed to the $400 fine in his fan assault case. The former child star was picked up last weekend during a traffic stop in Monrovia, California.

ROAD WORK: A 17-mile stretch of Interstate 65 in Indianapolis now named after favorite hometown boy/music mogul Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

PRIORITY BUYERS: James Cagney fan John Travolta being given a first shot at the up-for-sale Oscar that the actor won for 1942's Yankee Doodle Dandy. Starting price: $600,000.

CAGNEY ADD: Saturday would have been the screen legend's 100th birthday.

NURSERY NEWS: Def Jam rap mogul Russell Simmons expecting his first child with model wife Kimora Lee, the New York Daily News says. Baby's due in January.

MESSING WITH THE WEST: Cable's TBS to undertake a remake of film classic High Noon, to air in 2000. No word yet on the Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly wannabes.

THE BIG (WHITE) APPLE: According to network TV, New York City is 80 percent white, 15 percent black and 3 percent Latino--so says a survey of prime-time shows by Electronic Media.

DYNAMIC DUO: Britney Spears and ex-New Kids on the Block star Joey McIntyre to join forces for a pop-rific Disney Channel special, debuting October 16.

RAT PACKMANIA: Now at Vegas' Desert Inn: The Rat Pack Is Back, a Beatlemania-esque review featuring Frank, Sammy and Dean wannabes.

MAKE GOOD? Robin Leach's attorneys say a settlement is near with 14 U.S. states accusing the TV host of repping a misleading travel program.