FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, March 10, 2004

JACKSON WATCH: A grand jury is being convened by district attorney Tom Sneddon to hear evidence in Michael Jackson's child molestation case, according to the Santa Barbara News-Press.

COMIC KID: Will Ferrell and wife Viveca Paulin welcoming son Magnus Paulin Ferrell, born Sunday in Los Angeles and weighing in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces. The baby is the couple's first child.

PARIS TAKES A GUESS?: Paris Hilton has signed as the new face of Guess?, Star reports. The coveted spot has been held in the past by models such as Anna Nicole Smith and Bridget Hall. A Guess? rep would not confirm the report.

DIDDY DEPARTURE: P. Diddy announcing that his upcoming album, PD5, will probably be his last. After the album comes out next fall, he plans to retire as a solo artist, MTV reports. A spokesperson for Bad Boy said the report was premature.

UNDER SURVEILLANCE: The Miami Herald reporting that city cops are secretly monitoring the movements of hip-hop stars. The surveillance is allegedly for the rappers' safety but critics and celebs say the action is racist.

IN SIGHT: J.Lo inking a development deal with Fox giving them first look rights to any TV projects coming out of her shingle, Nuyorican Productions, report the trades. "I started in television and love the medium," Lopez said in a statement. "We intend to be a major creative force in television.

LOPEZ ADD: J.Lo and Nicole Kidman teaming up for American Darlings, a period piece about a female swing band joining forces with a group of black and hispanic musicians, Variety reports.

PRACTICE SAYING GOODBYE: ABC announcing this will be the eighth and final season for The Practice. The series will evolve into a new law show from David E. Kelley next year.

BACK TO JAIL: Diana Ross being ordered back to jail for 48 hours after a Tuscon judge discovered she left a Connecticut jail several times during her three-day stay for a DUI conviction. Arizona law requires at least 24 consecutive hours in custody.

HIGH COST OF LIVING: Diana Ross contesting her town's tax appraisal of her Connecticut property. The R&B diva faces a $168,000 bill for local taxes on her tony estate.

BOOBGATE FALLOUT PERSISTS: The NFL scrapping an opening game kickoff concert Thursday because of Janet Jackson's Super Bowl nipple flash.

MORE NIPPLE NONSENSE: Congress voting to hike fines on TV and radio stations that air indecent programming.

ARE YOU THERE, DISNEY? Judy Blume has signed a deal with Walt Disney to turn some of her best-selling children's books into movies. The first book to make the jump to the big screen will be Deenie, about a young girl's struggle to follow her dreams.

OPENING ACT: Jada Pinkett Smith's band Wicked Wisdom opening for Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour for eight dates over April and May.

TWANG: Alan Jackson topping the 39th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards nominations with eight nods. The shindig will be broadcast live from Las Vegas May 26 on CBS.

GOTTA SUPPORT THE FAMILY: Just over 12 million viewers tuned in for The Sopranos season premiere Sunday.

STORK NEWS: Curb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hines giving birth on Monday to baby girl Catherine Rose.

RECOVERING: Roy Horn, of Siegfried & Roy fame, telling a German magazine that he's working with the same physical therapist as Christopher Reeves. "You know, I almost had two feet in the grave, but now I'm doing better," said the animal trainer who was attacked by a tiger last year.

FREAKY LIFE: Lindsay Lohan is filing for a restraining order from a man that's been stalking her, reports the New York Post. After bouncers refused to let him in to a party for That '70s Show's Wilmer Valderrama where Lohan was a guest, the man reportedly called the cops and claimed the Freaky Friday star was drinking underage. A subsequent raid found a sober Lohan sipping Red Bull and water.

ELEPHANT IN COURT: White Stripes singer and guitarist Jack White pleading guilty today to misdemeanor assault charges for beating up Jason Stollseimer, frontman for Detroit act the Von Bondies, last December. Under the plea deal, White must pay a $500 fine, $250 in court costs, and attend anger management classes.

CIG ALERT: A new study from the University of California, San Francisco, recommending Hollywood's ratings board treat smoking in movies much like profanity and rate the flicks accordingly.

RUSH JOB: Rush Limbaugh prosecutors trying to get access to the yakker's medical records seized during a raid last November. His attorney's want the papers barred while prosecutors argued that privacy rights shouldn't be used to cover up illegal behavior.

BE COOL TO YOUR SCHOOL Cynthia Nixon following up her role on Sex and the City with an advocacy gig, pushing New York politicians to increase school funding.

GALACTIC SHOPPING: Starting Wednesday, Star Wars fans will be able to shop for exclusive collectibles and memorabilia at www.StarWarsShop.com. Items on sale include a $15,000 bronze statue of Yoda and a cold-cast porcelain Darth Vader figure that has not been available to the public for almost 10 years.