TELEVISIONNPR Discrimination Allegations: Katie Davis, a journalist...

TELEVISION

NPR Discrimination Allegations: Katie Davis, a journalist who spent 15 years with National Public Radio, has filed a $1.2-million lawsuit against the network, alleging discrimination by the network for failing to promote her to a permanent reporting position and paying her less than men in comparable jobs. NPR has denied Davis’ claims that it exhibited a pattern of discrimination against female reporters, and said it will ask the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Davis, who was a temporary host of “Weekend All Things Considered” and a reporter for “Morning Edition,” is also filing a sex discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her attorney alleges that at one point, Davis was earning $15,000 a year less than a male temporary host. NPR responded by saying it had paid Davis “at exactly the same level of compensation as her male counterparts with the same . . . experience.” NPR also said it had offered Davis a permanent position in January. But Davis said she most recently was working under a three-month contract, which NPR declined to renew in March. She left the network March 17.

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No L.A. for Larry Live: Talk-show host Larry King is denying lingering rumors that he will move his nightly live CNN show to Los Angeles following his upcoming marriage to actress Deanna Lund. Because of the O.J. Simpson murder trial, King already spends a week each month in Los Angeles and apparently CNN is ready to extend the deal beyond the trial. “I’m staying in Washington; I could never leave,” King said. “But the ideal life is a week a month out here--I like getting off work at 7.”

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New Season of ‘Pops’: PBS’ “Evening at Pops” returns for its 26th season July 3 through Aug. 28, featuring three new shows and six encore productions. The Pops will have a new conductor this year as John Williams is replaced by Keith Lockhart, who will be introduced on the premiere broadcast, which will also feature soprano Sylvia McNair, actor and Broadway star Mandy Patinkin, trumpeter Doc Severinsen and laureate conductor Williams.

EVENTS

Honoring Raul and Selena: The Desi Entertainment Awards, taking place May 1 at Los Angeles’ Palace Theater, will include special tributes to two Latino stars--actor Raul Julia, who died last year, and Selena, the tejano singing star who was shot to death March 31. Julia is up for two trophies at the awards--favorite TV actor for HBO’s “The Burning Season” and favorite film actor for “Street Fighter.” Selena has four nominations--favorite female performer, Spanish-language song and album of the year for “Amor Prohibido (Forbidden Love)” and song of the year for “Donde Quiera Que Estas (Wherever You Are),” a duet with the Barrio Boyzz. The annual awards, which honor achievements by Latinos in entertainment, are named after the late Cuban bandleader and actor Desi Arnaz.

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Earthwalk: Paula Poundstone, Kelsey Grammer, Ted Danson and Chevy Chase are among those set for today’s “Earthwalk 1995,” a 10-K trek starting on the back lot of Universal Studios and winding through the nearby Disney, Warner Bros. and NBC Studios. The event, an environmental fund-raiser sponsored by Hollywood’s Permanent Charities group, starts at 8:30 a.m.

Everybody Dance Now: Actresses Jasmine Guy, Kathy Najimy, Jada Pinkett and Kim Coles are among the celebrity hosts scheduled for AIDS Project Los Angeles’ seventh annual AIDS Dance-a-thon, taking place tonight from 7 to midnight at the L.A. Sports Arena. Live musical performances are scheduled by Martha Wash, Miranda, Robin S. and N II U.

ART

Warhol Estate Suit Settled: After a long legal battle, the former lawyer for Andy Warhol’s estate has been awarded an additional $2.4 million for three years of work. Edward Hayes had already been paid $4.8 million, but claimed he was owed more due to an agreement with the estate’s executor, Fred Hughes, to base his fee on a percentage of the estate. New York Judge Eve Preminger, who agreed with Hayes’ claims that he gave up a thriving law practice to work full time on the estate’s affairs, ruled that Hayes’ total fee should be $7.2 million. Hayes was hired in 1987, the year the pop artist died, and was fired in 1990. Preminger fixed the estate’s value at about $510 million.

QUICK TAKES

Erich Vollmer is leaving his post as executive director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to take the same position with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Bruce Thibodeau, the LACO’s director of administration and finance, will be promoted to executive director, effective June 1. . . . Craig Hume has been officially named news director of KTLA-TV Channel 5. Hume has been the station’s acting news director for nearly a year. . . . Warren Olney, host of KCRW-FM’s (89.9) “Which Way L.A.?,” will receive the 1995 Achievement Award from the Southern Counseling Center tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. . . . TV producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (“Designing Women”) will be honored by the Los Angeles Mission’s Celebrity Action Council on Sunday with the “Women Helping Women” award for her work providing scholarships for underprivileged young women.