Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

TELEVISION

KTLA Changes: KTLA-TV Channel 5 is axing its 11 a.m. news broadcast starting Monday, replacing it with reruns of “Little House on the Prairie.” John Reardon, KTLA’s vice president and general manager, said the decision to end the newscast, anchored by traffic reporter Jennifer York and meteorologist Roland Galvan, was made for “strategic and economic reasons.” The newscast, which was launched in Sept. 1996 by then-news director David Goldberg, caused dissension at the station due to the promotion of the relatively inexperienced York. Goldberg left the station last August. York will continue to file traffic reports in the morning, while Galvan will continue with weather on the 10 p.m. news.

LITERARY

Elton’s Tome: Elton John has announced plans to write his memoirs, to be published next fall. John said his 50th birthday, 30-year partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin and “other milestones, professional and personal” influenced his decision. He will collaborate with Ingrid Sischy, editor of Interview magazine.

Brothers to Tell All: Miramax Films co-founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein are writing “The Art of Miramax: The Inside Story,” about the rise of U.S. independent films and the success of their Disney-owned company. Proceeds from the book, to be released in hard and soft cover in 1998, will go to charity.

QUICK TAKES

ABC’s “Ellen,” which aired last week with a parental advisory that prompted public anger from star Ellen DeGeneres, was scheduled to run with no such warning attached on Wednesday. ABC maintained that advisories for the show--which has a lesbian title character--are determined on a case-by-case basis; this week’s episode features Ellen hiring a handyman from the “gay yellow pages.” . . . John Denver died without getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, although it was approved and paid for 15 years ago. “We were waiting for him to schedule a date,” a Hollywood Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman said. It wasn’t known if the singer’s family or fans would schedule a ceremony. . . . An adoring audience called Paul McCartney back on stage six times after Tuesday’s world premiere of his 75-minute orchestral work “Standing Stone,” at London’s Royal Albert Hall. . . . David Duchovny will hold a live online chat today at noon at www.eonline.com.