MORNING REPORT - News from Sept. 2, 2000

THE ARTS

Mauceri Extends Bowl Reign: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra principal conductor John Mauceri has signed a three-year contract extending his post through the 2003 summer season. Though not named to the principal conductor post until 1997, Mauceri has led the orchestra’s Bowl performances since 1991. Deborah Borda, managing director of the L.A. Philharmonic Assn., which oversees the Bowl orchestra, noted that Mauceri’s contract extension will allow him to “be further involved in the [orchestra’s] long-range artistic plans.” Meanwhile, Mauceri has also signed to host “The Evening Concert,” a weeknight (8-10 p.m.) music program on L.A. radio station KMZT-FM (105.1), beginning Sept. 18.

Latino Museum Bailout?: A bill that would free up more than $1 million to aid the financially troubled Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture in downtown Los Angeles was among the end-of-session measures passed in Sacramento Thursday night. The measure, sponsored by Assemblyman Martin Gallegos (D-Baldwin Park), covered $800,000 allocated to the museum in 1999 plus an additional $1 million allocated in this year’s state budget. The amended legislation allows for the state money to be used for operating expenses such as salaries and debts, while the original allocation required that the funds be used only for capital and educational expenses. The museum, which has already received $200,000 of the 1999 allocation, has been operating in the red for at least four months, and has racked up several hundred thousand dollars of debt. The bill now goes to Gov. Gray Davis, who has until Sept. 30 to sign it.

ENTERTAINMENT

KKBT’s Wake-Up Call: Comedian-actor Steve Harvey will take over the morning show on KKBT-FM (100.3) starting Sept. 11, anchoring the station’s de-emphasis of a hip-hop tone under new owner Radio One Inc. Harvey, star of the WB network’s “The Steve Harvey Show” and a featured performer in Spike Lee’s “The Original Kings of Comedy,” gives the station a highly visible personality to fill the 6-10 a.m. slot left vacant by the recent firing of former hosts Dr. Dre and Ed Lover. It will be the second stint in morning radio for Harvey, who had a successful show in Chicago in the mid-’90s. Also on Sept. 11, KKBT will bring in Adimu, host of BET’s “Teen Summit,” to take over the 2-6 p.m. afternoon drive duties previously handled by the Baka Boyz.

Still Linked: Though they announced their split last month, former couple Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche will both be honored--separately--with Amnesty International’s Enduring Spirit Awards for their lesbian activism during ceremonies Sept. 16 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. An Amnesty spokesman says both actresses have confirmed their attendance, though they will be seated separately. Other recipients of the Spirit awards, given to recognize “personal commitments to help others secure equal, fair and humane treatment around the world,” include actor Martin Sheen, Rhino Records President Richard Foos and Sen. Barbara Boxer.

QUICK TAKES

One of actor Christopher Reeve’s legs was broken during a routine physical therapy session on Aug. 17, his spokesman announced Friday, saying that the break was “most likely due to bone density issues” stemming from Reeve’s paralysis. . . . Organizers of the Web site StopDrLaura.com say they are planning protests in 17 cities nationwide upon the debut of Paramount TV’s daytime talk show featuring controversial radio host Laura Schlessinger. A Los Angeles protest is planned for Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. in front of Melrose Avenue’s Paramount Studios. . . . Actress Halle Berry will receive the Lena Horne Award for Outstanding Career Achievement, and singer Toni Braxton the Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award at the sixth annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Music Awards tonight. The awards, hosted by Shemar Moore, Pink and Sisqo, air at 8 p.m. on KTLA-TV. . . . This weekend’s Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Assn. Telethon is being carried live over the Internet at https://www.real.com. . . . Spice Girl Victoria “Posh” Beckham is suffering from viral meningitis, her spokeswoman said Friday, adding that the singer was recuperating at her family home in Britain.