Elizabeth Taylor tweets about her heart procedure

Elizabeth Taylor tweets about her heart procedure

LOS ANGELES — Elizabeth Taylor says she’s headed to the hospital for a heart procedure.

The 77-year-old actress said on Twitter that she is to undergo a “very new” procedure to improve heart function that “involves repairing my leaky valve using a clip device” rather than open-heart surgery.

“Any prayers you happen to have lying around I would dearly appreciate,” Taylor wrote Tuesday, adding that she plans to inform her 155,944 Twitter followers when the procedure is complete. She didn’t say when or where she is having treatment.

A representative for Taylor did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.

Lachey tours food banks

CINCINNATI — Pop music singer Nick Lachey has embarked on an 11-day tour of soup kitchens and food banks to encourage people to support them.

He began his tour, dubbed “Everybody Wins,” at the Freestore Foodbank in his hometown of Cincinnati on Monday. From there, he was traveling to Pittsburgh and other cities.

Lachey says a “staggering” number of Americans don’t know where their next meal is coming from. His effort is aimed at drumming up money, awareness and volunteers for Feeding America, a network of the nation’s food banks.

Madonna accepts damages

LONDON — Madonna on Tuesday accepted damages from a British newspaper for publishing pictures of her wedding to Guy Ritchie that she said had been stolen from her home.

The singer was not in court Tuesday but her lawyer confirmed that she had accepted “substantial” damages from Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Mail on Sunday. The amount was not disclosed but her lawyer, John Kelly, told Justice Peter Smith that she would donate the money to her Raising Malawi charity.

Madonna, who divorced Ritchie earlier this year, had sought damages in excess of $8 million.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Al Martino is 82. “The View” co-host Joy Behar is 67. Musician John Mellencamp is 58. Gospel singer Michael W. Smith is 52. “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell is 50. Singer Toni Braxton is 42. Singer Thom Yorke of Radiohead is 41. Singer Taylor Hicks (“American Idol”) is 33.