newsmakers

April 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

newsmakers

Stratosphere jump opens to daredevils

LAS VEGAS

Visitors to the Stratosphere tower in Las Vegas no longer need an elevator to get down from Sin City’s highest building. A new ride is giving daredevils a cable, a platform and a chance to jump to a blue and black target 829 feet below. SkyJump Las Vegas has opened as the world’s highest commercial decelerator descent.

A cable line guides jumpers down from a metal platform, with views of the Las Vegas Strip along the way. The ride was certified by Guinness World Records as the highest of its kind.

Heather Locklear has date in court

LOS ANGELES

Heather Locklear has a court date next month on misdemeanor hit-and-run charges after an early-morning crash knocked down a street sign. Ventura County Sheriff’s Captain Eric Dowd says Locklear was cited and released Saturday after a resident reported hearing a crash around 4 a.m. An investigation led police to Locklear, whom they believe was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

Blair Berk, an attorney for the 48-year-old actress, confirmed Locklear was cited as the car’s registered owner but said “it is not yet clear who was driving the vehicle.” The matter will be heard May 17 at Simi Valley Court, Dowd said.

David Beckham set for ‘The View’

NEW YORK

David Beckham will join the ladies of “The View” as a guest Monday. ABC says it will be the first time the soccer superstar has appeared on the weekday talk show. The network made the announcement Wednesday.

Beckham will follow by two months a February co-host appearance by his wife, singer-model-businesswoman Victoria Beckham.

The 34-year-old midfielder is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. He was hurt playing for the AC Milan while on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy. “The View” features hosts Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd. It airs at 11 a.m.

Authors turn rockers to benefit Haiti

WASHINGTON

A semi-musical band made up of best-selling authors, including Dave Barry, Amy Tan and Mitch Albom, is touring East Coast cities to raise money for Haitian relief and other charities. The Rock Bottom Remainders tour begins Wednesday night with a concert at Washington’s 9:30 Club and continues this week in Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

Tan says the qualifications for making the band were having no talent and no ego. She says she’s a terrible singer and doesn’t remember lyrics. She focuses on costumes instead.