newsmakers

newsmakers

Parker leaving CNN show with Spitzer

NEW YORK

CNN’s prime-time talk show “Parker/Spitzer” is no more with the departure of Kathleen Parker.

Her partner, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, will remain in the time slot in a new show called “In the Arena,” working with E.D. Hill, Will Cain and others.

CNN described Parker’s exit as a mutual decision. Parker said that she wanted to concentrate on her writing and that “with the show moving in a new direction, it was time to move on.”

Museum repair to cost up to $17M

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.

A Connecticut museum celebrating flamboyant showman P.T. Barnum will need to raise up to $17 million to renovate and repair its historic building damaged by a tornado last June. Officials said Friday that repairs will cost $6 million or $7 million. But overhauling exhibition space and fixing other areas in the Bridgeport building are expected to raise the cost to between $15 million and $17 million. The project is expected to take more than two years.

Built in the 1890s, the building is owned by the city of Bridgeport and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been closed since Jan. 2 to assess damage and preserve the prized collection.

‘127 Hours’ adventurer wins $125K for group

ASPEN, Colo.

A Colorado adventurer who inspired the Oscar-nominated movie “127 Hours” has won $125,000 for an environmental group on the NBC game show “Minute to Win it.” Aron Ralston appeared in two pre-recorded episodes that ran back-to-back Wednesday.

Ralston cut off his right arm after it became pinned under a boulder in a Utah canyon in 2003. “127 Hours,” which is based on his ordeal, has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor.

The Aspen Daily News reports Ralston plans to attend the Academy Awards ceremony Sunday. Ralston says he’ll donate his game-show winnings to the Wilderness Workshop, based in the western Colorado town of Carbondale.

Pickler’s wedding revealed in video

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

If you want to see country singer Kellie Pickler on her wedding day, check out her husband’s new music video. Songwriter Kyle Jacobs wrote and recorded a song for her, called “Say I Do,” and used their private wedding footage for the music video. Fans can buy it on iTunes for $1.99.

Jacobs, 37, tells The Associated Press the video shows “two people madly in love.” It was shot on 8 millimeter film by a Nashville videographer who accompanied them to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where they eloped on New Year’s Day.