VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Breaking news: More breaking news in LV

Wednesday, July 23, 2003 | 10:31 a.m.

More broadcast news for Las Vegas: Two more local newscasts are slated to hit the airwaves this fall.

Beginning Sept. 22, sister stations KFBT Channel 6 (Cox cable channel 33) and KVWB Channel 12 (Cox cable channel 21) will air daily hourlong newscasts. KFBT will broadcast its news show at 7 p.m. and KVWB will air its newscast at 10 p.m. The first half-hour of both broadcasts will be devoted to local news.

"We're not going to be the usual 'If it bleeds, it leads'-type of broadcast," the stations' general manager, Rob Weisbrod, told VegasBeat.

The stations are members of Sinclair Broadcasting, a 63-station network that will offer national news, sports and weather out of a Baltimore studio. Anchors and reporters from Las Vegas will be used for the local newscasts.

Jennifer Gladstone, formerly of the CBS affiliate in Atlanta, and Morris Jones from the Fox affiliate in Washington will occupy the national desk. Former KTNV Channel 13 Assistant News Director Carla Carlini will direct the Las Vegas coverage.

An anchor from outside the Las Vegas area is close to being hired for the two local newscasts, Weisbrod said. The shows will be broadcast out of a studio on South Jones Boulevard.

Weisbrod said there is no live local news competition for the 7 p.m. show, which is part of the reason it was created. At 7 p.m. the cable news channel Las Vegas ONE runs a repeat of the KLAS Channel 8's 6 p.m. newscast.

At 10 p.m, there is direct local competition: Kate Maddox anchors KTUD Channel 14's UPN newscast, and John Overall does the honors at Fox's KVVU Channel 5.

"We are the original 10 o'clock news and we are a powerhouse," Fox News Director Marc Weiner said. He then cited a string of Nielsen Media Research ratings numbers that accurately supported his claim that the station made a strong showing in the May "sweeps" period for its morning and evening newscasts.

"That said, competition is good and we endorse competition."

Radio news

In other local broadcast media news, Nevada Public Radio is splitting into two stations. Station President Lamar Marchese said in a letter to members that news listeners on KNPR 89.5-FM wanted more news, while music listeners wanted more music.

So the station is splitting into two outlets. KNPR will move to 88.9 on the FM dial and be an all-news and information station.

A new classical music station, KCNV 89.7-FM, will also be created.

No sign-on date has been announced. Marchese said the changes will take place late this year.

In the letter, Marchese is calling the split "one of the most monumental developments in the 28-year history of our organization."

Go, girl!

Henderson resident Serena Henry, 20, is one of four finalists on the NBC talent show, "Fame." The winner will be announced on tonight's finale at 8 on KVBC Channel 3.

Among other prizes, the winner gets a $100,000 Wilhelmina modeling and talent agency contract, a role in "Fame" on Broadway and a year of free training at Debbie Allen's dance school in Los Angeles.

Stage show

Next up at Las Vegas Little Theatre: "Bat Boy," a musical based on articles in the Weekly World News, the supermarket tab known for reports of children fathered by aliens (or small flying mammals), and stories of Jesus and Elvis being spotted together at a 7-Eleven. It opens Aug. 8.

This weekend, LVLT is offering free stage readings of plays on next season's schedule as part of a subscription drive.

Among the offerings are Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" and "A Few Good Men" ("You can't handle the truth!") by "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin.

Support group

Barry Dakae, the No. 2 man under Chef Brian Massie at N9NE (Palms), one of the city's top restaurants, is clearly a loved guy.

When Dakae, an executive sous chef, checked into Sunrise Hospital this week for tests to determine if a serious operation to correct an undisclosed ailment was necessary, it turned out Palms owner George Maloof had been there already.

Maloof had transformed the room into a replica of a Palms hotel room, with everything from designer bath products to Prada sheets on the hospital bed.

Then staffers from the AMP Salon showed up to give Dakae a manicure and a pedicure.

Then Four Seasons Executive Chef Wolfgang Von Weiser -- Dakae's former colleague -- sent over dinner.

"Everybody loves the guy, and we are all thrilled that he is going to come out of this experience happy and healthy," N9NE Group exec Andrew Belmonti said.

VegasBits

Not on Film: An incognito Duran Duran frontman Simon LeBon enjoyed a cowboy steak at Simon Kitchen & Bar at the Hard Rock after the crowd went home after the band's Saturday night show at The Joint ...

Emmy nod: The CBS special, "Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night Live," which aired March 25 when "A New Day ..." opened at Caesars, was nominated for an Emmy Award last week for choreography ...

Kid show: A stage production of "Dora the Explorer Live! -- Search for the City of Lost Toys!" plays at the Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts the weekend of Aug. 22. The Dora character and such pals as Backpack, Boots, Map, Swiper the Fox, Tico and Benny are darlings of the preschool set.

From Sun wires

"Godfather of Soul" James Brown has announced his breakup from his wife, Tomi Rea Brown, with a full-page ad in the show-business trade newspaper Variety.

In the July 21-27 weekly edition of the paper, the ad features a photo of the couple and their now 2-year-old son, James Joseph Brown II, smiling at Walt Disney World while posing with the costumed character Goofy.

The couple, who married in December 2001, added that they decided to break up "with love and affection." Tomi Rea is one of Brown's backup singers.

Leno writes for kids: His day job comes on television long after bedtime, so most kids may discover Jay Leno for the first time as a children's author.

Leno, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show," said Tuesday he's written a picture book, "If Roast Beef Could Fly," based on a family cookout in which mischief led to a ruined rotisserie.

The book, illustrated with drawings of "little Jay" by artist S.B. Whitehouse, is set for publication next summer.

Dole institute: A constellation of political stars dedicated an $11.3 million political institute to former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole Tuesday in Lawrence, Kan.

Among those standing beside Dole, who turned 80 Tuesday, were former President Jimmy Carter; national security adviser Condoleezza Rice; former Sen. George McGovern; former Rep. Jack Kemp, Dole's 1996 running mate; and NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw.