John Katsilometes reports the ticket prices for Bette Midler’s shows (operators are standing by starting today)

Thursday, May 3, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

The Divine Miss M is not coming cheap, but she is a bit more affordable than Celine Dion.

Tickets for Bette Midler, the first of two new headliners at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace (Cher is all but certain to be the next announced performer), will go for $95, $140, $175 and $250. Dion recently raised her ticket prices for the final weeks of "A New Day ..." to the $100 to $350 range, but before that she was charging $75.50 to $225.

And if you are wondering about special ticket discounts for locals, I can report that there are none, but producers are hinting that special rates might be arranged for Nevada residents.

Midler begins her two-year contract with the hotel on Feb. 20. All performances will be at 7:30 p.m., five nights a week (dark days are Thursdays and Sundays). Tickets go on sale at noon today and will be available at the Colosseum box office or by calling 1-877-723-8836 (that's 1-877-7BETTEM for those who like to turn their phone keypad into a puzzle) or at www.ticketmaster.com. A news conference has been scheduled for this morning to provide further details, such as Midler herself, live and in person.

NoteMart

During Saturday night's "Concert for Lili Claire" fundraiser, which raised more than $1 million for the organization that benefits children with neuro-developmental disorders, Flamingo headliner Toni Braxton told the audience at Mandalay Bay Events Center that her 4-year-old son, Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis, has been diagnosed with autism. He was referred to the foundation by the Clark County School District's early intervention program, and the Braxtons met with foundation physician Johanna Fricke (who is the only certified behavioral developmental pediatrician in Nevada) and neuro-psychologist Julie Beasley, who provided treatment recommendations ...

Vegas moment: At the Steak House at Circus Circus on Tuesday night, two women taking photos of the windowed meat locker at the front of the restaurant ...

Wayne Allyn Root is set to announce his candidacy for president (of the United States, no less) on the Libertarian Party ticket. His running mate could well be poker star Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, who won the 2004 World Series of Poker. A reality TV crew from Burt Dubrow Productions has been tailing Root this week for - what else? - a reality TV project. Dubrow is the mastermind - behind the Sally Jesse Raphael and Jerry Springer talk shows ...

Fast-breaking news: Beginning late this year Shelby Automobiles will begin producing 600-725 horsepower Ford Mustangs at its facility on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway grounds ...

The head count at "Monty Python's Spamalot" is up to three. That's how many times the knight's head cut clean by the killer rabbit has rolled into the orchestra pit ...

Recommended entertainment: Super Summer Theatre, which holds its performances at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park in Red Rock Canyon (take Charleston Boulevard about 10 miles west of Interstate 215 and there it is). Tickets are on sale now for the 32nd season, which begins June 13 with "Ragtime." The series runs through the summer. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the gate, and are on sale now at the UNLV Ham Hall box office, at UNLVtickets.com, at 895-2787 or at Prestige Travel at the Smith's Shopping Center on Rampart and Lake Mead boulevards ...

In honor of Midler: Reader reports DEVYNE 1 on a red Ford Focus.