People

MARTHA STEWART LEAVES WALL STREET POST

Less than four months after being appointed to the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange, household guru Martha Stewart has turned in her resignation. Currently under a cloud for her own possible Wall Street mis-dealings, Stewart is leaving the post she assumed last spring. Meanwhile, according to CNN, the federal government continues its investigation into whether Stewart used inside information when she sold her huge holdings in ImClone just before that stock went into the dumpster. Stewart, whose name is now a household word in merchandising worldwide, was nominated to the prestigious position last March. She was appointed to the post in June and was to have been on the board through 2003.

CAROLINE KENNEDY A SCHOOL GIRL AGAIN

The last remaining member of what many people call "the Camelot years," Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, is going back to school ... in a way. She has been asked to serve as the chief fundraiser for the flagging New York school system. The post, according to People magazine, is a new one, set up by the chancellor of the system, Joel I. Klein. Schlossberg's job will not just be a ceremonial one. She is expected to be at her post at least three days a week in the coming months, using her many connections to come up with ways to get contributions to fill in the cracks created by New York's fiscal shortfalls. She will be paid the same as the current mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg ... a dollar a year. Starting in January her position becomes a five-day-a-week job.

ELVIS NUMBER ONE ON POP CHARTS

You would think that during his long and incredible career that Elvis Presley would have had at least one album that debuted in the No. 1 position. Well that's one achievement he never attained ... until now. The new retrospective compilation of the King's work that has just been released, "Elvis 30 # 1 Hits," is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. According to the chart-keeping people, it also opened in the top spot on charts in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Spain, Denmark, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. The massive re-release project was carefully carried out by studio engineers who went into the vaults and found the original audio tapes of the original recording sessions. Using new equipment that was not available when the recordings were first made, they brought the "Elvis sound" into the 21st century. All of Presley's major hits are on the CD, from "Jailhouse Rock" to "Return to Sender" to "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

TRAVIS TRITT UNDER A DEATH TARGET?

Popular country singer Travis Tritt is being heavily guarded wherever he goes because of reports that someone has a "contract" out on his life. The news provider country.com says that federal authorities have been called in to investigate charges that Tritt has been targeted for a contract killing. The information about the possible "hit" came from a man who has been under the federal witness protection program for some time. The man told police that another Nashville man had ordered the killing because of "a disagreement with the singer." Meanwhile, Tritt continues to tour, saying that he is extremely concerned for himself and his family but has confidence in law enforcement to sort things out.

CAAN TO STAR IN INDEPENDENT FILM

An increasing number of Hollywood stars are going to the aid of young independent filmmakers. In addition to Robert Redford's long-time association with the Sundance Film Festival -- set up to showcase "small" films -- others are now pitching in to help. The latest, according to the Hollywood Reporter, is actor James Caan. He has agreed to star in the "indie" feature "Jericho Mansions." Also tapped to be in the cast are Jennifer Tilly and Maribel Verdu. Caan has been busy lately, recently signing on to do a period piece, "Castle of Lies." Meanwhile, "Jericho" will be under the guiding hand of producer Kate Robbins and Snow Fall Films. Caan will star as the superintendent of a big building who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS FINDS FRIEND IN BLACK

Clint Black has taken time from his busy recording and touring schedule to help out a Nashville-based group working to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. CMT says that Black joined Keith Urban at a concert this week in the Tennessee capital city. Even pop star Richard Marx showed up. He and others there joined in an impromptu version of Urban's big hit song "Somebody Like You." Steve Cropper, Nick Lachey (of the group 98 Degrees) and Emerson Drive also helped during the benefit. Visiting soap star Ryan Moss (of "The Bold and the Beautiful") acted as host. A charity auction held in conjunction with the concert raised an additional $100,000.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 429

Here is today's question: "How many different magazine titles to you receive each month?" Put MAGAZINE in the subject line and send to comments@upi.com via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 424 (MEMORY)

Last week we asked your favorite "I forgot" stories. Here are a few answers picked at random. AmyAnder says that her biggest act of forgetfulness was to leave town on the very weekend she was supposed to have been her best friend's bridesmaid. That, she says, took years to straighten out. LydiaL says that forgetting food cooking on a stove resulted in a minor fire that would have consumed the house had she not gotten back as quickly as she did. 89YUR reports, as several did, that forgetting to have his license plates renewed cost him a bundle. ADDITIONALLY: I'd like to go back to the PRIDE question for a moment and add two more I just noticed. CWesley says that she is most proud of having raised $2,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation. (Way to go, C). And Babs says that she and her husband helped start a Mardi Gras krewe (a club sponsoring a float in annual parades) in her home town. It's now in its 12th year and has become a tradition. TOMORROW: We are all pack rats. GBA