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People in the news

By United Press International
Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan sings the National Anthem before the Miami Heat play the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in New York City on January 30, 2013. UPI/John Angelillo
Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan sings the National Anthem before the Miami Heat play the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in New York City on January 30, 2013. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...

MISS AMERICA PAGEANT: The Miss America Pageant is returning to Atlantic City, N.J., after an attempt to give it more glitz by moving to Las Vegas, state officials said.

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Gov. Chris Christie's office said a news conference has been scheduled Thursday in the Jersey Shore resort for the official announcement, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno will be joined by Miss America officials for the event.

The pageant was founded by an Atlantic City business group trying to extend the summer season into September. The first was held in 1921 with the winner, Margaret Gorman of Washington getting a $100 prize.

With the arrival of television, the pageant became a major national event, broadcast live to millions of people. But ratings peaked in the early 1960s and dropped sharply around 2000, and ABC decided to drop the broadcast in 2004.

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The first Las Vegas pageant was held in January 2006, another break with tradition.

Lou Barthold, one of the executive directors of the Miss New Jersey Education Foundation, called the move a "big disappointment." He said he went out to Las Vegas for last year's pageant, and it just did not have the same feel.

"In Las Vegas, you were lucky to see anybody you knew other than going to the show," he said. "It's so large, so vast, with all the casinos out there."


STEVE MARTIN: Steve Martin's wife, Anne Stringfield, has given birth, making the Hollywood actor a first-time dad at age 67, the New York Post said.

Stringfield, 41, gave birth to the baby in December.

"They've had a baby, and how they kept it a secret nobody knows," a source told the Post Wednesday.

"Steve's very private," the insider said. "They are thrilled. They worked hard to have the baby."

The child's gender and name were not reported.

Stringfield and Martin married in 2007. They live in Los Angeles.


LL COOL J: American rapper, actor and awards show host LL Cool J is to release his 14th studio album, "Authentic," 429 Records/The Savoy Label Group announced.

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The album is due to drop April 30, the record company said Wednesday.

The artist performed his new song "Whaddup" with Travis Barker, Tom Morello, Chuck D and DJ Z-Trip at Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony, for which he also served as host.

The performance is now available on iTunes and the song will be featured on LL Cool J's new album.

"With 'Authentic,' I wanted to work on a project that was for the true fans," the singer said in a statement. "I'm not trying to compete with 17-year-olds on the radio, but I am talking directly to the folks who came up with me. We may not be teenagers anymore, but we do still like to have fun."


ALBERT BROOKS: Albert Brooks has signed on to reprise his role of anxious clownfish Marlin in the upcoming animated sequel "Finding Nemo 2," Hollywood's Deadline.com reported.

Ellen DeGeneres, Brooks's regal tang co-star from the 2003 blockbuster "Finding Nemo," is also on board for the follow-up.

The original film's director, Andrew Stanton, will direct the sequel, as well, the entertainment news website said.

There is no word on what the story will be about or when the movie is expected to hit theaters.

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Brooks was recently seen in "This is 40" and "Drive."

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