‘Dawson’s Creek’ star arrested

Raleigh, N.C. – Joshua Jackson, who plays Pacey on the WB series “Dawson’s Creek,” was arrested and charged with drunkenly assaulting a security guard at a hockey game.

The 24-year-old actor was arrested Saturday night at a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s scheduled to appear in court on the misdemeanor charge on Dec. 4.

Arrest warrants allege that Jackson grabbed 40-year-old guard Drew Grissom around the neck and struck him.

In jail, tests showed Jackson’s blood alcohol content registered 0.14. He posted $1,000 bail early Sunday and left.

The incredible shrinking Al

New York – There’s nothing wrong with your television set – Al Roker really does look different. That’s because he lost 100 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

The 5-foot-8-inch weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show weighed 320 pounds before the operation in March. A segment on Roker’s surgery is scheduled to air tonight on NBC’s “Dateline.”

His wife, Deborah Roberts, a correspondent for ABC’s “20/20,” had interviewed singer Carnie Wilson in 1999 about her gastric bypass surgery, and suggested it to Roker.

At first he was reluctant, he told People magazine for its Nov. 18 issue. But when Roberts brought it up again two years later, Roker, 48, was open to the idea. At first, he told his co-workers he was having a gall bladder operation, but he has gradually revealed his secret.

Glover lauded as humanitarian

Philadelphia – Danny Glover received the Marian Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership benefits humanity.

The 55-year-old actor, who received the award and $100,000 prize Sunday, was given the honor for his work as an artist and humanitarian who has fought for causes ranging from abolition of the death penalty to fighting AIDS, Mayor John F. Street said.

The award is named after Marian Anderson, the late opera singer and Philadelphia native who was the first black performer to sing at the White House.

The first recipient of the award was Harry Belafonte in 1998, followed by Gregory Peck in 1999, Elizabeth Taylor in 2000 and Quincy Jones in 2001.

Bikers ride for cause

Glendale, Calif. – Jay Leno led a pack of Harley-Davidsons at the start of Love Ride 19, billed as the largest motorcycle fund-raiser in the world.

As the grand marshal of Sunday’s parade, Leno took credit for the sunny morning that followed three days of rain.

“I made some calls, pulled a few strings,” the comedian and “Tonight Show” host quipped as he introduced a stageful of celebrities, including “Easy Rider” star Peter Fonda, “Terminator 2” actor Robert Patrick and country singer Dwight Yoakam.

The 50-mile ride raised $1.2 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and “Reading By 9,” a local literacy campaign.