Rowling expecting third child

London — “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling said Saturday she was expecting her third child.

Rowling, 38, made the announcement on her official Web site.

Rowling’s son, David, was born last year after her marriage to Neil Murray in 2001. She has a daughter, Jessica, from a previous marriage to Jorges Arantes.

The author reassured fans that the pregnancy would not affect the release of the next book in the Potter installment, which will be titled, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.”

“Let me reassure you that book six remains well on track and, fingers crossed of course, I don’t foresee any baby-related interruptions or delays,” Rowling said.

Keillor, Altman team up

St. Paul, Minn. — The quirky characters of Minnesota humorist Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” may be headed for the silver screen.

A cinematic version of the popular radio show is tentatively set to begin shooting in January at the Fitzgerald Theater, with director Robert Altman at the helm, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported Saturday.

Keillor wrote the screenplay — about life backstage at the radio show. The movie is expected to star Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin as a fading sister duet act and Tom Waits and Lyle Lovett as Dusty and Lefty, the singing cowboys.

“Altman and Keillor: That’s a happy combination of American masters,” said Tony Judge, who is coordinating the project for Prairie Home Productions.

Channing’s awards stolen

New York — Carol Channing’s Tony Award for her performance in “Hello, Dolly!” and an Emmy and a Golden Globe were stolen from her storage unit in North Hollywood, Channing’s publicist said Friday.

“Ever since it happened, I’ve been checking eBay every day just to make sure these things haven’t shown up,” publicist Harlan Boll told The Associated Press. “You never know what something like that would sell for.”

Boll said the unit was broken into about three months ago, and Channing later filed a police report.

Her other Tony Award, for lifetime achievement, as well as $50,000 worth of costumes and gowns, some by famed designer Bob Mackie, also were taken, Boll said.

Duff sisters checking out legs

New York — Who’s got legs? Who knows how to use them?

Hilary Duff will decide just that when she judges who has the best pair of legs in New York.

The singer-actress will be joined Wednesday in Times Square by her sister, Haylie, for the contest, sponsored by Gillette, dubbed “Legs of a Goddess.” The Duff sisters will be looking for women with “shapely and toned legs, and a confident and enthusiastic attitude.”

The contest is part of a nationwide search, the winner of which will win a “Goddess Giveaway” worth $30,000, the sponsor said in a recent statement.