People

Martha Stewart’s appeal still pending after return home

Martha Stewart may have served her time in prison, but her lawyers will appeal the verdict at a March 17 hearing. Her case at a glance:

Stewart says federal prosecutors improperly suggested at her trial that she was charged with insider trading. (She was charged with lying about the stock sale, not selling for improper reasons.) She also claims the trial judge erred by not thoroughly investigating charges that a juror lied to get on the panel. And she notes that a government expert witness, ink expert Larry Stewart, was charged with perjury. (He was acquitted.)

Stewart and her lawyers have said the main purpose of the appeal is to clear her name.

The appeals court could uphold the verdict or overturn it. A reversal would theoretically give prosecutors the option to bring the case again — but legal experts say such a move is extremely unlikely, given that Stewart has already served prison time.

Ex-Korn guitarist baptized

Kibbutz Kinneret, Israel — Former Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch was baptized Saturday in the Jordan River, just weeks after quitting his band, drug habits and rock-and-roll lifestyle for religion.

Welch, a founding member of the multi-platinum band, and about 20 other white-robed Christian pilgrims from a Bakersfield, Calif., church were immersed by their pastor, Ron Vietti.

Welch said the ritual baptism had washed away his anger. “You know when you get angry and it builds up? I felt like hurting someone before, now I feel like hugging people,” he said.

Vietti said Welch — who has “Jesus” tattooed across his knuckles and “Matthew 11:28,” tattooed prominently across his neck — already is attracting a new group of young people to the message of Christianity.

Korn announced Welch’s resignation last month after 13 years with the band. Welch said he had become increasingly depressed and drug-addicted in recent years, but that religion helped him quit.

Tour dates canceled I

Bossier City, La. — Elton John canceled two weekend concerts in Louisiana because he was sick, but some fans only got the bad news after long drives to see him.

Jerred Price, 16, and his grandmother, Barbara Lloyd, drove six hours from Leachville, Ark., to Bossier City for Friday night’s concert.

They and others who had not heard about the cancellation were told by CenturyTel staffers handing out flyers at the parking lot entrance.

“At first I thought it was a joke,” Lloyd said in Saturday’s The Times of Shreveport. “But then the reality set in.”

Saturday night’s concert in New Orleans was also canceled, according to the singer’s Web site.

Steve Taliaferro, director of marketing for Pace Concerts, said the company will announce early in the week whether the concerts can be rescheduled, and instructions for refunds.

Tour dates canceled II

Nashville, Tenn. — Kenny Chesney has canceled the opening weekend of his “Somewhere in the Sun” tour after tearing ligaments in his right ankle.

The country singer said Thursday he fell on a staircase and will reschedule concerts — in Green Bay, Wis., Fargo, N.D., and St. Paul, Minn.

“I know the fans in Green Bay, Fargo and St. Paul are gonna be disappointed,” Chesney said in a statement posted on his Web site. “But they’re not half as disappointed as I am about not being there.”

The 36-year-old’s tour hits more than 20 U.S. cities, concluding May 17 in Las Vegas.

Janet Jackson files motion against alleged stalker

Santa Monica, Calif. — Janet Jackson is seeking a restraining order against a man she says has been stalking her for nine years and tried last year to bring a box cutter and knife to the New York studio where she was rehearsing.

Jackson said in a motion filed Tuesday in Superior Court that she has become frightened of Robert Gardner, 46, since he was stopped by security guards as he tried to enter the “Saturday Night Live” rehearsal last April.

A hearing on her request for a preliminary injunction was set for March 17.