Wallace may be next to leave in game of news-ical chairs

New York – You can have Katie Couric, but we want Mike Wallace.

That switcheroo could happen, according to the “60 Minutes” legend. Wallace said Friday he had been talking with NBC News officials about a job.

“They’ve been talking with me off and on for some time about coming over there,” Wallace said. “At the moment, I want to stay where I am.”

Wallace, who turns 88 on May 9, has been at CBS News since 1963 and announced in March that he would retire this year as a regular on “60 Minutes.”

White’s successful spin earns her Hollywood star

Los Angeles – This time, it was Vanna White’s turn to spell out a name – her own.

The longtime letter-turner on “Wheel of Fortune” was all smiles Thursday as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“I remember my parents telling me, at the age of 10, ‘You can do anything you want.’ Dad, we did it!” said White, 49, who debuted as host Pat Sajak’s assistant in 1982.

Guests at the 2,309th star’s unveiling included Sajak, “Wheel of Fortune” creator Merv Griffin, “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek and White’s father.

“I picked her because she knew the whole alphabet,” Griffin said. “She is America’s sweetheart.”

White grew up in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., studied to be a model and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Another shot at the ’80s: Travolta, JLo set for ‘Dallas’

Los Angeles – British director Gurinder Chadha announced Friday that she will direct John Travolta and Jennifer Lopez in a big-screen version of 1980s TV show “Dallas.”

The “Bend it Like Beckham” director said she had signed a deal with 20th Century Fox to direct the film, which will star Travolta as villainous oil magnate J.R. Ewing and Lopez as his wife, Sue Ellen.

In a statement, Chadha said her appointment meant that the sort of South Asian-themed British films that made her name had “huge credibility and respect in Hollywood.”

Chadha, who gave Jane Austen a Bollywood twist in last year’s “Bride and Prejudice,” also is involved with adapting another TV hit, 1960s sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie.” She said that film “is still in the pipeline, but there is still some way to go on the script.”

Filming on “Dallas” is due to start in October, with the movie slated for a late 2007 release.

Kentuckian wins Miss USA

Baltimore – Miss Kentucky was crowned Miss USA in the 55th annual pageant Friday night. Tara Elizabeth Conner, 20, of Russell Springs, was crowned by Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina, who is Miss USA 2005.

“I am an easygoing, down-to-earth girl” Conner said. “Throughout my life, hardships and different experiences have made me a very humbled, yet strong individual.”

She will compete July 23 in the Miss Universe competition in Los Angeles.

Miss California, Tamiko Nash, 26, of Los Angeles, was first runner-up. Miss Georgia, Lisa Wilson, 26, of Rome, was second runner-up. Miss Ohio, Stacy Offenberger, 26, of Marietta, was third runner-up. Miss Florida, Cristin Duren, 24, of Panama City Beach, was fourth runner-up.

Rowling donation benefits

MS research center

Edinburgh, Scotland – J.K. Rowling says she has given money to help set up a center for research into multiple sclerosis.

The best-selling “Harry Potter” author didn’t say how much she had given toward the $4 million facility, which will be housed at The Center for Regenerative Medicine at Edinburgh University’s medical school.

“It means a great deal to me to be able to provide support for this much-needed research center,” Rowling, patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland, said Thursday.

Her mother died of multiple sclerosis at age 45.

The new research center is expected to open by the end of the year.