It’s a baby girl for Creed’s Scott Stapp and wife

Miami – Former Creed front man Scott Stapp and his wife welcomed a baby girl Thursday.

Milan Hayat Stapp is the couple’s first child.

According to a statement from his record company, the baby’s name reflects her parents’ roots: Milan was chosen from Stapp’s Cherokee heritage and means “to have the creativity of God,” while Hayat draws from her mother’s Jordanian upbringing and means “to give life.”

Stapp married Jaclyn Nesheiwat, the 2004 winner of the Miss New York USA pageant, in Miami in February. He also has a son, Jagger, from a previous relationship.

Stapp won a Grammy in 2000 for Creed’s song “With Arms Wide Open.” He released a solo album, “The Great Divide,” in 2005.

Busta Rhymes charged with misdemeanor assault

New York – Busta Rhymes posted bail and was released Thursday after being arraigned on misdemeanor assault charges that say the hip-hop star beat a man last month in a dispute over money.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Neil Ross set Rhymes’ bail at $3,500 for two third-degree assault and two lesser charges and set his next court date for Feb. 20.

The judge also signed an order for Rhymes to stay away from the accuser.

The victim, a court complaint says, is Edward Hatchett, 39, Rhymes’ former driver. The complaint says the 34-year-old rapper beat him “with a closed fist about the head and neck,” knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the ribs and torso.

The attack, which occurred Dec. 26 outside Rhymes’ office on West Broadway in lower Manhattan, left Hatchett with face and neck cuts and bruises and in substantial pain, the complaint says.

Assistant District Attorney Harrison Schweiloch told the judge the assault stemmed from a dispute over money.

Lindsay Lohan to have surgery to remove appendix

New York – Lindsay Lohan was to have surgery to remove her appendix, her publicist, Leslie Sloane Zelnik, said Thursday.

Zelnik declined to give details. In response to a query by The Associated Press, Zelnik said in an e-mail that the 20-year-old actress was “having her appendix removed. She is resting comfortably.”

Celebrity Web site TMZ reported Zelnik as saying Lohan wasn’t feeling well Wednesday and had gone to a doctor, who performed several tests and determined that she was suffering from appendicitis.

Doctors asked her to return to the hospital Thursday to remove her appendix as a precaution, TMZ said.

NIghtclub owner: Hilton fired as face of businesses

Orlando, Fla. – Two nightclubs known as Club Paris will no longer be associated with their namesake – Paris Hilton, according to the club’s owner.

Fred Khalilian said he “fired” the hotel heiress because she has failed to attend scheduled appearances at the location in downtown Orlando. The troubles started two years ago when Hilton showed up six hours late for the grand opening, Khalilian said.

Khalilian does not want to change the name of the clubs, because he said the name is so well-known. Instead of Club Paris representing Hilton, it will stand for the city, Khalilian said.

Jennifer Lopez tops ‘100 Most Influential Hispanics’ list

New York – Jennifer Lopez is among the entertainers selected by People en Espanol for its “100 Most Influential Hispanics” issue, which honors those who have made an impact in the Hispanic community.

Lopez, who graces the cover of the magazine’s February issue, on newsstands today, says “being an example to others is a big part of my work.”

The 38-year-old singer-actress also says she would like to have children someday.

“I come from a strong family, so of course I want to have one,” Lopez tells the magazine. “But I do have my own family: my immediate family, my husband and his children. I get to share in all of that. I am very lucky to have that.”

Marc Anthony, who didn’t make the list, and Lopez were married in 2004. The 37-year-old singer has two sons, 5-year-old Cristian and 3-year-old Ryan, with ex-wife Dayanara Torres, and a 12-year-old daughter, Arianna, from a previous relationship.

Lopez tops the list of entertainers, which also includes Antonio Banderas, Carlos Santana, Eva Longoria, George Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Salma Hayek and Shakira, among others.