Judge nixes Costa Rica trip for ex-Ill. governor

Chicago — A federal judge told ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday to forget about starring in a reality TV show in the Costa Rican jungle and focus instead on the corruption charges that could send him to prison for years.

“I don’t think this defendant fully understands and I don’t think he could understand … the position he finds himself in,” U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel said in denying the impeached and indicted former governor permission to leave the country.

Blagojevich, 52, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering, fraud and other charges that allege he schemed to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat and plotted to use the muscle of the governor’s office to pressure companies for campaign money.

Blagojevich had hoped to make some money to support his family by heading to Costa Rica in June to be on NBC’s “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!” — a program similar to “Survivor” — while attorneys in Chicago worked on his case.

But Zagel said his time would be better spent helping his lawyers cope with the mound of documentary evidence prosecutors will soon turn over to the defense.

Zagel said it’s often the case that “the defendant never understands … the jeopardy he is in” until he comes face to face with the evidence and so far Blagojevich has not experienced that.

Hawking’s family expects full recovery

London — Physicist Stephen Hawking was hospitalized overnight for a chest infection but his family “is looking forward” to a full recovery, Cambridge University said Tuesday.

Hawking “was being kept in observation” at Addenbrooke’s hospital after being admitted Monday.

“He is comfortable and his family is looking forward to him making a full recovery,” the university said in a statement.

The statement did not indicate Hawking’s condition and the hospital declined to comment.

Hawking, 67, gained renown for his work on black holes and has remained active despite being diagnosed at age 21 with ALS, (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), an incurable degenerative disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Hawking has been almost entirely paralyzed for years and communicates through an electronic voice synthesizer activated by his fingers.

Blogger, Miss California take sides on ‘Today’

Los Angeles — Miss California says she stands by her anti-gay-marriage comments, even if they may have cost her the Miss USA crown.

Carrie Prejean defended her views Tuesday on NBC’s “Today” show, telling host Matt Lauer that she spoke from the heart during Sunday’s pageant when she said that “marriage should be between a man and a woman.”

The beauty queen’s response to a question from openly gay pageant judge and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has received more attention than the winner, Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton. During the pageant, Hilton asked Prejean if every state should follow Vermont in legalizing same sex marriage.

“I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other,” Prejean responded. “But in my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”

Hilton, who also appeared on the “Today” show Tuesday, said his question was relevant and that Prejean should have “left her politics and her religion out because Miss USA represents all Americans.”

Darfur genocide inspires actress hunger strike

Los Angeles — Mia Farrow plans to begin a hunger strike next week in solidarity with the people of Darfur.

The 64-year-old actress and humanitarian says she will begin a “fast of only water” on Monday “as a personal expression of outrage at a world that is somehow able to stand by and watch innocent men, women and children needlessly die of starvation, thirst and disease.”

Farrow was moved to begin the hunger strike after the Sudanese government expelled international aid agencies from the country last month. Farrow says she is calling on world leaders to “help build a credible peace process” to end the violence in Darfur. Her protest is part of Genocide Prevention Month, a campaign to stop genocide worldwide.

Paula Abdul says her ‘Idol’ contract is up

New York — Paula Abdul said her contract is up this season on “American Idol,” and that no one can ever replace her.

In an interview with Cynthia McFadden, airing Thursday on ABC News “Nightline” at 10:35 p.m. CDT, Abdul said that she loves the show, especially this season, which has a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi.

“I love the show, I do. I love what I do on the show. … It’s taken me a while to get comfortable in my own skin with the show,” Abdul said.

Asked by McFadden if she thinks DioGuardi will replace her on the show, Abdul said, “I don’t think anyone (can). First of all, Kara says, ‘I could never replace you.’ And I said whenever there is change it’s not about replacing anybody it’s about possibly moving on.”