Kathie Lee Gifford joining ‘Today’

New York – Kathie Lee Gifford soon will be back on TV’s early shift.

The former co-star of the syndicated “Live” talk show will join NBC’s “Today” next Monday. She will be teamed with Hoda Kotb (pronounced HO-dah COT-bee), a current anchor of the program’s seven-month-old fourth hour, which airs live at 9 a.m. CDT.

The announcement was made during Monday’s broadcast, with Gifford seated alongside the program’s established stars, including Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, co-hosts of the first two hours.

Gifford, 54, who left Regis Philbin and “Live” in 2000, joked that the timing of her TV return “couldn’t be worse” in certain ways: “I’m eight years older, 10 pounds heavier, a half-inch shorter, and just in time for HD television.”

Long married to former NFL star and sports announcer Frank Gifford, she joked, “It’s going to be good to be working. I’m really tired of staying home and watching Frank’s old highlight films.”

Heather Mills to judge Miss USA Pageant

Los Angeles – Heather Mills soon will be back in front of the cameras.

The former Mrs. Paul McCartney, who recently wrapped up a very public divorce from the ex-Beatle, is among the celebrity judges announced for the upcoming Miss USA Pageant.

Other judges for the April 11 competition include actor-comedian Rob Schneider, actor-musician Joey Fatone, actress Kristian Alfonso, Olympic champion swimmer Amanda Beard, actress Kelly Carlson and San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman.

Donny and Marie Osmond will host the telecast of the 57th annual pageant, aired live from Las Vegas on NBC.

Contestants from 50 states and the District of Columbia will be judged in the swimsuit, evening gown and interview categories.

Anna Nicole Smith, son died the same way

Nassau, Bahamas – A Bahamas jury ruled Monday that Anna Nicole Smith’s son died from an accidental drug overdose, just like his mother.

The seven-member jury, which deliberated for less than two hours, recommended no criminal charges in the September 2006 death of 20-year-old Daniel Smith.

The son of the former Playboy playmate died after coming to the Bahamas to meet his new baby sister on Sept. 10, 2006. His mother died early the next year in Florida from an accidental drug overdose at age 39.

Police had said there was no evidence of homicide, and autopsies found that Daniel died from a combination of drugs, including methadone and antidepressants. But Bahamian authorities ordered the inquest amid widespread speculation over the circumstances surrounding his death.

In its ruling, the jury said the cause of death was “nondependent use of drugs,” meaning that Daniel Smith was not addicted and was not aware the drugs in his system would kill him.

Jessica Simpson released from hospital

Los Angeles – Jessica Simpson is feeling “much better” after being hospitalized with a kidney infection.

Simpson was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Friday for a “minor kidney infection” and was released Monday, Simpson’s representative Lauren Auslander told The Associated Press. In Touch magazine reported Simpson’s hospitalization Monday.

Auslander said the 27-year-old singer-actress is feeling “much better now.”

According to the In Touch report, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Simpson’s current squeeze, wanted to be by Simpson’s side but had prior commitments in Dallas.

Simpson is currently working on a country music album.

Wayans brothers drop bid for movie studio

Oakland, Calif. – The Wayans brothers have dropped their bid to build a movie studio and shopping center at the former Oakland Army base over conflicts with the nearby port of Oakland.

Wayans business partner Britten Shuford said the brothers failed to get a commitment from the city to preserve the site’s San Francisco Bay views.

The port plans to stack storage containers and build a dividing wall that would block views of the bay.

Oakland business officials say the Wayans’ decision to back out after long-standing negotiations over the 100-acre parcel clears the path for other proposals on developing the base, which closed in 1999.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums has released a list of 13 other developers interested in building on the site.

Jazz singer Nancy Wilson hospitalized

Joshua Tree, Calif. – Nancy Wilson was hospitalized Monday for treatment of a collapsed lung, a spokeswoman said.

The 71-year-old Grammy-winning singer was expected to recover but will not be able to make a performance scheduled in Memphis, Tenn., next weekend, said Devra Levy, wife of Wilson’s manager, John Levy.

Wilson’s lung was being reinflated at Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree and she was in good spirits, Devra Levy told The Associated Press.