People in the News: Presley family gives back to Memphis

Lisa Marie Presley, whose childhood home is one of the most famous landmarks in Memphis, Tenn., wants to give hope -- and shelter -- to families who have nowhere to live.

The daughter of Elvis Presley was in her hometown Thursday to break ground for Presley Place, housing for the homeless that will open in January. She said Presley Place is a way to give "hope and opportunity back to those who may have lost it."

Elvis Presley was born into poverty and lived in public housing in Memphis as a youth. Rock stardom brought him the money to buy his mansion, Graceland, which is now one of the city's most popular tourist spots.

The Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association hopes to begin construction on Presley Place this month with $1.3 million from by the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation.

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Singer Celine Dion, who took a break from performing to try to get pregnant after having difficulty conceiving, said yesterday she is expecting a baby. "We just found out," Dion, 32, said in a statement from Montreal, adding that she and husband-manager Rene Angelil were "completely, totally happy" with the news.

Spokeswoman Francine Chaloult said Dion's baby was expected in early March.

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David Letterman showed up for jury duty yesterday but didn't make the cut.

The civic-minded talk show host spent 2-1/2 hours in Superior Court in Stamford, Conn., taking part in a juror orientation that included watching two short films.

But he didn't make it to the jury box. Only one alternate was still needed to complete the jury in the case, a lawsuit over a car accident, and one was chosen before Letterman could be questioned.

By state law, that meant that the New Canaan, Conn., resident fulfilled his jury duty, a topic that had been a running joke on his CBS late-night show for weeks.

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Luke Perry is a father again.

Sophie Perry weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces when delivered at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at an undisclosed Los Angeles area hospital, publicist Paul Bloch said.

It was the second child for Perry and his wife, Minnie. They have a 2-year-old son, Jack.

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