Judd Wants To End Mountaintop Blasts

Ashley Judd is calling for an end to the mining practice known as mountaintop removal.

The Kentucky native was among some 500 people who gathered Tuesday outside the Kentucky state Capitol in Frankfort for a rally in support of legislation that would essentially end the practice of blasting away mountaintops to unearth coal.

The 40-year-old actress says she visited mountaintop removal sites in September and saw "barren moonscapes" and "nothingness" where Appalachian peaks once rose skyward.

Assante To Be Honored At Film Fest

Emmy Award-winning actor Armand Assante will receive the Career Achievement Award at the Gasparilla International Film Festival in March.

According to a news release, the longtime actor is being honored for his wide range of work, including "The Mambo Kings," "American Gangster" and "Rage of Angels."

Assante, who has been nominated for four Golden Globes, stars with Val Kilmer in "The Steam Experiment," which will have its debut at the festival. In 1997, Assante won the Emmy for best actor in a miniseries or special for HBO's "Gotti." Assante played crime boss John Gotti in the made-for television film.

The Career Award for Excellence in Film will be presented to Assante at a reception at 5 p.m. March 1 at the Dolce Vita Lounge, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

The Gasparilla International Film Festival begins Feb. 26 at Tampa Theatre and concludes March 7. Go to www.gasparillafilm festival.com for details on screenings and tickets.

'Heroes' Can't Save Relationship

"Heroes" stars Hayden Panettiere, 19, and Milo Ventimiglia, 31, have broken up, and the jury is out as to whether it was 12-year age difference or the new man in Panettiere's life - Jesse McCartney.

The couple called it quits within the last week, according to Usmagazine.com. The magazine said a source close to the couple explained differing lifestyles were at fault for the split: "They were in very different places."

Today's Birthdays

Author Toni Morrison is 78. Singer Yoko Ono is 76. Producer-director-writer John Hughes is 59. Actress Cybill Shepherd is 59. Actor John Travolta is 55. Game show host Vanna White is 52. Actor Matt Dillon is 45. Rapper Dr. Dre is 44. Actress Molly Ringwald is 41.

Source: The Associated Press; TVGuide.com