Well done

April 17, 2008

BY STELLA FOSTER Sun-Times Columnist

THE POLICE SHOOTING and killing of that big cougar that roamed around in the Roscoe Village area the other day made plenty of sense to me. It is bad enough when you hear about pit bulls attacking folks on the street that result in horrible injuries and in some cases, death. So congrats to the cops for a job well done.

JUST IN: SEN. IRIS Martinez and fathers' rights attorney Jeffery Leving are happy that Senate Bill 2827, which was introduced by Martinez and co-authored with Leving, unanimously passed Tuesday in the Illinois Senate. A portion of the legislation would amend the Illinois Public Aid Code and the Illinois Parentage Act to require mandatory DNA testing in paternity cases with exceptions. "This provision in the legislation should help prevent paternity fraud," said Leving.

JERRY FANS: COLORFUL talk show host Jerry Springer will sing his heart out at the McCormick & Schmick eatery at Chestnut and Rush April 29. The evening will benefit the Park School (that helps kids with disabilities) in Evanston and is $25 per person. Springer is also set to once again host NBC's "America's Got Talent" premiering June 17.

ACCORDING to In Touch Weekly mag, actor Eddie Murphy is secretly dating Lara LaRue, a Los Angeles waitress and sister of "CSI: Miami" star Eva LaRue.

AROUND TOWN: Actress Georgia "Everybody Loves Ramond" Engel relaxed at 10pin Bowling lounge and signed a celebrity pin for the display case. . . . The Bears' Devin Hester chowed down at the ESPN Zone and on a different evening, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and friends. . . . The N9ne Steakhouse was hopping with cool folks including the White Sox Ozzie Guillen, actor Stephen ("Public Enemies") Dorff, Stan Wozniak and Federico ("The Sopranos") Castelluccio (celebrating the opening of Wozniak's new The Joynt Retro Club). . . . The Cleveland Cavaliers' awesome LeBron James dined with pals at Alex Dana's Rosebud on Rush.

CONGRATS TO publicist Allen Rafalson on being elected as president of the Chicago Journalist Association for an unprecedented seventh term. Hey, why let a good thing get away! . . . The Goodman Theatre is happy that actress E. Faye Butler will star in "Ain't Misbehavin," which is directed by Chuck Smith. . . . Want to add my congrats to Joe DiBuono of Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, who will get the "America's Classic" award from the prestigious James Beard Foundation.

TALKER TYRA BANKS teams up with prankster Ashton Kutcher (Demi Moore's hubby) for a yet unnamed beauty pageant type reality show for ABC.

STUFF TO DO: The Jazz and Blues Networking series presents sexy saxophonist Ray Silkman on April 24 and the fabulous Reginald T. McCants band appearing May l at The Marmon Grand. . . . "Around the World in 80 Days" opens April 26 at the Lookingglass theater. . . . WMAQ-Channel 5's Renee Ferguson hosts the St. James gala at the Chicago History Museum on Friday. . . . The Chicago Public Library and Chicago Link Productions is screening "The Life Before Her Eyes" at the AMC River East Monday.

MORE STUFF: The Jazz for Youth gala is May 3 at the Park West with actress Kim ("Living Single") Coles emceeing and actor Harry ("24" "Ray") Lennix, the Chicago Defender's Art Sims and entertainer Jimmy Damon participating in the event. . . . The Chicago Dramatists presents "10 Virgins" at the Playwrights' theater starting April 24. (Hey, where did they find 10? . . . I am shocked!)

I GOT A chance to visit with Cassandra Mills, a former Giant Records president, and local attorney Maynell Thomas in the new Cityscape Lounge. Mills, who lives on the West Coast, was in town to hype her beauty company, Haute Face Cosmetics, which opens its first store at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and will be carried in Macy's stores later this year.

CIVIC LEADERS Ruth Edelman, Alison de Frise and Elise Paschen are hosting a screening/luncheon of the film "The Life of Maria Tallchief" at the Casion Club Wednesday. The famous ballerina will be in attendance.

CONDOLENCES to the family of top accountant Ron Salter on his untimely death from a heart attack last Friday.

THE BIRTHDAY SET: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Lou Conte, Victoria Beckham, WBBM-Channel 2's Melissa Martinez and belated to jazzy Jackie Walker. On Friday: WMAQ-Channel 5's Marion Brooks, WGN-Channel 9's Muriel Clair and meteorologist Harry Volkman. On Saturday: Politico Mike Madigan and broadcaster Mary Ann Childers. On Sunday: Carmen Electra. On Monday: Queen Elizabeth II and anniversary wishes to Thom and Ann Serafin.