NEWS LITE : BARBARA BUSH NOT SHY ABOUT SON JEB.

Speaking at the University of Miami's commencement Friday, Barbara Bush couldn't resist subtly plugging her son's campaign for governor of Florida.

Referring to her husband, former President Bush, who also received an honorary degree, she said: ``He is the father of the governor of the great state of Texas. And he may be . . .''

Without finishing the thought, the former first lady glanced at son Jeb, candidate for the same job in Florida.

``Well, they told me I couldn't say that, but I am Jeb's mother,'' she said. ``You knew I was going to work that in.''

Jeb's older brother, George W. Bush, is governor of Texas.

Kenny Rogers going online for gambling

The Gambler is about to make a pitch for Internet gambling.

Kenny Rogers, who performs regularly in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other gambling hot spots, will become celebrity pitchman for Bardanac. The Caribbean company offers blackjack, video poker and other games at a virtual casino that uses Rogers' name in its Web address.

``Kenny thinks the Internet is the wave of the future for entertainment,'' said Kelly Jacobs, a spokeswoman for Inland Entertainment, Bardanac's San Diego-based marketing arm.

One of Rogers' best-known songs is ``The Gambler.''

Streisand museum soon to be on block

The world's only museum devoted to Barbra Streisand is closing its doors after two years. Ken Joachim, who built his small San Francisco store into a temple to ``the voice of the century,'' has had it with the star.

``Barbra's people have rejected this from the start,'' he said. On May 31, with a transvestite celebrity auctioneer named Diva, the Barbra Streisand Museum goes on the block. The singer has been mum.

Newman, Costner film project taps out

The owner of a tiny water company in New Harbor, Maine, left Paul Newman and Kevin Costner high and dry.

The stars, along with the rest of the cast and crew of ``Message in a Bottle,'' were left without running water after Paul Ring's New Harbor Water Co. failed to turn on the tap in the beach village. New Harbor has seasonal water service, which is typically turned on in April or May.

Bottled water and chemical toilets were hastily brought in.

``The people from Los Angeles were slack-jawed that a public water system could be run by one individual who didn't want to turn it on,'' said Lea Girardin of the Maine Film Office. ``When they got over their astonishment, they worked it out.''

In the meantime, Ring said he will allow a local plumber to get the water flowing - but not until next week.

Illinois town blessed with big lottery luck

Carpentersville, Ill. is a sure thing.

The $26 million winning ticket from Tuesday night's Big Game lottery was sold here, as was one of three $150,000 second-place tickets.

``It's the first time I've heard of this happening,'' Illinois State Lottery spokeswoman Anne Plohr said.

The grand prize winner was purchased at a 7-Eleven store, while the second-place ticket was purchased at an Amoco station just a half-mile away in this community of 23,000 that is 40 miles northwest of Chicago.

Rita Shah, a 7-Eleven clerk, sold the winning ticket early Tuesday afternoon but said she couldn't remember who bought it.

``We might have to review the store security tape,'' joked owner Maunika Barot.

Barot and her store are entitled to a 1 percent commission, amounting to $260,000, for selling the winner.

Bus drivers receive coaching in niceties 

Ralph Kramden, meet Miss Manners.

Pittsburgh bus drivers are attending etiquette classes designed to make public transportation a kinder, gentler experience.

``Avoid arguments at all costs,'' instructor DeCarlo Gilliard tells 50 students in the city's passenger-relations class. ``A lot of people think operators are insensitive.''

The program, a kind of finishing school that will train 150 new hires by June, offers tips on good grooming and keeping a positive attitude even when trying to avoid the curb on a sharp right turn.

The classes use role-playing exercises to teach drivers how to handle fare dodgers, drunks, chatterboxes and passengers with body odor. Drivers are told to keep their cool, no matter what.

Instructor Ronald Francis said dealing with an often unruly public is the hardest part of the job, which pays up to $18.48 an hour.

``It's $4 an hour to drive,'' he said. ``It's another $14 to deal with the public.''

News Lite is compiled from Daily News staff and wire reports

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Writers rock

Best-selling authors Amy Tan and Stephen King perform as members of the Rock Bottom Remainders music combo for a benefit concert Friday in King's hometown of Bangor, Maine.

Michael C. York/Associated Press

(2) Bush