NEWS LITE : PARK TO RE-CREATE BIBLICAL LIFESTYLE.

Ground has been broken for a biblical theme park on a 20-acre site in Nazareth, reports the Times of London. This facility will feature people working on the land, pruning olive trees and pressing the oil, and doing other things people did in the time of Jesus.

Visitors may have the option of dressing in robes and sandals and joining in the fun.

Jimmy Carter and Pat Boone are among those helping to raise money for this reproduction of life in biblical times, which will include a study center, an interactive museum and a restaurant.

Limbaugh's weight loss hard to explain

Rush Limbaugh is closer to 200 than 300 after losing 80 pounds by cutting down on fats and sugars. No exercising beyond his usual golf. ``It's a long and involved story,'' said his producer, Kit Carson. ``This isn't an off-the-shelf, out-of-the-book program. It took Rush 20 minutes to explain it the other day on-air.''

Irish singing stars join for benefit CD

Sinead O'Connor and Van Morrison lent their voices to a star-studded album released Monday in Britain to raise money for victims of the Aug. 15 bombing in Northern Ireland.

The album, ``Across the Bridge of Hope,'' features stars U2 and Boyzone, and includes a reading by actor Liam Neeson of a poem written by 12-year-old Shaun McLaughlin, who was killed in the attack.

The boy's poem about peace in Northern Ireland inspired the title of the album.

A car bomb planted by Irish Republican Army dissidents killed 29 people and injured 370 in Omagh.

Wife's illness puts job in perspective

Kevin Newman, the co-host of ``Good Morning America,'' said his wife's diagnosis of multiple sclerosis put his worries about slipping ratings and replacement rumors in perspective.

``I don't mean to belittle what I do, but it's just TV,'' Newman said in the Dec. 5 issue of TV Guide. ``It's not my real life. What matters to me are the people I love. If I can continue sharing myself with the audience, great. If not, I'm still a whole person.''

Newman's wife, Cathy, was diagnosed with the chronic degenerative disorder in August. ``Right now, she is comfortable,'' he said.

Newman said he feels the strain of rumors he may not have his job for long as the ratings slide. He said he's been told he will stay through Christmas.

People to have their say in naming all-time best

The 25th annual People's Choice Awards, considered by organizers as the most democratic of the seemingly endless array of Hollywood honors, will this year celebrate ``all-time'' favorites in three categories.

Television's Jerry Seinfeld, film's Harrison Ford and country music's Garth Brooks lead the list of 1998 nominees announced Monday and are also among the all-time favorites chosen to mark the popular award show's silver anniversary.

The annual event, scheduled for live broadcast on CBS on Jan. 10, will honor stars in 15 categories and three all-time favorite categories: favorite television star, movie star and musical performer.

Joining Seinfeld as nominees for the all-time favorite TV honors are Alan Alda, Tim Allen, Bill Cosby and Carroll O'Connor. Seinfeld is also among the nominees for the 1998 favorite male television performer, along with Tim Allen and Kelsey Grammer.

Ford is joined in the all-time favorite movie star category by Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Tom Hanks. The nominees for the 1998 film honor include Ford, Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The all-time favorite musical performers are Brooks, Michael Jackson, Elton John, George Strait and Barbra Streisand. The 1998 nominees for favorite male musical performer is a celebration of country: Brooks, Alan Jackson and George Strait.

Voting on the special all-time categories will be open to anyone with Internet access by using the CBS Web site (cbs.com) between today and Dec. 14. Voting on the remaining 15 categories will be determined, as in previous years, by The Gallup Organization.

``ER,'' ``Law & Order'' and ``NYPD Blue'' are the nominees for the favorite television dramatic series category. The TV comedy series nominees offer no surprises with ``Frasier,'' ``Friends'' and ``Seinfeld.''

Bosum buddies; Hanks defends aiding Clinton's defense

A day after a magazine reported that Tom Hanks said he regretted giving $10,000 to the Clinton legal defense fund, the actor said Monday he still supports the president.

``If I was asked to do it again, I would probably give twice as much,'' Hanks told reporters as he entered the World Financial Center for AmFAR's Seasons of Hope benefit for AIDS research.

In an interview published in the Dec. 7-14 issue of the New Yorker magazine, Hanks was quoted as saying he regretted making the donation in light of President Clinton's admission that he had an inappropriate relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

``In all honesty, in the light of events since, it would be awfully hard to say now, Oh, here, let me help you out with this problem,'' Hanks said in the article.

Hanks, who has starred in such hits as ``Forrest Gump,'' ``Apollo 13'' and ``Philadelphia,'' and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have stayed overnight at the White House three times in the past five years, according to the magazine.

On Monday, Hanks said he was glad he had made the donation but that he did rethink it at one point.

``I do regret that the country is still going through the entire affair,'' Hanks said. ``I do regret that we still have the need to pay attention to such things and for a moment or so I might have questioned my original intentions.''

Hanks stressed that he is still behind Clinton.

``You couldn't get a bigger supporter of the president than I am,'' Hanks said.

News Lite is compiled by Karen Duffy from Daily News staff and wire reports

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5 photos

PHOTO (1 -- 3) People's Choice all-time top nominees: Seinfeld, Ford and Brooks.

(4) Tom Hanks refutes New Yorker

(5) Carter