NEWS LITE : SPIELBERG RIDE-ALONG A GLITZY `INCIDENT'.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg found fame can get in the way, even during a ride-along to observe police at work.

``When I got out of the car with the cops, the guys being put in handcuffs were asking for my autograph,'' Spielberg said in a meeting with TV critics to promote the ABC police drama ``High Incident,'' which he produces.

The famed director of ``Schindler's List'' and ``Jurassic Park'' was asked how much his influence figured in the network's decision to renew the show despite middling ratings.

ABC executives didn't quake and say, ``Oh, we're afraid,'' Spielberg joked.

``If that were true I'd have seven shows on this fall. . . . They certainly cut me no slack, but they cut the show slack,'' he said, citing the support of ABC and parent company Walt Disney for the drama.

Mr. Eligible eyeing walk

down the aisle?

The fashion-minded folks at W magazine see a wedding tux in John F. Kennedy Jr.'s more-or-less immediate future. The wild speculation goes like this: Carolyn Bessette, 29, his longtime gal pal and co-star of that spat-in-the-park episode, has left her job flacking for Calvin Klein in New York, a career move supposedly designed to position the Boston University grad as suitable Kennedy marriage material. ``No more wild friends. No more male models. No more late nights,'' the mag theorizes.

`Primary' hoo-ha sinks columnist

Journalist Joe Klein, unable to have his cake and eat it too as ``Anonymous,'' the author of ``Primary Colors,'' resigned Thursday as a CBS News political commentator over the controversy of his repeated denials and eventual unmasking. ``This has been a confusing and exhausting few weeks for me,'' Klein wrote to CBS News honcho Andrew Heyward, ``and I feel a strong need to simplify my life at this point.'' Earlier this week, Klein was suspended for ``a few weeks'' from his job as a Newsweek columnist to ``reflect on the whole affair.''

`Heart of gold' gets tax collector in trouble

Call it an excess of compassion.

After 18 years as tax collector in the quiet farming community of Colchester, Conn., Wanda Stula stepped down after tearfully confessing that she has often forgiven the interest on delinquent property taxes for the elderly and the poor.

``I did it out of compassion,'' she said. ``I was trying to do good.''

The Board of Selectmen confronted Stula after a disgruntled property owner complained that her own request for a tax break was turned down.

While some town officials seemed stunned, others say it was hardly out of character for the 60-year-old Stula, who got more votes than any office-seeker in last fall's town election.

``The problem is, Wanda's got a heart of gold,'' said Stanley Skut, a retired ironworker who said he's known her since she was a little girl.

Stula told the board Monday night that she thought she had the authority to forgive the interest on the delinquent taxes of the poor and the elderly. But under Connecticut law, tax collectors must get the permission of the town's governing body.

``Wanda just left out one of the steps in the process,'' said First Selectman Jenny Contois, who was crying when she joined other selectmen in voting to seek Stula's removal from office.

Before Stula could be forced out, she resigned.

In an interview Thursday, Stula said she couldn't estimate how many times she has forgiven the interest on delinquent taxes or how much money was involved.

``I should have followed the guidelines,'' said Stula, adding that she felt crushed by the way she had to leave office. ``I certainly didn't want it to be like this. I loved my job.''

An audit covering only April, when there was a push on delinquent tax collections, revealed that Stula forgave $15,000 for just 11 property owners in the town of 11,000, Contois said.

Stula wouldn't comment on whether she considered the 11 property owners to be needy.

Contois said there was no indication Stula was motivated by self-interest. But the resident who complained says she wants to know whether the people given breaks were friends of Stula.

``When I asked for a tax abatement Wanda told me it was against the law,'' Gladys Peay said. ``Well, I want to know who got abatements and why.''

Di cuts out of Cannes to solve media aide crisis

Princess Diana was reported to be holding crisis meetings Thursday in London after the abrupt departure of her media adviser, Jane Atkinson.

Di cut short her French vacation and returned to England Wednesday with her elder son, Prince William, who was said to be totally bored with life in Cannes. His brother, Prince Harry, stayed behind with his auntie, the Duchess of York, and her two girls.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Creative grains

Russian sculptor Alexei Timofe yev creates a sand castle on the bank of the Moscva River during the international sand sculpture competition, which opened in Moscow on Thursday.

Associated Press

(2) Steven Spielberg

Signature booking