NAMES & FACES

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Fire Destroys 50 Cent's House

A house belonging to rapper 50 Cent was destroyed early yesterday morning by a "suspicious" fire, which began while his former girlfriend, their son and four other people were sleeping inside, the Associated Press reports.

The ex, Shaniqua Tompkins, two of her children -- one fathered by 50 Cent -- and three unidentified adults were rescued from the $2.4 million home, treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation and released. 50 Cent does not live in the house and was apparently not there at the time.

The fire, reported to an arson squad because of its intensity, came as 50 Cent and Tompkins were disputing ownership of the Long Island, N.Y., dwelling. Earlier this year, Tompkins filed suit against the rapper (real name: Curtis Jackson), claiming that he had promised her the house more than a decade ago but that since their breakup he has wanted to evict her and their 10-year-old son.

Tompkins's lawyer said the dispute over the house had become contentious in recent days. In a statement, 50 Cent's rep said the rapper had expressed concern over the fire and is grateful no one was hurt.

More Details From R. Kelly Trial

Squirm-inducing reports continue to emerge from R. Kelly's child pornography trial in Chicago. The R&B singer, 41, has pleaded not guilty to videotaping himself having sex with a girl who prosecutors say was 13; both Kelly and the alleged victim deny being on the tape, the trial's centerpiece. This week's developments:

· On Thursday, video forensics expert Grant Fredericks compared freeze frames from the sex tape with a 2002 police photo of Kelly's back, claiming that a dark, fingernail-size mole was present "in the exact same position" in both instances. Kelly and his attorneys looked "grim and dejected" during Frederick's testimony, the AP reports.

· Also on Thursday, FBI forensics expert George Skaluba testified that the images of the male and female on the tape were not altered or computer-generated and appeared to be "real people in a real environment." (The defense has repeatedly suggested that Kelly's likeness could have been computer-generated onto the tape.)

· Yesterday the judge ruled that Chicago Sun-Times pop music critic Jim DeRogatis, who gave the sex tape to police for investigation in 2002, must testify for the defense -- although he could not be questioned about his sources, how he got the tape or if he made a copy of it. The Sun-Times reports that its lawyers will appeal the ruling.

Clay Aiken's Daddy Debut

"American Idol" alum Clay Aiken, 29, has a baby on the way with music producer and longtime friend Jaymes Foster, People magazine reports.

According to a rep for the pregnant woman's brother, Foster was artificially inseminated by Aiken and is due in August. Foster and Aiken worked together in 2006, when she executive produced his album "A Thousand Different Ways."

End Notes

Spotted: Cedric Yarbrough, Kerri Kenney and Carlos Alazraqui-- a.k.a. three of those cops from Comedy Central's "Reno 911!" -- eating lunch yesterday at Austin Grill in Bethesda. The trio, who dined with several others, were recognizable almost solely because they showed up in costume. No word on why.

Quoted: "I happen to be with somebody who finds pregnancy very sexy. So that makes me feel very sexy." -- Angelina Jolie, 32, to Vanity Fair on the joys of being pregnant -- which she still is, according to her rep, despite widespread reports yesterday that she had given birth. When the twins do arrive, they will be her fifth and sixth children with partner Brad Pitt, 44.

-- Marissa Newhall, from staff and wire reports