ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The 18-year-old daughter of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has given birth in Alaska to a son.

People magazine reports that Bristol Palin gave birth to Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston on Sunday. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces.

Relative Colleen Jones says the baby is fine and Bristol is "doing well." Jones is the sister of Bristol's grandmother.

The father is Levi Johnston, a former hockey player at Alaska's Wasilla High School. He has said he and Bristol plan to marry.

Palin created a stir in September by announcing the pregnancy as she prepared to accept her nomination at the Republican National Convention.

HOFFMAN AMONG AWARD PRESENTERS

LOS ANGELES — Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Hopper, Dakota Fanning and Sarah Silverman are set to join the star-studded list of presenters at the Critics' Choice Awards.

Organizers said yesterday that Amy Adams, Common, Kristin Scott Thomas, Brendan Fraser and Laura Dern will also help hand out trophies at the Jan. 8 ceremony in Santa Monica, Calif. Previously announced presenters include Marisa Tomei, Eva Longoria Parker, Josh Brolin and Forest Whitaker.

The Critics' Choice Awards, presented by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, honor the best in film in 17 categories. "Milk" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" lead nominees with eight each. The ceremony will air live on VH1.

'WATCHMEN' TRIAL SET FOR JAN. 20

LOS ANGELES — An attorney for 20th Century Fox says the studio will continue to seek an order delaying the release of "Watchmen."

U.S. District Judge Gary Feess last week agreed with Fox that Warner Bros. had infringed its copyright by developing and shooting the superhero flick, scheduled for release March 6.

Feess said yesterday he plans to hold a trial Jan. 20 to decide remaining issues.

Fox claims it never fully relinquished story rights from its deal made in the late 1980s, and sued Warner Bros. in February. Warner Bros. contended Fox isn't entitled to distribution.

Warner Bros.' attorney said yesterday he didn't know if an appeal was coming, but thinks a trial is necessary and a settlement unlikely.

JAZZ TRUMPETER HUBBARD DIES

LOS ANGELES — Grammy-winning jazz musician Freddie Hubbard, whose style influenced a generation of trumpet players, has died at age 70.

Hubbard's manager, David Weiss, said the musician died yesterday at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles. He had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack last month.

Known for both the intensity of his playing, as well as his melodic style, Hubbard's last concert was in June in New York at a party celebrating the release of his final album, "On the Real Side."

He won a Grammy in 1972 for best jazz performance by a group for the album "First Light."