CNN SHELLS OUT FOR JEWELL

By GARY LEVIN

Former Olympics bombing suspect Richard Jewell has reached a settlement with CNN, a month after set-tling libel charges against NBC for a reported $500,000.

Terms of Jewell's pact with CNN were undisclosed, but the unemployed security guard received a cash payment from the cable news network, a unit of Time Warner, even as sister company HBO began discussions for a feature film about his story, along with 20th Century Fox, Jewell attorney Lin Wood said.

In a statement, CNN said it made the payment even though the cable web "continues to believe its coverage was a fair and accurate review" of the incident.

Also Wednesday, Jewell attorneys filed a libel suit with Cox Enterprises' Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the first media outlet to report that FBI investigators had considered Jewell a suspect in the still-unsolved July bombing in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park.

CNN and other news outlets quoted the Atlanta paper's story on-air, but also aired critical comments on "Crossfire," and, Jewell's attorney said, invaded his privacy by staking out his apartment.