Kraken sign captain Jordan Eberle to 2-year, $11M extension

Seattle Kraken captain Jordan Eberle agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract extension on Friday.

The 35-year-old forward has tallied 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 59 games in his fifth season with the Kraken. His 18:37 average ice time is his highest since the 2014-15 campaign.

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A two-time All-Star, Eberle has 770 points (330 goals, 440 assists) in 1,119 games across 16 NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers (2010-17), New York Islanders (2017-21) and Kraken.

The Saskatchewan native was named the Seattle franchise's second captain on Opening Day of the 2024-25 season. Eberle was in the final season of a two-year, $9.5 million contract.

--Field Level Media

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March 06, 2026

Kraken sign captain Jordan Eberle to 2-year, $11M extension

Seattle Kraken captain Jordan Eberle agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract extension on Friday. ...

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Daniel Berger speeds in front by 5 at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Daniel Berger opened up a five-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after a steady round Friday at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla.

Berger built on Thursday's 63 with a 4-under-par 68 to climb to 13 under at the halfway mark of the $20 million signature event. Akshay Bhatia posted a 66 to take sole possession of second at 8 under.

Also in striking distance are Sahith Theegala (67), Collin Morikawa (71) and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg (71), who are tied for third at 7 under, and Rickie Fowler, who's alone in sixth at 6 under after his second consecutive 69. Xander Schauffele (71) and defending champion Russell Henley (69) are tied at 5 under.

Berger, a former World No. 12 and 2021 Ryder Cup winner, hasn't won on the PGA Tour since the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He missed 18 months with a back injury and struggled to regain his old form once he returned.

On Friday, he rolled in five birdies while limiting himself to one bogey. He ranks second this week in strokes gained approaching the green and third in strokes gained putting.

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Bhatia is the closest to chasing him down after he poured in seven birdies on Friday and saved par from the bunker at the difficult par-4 18th.

Rory McIlroy improved on his opening round by four shots, the Northern Irishman's 68 vaulting him to 4 under and part of a tie for ninth. Scottie Scheffler (71) is at 3 under.

This is one of three signature events with a 36-hole cut. Only the top 50 and ties will make the weekend. U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun (3 over), Irishman Shane Lowry (3 over), Australia's Jason Day (4 over), Patrick Cantlay (4 over) and Keegan Bradley (5 over) are among those in line to miss the cut, projected to be 2 over par.

Justin Thomas shot two straight rounds of 79 in his first start of the season following November back surgery. He finished in dead last among 72 players at 14 over.

--Field Level Media

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March 06, 2026

Daniel Berger speeds in front by 5 at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Daniel Berger opened up a five-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after a steady round Friday at Bay Hill Clu...

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Jayson Tatum returns: Celtics star will make 2025-26 debut against Mavs after recovering from Achilles injury

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum faced a lengthy recovery after he went down witha torn Achilleslast May. While there was some doubt about whether he would be able to play this season, Tatum always kept hope alive, sayinghe wasn't ruling himself outback in September.

That prediction turned out to be true, as Tatum will return to action Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks,the Celtics announced. The team initially listed Tatum as questionable on its injury report before upgrading him to available.

His comeback follows an up-and-down rehab. At times,Tatum showed off incredible progress, offering hope he could get back before the year was over. But in January, a report emerged suggesting the 27-year-old starcould shut it down and prepare for next season.

Shortly after that report, Tatum's return started to look more realistic. In February, it was reported that Tatum was taking part in controlled scrimmages. He was assigned to the team's G League affiliate to start taking part in practices. Eventually, Tatum found himself listed on the Celtics' injury report, a sign he was getting close to a return.

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That culminated in Friday's news ahead of Tatum's long-awaited but inspiring return from a devastating injury.

Despite being without Tatum — and trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday — the Celtics have performed much better than expected. The team sits near the top of the Eastern Conference, with forward Jaylen Brown in the midst of an MVP-caliber season.

While it's impossible to know whether Tatum will fully return to form upon his comeback, the forward should make an impact, even if he's not at full strength. Tatum has made the All-Star team in each of the past six seasons in which he was healthy, and while he hasn't won an MVP award just yet, he's been in contention for that honor multiple times over that period.

Last season, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Those numbers earned him his fourth straight appearance on the first team All-NBA team.

The move comes at the perfect time. With the Celtics rapidly approaching the playoffs, Tatum should have enough time to work himself into form before the end of the regular season. If the team can get him back to full strength in time for the playoffs, the Celtics could be bound for a miraculous championship run during a year most wrote the team off.

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March 06, 2026

Jayson Tatum returns: Celtics star will make 2025-26 debut against Mavs after recovering from Achilles injury

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum faced a lengthy recovery after he went down witha torn Achilleslast May. While ther...

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Lily Collins 'Speechless' After Her Diamond Engagement Ring That Was Stolen 3 Years Ago Is Returned

Lily Collins and her engagement ring are reunited

NEED TO KNOW

• The actress recovered her engagement ring with the help of a jewelry store in Chicago three years after it was taken from a hotel locker

• The ring, a custom Irene Neuwirth design, was stolen along with other belongings worth over $10,000 in May 2023

• Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell wed in September 2021

Lily Collins' engagement ring will always hold a special place in her heart — and now it's back on her finger after the precious sparkler that was once stolen is back in her possession.

On March 6, theEmily in Parisactress, 36, revealed in her Instagram Stories that she was left "speechless" after Hakimian Imports Chicago Jewelers was able to get her"original" rose-cut diamond ring back to herafter three years.

"Having this home means SO much to us," she wrote across a selfie in which she showed off her ring. "I'm still speechless its back in my finger."

Collins' engagement ring, in addition to her wedding ring and other belongings, were stolen from from a West Hollywood hotel on May 6, 2023.

At the time, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department confirms to PEOPLE that officers responded to a burglary call at Edition Hotel on Sunset Boulevard after a well-known female celebrity's belongings were stolen from a secured locker. The actress was staying at the hotel when she went to the spa and locked up her belongings, sources told PEOPLE, and when she returned, her items were gone. The report for the items stolen was categorized as "over $10,000."

Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell (the son of actressMary Steenburgenand actor Malcolm McDowell)got engaged in September 2020. They announced the news on Instagram with photos of the proposal and a close-up of the ring. Appearing onLive with Kelly and Ryanshortly after, Collins said she "was very surprised by" the customIrene Neuwirth-designed rock. "But it's exactly what I would've wanted and he knew me so well, obviously."

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The couplewed on September 4, 2021 in Dunton, Colorado. "I've never wanted to be someone's someone more than I do yours, and now I get to be your wife," she wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the pair kissing at the altar.

For the special day, Collins wore acustom and "magical" Ralph Lauren gownthat she described as a "combination of Western Americana and British Victorian." The dress was handcrafted over the course of nearly 200 hours and was adorned with lace, silk organza petals and Swarovski-beaded micro flower appliqués. It was pared with a dramatic floor-hitting hooded cape.

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Soon, Collins will be stepping intoAudrey Hepburn's shoes in a new movie about the making of Hepburn's best-known movie,Breakfast at Tiffany's, which means there will no doubt me more noteworthy jewelry moments to be had for the star.

On Feb. 23, Collins confirmed thatshe will portray Hepburn, the British actress and fashion icon who died at 63 in 1993, in a new film that goes behind-the-scenes of the 1961 romantic comedy that movie fans best associate Hepburn with.

Read the original article onPeople

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March 06, 2026

Lily Collins 'Speechless' After Her Diamond Engagement Ring That Was Stolen 3 Years Ago Is Returned

Lily Collins and her engagement ring are reunited NEED TO KNOW The actress recovered her engagement ring with ...

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Seth MacFarlane defends using AI to play Bill Clinton in “Ted”: 'It was the only way'

Seth MacFarlane used AI to portray Bill Clinton in season 2 of Peacock's Ted.

Key points

• The Family Guy creator said that the team "tried prosthetics" and "traditional CGI" before resorting to AI.

• "It's an interesting example of how AI can be used as a tool," MacFarlane opined.

Seth MacFarlaneportraysBill Clintonin the new season ofTed— and he said that the performance could only be properly achieved using AI-generated visuals.

TheFamily Guycreatorexplained why he opted to use AIto play the former president during an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday.

"I've been doing my Bill Clinton impression since the early days ofFamily Guy," MacFarlane said. "We filmed this like a year and a half ago. That's how long it takes us to do the CGI. It's an interesting example of how AI can be used as a tool and not necessarily trample on the art that the rest of the industry is doing."

MacFarlane —who also directs, writes, and executive produces the series — said that theTedteam exhausted every other option before turning to AI. "We tried prosthetics, we tried traditional CGI, and everything just looked terrifying," he said. "So we just said, 'To hell with it, let's try AI.'"

TheAmerican Dadcreator considers his AI version of Clinton a success. "It worked," he said. "It was the only way I looked like Bill Clinton."

Peacock'sTedseries serves as a '90s-set prequel to the 2012 movie of the same name. Both projects star MacFarlane as the voice of Ted, a foul-mouthed living teddy bear who is best friends with John, a human played by Mark Wahlberg in the film and by Max Burkholder in the series.

In the fifth episode of the show's new second season, titled "The Sword in the Stoned," John's parents Matty (Scott Grimes) and Susan (Alanna Ubach) begin working at Dunkin' Donuts, and Clinton — the current president in the show's timeline — walks in during one of their shifts.

Matty, a vocal Republican, takes the opportunity to criticize Clinton's policies, which prompts the president to clear the room to have a private conversation with him.

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Clinton then launches into an expletive-filled tirade.

"Listen here, you pockmarked piece of s---. You've got some set of f---in' balls," Clinton says. "I take time out of my day to visit your little s--- shop, and you're giving me lip? Maybe the real problem is just that you're just a f---in' loser. F--- you, think you're so f---in' tough with your f---in' s---bag mouth. Why don't you take a swing at me, tough guy? I'll slap you back so hard you won't even recognize your own f---in' dick. And get a shave, you pig. The f---in' president's here."

Clinton then poses for a photo opportunity with Matty, orders Munchkins, and throws coffee at the barista.

MacFarlane previouslyexpressed mixed feelings about AIin a 2024 interview with Bill Maher on theClub Randompodcast.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

"AI for enterprises like medicine, I think is going to be a wonderful thing," he said. "And I think a lot of doctors that I've spoken to feel the same way. AI is a tool. It's not gonna replace us, it's not gonna replace innovation, when it comes to medicine, but it's a wonderful tool."

MacFarlane continued, "It's a very different development for an enterprise like that than it is for entertainment. Entertainment, we should be very scared."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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March 06, 2026

Seth MacFarlane defends using AI to play Bill Clinton in “Ted”: 'It was the only way'

Seth MacFarlane used AI to portray Bill Clinton in season 2 of Peacock's Ted . Key points The Family Guy c...

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Met Opera beefs with Timothée Chalamet after his controversial comment about the performing arts

Timothée Chalamet drew criticism for suggesting that ballet and opera are disciplines that "no one cares about."

Key points

• The Metropolitan Opera posted a video highlighting the talents of the opera community with the caption "This one's for you, @tchalamet."

• Numerous actors shared their support in the Met Opera's comment section, including Sarah Hyland, Laura Benanti, and Jack Falahee.

The Metropolitan Opera is not pleased withTimothée Chalamet.

The official Instagram account for the storied institution responded to theMarty Supremestar's controversial comment suggesting that opera and ballet are disciplines that "no one cares about."

The Met Opera accountposted a videohighlighting the craftsmanship of set decorators, musicians, costumers, and more theatrical technicians on Thursday with the caption, "This one's for you, @tchalamet… 👀."

The video also included text on screen paraphrasing Chalamet's remark: "All respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there."

Chalamet drew criticism for acomment he made about ballet and operaduring a CNN/Varietytown hall interview with Matthew McConaughey, in which theCall Me By Your Nameactor discussed the possibility of theatrical moviegoing becoming a more niche medium of entertainment that is in constant need of salvation.

"I've done it myself — go on a talk show and go, 'Hey, we gotta keep movie theaters alive. You know, we gotta keep this genre alive,'" he said. "And another part of me feels like, if people wanna see it, likeBarbie, likeOppenheimer, they're gonna go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it."

He continued, "And I don't wanna be working in ballet or opera, or, you know, things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive,' even though it's like, no one cares about this anymore."

Chalamet — whose mother, Nicole Flender, was a professional dancer who performed with the New York City Ballet — seemed to immediately recognize the impact of his words. "All respect to the ballet and opera people out there," he said. "I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I just took shots for no reason."

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Entertainment Weeklyhas reached out to representatives for Chalamet for comment.

The Met Opera's post received several supportive comments from theatrical performers, including the Tony-winningGypsyactressLaura Benanti, who wrote, "He's gonna be singing a different tune when the live arts are all that's left after AI takes over. Oh wait. He's above singing a tune."

Meanwhile,How to Get Away With Murderstar Jack Falahee praised the Met's recent production ofThe Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. "I took myself to see Kavalier and Clay for my birthday a couple weeks ago. it absolutely rocked. bravo everyone!" he commented.

Modern FamilystarSarah Hyland, who has recently starred in the Broadway showsJust in TimeandThe Great Gatsby, also commented several clapping emojis in support of the Met's post.

Met Opera dancers Ana Luiza Luizi and Júnio Enrique, who share the popular Instagram account @thatbraziliancouple, also commented, "Nothing but respect for everyone who makes the magic happen."

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The Met Opera wasn't the only institution to respond to Chalamet's comment. London's Royal Ballet and Opera alsoposted a similar videohighlighting its artists, which began with an audio clip of Chalamet's controversial remark before cutting to roaring audiences alongside text on screen saying, "We care."

The Royal Ballet and Opera also directly addressed Chalamet in the caption of its video. "Every night at the Royal Opera House, thousands of people gather for ballet and opera," the institution wrote. "For the music. For the storytelling. For the sheer magic of live performance. If you'd like to reconsider, @tchalamet, our doors are open."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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Met Opera beefs with Timothée Chalamet after his controversial comment about the performing arts

Timothée Chalamet drew criticism for suggesting that ballet and opera are disciplines that "no one cares about....

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California bill would create 'roadmap' to reintroduce grizzly bears

Enshrined on the California state flag is the grizzly bear, a figure of a bygone era, because the animal has had no presence in the state for over 100 years.

California legislators are hoping to change that by introducing a bill to develop a "roadmap" to reintroduce the now-extinct grizzly bear to the state's ecosystem.

State Sen. Laura Richardson(D - District 35) introduced the legislation to the California General Assembly inSenate Bill 1305.It would require the state'sDepartment of Fish and Wildlifeto develop a comprehensive plan, including scientific assessments, population modeling, potential ecological and socioeconomic impacts, and consultation with California Native American tribes and local communities, to determine the best method of reintroducing the grizzly bear.

"The grizzly bear is a California keystone species known for its powerful influence on ecosystem structure and function," Richardson's bill reads.

The bill was inspired by a study published inOxford's Journal of Heredity in 2025. It found that brown bears in Yellowstone National Park share a common ancestor with the California grizzly bear, which was declared extinct in 1924 after its final sighting was documented in Sequoia National Park.

"The overall genetic similarity between the California and Yellowstone populations, and the strong pattern of isolation-by-distance we observe all suggest that no closer living relatives are likely to be found,"the study reads. "If genetic background is to be a consideration for reintroduction efforts in California, brown bears from Yellowstone might serve as a source population."

If the bill were approved, the department would have until June 30, 2028, to submit the roadmap to the public, the budget and policy committees, the Legislative Analyst's Office, and the Fish and Game Commission. The bill would also restrict the reintroduction of the grizzly bear into California until the department's plan is approved.

The bill was assigned to the California Senate's Natural Resources and Water Committee on March 4, but has not yet received a hearing.

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Why did the California grizzly bear go extinct?

Prior to American settlers' expansion into California during the Gold Rush, it was estimated that about 10,000 California grizzlies lived across the state. They could be found roaming in the forests along the High Sierra to the Los Angeles Basin.

California grizzlies were described as a large bear, with brownish-yellow fur, resulting in the species being nicknamed the "California golden bear," according to theBear Conservation organization.

It was common for settlers to hunt to protect their livestock or to capture California grizzlies for entertainment. Grizzlies were often captured for use in "bull-and-bear" fights, in which the two animals fought to the death.

The last hunt of the California grizzly occurred in Tulare County in August 1922.

These hunting behaviors quickly led to a decline in the grizzly population, and within about 75 years of settlers' arrival, the animal was declared extinct.

"California grizzlies went extinct so quickly (that) there are very few natural history notes available, and there are fewer than 100 historical skins and skeletons in existence," reads the La Brea Tar Pits description of the bear. "As a result, fossils provide an important baseline for understanding the ecology, abundance, and uniqueness of this animal. "

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him atnpadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadillaor on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.Sign up for theTODAY Californian newsletteror follow us on Facebook atTODAY Californian.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:California bill would create 'roadmap' to reintroduce grizzly bears

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March 06, 2026

California bill would create 'roadmap' to reintroduce grizzly bears

Enshrined on the California state flag is the grizzly bear, a figure of a bygone era, because the animal has had no prese...

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