VOUX MAG

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

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.

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"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

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

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

A group of beauty queens has been caught using fillers and Botox to enhance their looks — but these rulebreakers aren't human.

They'recamels.The unusual scandal unfolded at the2026 Camel Beauty Show Festivalin Al‑Musannah, Oman, where20 camels were disqualifiedafter inspectors discovered they had undergone cosmetic enhancements.

According to reports from Vice and Forbes, veterinary officials identified signs of injected fillers and Botox-like substances, procedures that are strictly banned under competition rules designed to preserve the animals' natural appearance.

The discovery has reignited debate over the lengths breeders will go to in pursuit of prize money and prestige at high-profile camel beauty contests, which are hugely popular across the Gulf region.

More:'Halfway towards a live nativity': A camel, cow and donkey were found wandering together on a Kansas road

What kind of procedures did the camels have?

Inspectors determined the camels had received an array of cosmetic enhancements, including hyaluronic acid injections to their lips, dermal fillers, silicone around their noses, Botox to soften facial features and silicone wax to artificially inflate their humps, according to Vice and Forbes.

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According toForbes, organizers operating as the Camel Club and the Oman Camel Racing Federation said they are "keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels," adding that strict penalties would be imposed on those responsible.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Oman Camel Racing Federation for comment.

Camel beauty contests typically judge animals on their coat, neck, head, and hump, traits meant to reflect natural breedingrather than cosmetic enhancement, Forbes reported.

This time, officials decided, the camels simply looked too good to be true.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Camels disqualified from beauty contest for cosmetic work

René López says he still has nightmares about the three years he spentdetained in ICE custody.

"It's an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone," López said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo from his home in Alexandria, Virginia.

About a decade ago, immigration officials argued that the citizenship López obtained as a minor through his naturalized mother was not valid. This put him on a path to deportation because of a previous drug conviction when he was younger.

During those years, López always insisted that he was a U.S. citizen when he was questioned by ICE officers, his lawyers, judges and journalists.

"I came from El Salvador with permanent residency when I was 11 years old, and when my mother became a citizen, I was 16 years old, so I automatically obtained citizenship derived from my mother. That's how it was," he said.

According to the website of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,derivative citizenship refers to the automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenshipby children under 18 years of age through the citizenship status of their parents and, under certain circumstances, by adopted children of U.S. citizens born abroad.

López was detained by ICE officials in January 2023 and was held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia. He was not released until Feb. 13 of this year after the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appealsissued a rulingthat not only stopped his deportation, but also reaffirmed that he's a U.S. citizen.

"The court says in its decision that he has been an American citizen since 1998. That's why they are releasing him," said Benjamin Osorio, López's lawyer.

Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to requests for comment from Noticias Telemundo on López's case.

Why was a U.S. citizen detained by ICE?

López's arrest was the final step in a long process in which he had to fight the courts to try to have his citizenship recognized.

López came to the U.S. as a legal resident after his mom, a legal resident and a single mother, completed the paperwork to bring him from El Salvador in the early 1990s. When he was 16, his mother became a naturalized U.S. citizen and he automatically acquired derivative citizenship underTitle 8, Section 1432 of the U.S. Code,the law in effect at that time.

At age 20, López was convicted of drug offenses (in 2004 and 2005) and served a seven-year prison sentence. During his time in prison, he was visited by officials from DHS, who in 2009 determined that he had obtained U.S. citizenship through his mother.

"They came to see me in 2009 and declared that I was a citizen," López said in aninterview with Noticias Telemundo last year, while he was in custody.

After his release from prison in 2011, López rebuilt his life: He finished high school, learned electrical work, started his own company and spent more than a decade working, married and raising his children without further legal trouble.

However, in 2016, according to court papers and López's attorney, DHS changed its position, deemed him a legal resident but not a citizen and initiated removal proceedings because of his previous drug conviction.

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From that time until his eventual immigration detention in 2023, López and his attorneys had been trying to prove he had legitimately acquired U.S. citizenship through his single mother.

The government argued that the Salvadoran constitution had eliminated legal distinctions between children born in or out of wedlock, meaning that deriving citizenship from his mother was not enough.

"He would have had to prove that his father was also naturalized, but apparently his father never had a relationship with him," said Charles Wheeler, a senior attorney with theCatholic Legal Immigration Network.

López said that in 2023, "one day I went to work and about eight immigration agents were waiting for me." The agents told him he wasn't a citizen, that he was still a legal resident with "aggravated felonies," and that he was now deportable.

The ruling that declares him a citizen

Last month, the 4th Circuitissued its decisionconcluding that López met the requirements of the law that governed derivative citizenship before its reform in 2001. The judges analyzed Salvadoran law on parentage and legitimation, as well as López's family history, to determine whether or not his biological father had "established paternity" in the required legal sense.

"They concluded that my father never established paternity and never made me a legitimate son, even though his name appeared on my birth certificate," López explained. Essentially, the court agreed that his mom had been his sole parent and legal guardian, so deriving U.S. citizenship from her alone had been legal.

Immigration attorney Enrique Espinoza recommends that people with parents who are U.S. citizens by naturalization or birth consult with a lawyer and, if possible, obtain formal proof of citizenship — such asthe N-600 certificateor a U.S. passport — before a misunderstanding turns into a crisis.

In fact, Espinoza said it's not uncommon for people to have acquired U.S. citizenship through their parents "and not know it — that really does happen."

'ICE should not detain U.S. citizens'

Following the recent court decision, López's legal team is focusing on obtaining all the necessary citizenship certification and pursuing some form of redress.

"We are going to sue the government. ICE should not detain American citizens," said Osorio, López's attorney. After three years in prison, López lost his business as an electrician.

"He has lost his job. He has lost a lot. We are going to try to recover his money," Osorio said.

"This has cost me dearly; I've lost everything. My family had to endure a very unpleasant experience because of my unjust arrest, even though they knew I was an American citizen," López said.

While his legal team continues working on his case, López says he is trying to return to a normal life and always carries a copy of the 4th Circuit's decision in case a police officer or federal agent arrests him again. His main goal is to rebuild his electrical company and resume working with the contractors who knew him before his arrest.

"I can't get that time back — what's lost is lost," López said. "Now I have to start over. I have many contacts who know that my dedication and honesty at work are 100% guaranteed."

During the long nights while he was detained, López began writing songs about his legal situation and what he saw in the detention centers. He wrote that his family kept him going as he fought the government, and that the "love of my family continues to wait for me."

An earlier version of this story was first published in Noticias Telemundo.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is progressing inhis recovery from the right oblique strain he sufferedin a win over the Miami Heat last Thursday, but he's not back on the court yet and will be re-evaluated again in approximately one week, the team announced Friday,according to PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson.

Both Embiid and rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, who is dealing with a back injury, didn't participate in Friday's practice, per the Sixers, via Aaronson.

Embiid has already missed three games with his oblique issue. He will miss at least three more based on the timeline the team provided, per Aaronson.

Embiid has appeared in only 33 of the Sixers' 62 games during their 2025-26 campaign. With 29 absences, he'sawards-ineligible this seasonand has been for a while.

The soon-to-be 32-year-old Embiid alsomissed five consecutive games last month with a sore right knee and shin issue.

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After playing in just 19 games last season because of lingering left-knee issuesthat ultimately resulted in him going under the knife in April 2025, Embiid found himself sidelined again for a significant stretch early this season, this timedue to a right knee injury.

When the seven-time All-Star center has been on the court this season, he's shown why he's still valuable. He's averaging 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He's turned in a dozen 30-plus-point performances, including a 40-piece in a Jan. 31 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Sixers are 21-12 in the games Embiid has played in this season. They are 13-16 without him on the court, currently placing sixth in the Eastern Conference standings at 34-28 overall.

As for Edgecombe, last year's No. 3 overall draft pick, he sustained a lumbar contusion when he fell hard on his lower backafter being fouled from behind on a 3-point attempt in a lopsided defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

He was in street clothes for Philadelphia's bounce-back win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. His status is up in the air for Saturday when the Sixers will play the Atlanta Hawks on the road.

Edgecombe is averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in his first year out of Baylor. He and Embiid are key pieces of a Sixers squad looking to return to the postseason.