FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, February 13, 2006

OFF THE ICE: Michelle Kwan dropping out of the Winter Olympics due to a severely strained groin and turning down an offer from NBC to be a commentator from the broadcast booth. The figure skating champion called her withdrawal "the most difficult decision I've ever had to make."

BIGGER BANG: The Rolling Stones playing a free show on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Saturday for a projected audience of more than 2 million people.

NOTHING FISHY: The Los Angeles coroner reporting that Chris Penn died accidentally from an enlarged heart and the effects of a mix of multiple medications. "There is absolutely no indication that this is anything but an accident," a department spokesman said.

FOR THE KIDS: Christian Slater seeking joint custody of his 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son with estranged wife Ryan Haddon, according to refiled divorce papers entered Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: Louisiana native Britney Spears celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans later this month, when the city hopes to resume its festive ways.

UNDER FIRE: Transportation secretary Norman Mineta calling Britney Spears "irresponsible" for driving with her baby on her lap, stating "there's absolutely no excuse for this display, not instinct, not fear, not even reckless paparazzi."

SO MONEY, BABY: Swingers stars Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Ron Livingston reuniting at the Aspen Film Festival Mar. 8-12 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the film's release.

K FOR KUDOS: ShoWest naming Natalie Portman Female Star of the Year.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH HIM: Phil Brown, the actor who played Luke's ill-fated Uncle Owen in the original Star Wars, has died of pneumonia at age 89.

CODA: Hip-hop producer J Dilla died Friday of complications from lupus, his manager said. He was 32.

REMEMBERED: Jaws author Peter Benchley died Saturday in Princeton, New Jersey, at age 65. The novelist suffered from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and fatal scarring of the lungs.

IN TRIBUTE: Steven Spielberg stating that Benchley "found the perfect formula for combining human nature and nature itself--and Jaws was born. I owe so much to Peter because the success of Jaws gave me artistic freedom in all of my films thereafter."

BEACH ACCESS: Baywatch coming to DVD, with a best-of episode compilation selected by Pamela Anderson due for a late-summer release, followed by full series releases, per the Hollywood Reporter.

GREEN MACHINE: Lou Ferrigno, star of The Incredible Hulk TV series, being signed in as a Los Angeles County reserve deputy sheriff Monday night.

THE PRICE IS WRONG: The director of the Los Angeles Zoo disputing Bob Barker's contention that the zoo's three elephants live in misery and that the exhibit should be closed, stating that the game-show host was wrongly informed.

HOOP DREAMS: Carrie Underwood scheduled to perform during halftime at the NBA All-Star Game in Houston on Sunday.

COMEBACK TOUR: Cast members from past seasons of The Surreal Life, including Brigitte Nielsen, Ron Jeremy, Chyna Doll, Vanilla Ice, returning to compete in VH1's first ever The Surreal Life Fame Games in Las Vegas.

AS REQUESTED: MTV's fourth annual TRL Awards airing Feb. 25 at noon. Madonna to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Bono to receive the Most Inspired Artist Award.

PANTHER POUNCES: Steve Martin's Pink Panther remake grossing an estimated $21.7 million, edging out Final Destination 3's $20.1 million, to win the weekend box-office derby.

EARLY RETIREMENT: ABC pulling Commander in Chief from its schedule beginning Tuesday, rather than on Mar. 7, as the network had earlier announced. The show is scheduled to return to the air Apr. 18.

THEY DO! Former Creed frontman Scott Stapp and his fiancée, Miss New York 2004 Jaclyn Nesheiwat, tied the knot Friday in Miami at an estate on the waterfront of Biscayne Bay. Stapp's 7-year-old son, Jagger, served as the best man.

SOBERING NEWS: A day after his wedding, Stapp arrested for allegedly being so drunk at Los Angeles International Airport that airline personnel would not permit him to board his plane. According to a blood-alcohol test administered by police, he registered 0.18, more than twice the legal limit.