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Brenda Song is sharing how she and fiancé Macaulay Culkin use his hit movie, Home Alone, as a parenting tool

NEED TO KNOW

• The couple shares two boys, Carson, 3, and Dakota, 4

• Along with using the film to teach them about safety and "stranger danger," she said their boys enjoy the movie's "hijinks and the traps"

Macaulay CulkinandBrenda Songare using Culkin's most iconic film to their advantage while parenting their two sons.

Song, 37, recently shared how she and Culkin, 45, have shown their sons,Carson, 3, and Dakota, 4, Culkin's hit film,Home Alone. Butrather than telling their boys their dad is the star, the film serves as an important lesson in "stranger danger."

Song toldE! Newsthat while the two preschoolers enjoy the movie's "hijinks" and its elaborate "traps," they "have no real concept" of the danger in the movie. She noted that their elder son, Dakota, "gets it more" than Carson.

She recalled that after they finished watching the movie, she turned to her boys and said, " 'See, your mama's here right next to you. Don't you want to give me a hug? I didn't leave.' "

"I'm so terrible, but I feel like your children have to be a little scared," she told E! News. "Fear goes a long way."

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She's persistent with teaching their boys about stranger danger, telling the outlet that she's told them, " 'They're a stranger if you don't know their name.' "

"I was like, 'It doesn't matter if they're someone's parents. If you don't know their name, or you've never seen them before at our house, they are a stranger,' " she shared.

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The mother of two has also been working with her sons on learning their surroundings, and "teaching them exit signs."

"Everywhere we go, I'm like, 'How do we get home?'" she recalled. "Every building we go in, like, 'How did we get here? How do we get out?' "

But theOperation Taco Gary'sactress confessed her husband thinks she's "absolutely crazy about it."

In November 2025, Culkin celebrated the 35th anniversary of the film and revealed that despite watching the movie with their sons "often,"they have yet to make the connection that Kevin is Culkin at age 10.

They "really love"Home Alone, and now Culkin has a "completely different experience" watching the film with them. "They have no idea that I'm Kevin," he said, but he wants "to keep up that illusion as long as possible."

He noted that Dakota has begun to piece things together. He asked Culkin about his siblings, and Culkin showed his son an old family photo ofall seven of his brothers and sisters. "[He] immediately looks at me and goes, 'That kid looks like Kevin.'"

Culkin decided to quickly move on from the observation and noted that Dakota also thinks he himself is Kevin.

"'Do you remember when you kicked burglars out?' And he's like, 'Yep.' 'You slide down the stairs?' 'I sure do.' I was like, 'You liar! That was me,' " he recalled of the father-son moment.

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EL PASO, TX — A man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in a head-on collision in western Texas that killedLaura Lynch, a founding member of a country music band now known asThe Chicks, prosecutors said.

As part of a plea agreement, Domenick Chavez, 33, admitted that he was driving recklessly and caused the head-on crash that killed Lynch on Dec. 22, 2023, the El Paso District Attorney's Office said in a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Lynch, 65, was killed instantly after Chavez attempted to pass four vehicles and collided into Lynch's truck.

The incident occurred on an undivided highway in Hudspeth County, about 50 miles east of El Paso. The El Paso District Attorney's Office also covers neighboring Hudspeth and Culberson counties.

"The death of Ms. Lynch caused profound sadness for her family, the Dell City community, and all those who appreciated her music. It is a loss made more acute by the fact that it happened just days before Christmas,"El Paso District Attorney James Montoyasaid in a statement. "Our office will continue to hold accountable those defendants who choose to drive in an extremely dangerous manner."

See notable figures who have passed in 2026

Laura Lynch killed in West Texas crash

Lynch was driving a 2016 Ford F-150 eastbound when she was hit head-on by a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 that was attempting to pass four vehicles at the same time, theTexas Department of Public Safetyand the district attorney's office said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fatal crash occurred at around 5:45 p.m. local time on a cloudy day, but dry road, according to authorities. The other truck caught fire, and Chavez was also injured and hospitalized.

Though alcohol was not a factor in the crash, accident-reconstruction investigators determined that Chavez was driving 106 to 114 mph at the time of the wreck, the district attorney's office said. He was also driving on a suspended license, which had been revoked for failing to comply with DWI-related penalties stemming from convictions in 2014 and 2017 in El Paso County, the district attorney's office added.

Chavez "has expressed profound remorse for the loss of life and for the pain this has caused, and he accepted responsibility by pleading guilty," his attorney Manuel Parra said in a statement, explaining that Chavez decided to plead because he faced a possible punishment of five to 99 years in prison at trial.

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Celebrity deaths:James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, and when celebrity deaths trigger health anxiety

Lynch was a founding member of 'The Dixie Chicks'

Lynch was a graduate of Coronado High School in El Paso and a strong advocate for her hometown of Dell City, a small community in Hudspeth County, theEl Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

She divided her time between Fort Worth and Dell City, where she kept busy maintaining rental properties and advocating for her hometown. Her parents had deep roots in agriculture and water development in the town.

Lynch was one of four founding members of the Dixie Chicks band, formed in 1989 with sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (who used their family name, Erwin), and Robin Lynn Macy.

Lynch played the upright bass and later became the lead singer. They recorded three albums — "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans" in 1990, "Little Ol' Cowgirl" in 1992, and "Shouldn't a Told You That" in 1993.

She left the Dixie Chicks in 1995 and was replaced by Natalie Maines, as the band veered from bluegrass to mainstream country. Lynch departed long before Mainesopenly criticizedthen-President George W. Bush in 2003, sparking a backlash and country radio boycotts.

The band changed its name to The Chicks in 2020, in the wake of George Floyd's killing and a subsequent racial reckoning. They removed "Dixie" from their name because of its connotation with the Confederate-era South during the national racial awareness movement.

Following Lynch's death, The Chicks said in asocial media postthat she was a "bright light" and called her "instrumental" in the band's early success.

"We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together," the band wrote. "Her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band."

Contributing: Gary Levin and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times:Man sentenced in crash that killed Dixie Chicks founder Laura Lynch

Kim Kardashianappears unfazed by the wave of critical backlash surrounding her latest TV series, All's Fair. According to new reports, she is teaming up with the show's creator,Ryan Murphy, again on a new series. This will mark the third TV project collaboration between Murphy and Kardashian.

Kim Kardashian in talks to join Ryan Murphy's new series after 'All's Fair' backlash, per report

When Ryan Murphy's All's Fair premiered in November 2025, it was panned by critics and even earned a0% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the SKIMS founder remains undeterred about returning to the silver screen. A February 25Page Sixreport revealed that sources claimed Kardashian is in talks to appear in Murphy's next series.

The new show will allegedly follow Melinda Farina, also known as 'Beauty Broker' in Hollywood. Farina is best known for connecting rich clients with top plastic surgeons. She reportedly charges $750 per hour to match her clients with the best surgeon for whatever changes they want.

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Kardashian could be involved with the project in more ways than one. Her mother, Kris Jenner, underwent a facelift last year, leaving fans balking in disbelief. Later, she revealed that she had worked with Park Avenue doctor, Steven M. Levine, one of Farina's favorite plastic surgeons.

In a profile for theNew York Times, Farina stated that her business got a boost after Jenner mentioned her. She said, "Kris Jenner is not even my client. And when she came out about her face-lift, my inbox blew up. We got over 700 inquiries that day." The same article noted that the 'Beauty Broker' has gotten into legal battles with beauty influencers and even publicly called out two doctors for messing up procedures.

Carson Griffith was the first to tease the news of the series' development in hisSubstack "Rich People Sh-t. If Murphy goes through with it, this will be the latest entry in the list of series he has made on women chasing perfection. One such series, titled The Beauty, premiered in January 2026.

The postKim Kardashian Might Work With 'All's Fair' Creator Again Despite Backlash — Reportappeared first onReality Tea.

By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Iran and the U.S. hold the latest round of talks in Geneva on Thursday aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes on Iran following a large-scale military buildup.

The ‌two countries renewed negotiations this month, hoping to tackle a decades-long stand-off over Tehran's nuclear program, which Washington, other Western ‌states and Israel believe is aimed at building nuclear arms. Tehran denies this.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will attend the indirect ​talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, a U.S. official told Reuters. The talks follow discussions in Geneva last week and will be mediated by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.

U.S. President Donald Trump briefly laid out his case for a possible attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, saying his preference was to solve the problem through diplomacy, but that he would not allow Tehran to have a ‌nuclear weapon.

PRESSURE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IRAN

On Wednesday, U.S. ⁠Vice President JD Vance underscored Trump's argument.

"Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. That would be the ultimate military objective, if that's the route that (Trump) chose," Vance said in an interview on Fox News.

The U.S. has been assembling ⁠a massive military force in the Middle East - its biggest military deployments in the region since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 - prompting fears of a wider regional conflict. In June last year the U.S. joined Israel in hitting Iranian nuclear sites. Iran has threatened to retaliate fiercely if attacked again.

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Trump said ​on ​February 19 that Iran must make a deal in 10-15 days, warning that "really ​bad things" would otherwise happen.

Oil prices inched up on Thursday ‌as investors gauged whether U.S.-Iran talks could avert a military conflict that risks supply disruptions, though gains were capped by a build in U.S. crude inventories.

Saudi Arabia is increasing its oil production and exports as part of a contingency plan in case any U.S. strike on Iran disrupted supplies from the Middle East, two sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.

Araqchi on Tuesday said his country aims to achieve a fair, swift deal, but reiterated that it would not forgo its right to peaceful nuclear technology. Washington views nuclear enrichment inside Iran as a ‌potential pathway to nuclear weapons.

"A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy ​is given priority," Araqchi said in a statement on X.

Reuters reported on Sunday that ​Tehran was offering fresh concessions in return for removal of sanctions ​and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, as it seeks to avert a U.S. attack.

However, both sides ‌remain sharply divided - even over the scope and sequencing of ​relief from crippling U.S. sanctions - a ​senior Iranian official told Reuters.

Within Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces the gravest crisis of his 36-year tenure, with an economy struggling under the weight of tightened sanctions and renewed protests following major unrest and a bloody crackdown in January.

International Atomic Energy ​Agency head Rafael Grossi is also expected to ‌be in Geneva during the talks to hold discussions with both sides, as he did last week.

(Reporting by Olivia Le ​Poidevin; additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai; Steve Holland, Patricia Zengerle, David Brunnstrom, Katharine Jackson and Joseph Ax in ​Washington; Francois Murphy in Vienna; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Stephen Coates)

By Libby George and Karin Strohecker

FILE PHOTO: Views of the port of Hamburg

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. tariffs have rerouted trade, but not dented it as much as feared, allowing larger-than-expected economic growth in certain developing markets, ‌the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said on Thursday.

Growth in the 40 countries covered ‌by the development finance institution rose by a larger-than-forecast 3.4%, but the bank warned that continued trade turmoil could yet derail growth ​in some of the economies.

"The picture is somewhat more optimistic than in the autumn...and we expect this year and next year to be even better than last year," the EBRD's chief economist Beata Javorcik told Reuters.

Slowing inflation and big spending on infrastructure projects - particularly in Europe - were helping, but the report also showed that the impacts ‌of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade ⁠tariffs were not as stark as expected.

The bank now expects 3.6% growth this year and 3.7% in 2027 - both a 0.2 percentage point upward revision compared with its ⁠autumn projections.

Exports from some EBRD countries to the United States even grew, particularly those related to the AI boom, as those countries replaced China's exports.

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Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland all export AI-related products such as servers, processors ​and ​computing systems that mean they could benefit from the shift.

But ​Javorcik warned that the full impact of ‌the tariffs remained unclear; most of the trade tracked by the report arrived in the U.S. prior to the April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs, and there was added uncertainty following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing the initial tariffs.

"This turbulence means that policymakers are forced to focus on the urgent, on the shocks that arrive - weekly, if not daily," she said, adding it drained countries' ‌abilities to tackle larger problems, such as the demographics "time bomb" ​and other factors threatening standards of living.

She also said that the "emergency ​mode" due to the ongoing war in ​Ukraine, and subsequent increases in defense spending, could drain money from other government priorities ‌and said the ultimate impact would hinge on ​whether they spend that money ​on one-off equipment purchases or on infrastructure such as roads and hospitals that could also aid the economy.

The poly-crises, she said, emphasize the need for leaders to ensure that public investments are ​focused on projects that can drive ‌economic growth.

"Global uncertainty turbulence is likely to persist, and...it's going to be a force detrimental ​to private investment, and that's why I have been stressing the role of public investment," ​Javorcik said.

(Reporting by Libby George; Editing by Toby Chopra)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Adeadly shootingduring a youth hockey game in Rhode Island last week has claimed a third victim, a grandfather whose daughter and grandson were also killed in the attack, authorities said Wednesday.

Gerald Dorgan, who had been in critical condition, has died from his injuries, according to Pawtucket police.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said he was heartbroken that another person has died because of the shooting.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim's family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence," he said in a statement.

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Dorgan's daughter, Rhonda Dorgan, and grandson, Aidan Dorgan, were also killed in the shooting.

Police identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, 56, who died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Dorgan also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, authorities said. Robert Dorgan's ex-wife was Rhonda Dorgan and adult son was Aidan Dorgan.

Officials have said the shooter was specifically targeting family members.

Rhonda Dorgan's mom, Linda Dorgan, and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were wounded.

Law enforcement have credited several people who intervened and quicklystopped the attack. At least three bystanders were able to contain the shooter in the middle of the stands as the crowd fled and ran around them.

Teddi Mellencamp is celebrating her daughter Dove's 6th birthday

NEED TO KNOW

• Mellencamp referred to Dove as her "miracle baby" in an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Feb. 25

• Dove underwent neurosurgery after she was diagnosed with lambdoid craniosynostosis in 2020 at only 9 months old

Teddi Mellencampis celebrating her daughter Dove's 6th birthday.

Mellencamp, 44, shared the sweetInstagrampost on Wednesday, Feb. 25. "Happy birthday to my miracle baby," theReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsalum wrote in the caption.

"The strength and resilience you have shown since you came into this world is something I have learned to use in my own fight," Mellencamp wrote, in reference to Doveundergoing neurosurgeryafter she was diagnosed with lambdoid craniosynostosis in 2020, and her own current journey with cancer treatment. "And now at 6, you're teaching us all how to enjoy life to the fullest while being your unabashed self. I am still so sorry I was in the hospital and missed your 5th party; but dang you don't know how grateful I am to be at this one. Love you so much, Dovey Doo. Hope this year is your best yet."

In the first photo, Mellencamp cradles a baby Dove post-surgery, and in the second photo, the mother and daughter duo spend time together at Dove's birthday party.

Real Housewives of Orange Countystar Tamra Judge chimed in, writing "Happy birthday Dove 🕊️."

The reality star was previously open about her daughter's health journey. "Hi guys, I am 9 months old and other than a zig zag scar underneath my hair across my head I wouldn't even know I had neurosurgery a few months back," Mellencamp shared alongside a photo of her daughterwearing a cranial helmeton Instagram in 2020 after Dove's life-saving surgery.

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A few weeks ago,Mellencamp reflected on the one-year anniversaryof her stage 4 cancer diagnosis. "A year ago today I went into the ER thinking I had migraines and within 24 hours was having surgery on the plum-sized stage 4 tumors on my brain," she wrote in the caption of a photo of herself in the hospital, with sensors on her forehead, that she posted toInstagramon Feb. 9.

"I have a lot of anxiety surrounding today but also a lot of gratitude. Gratitude for the doctors and nurses who took care of me, gratitude for my family and friends for supporting me, and gratitude for all the love that you have poured into me," Mellencamp wrote.

Her cancer journey first began in 2022 as skin cancer — specifically, stage 2melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. She underwent 17 surgeries for theinvasive skin cancer, but in April 2025, Mellencamp shared the news that it had advanced to stage 4, as it had metastasized to herbrain and lungs.

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Although doctors had originally given her a"50/50" chanceof survival, Mellencamp — who is being treated with ongoingimmunotherapy— says she has "no trace of cancer."

She previouslytold PEOPLE exclusivelythat she recalled "being at the Super Bowl working it withTamra [Judge]and just having these burning headaches and just thinking, 'What is wrong with me?' And coming home the day after the Super Bowl and going into the hospital."

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