Savannah Guthrie returns to 'Today' for the first time since her mother's disappearance

NEW YORK (AP) — Savannah Guthrie is making her return to NBC’s “Today” show Monday for the first time since her mother's disappearance more than two months ago. Guthrie is coming back to a job she loves but is uncertain how she’ll manage. Guthrie acknowledged being a changed person a little over a week ago. She also says it’s hard to go forward not knowing what happened to her mother. There has been no sign of the 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie since she was reported missing from her Arizona home on Feb. 1. Authorities continue to believe she was abducted in the middle of the night. But they have not released any new evidence in weeks.

It’s-a-hit: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ box office blasts off with $372.5 million globally

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” has scored the biggest opening of the year for a Hollywood film. Studio estimates on Sunday say the Illumination and Nintendo co-production earned $130.9 million over the weekend and $190.1 million in its first five days in North America. Released globally on Wednesday, the film capitalized on kids’ spring break vacations. It earned an estimated $182.4 million from 80 overseas markets, totaling a $372.5 million debut. Despite mixed reviews, audiences were enthusiastic. The movie features returning voice actors like Chris Pratt and Jack Black. It played in over 4,000 theaters in the U.S. and Canada.

Screenwriters union and Hollywood studios reach four-year tentative agreement

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Screenwriters and Hollywood studios have reached a tentative deal after a few weeks of negotiation. The Writers Guild of America and The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced the deal late Saturday. The four-year agreement is longer than a typical contract. It still needs approval from the guild’s board and members. The terms of the deal are not immediately announced. But it is expected to include several union priorities such as better health care plans and more protection against artificial intelligence. The tentative deal comes three years after writers went on a historic strike that partially brought Hollywood to a standstill. Actors and directors are still negotiating new contracts with the studios.

Pressure mounts on Ye to be pulled from his headline role at a summer festival in London

LONDON (AP) — Pressure is mounting for the American rapper Ye to be pulled from his headline role at a London music festival this summer. U.K. Minister Keir Starmer criticized the rapper's scheduled appearance. Pepsi already has withdrawn its lead sponsorship role of the Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park in north London between July 10-12. Other sponsors of the event including Budweiser and PayPal are being urged to follow suit. Pepsi didn't provide an explicit reason Sunday for its decision to pull out of the event. Starmer said that it was “deeply concerning” that the rapper was booked to perform at the long-established festival.

Canada's Artemis II astronaut gives thumbs-up to 'Project Hail Mary' starring Canadian Ryan Gosling

HOUSTON (AP) — The new space movie “Project Hail Mary” starring Ryan Gosling is getting rave reviews more than halfway to the moon. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said Saturday that he and his Artemis II crewmates got to watch the film with their families before launching on the lunar fly-around. He said it was really fun watching the movie while getting ready for his own space adventure. Gosling, a fellow Canadian, sent best wishes to the four astronauts ahead of Wednesday's liftoff.

Ye attempts a comeback with sold-out LA-area concert, support from Lauryn Hill

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The artist formerly and possibly again known as Kanye West reveled in support from one of his musical idols, Lauryn Hill, as he staged a sold-out Southern California concert meant to mark a comeback from years of controversy. Eleven months after releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and just over two months after publishing an apology letter for his antisemitism, Ye let his two decades of hits — and 70,000 screaming fans — speak the loudest on Friday night at SoFi Stadium. Hill joined Ye on a stage for the first time ever for an energetic rendition of his 2004 hit “All Falls Down,” which originally sampled her voice.

Eulogy for the CIA Factbook: The free standard for world facts, long an educational staple, is gone

The Trump administration has shut down the CIA World Factbook, and there's much lamenting about the demise of a free source that many people used to check basic facts about countries. The end came on Feb. 4 in a “fond farewell” post from the spy agency. The CIA says the decision reflects an agency whose core mission has changed over the years. Factbook fans say they'll miss the trusted reference point that had its origins in World War II-era intelligence work. It went public in 1975 and became a classroom staple and a soft-power tool. But to critics, the Factbook never really stayed truly neutral.

'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' cast aren't the only influencers sowing curiosity about the church

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Latter-day Saint influencers have found an enthusiastic audience across the country, curious about their faith and family, but they are often imperfect and unofficial representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of these social media influencers and the influencers-turned-reality stars on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” have created a version of the faith that appears more modern and flexible than the actual church leadership might like. Influencers who have more faith-focused content have said they feel the reality show is not representative of their experiences in the church or their lives in Utah.

Kids ate the multiplex: How family movies are taking over moviegoing, one blockbuster at a time

NEW YORK (AP) — As “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” lands in theaters, coloring stations, collectible popcorn containers and mascot Marios are all in place to entice arguably the most prized moviegoers to Hollywood today. Kids. Despite a lot of talk about the imperiled future of moviegoing, future moviegoers are turning out in droves and fueling today’s biggest blockbusters. By Sunday, Universal Pictures expects the five-day opening of the “Super Mario” sequel to reach $186 million domestically, and around $350 million worldwide. That would make it easily the biggest hit of the year. Increasingly, the multiplex belongs to kids.

Movie Review: Wahoo! ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ levels up the magic

Chris Pratt and Charlie Day return to voice Mario and Luigi in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” which opens theaters globally on Wednesday. The sequel to the 2023 smash takes the Brooklyn plumbers, Princess Peach and Toad into space to help save Rosalina from a vengeful Bowser Jr. In her review for The Associated Press, film writer Lindsey Bahr writes that while the movie adds some family drama and backstories, and some unsavory merchandising, it's largely committed to keeping things light and playful and in the spirit of the games. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a Universal Pictures release rated PG.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says an attack has killed the head of intelligence for the paramilitary organization

Iran and US presented with draft proposal that includes 45-day ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz opening, 2 officials tell AP

AP-Scorecard

Memphis hosts Cleveland on 3-game home slide