New albums to be released today

Asphalt Jungle “Electro Ave” (ROIR)

Audio Learning Center “Friendships Often Fade Away” (Vagrant)

Chemical Brothers “Come With Us” (Astralwerks)

Citizen Cope “Citizen Cope” (DreamWorks)

Cracker “Forever” (Back Porch)

DJ Maxximus “Mercedes Bentley Vs. Versace Armani” EP (Warp)

Dream Theater “Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence” (Elektra)

EchoBrain “EchoBrain” (Hollywood)

Face to Face/Dropkick Murphys Split EP (Vagrant)

Princess Superstar “Princess Superstar Is” (Rapster/!K7)

The Standard “August” (Barbaric)

Teenage Fanclub and Jad Fair “Words of Wisdom & Hope” (Alt. Tentacles)

Undecided “More to See” (Tooth & Nail)

Jaguar Wright “Denials, Delusions & Decisions” (MCA)

Former NYPD star Delaney arrested

Kim Delaney, who broke on to the scene as a cop on the popular TV program “NYPD Blue,” was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Malibu this weekend. She is scheduled to appear in court March 27. Delaney currently appears in the drama “Philly.”

Amnesty awards Paul McCartney

Amnesty International USA will award Paul McCartney with a lifetime achievement award at its Media Spotlight Awards next week.

“Ellen” canceled due to budget cuts

“The Ellen Show,” which stars comedian Ellen DeGeneres, was struck from CBS’ spring schedule due to budget constraints. Eighteen episodes have been taped. The show will finish out the last five episodes of this season.

Redford to receive honorary Oscar

Actor Robert Redford is scheduled to receive an honorary Academy Award at this year’s Oscar ceremony.

The citation will read: “Robert Redford – Actor, Director, Producer, Creator of Sundance, inspiration to independent and innovative filmmakers everywhere,” according to Academy President Frank Pierson.

Playboy playmate attends prom

Playboy playmate Petra Verkiak made an unusual appearance at a high school senior prom last weekend.

She attended with Toby Hocking after she read a college entrance essay the high school senior wrote.

In the essay, Hocking wrote about how he felt like an outcast when he first began high school in Tustin, Calif.

Later he decided it was up to him to find friends and make the most of his high school years.

The 35-year-old Verkiak said she could relate to the situation and offered to attend prom with Hocking.

– News gathered by Bethany Kohoutek from the Associated Press, eonline.com, billboard.com and pitchforkmedia.com