LITTLE ROCK — Donnie Wahlberg said he hopes his Blue Bloods co-star Jennifer Esposito is OK, but has no idea when, or if, she’s returning to the show. CBS suspended the actress from the police drama that stars Tom Selleck, contending she can’t fulfill the fulltime demands of the show. Esposito fired back on Twitter, accusing the network of “absolutely shameful behavior.” Esposito Tweeted that she’s been diagnosed with celiac disease and requires a reduced workschedule. Celiac disease is a digestive disorder caused by foods that contain gluten, a protein found in wheat. The network has said it hopes Esposito will be able to return. For the time being, her role as Wahlberg’s partner is being rotated by new characters played by Megan Ketch and Megan Goode. When asked about the change, the actor deflected the question. “Danny Reagan gets around. He likes girls a lot.” Wahlberg made the comments on the red carpet of the International Emmy Awards. He said of Esposito: “She’s a friend, and I hope she’s doing good. I love working with her, so we’ll see what happens.”

A California college is teaming up with Robert Redford to create a program where students can combine environmental studies with media and liberal arts. The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that Pitzer College, one of the seven Claremont Colleges, is creating the Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability with a $10 million gift from Nicholas and Susan Pritzker, parents of a Pitzer graduate who supportenvironmental causes. Redford is a trustee of the college and serves as its special adviser on the environment. The program’s aim is to create environmental communicators and advocates. Its centerpiece will be 12 acres of coastal sage scrub, an endangered habitat where students can study problems and come up with solutions.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 11/21/2012