Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

POP/ROCK

Soundgarden Splits: Grammy-winning Seattle rock band Soundgarden, which helped popularize the grunge movement that propelled groups like Nirvana and Pearl Jam to stardom, has called it quits after 12 years. A&M; Records said Wednesday that the four band members had “amicably and mutually” disbanded to “pursue other interests.” Their future plans, however, were not divulged. Formed in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell and guitarist Kim Thayil, the group--which also included bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron--became one of rock’s most popular and influential bands with a style that combined screaming guitars, brooding themes and Cornell’s powerful voice. There had long been speculation in the rock industry that Cornell might eventually go solo.

TELEVISION

Tony Split: This year’s Tony Awards will be expanded into two broadcasts--with PBS airing “Broadway ‘97: Launching the Tonys” from 8-9 p.m. on June 1 followed by a 9-11 p.m. “Tony Awards” broadcast on CBS. The PBS portion will include such award categories as direction, score, choreography and costumes, while CBS will air the acting honors and those for best play and musical. Rosie O’Donnell will host the ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall.

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Reeve Breaks Arm: Christopher Reeve had a titanium rod surgically inserted between his shoulder and elbow after breaking his arm in a fall at his home Saturday. Reeve, who is paralyzed after breaking his neck in a horseback riding accident in 1995, is still expected to attend Monday’s L.A. premiere at the Directors Guild of his directorial debut, HBO’s “In the Gloaming.”

QUICK TAKES

Barbra Streisand will produce her second NBC movie, “The Carolyn McCarthy Story,” about the U.S. congresswoman who was elected on a platform that included banning assault weapons after her husband was killed and her son seriously wounded by a gunman. Streisand previously produced NBC’s Emmy-winning “Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story,” starring Glenn Close. . . . “Melrose Place” star Heather Locklear, wife of guitarist Richie Sambora, is expecting a baby in October. Fox says that Locklear will definitely return next season (“Melrose’s” season finale wraps this week), although producer Aaron Spelling has not yet decided whether to write her pregnancy into the story line. . . . Longtime CBS newsman Walter Cronkite was released from a New York hospital on Wednesday, eight days after undergoing a quadruple heart bypass operation. . . . Fox has pulled its low-rated Pauly Shore sitcom “Pauly” after only five of its seven scheduled airings.