Today is Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
It is the 291st day of the year.
74 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The jury trying SAM BANKMAN-FRIED could head into deliberations in early November, following a mid-trial break and house sales slump in 2023. More in HIT LIST.
The HADID family is being harassed for their Palestinian support and TERRELL OWENS gets into a heated fight on the court. More in SHOWBIZ.
A royal family member-adjacent will appear in the upcoming season of “The Crown” and “That’s My Jam” gets renewed. More in CASTING CALL.
KENDALL JENNER tours some midwest schools. Find out more in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY is going house shopping – with or without his wife. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Prosecutors trying SAM BANKMAN-FRIED for fraud said yesterday they expect to wrap up their witness examinations on Thursday.
At that point, Judge LEWIS KAPLAN is reportedly attending a conference for a week, and the prosecution’s closing arguments will resume the following Thursday.
Lawyers for SBF say they expect to need a week and a half for their case – if they even make much of an effort. There’s still the possibility that SBF gets on the stand himself, though unlikely. [via Morning Martini]
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Sales of existing, previously owned homes will hit a 12-year low in 2023.
Analysts expect the trend to continue downward next year amid increased interest rates that will almost certainly remain elevated.
THE GOOD NEWS: The last slowdown resulted from a spike in foreclosures in a bad economy. This time, while the economy remains precariously propped up by government intervention, people don’t want to move and take on mortgage debt at higher rates.
MEANWHILE: The National Association of Realtors reports that home affordability has fallen to the lowest level since 1985, as a function of bigger borrowing costs.
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GENERAL MOTORS says it’s pushing back production of fully electric trucks until some time in 2025, scrapping plans to expand the offering next year.
The EV trucks will eventually get produced in Detroit, at the same facility that manufactures the Chevy Bolt – which will end production at the end of this year.
Reps for GM say the decision has nothing to do with the ongoing United Auto Workers strike. [via CNBC]
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An ancient scroll from the doomed Italian city of Pompeii has sat undeciphered since its rediscovery in the 1750s – until now, thanks to A.I.
A 21-year-old student in Nebraska used machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify one string of letters as the Greek word for “purple,” among other hard to read scripts and letters.
The scrolls themselves have sat rolled up since their discovery. In their fragile state, any attempt to unfurl them has caused them to disintegrate. Researchers have since used advanced X-ray technology to get a glimpse inside the scrolls, and posted their findings for others to get to work decoding. [via Vice]
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Following the Cowboys win over the Chargers on Monday night, someone turned a $250 bet into a nearly $200,000 prize.
The unnamed bettor hit a 10-team parlay, meaning he picked the winners and covered the spread of ten specific NFL games over the weekend.
The bet ultimately pocketed $199,750 for the winner.
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DEATHS
Broadway star JOANNA MERLIN has died.
She passed away Sunday in Los Angeles, according to the Michael Chekhov Association, which Merlin founded and taught at. No cause of death was shared.
Merlin is best remembered for her role of Tzeitel in the Broadway musical “Fiddler On The Roof.”
She was 92.
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BREAKUPS
Country singer MAREN MORRIS has filed for divorce from fellow country singer RYAN HURD after five years of marriage.
She’s 33 and he’s 36.
Morris cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason and has asked the court for joint custody of their three-year-old son, Hayes.
The estranged couple has a prenup.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Actress SOPHIA BUSH is reportedly dating soccer star ASHLYN HARRIS.
Bush is 41 and Harris is 37.
Both recently separated from their respective partners. Bush was married to entrepreneur GRANT HUGHES for just over a year before calling it quits, while Harris was married to fellow US Women’s National Team star ALI KRIEGER for four years.
The latter two also adopted two children together. Bush & Hughes had no kids.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW ticked up just 13 points (0.04%) to close at 33,997 on Tuesday. The S&P was flat (4,373) and the NASDAQ lost 34 points (0.25%) to close at 13,533.
🛢WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $87; BRENT CRUDE at $90.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.58 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat on the day, trading around $28,500.
🛩 There were more than 1,660 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 60 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $49 million jackpot or a $22.2 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
It turns out JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE should be concerned over what BRITNEY SPEARS chose to write about their time together in her memoir, “The Woman in Me.”
Insiders shared a “bombshell” from the forthcoming book with TMZ -- that JT got Britney pregnant. Sources say the two, who were only 19 at the time, had some heart-wrenching discussions about what to do and ultimately decided they were not ready to be parents.
JT and Britney dated from 1999 to 2002. The pregnancy and subsequent abortion allegedly occurred in 2000.
So far, no word from JT about the story.
“The Woman in Me” hits shelves on October 24. [via TMZ]
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Palestinian-Dutch model GIGI HADID’s social media posts supporting Palestine have put her whole family in the crosshairs of those who believe there should only be support of Israel.
Gigi, her sister, BELLA, brother ANWAR and parents MOHAMED and YOLANDA have been forced to change their phone numbers and stay on high alert after receiving several horrific messages wishing them harm and even death.
Things have gotten so bad that insiders say Mohamed is considering going to the FBI with some of the threats.
So far, Gigi is the only member of the family to have spoken out on social media about the Hamas attack, explaining that her support of Palestine does not mean she supports the terrorists’ actions in Israel.
The verified State of Israel account responded to her words, saying if she doesn’t speak out and condemn the actions outright then her “words mean NOTHING.” [via Daily News]
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ALICIA KEYS has deleted her Instagram after receiving backlash over a recent post about paragliding.
“Question: What would u do if you weren’t afraid of anything??? Tell me your truth…I’ve had my eyes on paragliding…” she wrote.
Followers quickly blasted her for mentioning “paraglide” so soon after Hamas terrorists paraglided into an Israeli music festival and murdered hundreds of people.
In response, Keys apologized for her post, explaining that it had nothing to do with the recent events. [via RollingOut]
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Former football player TERRELL OWENS got hit by a car on Monday night, after getting into an altercation during a pickup game of basketball.
According to law enforcement sources, TO was playing ball in Calabasas when things got heated with another player.
After both parties left, the other guy allegedly drove his vehicle into Owens’ legs. Thankfully he did not require medical attention for the hit.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing with a potential charge of assault with a deadly weapon on the table for the driver. [via CBS]
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DRAKE has tied MICHAEL JACKSON for the most No. 1 hits in the Billboard Hot 100’s history with 13.
His first No.1 was “What’s My Name,” a collaboration with RIHANNA, which appeared on her fifth studio album and his 13th No. 1 is “First Person Shooter,” which is the second single from his recent album, “For All the Dogs.” [via Insider]
WORTH NOTING: Drake accomplished the milestone just weeks after announcing that he will take some time off -- possibly a year or longer -- to focus on some health issues he has been dealing with.
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PATRICK MAHOMES and TRAVIS KELCE are taking their friendship to a new sport.
The Kansas City Chiefs superstars are teaming up with investors in the Alpine Racing Formula One team -- part of a massive, $212 million investment.
Others in on the deal include golfer RORY MCILORY, boxer ANTHONY JOSHUA and soccer players TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD and JUAN MATA.
In a statement on the partnership, Alpine said they hope the big name athletes will bring some new fans to the sport of racing. [via USA Today]
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KIM ZOLCIAK has responded to estranged husband KROY BIERMANN’s divorce filing, with some demands of her own.
They include full physical custody of their four kids, child support, temporary and permanent alimony. As for why Kim thinks she should get the kids, her filing states that she’s a “loving, fit and proper parent” — a topic Kroy disagrees with.
In other news, they have officially listed their Georgia mansion for $6 million. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
PIPPA MIDDELTON -- the sister of PRINCESS KATE -- will appear as a character in the upcoming sixth season of Netflix’s “The Crown.”
The news was announced by actress MATILDA BROADBRIDGE, who shared her excitement over playing the role.
According to Tatler, Broadbridge won’t appear until the second half of the season when a young Kate Middleton is introduced.
It was announced earlier this month that Season 6 will debut in two installments, on November 16 and December 14; also, Part 1 will be four episodes and Part 2 will be six. [via Tatler]
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The JIMMY FALLON-led musical variety series “That’s My Jam” has been renewed for a third season on NBC.
The show, which was inspired by segments on Fallon’s “Tonight Show,” features two teams of celebrities competing for a charity of their choice in a series of music, dance, and trivia-based games and musical performances. [via Deadline]
WORTH NOTING: The renewal comes on the heels of reports that Fallon is often harsh and drunk on the set of his late-night show. It is unknown if those behaviors were also experienced by staff on “That’s My Jam.”
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After becoming the highest-grossing film ($690 million worldwide) in the history of Sony Pictures Animation, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has been given a premiere date on Netflix.
Sony announced this week that the movie will hit the streamer on October 31.
The film is a sequel to 2018’s “Into the Spider-Verse.” [via Collider]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KENDALL JENNER surprised students at Ohio State, Indiana University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Michigan last week.
During her visits, the model and businesswoman stopped at several well-known bars to mix some drinks with her own 818 Tequila, pass out some 818 merchandise, and even play some cornhole with students.
The stops came one day after Jenner appeared at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in Cleveland. [via People]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY is actively looking for a house in England, even if wife MEGHAN MARKLE isn’t keen on splitting her time between two countries.
Insiders tell OK magazine that Harry has ruled out asking for access to any royal properties, which would require him to iron at least some things out with his father, KING CHARLES.
The couple also haven’t yet decided where their children will go to school once they reach that age, which could also impact where they decide to set up a second residence. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Missouri Day
Global Dignity Day
SUDEP Action Day
Global Ethics Day
National Chocolate Cupcake Day
Hagfish Day
National No Beard Day
World Menopause Day
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ON THIS DATE
1469 - European royalty Ferdinand and Isabella marry.
The union joined Aragon, under Ferdinand, and Valladolid, under Isabella, making Spain a dominant world power.
Under their control, Isabella and Ferdinand commissioned Christopher Columbus to explore the new world and oversaw the conquest of the Moors.
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1767 - Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon finalize their geographical survey in the eastern part of the country.
They were hired to resolve a border dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Both colonies had laid claim to the area between the 39th and 40th parallel. The compromise was drawing a line just north of the 39-degree line -- today known as the Mason-Dixon line.
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1867 - After purchasing the Alaskan territory for $7.2 million, the U.S. assumes control of the land from Russia.
The whole shebang cost less than two cents an acre. At 586,412 square miles, it's twice the size of Texas.
Secretary of State William Henry Seward negotiated the transfer. Russia was eager to sell it to the U.S., rather than allow it to fall into the hands of powerhouse Great Britain.
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1898 - The US takes over Puerto Rico, assuming authority over the small country one year after Spain relinquished its control.
America had taken the island in the Spanish-American War, and with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, it officially became an American territory.
Since then, movements for Puerto Rican statehood have persisted, though polls routinely indicate that a majority of its citizens support the island's status as a Commonwealth of the US.
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1977 - In Game 6 of the World Series between the LA Dodgers and New York Yankees, Reggie Jackson nails three home runs in three at bats off three different pitchers.
The only hitter to come close to the feat was Babe Ruth -- who did it twice. However, Ruth didn't do it consecutively.
Jackson's stunt helped propel the Yanks to their first World Series win in 15 years.
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1988 - “Roseanne” debuts on ABC. It starred Roseanne Barr and John Goodman.
The show would run for nine years. George Clooney even had a stint for a while playing Roseanne's boss.
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2009 - Quarterback Tom Brady throws five touchdowns in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans, breaking the record for touchdown passes in one quarter.
He finished the game with a total of six.
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2019 - The first all-female spacewalk by NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir takes place outside the International Space Station.
The two women ventured outside the station to replace a power controller that failed days prior.
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BIRTHDAYS
Sophie Bathsheba Thatcher - actress, “Yellowjackets” - 23
Alana Springsteen - country singer - 23
Barry Keoghan - actor, “Dunkirk” & “The Batman” - 31
Tyler Posey - actor, “Teen Wolf” - 32
Brittney Griner - basketball player - 33
Bristol Palin - daughter of Sarah Palin - 33
Jordan Calloway - actor, “Riverdale” & “Black Lightning” - 33
Riley Green - country singer - 35
Zac Efron - actor, “High School Musical” & “Neighbors” - 36
Lindsey Vonn - Olympic skier - 39
Ne-Yo - R&B singer - 44
Baby Bash - rapper - 48
Jean-Claude Van Damme - actor, “Sudden Death” & “The Expendables 2” - 63
Mike Ditka - NFL coach - 84
Born On This Date
Lee Harvey Oswald - JFK assassin - 1939 (d. 1963)
Dawn Wells - actress, Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island” - 1938 (d. 2020)
Peter Boyle - actor, “Everybody Loves Raymond” - 1935 (d. 2006)
Keith Jackson - sportscaster - 1928 (d. 2018)
Chuck Berry - rock singer - 1926 (d. 2017)
Ann Putnam Jr. - accuser in the Salem Witch Trials - 1679 (d. 1716)
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