1/23/2024: Ritziest Zip Code
PLUS: Snake on a Plane; Destiny Forever; and Good Vibes?
Today is Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
It is the 23rd day of the year.
343 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Police in Ecuador announce a massive cocaine bust and officers despair over relentless crime in Oakland. Details in HIT LIST.
Find out which films have been nominated for this year’s Razzies in SHOWBIZ.
KEN JENNINGS wants more of a cut for his gig on “Jeopardy!” and another “Jurassic World” movie is in the works. Details in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN has wrinkles and YE is still posting weird videos of his wife. More in KARDASH.
Well-wishes from Santa Barbara for the real ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Amid its drug gang crackdown, the government of Ecuador announced an enormous cocaine bust on Monday, recovering an estimated 22 TONS of cocaine in 733 different packages.
The bust comes as new intelligence suggests escaped drug kingpin ADOLFO “FITO” MACÍAS fled into Peru on his way to Bolivia to escape capture.
Peruvian authorities report catching enormous drug and weapons hauls as gang members in Ecuador flee to the neighboring country. [via El Espanol]
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FOLLOW UP: NASA has restored communications with the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars. The Perseverance rover was able to regain contact with the chopper and relay its data back to Earth.
No word yet on what caused the outage, but the team at NASA is working on identifying the cause. [via The Verge]
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Police outside Sacramento, California, busted a woman for stealing $2,500 worth of the prized Stanley drinking mugs from a nearby retail shop.
Staff at the store reported the unidentified woman hauling out more than sixty cups without checking out. Cops spotted her suspected vehicle and pulled her over, finding 65 mugs strewn across her passenger seat and inside her trunk.
She faces grand theft charges. [via NBC News]
MEANWHILE, IN MISSISSIPPI: Police found nearly $400,000 worth of marijuana during a traffic stop late last week that turned out to be pretty creatively hidden.
The drugs were found inside a car rigged up to the bed of a vehicle hauling truck. The truck driver said he had no idea what he was carrying – and for the time being officers took him at his word. He faces no charges. [via WAPT]
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SNAKES ON A PLANE: A flight from Bangkok to Phuket in Thailand got crazy when a passenger discovered a small snake stowed away in an overhead bin.
Crew members were alerted to the sneaky serpent and quickly relocated those who were seated nearby. A male flight attendant tried to capture the snake in a water bottle, and when that failed he used the bottle to push it into a plastic bag.
No word on what became of the snake upon landing.
AirAsia’s head of corporate safety called the sighting “a very rare incident,” while also recalling the same thing happened in 2022, when a snake was spotted slithering through a plane’s light fixtures. [via CNN]
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BOOM: A few city blocks in Boston create the priciest residential real estate market in the country, at $2,663 per square foot.
The 02115 ZIP Code includes a massive 61-story tower that mostly includes a Four Seasons hotel that accommodates more than 150 of its own private residences, some of which have fetched more than $4,000 per square foot.
BUST: Police in Oakland, California, say a single square mile near the airport includes three businesses that report at least a dozen thefts every day. Victims typically include travelers in rental vehicles returning to the airport.
One officer tells the Daily Mail he picks up overtime just to sit in the area and do his part to deter crime.
CHECKS OUT: Oakland had a nearly 50% increase in theft from vehicles between 2022 and 2023. [via DailyMail]
DEATHS
DEXTER SCOTT KING, the youngest son of MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., has died.
He passed away Monday after a battle with prostate cancer.
King was only 62.
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Director NORMAN JEWISON has died.
He passed away Saturday at his home. No further details were shared.
Jewison is best known for directing “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
He was 97.
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Actor DAVID GAIL has died.
No details of his passing are known.
Gail is best known for his roles on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Port Charles.”
He was 58.
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SICK BAY
Hall of Fame baseball player RYNE SANDBERG is receiving treatment for metastatic prostate cancer.
The 64-year-old announced his diagnosis on social media, while vowing to “fight to beat” it.
Sandberg played the majority of his career with the Chicago Cubs, earning 10 All-Star appearances, nine Gold Gloves, Seven Sluggers and National League MVP honors.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 138 points (0.36%) to close at 38,001 on Monday, marking an all-time-high close. The S&P added 10 points (0.22%) to close at 4,850 and the NASDAQ increased 49 points (0.32%) to close at 15,360.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $75; BRENT CRUDE at $80.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.07 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN tanked on Monday, down over 4% and trading below $40,000.
🛩 There were more than 4,358 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 895 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $262 million jackpot or a $123.5 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The nominees for the 44th annual Golden Raspberry Awards -- aka the Razzies -- were announced Monday.
Leading the pack with seven nods is “Expend4bles.” It is also one of five movies in the running for Worst Picture of the Year,” along with “The Exorcist: Believer,” “Meg 2: The Trench,” “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” and “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.”
Winners will be announced on March 9. [via THR]
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“Pawn Stars” star RICK HARRISON revealed Monday that his son Adam died from a fentanyl overdose.
Speaking to TMZ, Harrison addressed the fentanyl crisis in this country, blaming the open southern border.
As previously reported, Adam was found deceased Friday. While initial reports alluded to an overdose, Rick seemingly confirmed it yesterday. [via TMZ]
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BILLY JOEL is ready to release his first solo song in 17 years.
On Monday, the singer-songwriter announced his track, “Turn the Lights Back On,” will hit streaming services on February 1.
Joel’s last solo hit, “All My Life,” was released in 2007. His last album, “River of Dreams,” debuted in 1993. [via Variety]
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BILLIE EILISH, DUA LIPA, OLIVIA RODRIGO, BURNA BOY, LUKE COMBS and TRAVIS SCOTT will all perform at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on February 4.
TREVOR NOAH will return as host for the ceremony.
The Grammys will air live on CBS and Paramount+. [via Deadline]
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During their recent concert in the Philippines, COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN vented about the insane traffic in the area, singing to the crowd, “There is only really one thing that remains. The traffic here in Manila is completely insane.”
But for real, the traffic in Manila is insane, with TomTom Traffic Index naming it the city with the slowest travel time out of 387 cities in 55 countries. On average, it takes about a half hour to travel only six miles in the capital city.
Meanwhile, while Coldplay fans sat in backed up traffic for potentially hours, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used public funds to arrive at the concert via helicopter. His excuse? The traffic jam posed too big of a security issue. [via TomTom, TMZ]
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AVRIL LAVIGNE is heading out on her first-ever greatest hits tour.
The punk princess will hit 27 cities across North America, starting with Vancouver on May 22. The tour wraps up in September in Alberta, Canada.
Joining her throughout the tour will be openers ALL TIME LOW, SIMPLE PLAN, GIRLFRIENDS and ROYAL & THE SERPENT. [via Billboard]
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The Grand Ole Opry is apologizing for country singer ELLE KING being “[effing] hammered” during her performance at an event honoring DOLLY PARTON’s 78th birthday over the weekend.
King took the stage to sing one of Parton’s hit songs, “Marry Me,” but what came out was gibberish and several improvised lines.
After flubbing the song, King then had a feisty exchange with the crowd, swearing at them “about 15 times” before the venue dropped the curtain on her. [via People]
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JOHN STAMOS reunited with his childhood friends Phil Bardowell and David Bardowell to release some new music, under the name Destiny Forever.
The name pays homage to the trio’s former band, Destiny.
Stamos shared a clip of a music video they recently shot for their song “Rearview Mirror” on Instagram, while alluding to more music to come.
The full song is currently available on Spotify and the video can be viewed on YouTube. [via Instagram]
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CASTING CALL
Now that MAYIM BIALIK is out as co-host of “Jeopardy!,” remaining host KEN JENNINGS wants a raise.
Insiders told Radar Online that Jennings is hoping to get an additional $4 million added to his current salary, which would reportedly double his pay.
Even with that added in, it's way less than the $18 million ALEX TREBEK was taking home. [via Radar Online]
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A new “Jurassic World” movie is in the works.
The new movie will be a reboot of sorts and will not include “Jurassic World” stars CHRIS PRATT or BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD, nor original cast members JEFF GOLDBLUM, LAURA DERN, or SAM NEILL.
The six films in the “Jurassic” franchise have earned more than $6 BILLION worldwide, with the last film, 2022’s “Jurassic World: Dominion” grossing $1 BILLION at the global box office. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Celebs they’re just like us…even the Kardashians!
KIM KARDASHIAN’s oldest daughter, NORTH WEST, shared a make-up and filter-free selfie of her mom on TikTok, captioning it “such a good picture” with several crying laughing emojis.
In the photo, Kim is sitting outside with her other daughter, CHICAGO WEST, making a kissy-face at the camera. Fans were quick to point out the wrinkles on Kim’s forehead and dark circles under her eyes -- things that are usually edited out of her photos.
The post has since been deleted. [via Daily Mail]
MEANWHILE: Kim’s ex-husband YE, likely the cause of the wrinkles and under eye bags, posted another video of his wife BIANCA CENSORI. This time though, unlike his weekend posts, she was fully covered up, wearing a leather headpiece and full length leather outfit while driving some sort of SUV. Ye appeared to be in the passenger seat. [via Daily Mail]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Insiders tell The Mirror that PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE contacted their family across the pond to give well wishes for PRINCESS KATE and KING CHARLES’ medical issues.
Kate is spending up to two weeks in the hospital to recover from an unspecified abdominal surgery while the King will soon undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate.
One insider says, “The Duke and Duchess contacted both parties in different ways to pass on their concern and best wishes.”
No details whether that contact was a phone call, e-mail, text message, or just, like, sending out good vibes and energy, man. [via Express]
DAY OF THE YEAR
Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day
Speak Up and Succeed Day
National Rhubarb Pie Day
National Handwriting Day
National Measure Your Feet Day
National Pie Day
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ON THIS DATE
1775 - Businessmen in London ask the British parliament for financial aid in the wake of political conflicts with the American colonies.
Americans had decided to no longer import from British merchants following the Stamp Act and other sanctions. The embargo apparently worked -- and was just one of the many acts of rebellion that would eventually impel war.
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1849 - A student from Geneva College in New York becomes the first officially-recognized female physician in the U.S.
Her name was Elizabeth Blackwell and she was actually born in England.
After practicing privately for a couple of years, she opened an infirmary for women and children.
Her sister Emily would also become a doctor.
When Elizabeth returned to England, she helped establish the science behind gynecology.
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1922 - More in the world of medicine:
Insulin is used for the first time to treat a diabetes patient.
A 14-year-old boy was given an insulin injection at Toronto General Hospital. The treatment had been proven effective on dogs.
In order to get a pure insulin formula suitable for humans, scientists extracted it from the pancreas of cattle.
Just a year later, the treatment would become widely available, extending the lives of diabetics worldwide.
The founding scientists were granted the Nobel Prize. The University of Toronto, where it was developed, licensed the drug to pharmaceutical companies around the globe, free of royalties.
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1957 - Toy company Wham-O produces the first frisbees.
The aerodynamic plastic circles could be tossed through the air person-to-person. Their name came from William Frisbie, who actually owned a pie company in Connecticut.
Students were known for ordering his pies, then tossing the empty plates to each other and yelling "Frisbie" as they let go.
The first mass-market version was called a flying saucer. An improved version was later called the Pluto Platter.
Wham-O is also known for the Hula-Hoop, Super Ball, and Water Wiggle.
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1984 - Hulk Hogan becomes WWF champion for the first time.
He defeated the Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden.
The entire bout only took 5 minutes and 40 seconds.
Hogan later left the WWF for World Championship Wrestling, founded by Ted Turner. And a couple years later it was back to the WWF, only to be changed to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) in 2003.
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1986 - First induction of the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Inductees were: Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Domino, Everly Bros, Buddy Holly, J L Lewis and Elvis Presley.
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2016 - A category 5 blizzard drops a record three feet of snow on the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States.
The storm would lead to 55 deaths.
Economic losses were estimated between $500 million and $3 billion.
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2020 - Chinese authorities shutdown all modes of transportation in Wuhan as the city tries to contain a fast-spreading respiratory virus.
All theaters, cafes and other indoor facilities are also shuttered and the wearing of face masks in public becomes mandatory.
At the time, more than 800 people in the country had been infected with the virus.
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BIRTHDAYS
Rachel Crow - pop singer - 26
Adam Hagenbuch - actor, “Fuller House” - 33
Byron Hanspard - football player - 48
Tito Ortiz - MMA fighter - 49
Norah O’Donnell - journalist - 50
Tiffani Theissen - actress, “Saved By the Bell” - 50
Lanei Chapman - actress, “Rat Race” - 51
Marc Nelson - singer, Boyz II Men - 52
Mark Wohlers - baseball player - 54
Mariska Hargitay - actress, “Law & Order: SVU” - 60
Chesley Sullenberger - pilot who landed on the Hudson - 73
Richard Dean Anderson - actor, “General Hospital” - 74
Born On This Date
Xxxtentacion - rapper - 1998 (d. 2018)
John Hancock - Founding Father & President of the Continental Congress - 1737 (d. 1793)
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