1/31/2023: Don’t Steal a Cop Car
1/31/2023: Don’t Steal a Cop Car
PLUS: The Government Is The Problem; Stolen Wedding Dress; and Tristan Thompson’s Big Move
Today is Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
It is the 31st day of the year.
334 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A high-speed chase following a stolen cop car and a creepy spate of arrow-shootings in St. Louis. More in HIT LIST.
The head of TikTok is headed to Capitol Hill and Speaker KEVIN MCCARTHY is headed to the White House to discuss the debt ceiling. More in THE SWAMP.
Insiders reveal LISA MARIE PRESLEY’s final weeks and BRITNEY SPEARS wants fans to know that she is still doing fine. More in SHOWBIZ.
One Bridgerton won’t be in Season 3 and ANNA FARIS bares it all for avocados. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
More bad news for egg prices: A fire at one of the biggest commercial farms in the country destroyed a coop that housed an estimated 100,000 chickens on Sunday.
The blaze broke out at Hillandale Farms in Bozrah, Connecticut, and took more than one hundred firefighters from more than sixteen local stations to quell the fire. No word yet on what caused it in the first place, either. [via NBC Connecticut]
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Fyre Festival fraudster BILLY MCFARLAND wants to help you make your business go viral – and he’s charging $1,800 for a one-hour consultation.
The business is part of his new PYRT business (sounds like “pirate”) which is promising some virtual tropical island experience.
BY THE WAY: You can also buy a custom video message from McFarland on the Cameo app, starting at $69.
SPEAKING OF LIGHTING MONEY ON FIRE: Twitter made its first major debt payment late last week, paying $300 million toward its more than $12 BILLION debt load. [via Bloomberg]
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On the heels of deep price cuts on new Teslas, Ford announced a nearly $6,000 discount on its SUV Mustang Mach-E electric crossover. The discount will apply to customers who are waiting on but have not yet received their vehicle.
Ford expects to ship 130,000 EVs this year. Last year it sold just shy of 40,000 vehicles in the Mach-E line.
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Atlanta-area police had a wild night on Saturday after a traffic stop went off the rails.
An officer exited his patrol car to perform a routine traffic stop. While talking to the driver, another man – having nothing to do with the stop – got into the patrol car and drove off. The officer called in the theft and his colleague went in pursuit.
The thief soon after flipped the car onto nearby train tracks with a train barreling down on him. The same officers pursuing him rushed to pull him from the stolen vehicle just moments before the train hit it.
GET A LOAD OF THIS: Between bodycam footage and aerial footage taken by an air support helicopter of the chase, the whole thing was filmed.
WATCH:
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You’ve heard of stray bullets causing damage and injury – but what about stray arrows?
A St. Louis-area neighborhood is on edge after an arrow was spotted lodged in someone’s exterior wall. The homeowner said he heard it hit and filed a police report. The incident comes after other neighbors found arrows in their yards and in their homes in recent weeks.
Police say they’re actively investigating, and note that it’s illegal to use a bow-and-arrow within the city limits. [via KMOV]
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Pink, “Trustfall”
Luke Combs, “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old”
Plain White T’s, “Hey There Delilah”
Meghan Trainor, “Made You Look”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”
Metro Boomin, Future, Chris Brown, “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)”
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DEATHS
LISA LORING, the original Wednesday Addams, has died.
The actress passed away last week after suffering a massive stroke due to high blood pressure, her daughter told The Hollywood Reporter.
She was 64
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Hockey player BOBBY HULL has died.
The NHL Hall of Famer passed away Monday, according to the NFL Alumni Association. No other details were shared.
He was 84.
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French actor ADAMA NIANE has died.
His former “Lupin” co-star OMAR SY announced his passing. No details have been revealed.
Niane was 56.
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Professional skier KYLE SMAINE has died.
He was skiing in Japan when an avalanche hit, burying him in the snow. Rescue officials tried to save him, but were unsuccessful, according to his friend, photographer Grant Gunderson.
He was only 31.
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CINDY WILLIAMS, who played Shirley Feeney in “Laverne & Shirley,” has died.
She passed away Wednesday in Los Angeles after a brief illness, her children told the Associated Press on Monday.
Williams was 75.
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BABY NEWS
Singer ADAM LEVINE, 43, and his wife, model BEHATI PRINSLOO, 34, have welcomed their third child.
The couple are already parents to daughters Dusty, 6, and Gio, 4.
Multiple outlets reported on the news Monday, though none had any information about when the newborn arrived or whether it was a boy or girl.
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Singer MEGHAN TRAINOR, 29, is expecting her second child with her husband, actor DARYL SABARA, 30.
She announced the news on the “Today” show on Monday.
The couple are already parents to son Riley, who turns two next month.
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WEDDINGS
Actress ABIGAIL BRESLIN, 26, and businessman IRA KUNYANSKY, 31, have tied the knot.
The ceremony was Saturday, though the location of the nuptials is unknown.
The couple have been inseparable since meeting in 2017.
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THE SWAMP
The Biden Administration announced on Monday that the formal national emergency for managing covid will end … on May 11.
The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo that an immediate end to the emergency declarations “would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty” across the country. This would also end the free vaccine handouts paid for by the federal government.
WORTH NOTING: May 11 would also coincide with an early-summer re-election campaign announcement for President JOE BIDEN, who ran in 2020 on crushing the virus.
WORTH ASKING: Will borrowers have to start paying interest on student loans then, too?
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The head of Chinese Communist Party spying app TikTok will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23.
CEO SHOU ZI CHEW is the only witness currently scheduled for the hearing, which will address the app’s relationship to the Chinese Communist Party and its privacy practices, among other issues. The testimony comes amid growing bipartisan support to regulate the app. [via CNN]
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Americans’ distrust in government has grown at quite the clip: When asked in a GALLUP survey what they think the most important problem facing the country is today, 21% said “the government/poor leadership” – up from 15% in November and December.
Inflation (15%), Immigration (11%), the economy in general (10%), and unifying the country (6%) rounded out the top five. [via Gallup]
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Speaker KEVIN MCCARTHY is headed to the White House tomorrow for talks with President JOE BIDEN about raising the debt ceiling.
McCarthy wants spending cuts to accompany any debt ceiling hikes; Biden says that’s not an option and he’s not going to negotiate.
“His staff tries to say something different, but I think the president will be willing to make an agreement together,” McCarthy said on CBS over the weekend.
McCarthy has also said that cuts to Social Security and Medicare are already off the table even from his end. [via Politico, WSJ]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 260 points (0.77%) to close at 33,717 on Monday. The S&P lost 52 points (1.30%) to close at 4,017 while the NASDAQ lost 227 points (1.96%) to close at 11,393.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $77; BRENT CRUDE at $84.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.51 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN tumbled Monday, losing nearly $1000 in value to trade around $22,700.
🛩 There were more than 3,500 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 940 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $31 million jackpot or a $16.5 million cash payout.Got a friend who might like Morning Martini? Let them know!
SHOWBIZ NEWS
In the weeks leading up to her death, LISA MARIE PRESLEY was taking opioids, on a strict diet and had plastic surgery in order to look her best during the awards show season.
A source told TMZ that she dropped 40 to 50 pounds in the month leading up to the Golden Globes, where many noticed her frail frame. [via TMZ]
MEANWHILE: Lisa’s mom PRISCILLA PRESLEY is contesting the “authenticity and validity” of her daughter’s will. According to court documents obtained by the New York Post, Priscillia is challenging an amendment that was made in 2016 ousting her as trustee. [via NY Post]
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BRITNEY SPEARS once again addressed fans' concern over her mental health with an Instagram post.
“...nope I’m not having a breakdown…I am who I am and moving forward in my life. I have never felt better!!!” she captioned a photo of a frozen pink rose.
Spears returned to Instagram over the weekend after previously tweeting out her frustration with some fans who “went too far.” [via Page Six]
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ALEC BALDWIN and “Rust” armorer HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED will be officially charged today in the fatal shooting of cinematographer HALYNA HUTCHINS.
The news comes weeks after the Santa Fe District Attorney announced charges would be filed in the incident.
Baldwin and Guiterrez-Reed will each be hit with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and face five years in prison if they are found guilty. [via Deadline]
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“Bachelorette” star CLARE CRAWLEY’s wedding dress was stolen while she vacationed in Hawaii with her fiance.
Speaking out about the incident on Instagram Crawley said her car was broken into while they were gone and her wedding dress was taken. She said she had it in there because she was scheduled to take it in for alterations.
But not all is lost. Crawley said she was able to get a new dress, get it altered and pressed and loves it even more. “Turns out, that was the wedding dress that was on my Pinterest board three years ago. It’s the dress of my dreams,” she shared on Instagram. [via Page Six]
No word on when the big day is.
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JIMMY DONALDSON, a YouTuber known as MrBeast, recently helped 1,000 people from around the world who are blind or near-blind by paying for their cataract removal surgeries.
Working with SEE International, a nonprofit that provides free eye care around the world, Donaldson was able to reach his goal of helping 1,000 people get the life-changing surgery in just three weeks.
He shared a video featuring some of the patients on his YouTube channel. As of Monday morning, it had over 47 million views. [via People]
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STEPHEN “tWitch” BOSS appears in GAP’s latest campaign.
The “Ellen DeGeneres Show” DJ and dancer posed for the brand’s collaboration with Haitian-owned menswear label The Brooklyn Circus prior to his shocking death last month.
A press release about the campaign paid tribute to Boss, calling him a “longtime supporter” of Brooklyn Circus creator OUIGI THEODORE.
Boss’ widow, ALLISON HOLKER, commented on the campaign, sharing how “excited” he was for the world to see the images. [via Page Six]
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“Harry Potter” star RUPERT GRINT says he is still just as close with his co-stars as he was while they were making the films.
Speaking to GQ Magazine, the actor said that the group of friends are still in a WhatsApp group chat called “The Potterheads,” which is also a nickname for fans of the franchise.
Grint played Ron Weasley in the eight films, opposite TOM FELTON as Draco Malfoy, DANIEL RADCLIFFE as Harry Potter and EMMA WATSON as Hermione Granger. [via GQ]
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CASTING CALL
MICHAEL JACKSON’s nephew, JAAFAR JACKSON, will portray him in an upcoming biopic.
Director ANTOINE FUQUA confirmed the news on Monday, saying the son of JERMAINE JACKSON, Michael’s brother and member of The Jackson 5, will star in the project.
According to Fuqua, Jaafar, like his famous family members, has been singing and dancing since childhood.
“Michael” is being produced with the blessing of the late singer’s estate. [via Deadline]
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“Bridgerton” star PHOEBE DYNEVOR’s character will likely not appear in Season 3 of the Netflix show.
In a recent interview with Screen Rant, the actress revealed that Daphne Bridgerton does not have a storyline in the upcoming season, but will potentially return in the future.
“I’m just excited to watch as a viewer,” Dynevor said. [via Screen Rant]
WORTH NOTING: Fans of the series are well aware that each season centers on the story of a different Bridgerton sibling. Daphne was featured in the first season as she fell in love with the mysterious Duke Hastings, played by REGE-JEAN PAGE.
SEASON THREE: The upcoming season will focus on Colin Bridgerton (LUKE NEWTON) and his relationship with Penelope Featherington (NICOLA COUGHLAN).
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ANNA FARIS is going nude for an upcoming Super Bowl ad.
The 46-year-old actress will appear in a commercial for Avocados from Mexico, dressed as Eve from the Garden of Eden.
In a teaser, Faris is seen holding two halves of an avocado, while a narrator says “One fruit, with the ability to make everything better.”
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
TRISTAN THOMPSON is adding fuel to the fire when it comes to fan speculation that he and KHLOE KARDASHIAN have reconciled.
The Sun reports that the NBA player -- and father of Khloe’s two kids -- recently dropped $12.5 million on a new home that is less than two miles from his ex. [via The Sun]
WORTH NOTING: Maybe he just wants to be close to his kids.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES might respond to PRINCE HARRY’s accusations in a BBC special.
The Mirror reports that plans for covering the upcoming Coronation are already in the works, which will likely mean an interview with Charles. An insider told the outlet that palace aides are discussing Charles using the chat to give his side of the story.
The hesitation on the matter is that one comment would likely prompt a response from Harry, which “would be unpredictable,” the insider added. [via The Mirror]
Still no word on if Harry and MEGHAN MARKLE will attend the Coronation in May.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Hot Chocolate Day
Eat Brussel Sprouts Day
National Plan for Vacation Day
Scotch Tape Day
Brandy Alexander Day
Hell is Freezing Over Day
Appreciate Your Social Security Check Day
National Backward Day
Inspire Your Heart With Art Day
National Gorilla Suit Day
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ON THIS DATE
1606 – Guy Fawkes takes his own life before his scheduled execution by British authorities.
Fawkes was behind the Gunpowder Plot to blow up Westminster in London. He had set up nearly 2 tons of gunpowder in the bowels of the Parliament building. During his interrogation, Fawkes' principal motivations were religious—he wanted to end the Protestant government.
On his way to the gallows, Fawkes jumped off the ladder and landed on his head, dying instantly.
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1865 – The US House passes the 13th Amendment to end slavery.
Republicans held majorities in the both houses, but Lincoln wanted bipartisan support. He also needed a two-thirds majority to pass, which it did, 119 to 56.
The Amendment then went to the states for ratification, and it passed in December that year.
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1950 – President Harry Truman announces that the military is developing a weapon 100 times more powerful than the atomic bombs unleashed on Japan to end World War II.
It came as the Soviets gained atomic weapons five months earlier. American and British intelligence had also discovered that top-ranking US physicist Klaus Fuchs, who was a transplant from Germany, was spying for the Reds.
Truman believed it imperative that the USA hold the world's most powerful weapons.
Almost two years later, the first Hydrogen Bomb, which was nicknamed Mike, was detonated in the Pacific Marshal Islands.
Of course, the Soviets would catch up by 1955.
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1958 – The US enters the space age with the launch of the satellite Explorer-I.
It came four months after the Soviets launched Sputnik.
Aside from being the first American satellite, it also discovered the Van Allen radiation belt. A 60-megawatt transmitter sent the data back to Earth.
The satellite was merely 80 inches long and 6 inches in diameter.
It took just under 2 hours to orbit the Earth. It lasted in orbit 111 days.
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1971 – Apollo 14 blasts off, en route to the Moon.
Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell would become the fifth and sixth men to walk on the lunar surface.
Shepard was also the first American in space, in 1961.
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2006 - US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor retires.
She was the first woman Supreme Court Justice.
Samuel Alito takes her seat.
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2022 - World puzzle game “Wordle” is purchased by The New York Times for a “low seven figure” sum from creator, software engineer Josh Wardle.
The daily word game gives players six chances to guess a five-letter word.
Millions of people played each day, according to The Times.
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BIRTHDAYS
Mallory James Mahoney - actress, “Adventures in Babysitting” & “Bunk’d” - 18
Julian Alvarez - soccer player - 23
Joel Courtney - actor, “Super 8” & “The Kissing Booth” - 27
Tyler Cameron - reality star, “Bachelorette” - 30
Tyler Seguin - hockey player - 31
Tyler Hubbard - country singer - 36
Justin Timberlake - pop singer - 42
Kerry Washington - actress, “Scandal” - 46
Portia de Rossi - actress, “Arrested Development” & “Ally McBeal” - 50
Minnie Driver - actress, “Good Will Hunting” - 53
Matt King - comedian - 55
John Lydon - rock singer, The Sex Pistols - 67
Jonathan Banks - actor, “Better Call Saul” - 76
Nolan Ryan - baseball player - 76
Born On This Date
Lorraine Warren - novelist & clairvoyant medium - 1927 (d. 2019)
Jackie Robinson - baseball player - 1919 (d. 1972)
Eva Hart - Titanic survivor - 1905 (d. 1996)
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