2/7/2024: Cocaine Hippos On The Rise
PLUS: The Restaurant Downriver; Travis Talks Tay’s New Album; and Prince Harry Visits England
Today is Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
It is the 38th day of the year.
328 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A disgraced billionaire returns with a vengeance and ELON-world has a busy week. Details in HIT LIST.
For updates on rapper KILLER MIKE and PATRICK MAHOMES SR’s arrests, head to SHOWBIZ.
A new book details how JAMES GANDOLFINI’s “personal demons” affected the filming of “The Sopranos.” Find out more in CASTING CALL.
USHER is the latest celeb to promote KIM KARDASHIAN’s SKIMS. Details in KARDASH.
Odds and ends on the King’s health status in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
ELON-world is busy this week. Some updates:
Shortly after taking ownership of Twitter-turned-X, Musk banned the account of Jack Sweeney, a college kid who programmed a bot to tweet out the location and flight paths of Elon’s private jet, among others. Since then, Sweeney’s accounts have been reactivated, but they post flight information with a 24 hour delay – including TAYLOR SWIFT’s jet’s activity. Swift’s reps have sent legal letters demanding Sweeney cut it out.’
BUT WAIT: Sweeney insists the travel activity is public information and accuses Swift’s camp of trying to “control the world.” [via Washington Post]
MEANWHILE, IN RUSSIA: TUCKER CARLSON has taken his X-show to Russia, where he said on Tuesday he’s interviewed VLADIMIR PUTIN. No official word yet on when the video drops.
MEANWHILE, ON SOME SERVERS SOMEWHERE: BLUESKY, the Twitter-alternative bankrolled by JACK DORSEY, is opening to the public, after a year of invite-only growth. [via The Verge]
MEANWHILE, AT THE BILLIONAIRE PISSING MATCH 50 YARD LINE: In response to a video posted on X in which MARK CUBAN calls X a “cesspool for hate,” Musk replied, “Mark Cuban is an insufferable tool.” [via Elon Musk]
OH, AND: Musk is funding a wrongful termination lawsuit against Disney brought by actress GINA CARANO. Details in Showbiz.
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Billionaire ADAM NEUMANN popped back into headlines last year with chatter about a new company, just a few short years after he left WEWORK in a golden parachute as the company’s valuation tanked from $47 BILLION to under $40 million.
NOW: As WeWork’s new management navigates bankruptcy, Neumann is leading an effort to buy the company back!
The proposal would fold in WeWork’s assets into his new company’s portfolio and provide financing to get through bankruptcy. In response to a request for comment, a rep for WeWork gave the New York Post a bland, boilerplate response: “We and our advisors always review those approaches with a view to acting in the best interests of the company.” [via New York Post]
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Another blow to convicted murder ALEX MURDAUGH: A judge has ordered the disgraced lawyer to pay a $900,000 settlement to the families of kids who died while on board a boat his son was driving in 2019, among other victims.
Murdaugh used his influence to cover up the accident at the time. He’s since been convicted of murdering the son who was behind the wheel.
The payout represents half of the $1.8 million left to Murdaugh’s name after estate lawyers sold off his land holdings, farm equipment, and liquidated his retirement assets.
A portion of the funds will also go to victims of Murdaugh’s financial crimes. [via DailyMail]
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Descendants of Pablo Escobar’s “cocaine hippos” are wreaking havoc in northwest Columbia.
Several people have ended up in the hospital after encounters with the large animals, who have taken up residence in the area, including at a lake near a local school.
The animals are descendants of four hippos who were brought to Columbia in the 1980s to live at Escobar's private zoo. Following his death in 1993, they were abandoned, leaving them to roam free and multiply -- rapidly.
Today there are about 170 in the area, but experts believe that could grow to 1,000 by 2035 unless action is taken. Last November, Colombia’s minister of environment and sustainable development shared a plan to mitigate the invasive population, including sterilization, relocation, and “ethical” euthanisa. [via CNN]
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A riverboat restaurant in Ohio became unmoored and floated down the Ohio River over the weekend, forcing the company’s owners to call in emergency assistance to haul it back.
The owners say they were performing maintenance on the dock when the floating restaurant detached and broke away, eventually traveling about a half mile. Fortunately, rescue crews were able to secure and return the barge after about 90 minutes of work.
The owners say the boat is now secured in four places. [via Local12]
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DEATHS
Country singer TOBY KEITH has died.
He passed away Monday night after a battle with stomach cancer.
Keith will be best remembered for his patriotic hits, such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “Made in America” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).”
He was 62.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 141 points (0.37%) to close at 38,521 on Tuesday. The S&P gained 11 points (0.23%) to close at 4,954 and the NASDAQ increased 11 points (0.07%) to close at 15,609.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $73; BRENT CRUDE at $78.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.14 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN gained on Tuesday, up 1% and trading over $43,100.
🛩 There were more than 1,955 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 65 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $228 million jackpot or a $112.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
FOLLOW UP: Rapper KILLER MIKE says the whole incident that led to him being arrested at the Grammys was a big misunderstanding.
“There was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter. We experienced an overzealous security guard,” he explained to TMZ, before adding that he expects to be “cleared of all wrongdoing.”
As reported yesterday, Mike is facing a misdemeanor battery charge for getting into it with said security guard. [via TMZ]
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FOLLOW UP: PATRICK MAHOMES SR. reportedly had an open, 16-ounce Coors beer in the car when he was pulled over Saturday night in Tyler, Texas.
He was ultimately booked on a felony charge of driving while impaired. If charged he faces up to 10 years behind bars.
As for whether or not he will be able to make it to Vegas this weekend to watch his son PATRICK MAHOMES take on the 49ers, there are no travel restrictions as part of his bond. [via NY Post]
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UPDATE: Things have been fairly quiet for KIM ZOLCIAK and KROY BIERMANN, but now she says he is leaking stories about her to the press and wants it to stop.
Kim is reportedly seeking a court order in the couple’s ongoing divorce to keep certain things confidential. Something she says Kroy refused to agree to.
A judge has not yet ruled on her request. [via Daily News]
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An alleged video of DRAKE naked from the waist down made the rounds on X Tuesday.
After being made aware of the NSFW clip, the rapper simply laughed it off.
It is unconfirmed if the person in the video is Drake, though many claim the headboard seen in the clip is the same one he has on his $220 million private jet. [via Page Six]
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Ahead of her forthcoming album, “Eternal Sunshine,” ARIANA GRANDE says she will not be releasing any more advanced singles.
“...as hard as it is to resist the urge to share another song or single with you all asap, I would really love for you to experience the album in full this time,” she wrote to fans on Instagram.
The note comes after she released one track -- “Yes, And ?” -- in January.
“Eternal Sunshine” debuts on March 8. [via People]
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Actor JACOB ELORDI allegedly assaulted a radio host who tracked him down at a bar in Sydney over the weekend.
According to the BBC, Elordi got upset after Joshua Fox from KIIS FM approached him with an empty water bottle and asked him to fill it with bath water -- referencing a scene from the film, “Saltburn.”
In response, Fox claims Elordi “pushed him against the wall” and “put his hands” on his throat.” While no serious injuries were sustained, Fox did file a police report.
The incident is now under investigation. [via BBC]
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Actress GINA CARANO is suing Disney for her 2021 firing from “The Mandalorian” in what she calls retaliation for sharing her political views on social media.
The post that led to her getting the boot compared the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust to those who were speaking out about COVID -- something Disney called “denigrating.”
Carano is now suing for wrongful termination.
She is seeking unspecified damages, citing the firing negatively impacted her career.
WHAT’S MORE: The suit is being funded by ELON MUSK, who wants Carano to “seek vindication of her free speech rights.” [via TMZ]
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TRAVIS KELCE is one proud boyfriend.
When asked about TAYLOR SWIFT’s newly announced album, Kelce revealed that he has heard some of the tracks, which he called “unbelievable.”
Swift released the 17-song track list on Instagram, which features two collaborations with POST MALONE and FLORENCE + THE MACHINE.
“The Tortured Poets Department” drops on April 19. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
A new book, “On Locations: Lessons Learned from My Life On Set with The Sopranos and in the Film Industry,” details how the final seasons of “The Sopranos” were marred with JAMES GANDOLFINI’s personal demons.
Author Mark Kamine, who was a location scout for the HBO show, recalled several instances of Gandolfini, who starred as Tony Soprano, showing up late, forgetting his lines and yelling at the crew. The occurrences became so common that Kamine says HBO “added a clause making [Gandolfini] responsible for shoot-day costs if he misses work due to excesses of consumption.”
Despite the frustrating antics, Kamine writes that Gandolfini was “beloved” on set.
“On Locations” is out now. [via Daily Mail]
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The next film in the “Jurassic World” franchise will premiere in July 2025.
The news follows last month’s report that some of the original writers would be returning, along with STEVEN SPIELBERG, who directed the first flick, serving as executive producer.
No word on whether or not any of the original cast members will return. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
USHER is the latest celeb to promote KIM KARDASHIAN’s SKIMS Men’s line.
In the new ad, Usher shows off his chiseled abs while wearing a shirt and underwear from the SKIMS Stretch and SKIMS Cotton collection.
Kim also has soccer star NEYMAR JR. and football stud NICK BOSA rocking her SKIMS. [via TMZ]
BY THE WAY: Not only will Usher be performing at this weekend’s Super Bowl and releasing a new album, the 45-year-old is also hitting the road for the “USHER: Past Present Future” tour. Featuring music from his 30-year career, the tour will kick off on August 20. [via People]
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BIANCA CENSORI joined her husband YE on a recent trip to a recording studio in Los Angeles this week wearing only a transparent raincoat.
While there was some sort of black lettering covering her chest, the clear coat showed off everything it was meant to be covering.
Meanwhile, Ye was covered up head-to-toe, wearing a black leather jacket, black pants, black rain boots, black leather gloves and a black face mask. He also had on a tan poncho. [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
While Buckingham Palace hasn’t released more details about KING CHARLES’ cancer diagnosis, Prime Minister RISHI SUNAK told the BBC on Tuesday that the cancer was caught early, suggesting it’s in an early stage. Sunak noted that despite the diagnosis he remains in contact with the monarch.
MEANWHILE: PRINCE HARRY landed in England on Tuesday, where a waiting motorcade swiftly whisked him off to visit the King. Less than an hour after he arrived at Clarence House for the visit, the King and QUEEN CAMILLA were spotted leaving. No word as of Tuesday evening on whether Harry followed or where he’s staying.
ALSO SPOTTED: PRINCESS BEATRICE and her husband visited Clarence House on Tuesday as well. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Girls and Women in Sports Day
National Signing Day
Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day
Rose Day
National Send a Card to a Friend Day
World Ballet Day
National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
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ON THIS DATE
1812 - Earthquakes in Missouri cause a fluvial tsunami near Mississippi -- that's when a river starts to run backward!
This tremor was one of a series of quakes that had begun in December the previous year. The February 7th one happened to be the strongest at 8.8 magnitude.
By some estimates, it was the strongest quake in human history.
It made church bells in Boston ring, unprovoked. In Cincinnati, brick walls crumbled.
More than 30 boats were hurled over waterfalls that had formed along the river immediately, killing hundreds.
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1904 - A small fire in Baltimore begun by a poorly discarded lit cigarette ends up igniting the city.
The blaze burned for 31 hours, razing 80 blocks of the downtown area.
It took down 1500 buildings and damaged 1,000 more. Property damage was estimated at nearly $100 million (in 1904-dollars.)
Fortunately, the fire was contained to the business district, and did not claim any lives or homes.
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1964 - Beatlemania arrives in the United States when the fab four land in America for the first time.
Their hit "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had landed the number one spot on American music charts six days earlier.
More than 3,000 screaming, rioting fans were on hand to greet the singers.
Two days later they would appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Their first public show would be February 11 at the Coliseum in Washington D.C.
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1984 - The first astronaut flies untethered in space.
Captain Bruce McCandless maneuvers freely outside the Challenger shuttle. He controlled a rocket pack that he designed himself.
He safely re-entered the shuttle 90 minutes later.
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1990 - The Communist Party eases its totalitarian control across the Soviet Union.
At the behest of President Mikhail Gorbachev, the Central Committee reversed policies that made it the only legal party in the country.
Gorbachev would resign by the end of 1991, and the Soviet Union dissolved January 31 that year.
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2010 – The New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV (44), 31-17.
Drew Brees is named the MVP.
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2019 - Measles cases in Europe surge to the highest they have been in over a decade.
The WHO cites a number of factors for the increasing number, the main one being vaccine hesitancy.
There is no specific treatment for measles, which can cause death, deafness and brain damage, but two doses of a vaccine makes people immune.
There was also an increase in cases in the US, though not nearly as notable.
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BIRTHDAYS
Ovie Soko - basketball player - 33
Isaiah Thomas - basketball player - 35
Matthew Stafford - football player - 36
Cerina Vincent - actress, “Not Another Teen Movie” - 45
Ashton Kutcher - actor, “That ‘70s Show” - 46
Steve Nash - basketball player - 50
Essence Atkins - actress, “Smart Guy” - 52
Chris Rock - actor & comedian - 59
Garth Brooks - country singer - 62
James Spader - actor, “Pretty in Pink” & “Boston Legal” & “The Blacklist” - 64
Born On This Date
Laura Ingalls Wilder - author, “Little House on the Prairie” - 1867 (d. 1957)
Charles Dickens - novelist, “A Christmas Carol” - 1812 (d. 1870)
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