3/22/2024: Crime Edition
PLUS: DOJ Takes on Apple; Bond’s Girl; and Kate at Work
Today is Friday, March 22, 2024.
It is the 82nd day of the year.
284 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Officers in Idaho recapture an escaped convict and an unexpected suspect behind a murder-hit is revealed. Details in HIT LIST.
SHOHEI OHTANI kept a crook too close and SCHEANA SHAY dishes on a notoriously randy singer. More in SHOWBIZ.
The cast for an animated “The Cat in the Hat” comes together and DAVID SCHWIMMER joins a remake of a childhood classic. Details in CASTING CALL.
Cultural warriors come for KIM KARDASHIAN’s latest money making projects. More in KARDASH.
Believe it or not, PRINCESS KATE has been hard at work. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Among the sentencing documents the court has received ahead of next week’s hearing for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED is a letter from new CEO JOHN RAY III. Ray was appointed to manage FTX after SBF stepped down and the company prepared for next steps; Ray is the same guy who managed the winddown on Enron more than two decades ago.
In the letter, Ray pushes back on the five-to-seven year sentence his own attorneys asked for, writing, "Mr. Bankman-Fried continues to live a life of delusion," Ray wrote. "The 'business' he left on November 11, 2022 was neither solvent nor safe."
Sentencing is scheduled for next Thursday. [via Axios]
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The Department of Justice has slapped APPLE with a massive antitrust lawsuit that accuses the tech giant of protecting its monopoly power with its ecosystem of proprietary smartphones, wearable devices, and apps.
The suit alleges that Apple’s business practices violate antitrust laws and drive up prices for consumers. The suit also specifically seeks to stop Apple’s practice of changing the color of text messages from non-iPhone users to green bubbles instead of blue – among other grievances.
In a statement, Apple essentially argues the cost of providing a seamless and excellent user experience across its apps and hardware requires the company to carefully safeguard its tech ecosystem top to bottom. [via Morning Martini]
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A trio of adolescent bank robbers – aged 11, 12, and 16 – dubbed the “little rascals” have been caught by officials in Texas – after two of their parents turned them in.
The hoodlums entered a Wells Fargo on March 13, when one of them passed a note to a teller, who quickly handed over an undisclosed wad of cash. A few days after the FBI circulated security camera photos, two different parents alerted authorities when they recognized their kids. The third was arrested in a separate incident. [via ABC13]
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Law enforcement in Idaho recovered an escaped convict and his accomplice on Thursday, hours after three officers were shot during a coordinated escape attack early yesterday morning.
Earlier this week, the convict, Skylar Meade, was transported from a maximum security facility to a nearby hospital after an unidentified self-harm incident. Then, early Thursday morning, while leaving the hospital to return to the prison, a gunman opened fire on Meade’s security escort. Meade and the shooter managed to escape while at least two officers were shot in the crossfire. A third responding officer was shot after being mistaken for an armed accomplice. All three are expected to survive.
Police say they found the suspects following a car chase; they’re also believed to be connected to two homicides in north Idaho earlier on Thursday. The alleged gunman who opened fire on police apparently spent time in prison with Meade for about three years. [via KTVB, CNN]
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A Los Angeles-area man has been arrested for hiring a hitman to kill his daughter’s boyfriend.
GET THIS: The very protective dad is a pastor.
The victim did end up with multiple gunshot wounds but survived the drive-by hit attempt in October. The ensuing investigation revealed the murder for hire plot. No word yet on the motive for hiring out the murder. [via CBS Los Angeles]
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DEATHS
Actor M. EMMET WALSH has died.
He passed away at a hospital in Vermont on Tuesday after suffering cardiac arrest.
Walsh is best known for his roles in “Christmas With the Kranks” and several well-known TV series, including “Starsky and Hutch” and “Home Improvement.”
He was 88.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 269 points (0.68%) to close at 39,781 on Thursday. The S&P increased 16 points (0.32%) to close at 5,241 and the NASDAQ increased 32 points (0.2%) to close at 16,401.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $80; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.52 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN was down about 3.4% on Thursday, trading around $65,500 in the evening.
🛩 There were more than 2,850 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 90 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $977 million jackpot or a $461 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $750 million jackpot or a $357.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Alena Spanger, “Fire Escape”
Carpool, “My Life in Subtitles”
Chris Young, “Young Love & Saturday Nights”
Fletcher, “In Search of the Antidote”
Gossip, “Real Power”
Hello Maud, “Celebrate”
Lauren Hibberd, “Girlfriend Material”
Rosali, “Bite Down”
Shakira, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran”
The Veronicas, “Gothic Summer”
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SHOHEI OHTANI’s interpreter has been fired after allegedly swiping “millions of dollars” from the Dodgers star.
Ippei Mizuhara’s name reportedly came up amid an investigation into an alleged illegal bookmaker from Orange County.
After news of his termination broke, Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani covered his $4.5 million debt, only to later say that in fact didn’t happen.
A followup report quoted the bookmaker’s attorney, who stated that her client “never met or spoke with Shohei Ohtani.” [via LA Times, ESPN]
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Less than 24 hours after posting bail, CHRISTIAN DUMONTET was in handcuffs again.
The arrest came after he showed up at the home he shares with his wife, “Selling Sunset” alum CHRISTINE QUINN, despite being ordered to stay away after the first dispute.
Insiders are not sure who called the police about Dumontet being at the home, as Quinn is reportedly living elsewhere with their young son -- the one was hit with the glass bottle days earlier.
No word on bail this time around. [via TMZ]
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Country singer SARA EVANS has reconciled with her husband, former football player JAY BARKER, more than two years after filing for divorce.
The news shocked listeners who remember that shortly after filing for divorce Barker was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault after he allegedly tried to run Evans over with his car.
Evans addressed the incident on her podcast, saying one of her daughters called 9-1-1 after Barker backed up his vehicle at a high rate of speed, nearly hitting them. Evans said she never thought he actually intended to hit her.
Now, she claims Barker is a “completely different person” and that they are “happier than ever.” [via Page Six]
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After being announced as the new Bond, actor AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON is once again defending the 24-year age gap with wife SAM TAYLOR-JOHNSON.
The 33-year-old actor defended his marriage to the 57-year-old director to Rolling Stone UK, saying all the criticism isn’t warranted because he’s “got an old soul thanks to his child acting days.”
For those not familiar with their relationship, the pair met on the set of “Nowhere Boy,” when Aaron was 17. They clearly kept in touch, because in 2012 -- when he was 21 -- the pair tied the knot. Today, they have two daughters, plus Sam’s kids from a previous relationship. [via Rolling Stone UK]
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“Vanderpump Rules” star SCHEANA SHAY alluded to once participating in an orgy with JOHN MAYER.
She shared the tidbit during a confessional interview on the Bravo show, in response to admitting to once having been part of an orgy.
“You know, once upon a time my body was a wonderland. I’ll say that,” she quipped, referring to Mayer’s hit song “Your Body is a Wonderland.”
BACK STORY: Shay allegedly met Mayer after her split from JENNIFER ANISTON, when they began a “sexual throuple” with her roommate, fellow reality star STACIE ADAMS. [via Decider]
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CANDACE OWENS proved she can keep her “Black Card” during a recent appearance on the “The Breakfast Club” after hosts CHARLAMAGNE, JESS HILARIOUS and DJ ENVY gave her a culture quiz.
She kicked things off by rapping most of the opening of WILL SMITH’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song, scoring her points with the hosts.
In her defense, Owens said that she isn’t against Blackness, but against Black illiteracy and the public school system holding people back. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
“Friends” alum DAVID SCHWIMMER has joined the second season of “Goosebumps” on Disney+.
He will play a former botany professor and single dad to teenage twins who is taking care of an older parent, while also having his kids home for the summer.
The season two logline reads, “Teenage siblings discover a threat stirring, triggering a chain of events that unravel a profound mystery. As they delve into the unknown, the duo find themselves entangled in the chilling tale of four teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994.” [via THR]
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CILLIAN MURPHY will reprise his role as Tommy Shelby in the forthcoming “Peaky Blinders” movie.
The news was confirmed this week by director Steven Knight, who also said filming will begin this September.
As for what the movie will be about, Knight said it will tell “two stories” centered on the Shelby family and WWII.
The first six seasons of “Peaky Blinders” are available on Netflix. [via BirminghamWorld]
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Actor BILL HADER’s voice talents will star in an animated remake of “The Cat in the Hat.”
The sketch comedian-turned-actor/director played the funky feline in a 2014 “Saturday Night Live” skit, and joins current “SNL” cast member BOWEN YANG in the remake, along with QUINTA BRUNSON, XOCHITL GOMEZ, and “SNL” writing alum PAULA PELL.
In this reimagination of the classic story, the cat will work to “cheer a pair of siblings struggling with their move to a new town,” Warner Bros. Pictures reports. [via ET]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Fans are coming for KIM KARDASHIAN after she released a male-only SKIMS campaign featuring professional basketball players during Women’s History Month.
“Where are the women,” one follower asked, while another posted that she hopes Kim also does a campaign with female basketball players.
Many may recall that SKIMS was named the official underwear partner of the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball last year.
WORTH ASKING: Shouldn’t the fact that Kim -- a woman -- owns a booming business be enough for Women’s History Month? [via Mirror]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Reps inside Kensington Palace report that PRINCESS KATE has been back at work since the start of February – albeit from the comfort of her bed while she recovers. In particular, the future Queen has put her energies into charities that care for newborns and improve their quality of life.
The Royal Foundation for Early Childhood, which Kate established in 2021, launched a pilot program in January to test out an observation tool for babies that helps identify signs of social and emotional development. Since the start of February, Kate has been kept in the loop on the program’s development and has put most of her effort into this specific foundation.
Amid all the rumors and speculation that Kate has not been doing well, all eyes are on Easter Sunday next weekend, the earliest date the Palace said she would return to official duties. [via The Telegraph]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Water Day
National Goof Off Day
As Young As You Feel Day
Bavarian Crepes Day
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ON THIS DATE
1765 - British Parliament imposes the Stamp Act on American colonies.
The law taxed all printed materials, including newspapers, pamphlets, and even playing cards. It was intended to raise revenue to offset debts from the Seven Years' War.
The Stamp Act followed three other major taxes, and the colonists were none too pleased. This last imposition brought to the forefront of revolutionary debate the issue of taxation without representation.
While the British repealed the Act the following year, the damage had been done, and revolution was on its way.
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1933 - President Franklin Roosevelt signs legislation that imposes a federal tax on all beer and wine sales.
The law relaxed the regulations set forth in the Volstead Act, which helped to enforce prohibition. With the new rules, beverages with less than 3.2 percent alcohol by volume could be sold -- and taxed.
The 21st amendment would be ratified later that year, which effectively repealed prohibition after nearly 14 years.
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1945 - The Arab League is formed.
The organization formed an alliance between a handful of Arab countries, sort of like a regional United Nations.
Since then, the Arab League has extended beyond the Arabian Peninsula, and into much of northern Africa. Today it is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
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1972 - The US Senate passes the Equal Rights Amendment, readying the legislation for ratification by the states.
The language in the law first surfaced in 1923 by women's rights groups. Following the sexual revolution and the rise of feminism in the 1960s, the ideas became popular again.
Hawaii was the first state to ratify, with 30 more states following. But the amendment failed to be approved by the necessary 38 states.
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2007 - News Corp and NBC Universal ink a streaming deal that would later spawn Hulu.
NBC had been putting content on YouTube but was not able to effectively monetize it.
Realizing the need for a business model that allowed easy access to network programming online while still generating profit, network executives were looking for ways to archive old programs and post new ones online.
The result was Hulu, which at first had free access with occasional ads and later, a premium membership that included an extensive backlog of many TV shows.
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2020 - Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei refuses American COVID-19 help, calling the virus a conspiracy theory that was manufactured by the US.
On this day, Iran reported over 1500 deaths — the fourth highest in the world at the time.
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BIRTHDAYS
Heaven Hart - daughter of Kevin Hart - 19
Mick Schumacher - race car driver - 25
Noah LaLonde - actor, “My Life with the Walter Boys” - 26
Nick Robinson - actor, “Melissa & Joey” & “Jurassic World” - 29
JJ Watt - football player - 35
Constance Wu - actress, “Fresh Off the Boat” - 42
Dave Portnoy - entrepreneur, Barstool Sports - 47
Reese Witherspoon - actress, “Legally Blonde” & “Wild” - 48
Keegan-Michael Key - comedian - 53
Rick Harrison - reality star, “Pawn Stars” - 59
Matthew Modine - actor, “Weeds” & “Stranger Things” - 65
Andrew Lloyd Webber - composer, “Jesus Christ Superstar” - 76
James Patterson - novelist - 77
William Shatner - actor, “Star Trek” - 93
Born On This Date
Steven Sondheim - composer & lyricist, “West Side Story” - 1930 (d. 2021)
Forest “Bud” Sagendorf - cartoonist, Popeye - 1915 (d. 1994)
Hans Wilsdorf - founder of Rolex - 1881 (d. 1960)
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