4/1/2024: “Tell Me This Isn’t A Government Operation”
PLUS: YouTuber Kidnapped; “The Fixer”; and The King Attends Easter Service
Today is Monday, April 1, 2024.
It is the 92nd day of the year.
274 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The salvage process begins after the Baltimore bridge collapse and a pet returns home. Details in HIT LIST.
More on SEAN COMBS’ legal drama in SHOWBIZ.
BETTE MIDLER wants to join the “Real Housewives.” Details in CASTING CALL.
KIM shows off an Easter egg. More in KARDASH.
The King attends Easter service. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Haitian gangs have kidnapped a prominent YouTuber who went to the country seeking out an interview with JIMMY “BARBECUE” CHERIZIER, the ganglord who seems to be exercising control over the country.
Addison Pierre Maalouf – better known by the handle YourFellowArab – has built a channel with more than 1.4 MILLION subscribers by investigating and exploring some of the seedier and dangerous parts of the world. Recently, he spent 100 hours with a Mexican drug cartel and produced a series of videos about the experience.
Last month, Maalouf trekked to Haiti to try to land an interview with Cherizier, but was snatched by the 400 Mawozo gang on March 14. A friend of Maalouf’s says the gang has demanded a $600,000 ransom, and friends have managed to send $40,000 so far. [via NY Post, YourFellowArab]
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SHMOLLEGE: If you have a high school senior waiting to hear back about federal student aid programs, you’re not alone.
The Atlantic reports on a massive bureaucratic backlog affecting more than two million applicants for student aid. In 2020, Congress passed legislation simplifying the Federal Application for Student Aid form and gave the Department of Education three years to have the new process in place for the 2024 high school class.
Except things got worse. FAFSA applications typically open October 1, but last year’s didn’t go online until December 30, just up to the statutorily-mandated deadline. Within hours, it was offline and didn’t get back up and running until mid-January. Even then, an internal system error prevented anyone born in the year 2000 from successfully filing for student aid.
Then in January, the Department of Education delayed the release of financial support information to colleges, who use the data to inform acceptance decisions and aid amounts. In TWO MILLION cases, this information still has not been submitted to colleges, most of which require a student to enroll by May 1.
IT GETS WORSE: An estimated 200,000 applicants who successfully made it through the system were awarded the wrong amount of student aid.
IN OTHER WORDS: In three years, the government’s action to simplify something complicated made the outcome even more complicated and arduous. Go figure. [via The Atlantic]
MEANWHILE: Harvard had 3,000 fewer applicants for next fall’s school year than the year before. [via WSJ]
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Crews have begun cleaning up the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, deploying barges and dive teams to get steel and concrete sections out of the water.
The ship responsible for the impact, the Dali, remains grounded with the bridge section it impacted last week. Crews are inspecting it to ensure it can be pulled back into harbor. In the meantime, the crew remains on board the vessel.
MEANWHILE: The Small Business Administration is opening a temporary office in Maryland to facilitate loans to businesses impacted by the bridge’s collapse. [via Associated Press]
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Just weeks after battling an hours-long, network-wide service outage in February, AT&T announced a massive breach of customer data, affecting more than 70 million existing and former accounts.
The breach posted on dark web sites includes customer social security numbers, contact information, and phone numbers, and birthdates. They’re actively communicating with those whose information has been compromised. [via CBS News]
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How’s this for a reunion story?
A pet snake hitched a ride home with a crow after spending a year on the run.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received a call last month about a corn snake that had been dropped on a garage roof. The caller said the reptile had been picked up by a crow, who quickly dropped it after realizing “it had bitten off more than it could chew.”
Turns out the snake belonged to the caller’s neighbor, who had not seen the beloved pet since it escaped a year ago.
All parties involved were “gobsmacked” that the reptile survived not only almost being a crow’s dinner, but also the winter. The snake was treated for a respiratory infection, but otherwise appeared to be in good health. [via BBC]
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DEATHS
Actor CHANCE PERDOMO has died.
He passed away Saturday in a motorcycle accident. Details of the crash have not been shared.
Perdomo is best known for his roles in “Gen V” and the “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.”
He was only 27.
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BREAKUPS
Actor SEAN MURRAY’s wife, entrepreneur CARRIE JAMES MURRAY, has filed for divorce.
The couple, who got married in 2005, share two kids. No word on what caused the split.
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Nearly a year after separating, TORI SPELLING has filed for divorce from her husband, actor DEAN MCDERMOTT.
She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason and is seeking physical custody of their five kids, and spousal support.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Imaginary: $1.4 million (down from 8)
9. Crew: $1.5 million (new)
8. Tillu Square: $1.8 million (new)
7. Late Night with the Devil: $2.2 million (stayed at 7)
6. Arthur the King: $2.4 million (down from 5)
5. Immaculate: $3.2 million (down from 4)
4. Kung Fu Panda 4: $10.2 million (down from 3)
3. Dune: Part Two: $11.1 million (down from 2)
2. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: $15.7 million (down from 1)
1. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire: $80 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 47 points (0.12%) to close at 39,807 on Friday. The S&P ticked up 5 points (0.11%) to close at 5,254 and the NASDAQ lost 20 points (0.12%) to close at 16,379.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $83 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $87.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.53 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN gained a bit on the weekend, trading just shy of $71,000 on Sunday evening.
🛩 There were more than 3,050 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 80 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $36 million jackpot or a $17.1 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $975 million jackpot or a $471.1 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The sexual assault lawsuit filed by RODNEY JONES against SEAN COMBS could bring JENNIFER LOPEZ into the spotlight of a federal investigation.
In December 1999, a shooting at Club New York in Manhattan implicated Combs and two of his associates. At trial in early 2021, Combs walked free, but thug pal “Shyne” Barrow was sentenced to ten years in prison.
GET A LOAD OF THIS: Shyne – real name Moses Michael Levi Barrow – was deported to Belize after his sentence and is now the leader of the opposition party in Belize’s legislature.
ANYWAY: Jones’ lawsuit alleges that Combs said J. Lo, who he was dating at the time, smuggled in a shotgun to the club that was used in the shooting. Jones also suggests he has recordings of Combs admitting to bribing witnesses and jurors to ensure he got off the hook at trial.
With the smattering of new lawsuits against Combs and the recent raids on his properties, the New York Post reports that federal investigators are now reexamining the 1999 shooting and subsequent trial. [via NY Post]
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BEYONCE’s “Cowboy Carter” is Spotify’s most-streamed album of 2024; hitting the milestone within 24 hours of its release.
According to the platform, the album was streamed 76.13 million times from when it dropped on Friday through Saturday.
The debut is the biggest by a Black female artist ever and the sixth-highest female debut of all time. [via X]
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Celebs…they’re not really just like us.
DAVID and VICTORIA BECKHAM celebrated Easter Sunday with their family on a $20 million megayacht in Miami.
The two showed off their holiday in the sun on Instagram, with photos of everyone posing in matching pink-and-white bunny ears.
By the way -- the Riva 130 Bellissima Yacht measures about 130 feet in length and houses up to 10 guests in five suites. [via Page Six]
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LIZZO appears to have quit the music industry.
“I didn’t sign up for this s--t -- I QUIT,” she concluded a lengthy post on Instagram over the weekend.
Her frustration seemingly stems from the legal drama that is currently surrounding her, specifically several lawsuits from former backup dancers claiming sexual harassment. [via Instagram]
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KATE BECKINSALE spent Easter in the hospital, where she has reportedly been holed up for weeks.
The actress posted a photo from her hospital bed, showing off some furry, white bunny socks, captioning it simply, “Happy Easter.”
No word on what is causing her lengthy stay or if the end is in sight. [via Instagram]
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VANESSA CARLTON helped hockey player JOHN CARLSON celebrate his 1,000th game over the weekend by changing up the lyrics to her hit “A Thousand Miles.”
On Saturday, Carlson became the 128th defenseman in NHL history to skate in 1,000 regular-season games. He is also the 80th player to dress in 1,000 games with one team -- the Washington Capitals. [via X]
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Details of MARILYN MONROE’s alleged “first overdose” are detailed in a new biography about police officer turned private investigator Fred Otash, called, “The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn.”
In 1956, while filming “Bus Stop,” Monroe caused concern after missing two days on set, prompting those behind the scenes to contact “The Fixer” aka Otash. Using his connections, Otash was able to track Monroe to a fleabag motel, where she was found unconscious and unclothed in a room with a known heroin dealer.
She was discreetly taken from the room to a local hospital, where she recovered for a few days before returning to set. When asked about her absence, the press were told that Monroe had relapsed from her prior hospitalization for exhaustion.
“Bus Stop” would be released that August, and Monroe would get some of the best reviews of her career.
“The Fixer” hits shelves on April 16. [via Daily Mail]
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CASTING CALL
BETTE MIDLER wants to “talk some s--t” and thinks Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” could be the perfect place to do it.
Taking to social media, Midler asked, “Is it too late for me to become a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills?”
ANDY COHEN, who executive produces the “Housewives” franchise, replied to the post, writing, “It’s time!”
Stay tuned Bravo fans… [via Deadline]
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SELENA GOMEZ is taking her cooking skills on the road in a new Food Network series.
“Selena + Restaurant” follows “the actress as she enters the kitchen of Los Angeles’ most renowned chefs, where she’ll be taught and tested,” per a press release.
In each episode, the featured chef will also highlight a charity that is important to them. Those charities will receive a donation to further their cause.
The new series kicks off on May 2. [via Decider]
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PATRICIA RICHARDSON is not interested in reviving her role as TIM ALLEN’s wife Jill in a “Home Improvement” reboot.
Speaking about the revival on the “Back to the Best” podcast, Richardson said that even if she was interested, she has yet to be approached with an offer.
She also pointed out the many issues with trying to recruit the rest of the original cast, as ZACHARY TY BRYAN, who played one of her sons, is “now a felon” and EARL HINDMAN, who played their neighbor Wilson, is no longer living.
As for the other two boys, JONATHAN TAYLOR THOMAS is “not really interested in acting” and NOAH SMITH is “not an actor anymore,” according to Richardson. [via TVLine]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN shared a series of snaps of her decorating Easter eggs with her four kids ahead of Easter Sunday.
One of the pictures was of a pink, hand painted egg given to her by son SAINT, who labeled it “Mom” and decorated it with hearts and stripes.
KHLOE KARDASHIAN also shared a glimpse into the family's lavish Easter celebration, which included giant chocolate eggs from KRIS JENNER and a table full of treats, crafts and slime-making. [via US Weekly]
ELSEWHERE: YE and BIANCA CENSORI were spotted dining at the Cheesecake Factory in L.A. over the weekend. He was fully clothed, while she wore a fitted onesie that left little to the imagination. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES attended Easter church service on Sunday in his first official public appearance since announcing his cancer diagnosis.
The monarch waved and shook hands with onlookers who gathered on the grounds. He reportedly responded to one well-wisher, “I’m doing my best.”
PRINCE WILLIAM and his family did not make a public outing on Sunday, likely in light of PRINCESS KATE’s own recent cancer battle. [via The Sun]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
April Fool’s Day
Easter Monday
Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action
Harmonize Your Health Day
National Greeting Card Day
International Fun at Work Day
Reading is Funny Day
National Sourdough Bread Day
Fun Day
National One Cent Day
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ON THIS DATE
1789 - Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg is elected the first Speaker by the House of Representatives.
Muhlenberg represented Pennsylvania. He had previously been a minister, and was the president of the delegates from Pennsylvania who ratified the US Constitution.
He would serve in the House until 1797, serving as speaker again for the third Congress.
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1800 - Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr successfully defend Levi Weeks in New York City in a murder trial.
Weeks was accused of murdering his fiancé while living in a lower Manhattan boarding house. The crime sensationalized New York for weeks between the murder and the trial.
The trial lasted two days, with more than 75 witnesses providing testimony. Given procedures and laws at the time, testimonies were largely uninterrupted with questions by attorneys.
At 2 a.m. after the second day, the jury began deliberations, which only lasted five minutes. They acquitted Weeks of the crime.
Within five years, Burr would kill Hamilton in a duel over political differences.
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1945 - American troops land on Okinawa.
The assault began with disastrous losses; 116 planes were lost and damages were sustained to three aircraft carriers.
50,000 troops would ultimately storm the beach of the Japanese island.
American land forces were relatively outnumbered, up against 120,000 Japanese troops. They faced little opposition on the beaches, and quickly secured two airfields. But most of the fighting would take place on the mainland.
Fighting would last until mid-June.
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1976 - Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs found Apple Computer in the garage of Jobs’ parents house in Cupertino, California.
The company would be incorporated the following January.
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1984 - Marvin Gaye is killed by his own father -- with a gun given to him by Marvin.
The dad put three shots in Marvin's chest following an obviously heated argument over who lost some financial documents.
10,000 would show up for the funeral, before Gaye's ashes were spread over the Pacific Ocean.
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1985 - Villanova beats Georgetown in the NCAA basketball championship in one of the greatest upsets in college hoops history.
On paper, Number 8 Villanova stood no chance at beating Top-ranked Georgetown. But the teams were evenly matched throughout the game, which culminated with a 66-64 score.
It was also one of the last games played without a shot clock.
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2007 - Michael Phelps smashes his own world record in the 400m individual medley, winning his record 7th gold medal at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.
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2017 - Bob Dylan receives a Nobel Prize for Literature at a private ceremony in Stockholm for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.
He is the first songwriter to receive the award.
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2019 - Online sales in the US overtake retail sales for the first time.
According to the Commerce Department, non-store real sales accounted for 11.813% of the total, compared with 11.807% for general merchandise.
Brick-and-mortar sales are still higher when it comes to other categories, such as auto and restaurant sales.
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BIRTHDAYS
Asa Butterfield - actor, “Hugo” - 27
Logan Paul - YouTuber-turned-boxer - 29
Ella Eyre - pop singer - 30
Brook Lopez - basketball player - 36
Mackenzie Davis - actress, “Halt and Catch Fire” - 37
Matt Lanter - actor, “90210” & “The Roommate” - 41
Taran KIllam - actor, “SNL” - 42
Randy Orton - wrestler - 44
Kip Moore - country singer - 44
Rachel Maddow - TV personality, MSNBC - 51
Samuel Alito - Supreme Court Justice - 74
Paul Manafort - political consultant - 75
Ali McGraw - actress, “Love Story” - 85
Born On This Date
Sean Taylor - football player - 1983 (d. 2007)
Debbie Reynolds - actress, “Singin’ In The Rain” & “Halloweentown” - 1932 (d. 2016)
Anne McCafrey - author, “Dragonflight” - 1926 (d. 2011)
Wallace Beery - circus performer & actor, “Dinner at 8” - 1886 (d. 1949)
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