Today is Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
It is the121st day of the year.
245 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
ADAM NEUMANN’s bid for WEWORK fails and TESLA stock roars back. Details in HIT LIST.
TAYLOR SWIFT sets another musical record, while TRAVIS KELCE lands a sweet deal. More in SHOWBIZ
Disney releases a trailer for the new “Lion King” movie and CHELSEA HANDLER sets the record straight on those “Housewives” rumors. Details in CASTING CALL.
Another lawsuit for YE. More on that in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE announce a trip to Africa. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The founder of office sharing company WEWORK – who was later forcibly pushed out for squandering billions of investment dollars – won’t get his hands back on the company after all.
ADAM NEUMANN left the company just before the pandemic hit – though with a nine-figure golden parachute. Of course, since then, demand for office space has never rematerialized and the company has floundered ever since.
WeWork entered bankruptcy in November last year. Rumors swirled in recent weeks that Neumann was leading a group of investors to take back control of the company. But on Monday, the company announced it has struck a deal with creditors to climb out of bankruptcy and keep Neumann at arm’s length. [via Bloomberg]
SPEAKING OF OFFICE SPACES: Small businesses are having just as hard a time paying their monthly rents as they did in the thick of the pandemic. In April, 43% of small businesses couldn’t pay their rent in full.
IT GETS WORSE: The hardest-hit are independently-owned restaurants, where a majority – at 52% – say they couldn’t pay rent in April.
WORSE YET: More than half of all respondents say their rent is higher now than six months ago. [via Bloomberg]
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TESLA stock roared back from a dip last week after ELON MUSK visited China and announced approval from the Chinese Communist Party to deploy the company’s self-driving technology there.
Tesla will use map data from Chinese tech company Baidu for the rollout. Its stock gained over 15% on the news. The company already operates a massive production facility in Shanghai. [via The Guardian]
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SCHOOLED: Columbia University announced it would begin suspending students who continue to occupy the anti-Israel tent enclave on its grounds after they refused to pack things up by a Monday afternoon deadline.
At a press briefing Monday, one organizer told the media, “We will not be moved unless by force.” [via Morning Martini]
MEANWHILE, AT UCLA: Social media videos show protestors blocking a Jewish student’s access to a building.
When he asked one of them why he was not allowed into a building, one protestor told him, “we’re not engaging.” When the student tried to peacefully make his way through the line with his hands in the air, some brutish oaf in a face mask came to the rescue to stand in his way.
This is racism and it is wrong. Watch >
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Washington State Patrol officers spent Sunday afternoon rounding up zebras that had escaped from a transport vehicle.
The driver said the four zebras ran off when he made a stop to secure the trailer. Three of the four ended up grazing in a nearby field after running through traffic and gaining the attention of locals in North Bend. Watch >
The fourth remains at large. The driver said the zebras were en route to Montana as part of a private sale. [via KING]
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Joie Henney is asking the public for help locating Wally, his emotional support alligator.
In a TikTok video, Henney says the gator was stolen from an enclosure in Georgia a week ago. In an update over the weekend, Henney shared that he was told the gator had been dropped off at a local swamp by a trapper, who removed him from someone's backyard.
While the chances of finding Wally now are slim, Henney is hopeful now that Paul Benard from Gatorboys has joined the search.
To keep up on Wally’s whereabouts check out his TikTok. [via CBS]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 146 points (0.38%) to close at 38,386 on Monday. The S&P increased 16 points (0.32%) to close at 5,116 and the NASDAQ increased 55 points (0.35%) to close at 15,983.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $87.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.65 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked down on Monday about 0.3% and trading just under $63,000.
🛩 There were more than 2,770 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 75 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $257 million jackpot or a $115.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
THE WEEKND is giving $2 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund to the World Food Programme’s response efforts in Gaza. The money will provide over 18 million loaves of bread for more than 157,000 Palestinians.
In 2023, he donated $2.5 million to the WFP’s Gaza fund. That covered over four million emergency meals. [via Billboard]
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TAYLOR SWIFT’s “Tortured Poets Department” sold over 2.61 million album-equivalent units in its first week. That is the best for any album since ADELE’s 2015 album “25” which sold 3.482 million units.
Swift also set a new record for the highest streaming numbers ever in one week with more than 891 million on-demand streams. The previous record holder was DRAKE’s “Scorpion,” which had nearly 746 million streams the week it debuted in 2018. [via Variety]
MEANWHILE: Tay’s boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE is now the highest-paid tight end in the league thanks to his recent $34 million contract extension. [via Page Six]
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Insiders claim BRITNEY SPEARS is “completely dysfunctional” and is in “serious danger” both mentally and financially.
According to the unidentified sources, Spears has been spending a fortune on trips to French Polynesia and Hawaii. While there she typically drops between $350,000 and $1 million on private jets, hotels, staff, etc.
As for why the erratic spending, those close to her say it's because she is no longer under the conservatorship.
“She’s not protected anymore,” one stated. [via TMZ]
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Actress EVA LONGORIA, her husband, JOSE BASTON, and their son are planning a temporary move to Spain.
The trio will live at their home in Marbella, as Longoria works on a new project later this year.
Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, the couple’s Beverly Hills mansion is still on the market, despite a price drop from $22.88 million to $18.98 million. [via Page Six]
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SYLVESTER STALLONE is writing a memoir, titled “The Steps;” named after the scene in “Rocky” when he runs up the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s steps in a training montage.
According to the publisher, “Sly will delve deep, offering readers an intimate glimpse into his life journey for the very first time. Since the release of ‘Rocky’ in 1976, what has unfolded is an extraordinary love affair between Sly and the world, a unique bond that has lasted for over five decades and speaks to Sly’s remarkable ability to uplift and motivate.”
It is expected to hit shelves in 2025. [via Page Six]
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MIKE TYSON says he has given up weed and sex ahead of his July 20 match against YouTuber-turned-boxer JAKE PAUL.
The 57-year-old told Forbes Life that he hasn’t gotten high or laid in six weeks, something he says he hasn’t done since he “was a little kid.”
“I hate not being able to smoke. But I’m doing it like I love it; I hate not being able to sleep with my wife, but I’m doing it like I love it,” he added. [via Forbes Life]
FOR THE RECORD: Marijuana is on the list of banned substances by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation -- the agency overseeing the fight.
REMEMBER: Tyson will turn 58 ahead of the fight, while Paul is only 27.
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KIM ZOLCIAK and KROY BIERMANN’s Georgia mansion will go into foreclosure on or after May 3 unless they can figure out a way to save it.
The home is still on the market, however, even after the price was slashed from the initial $6 million to the current $4.5 million.
As for Kim and Kroy, they are still in the midst of their tumultuous divorce. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
Is MIKE MYERS ready to reprise his Austin Powers role?
The actor was recently asked about a potential return by ET, to which he would “neither confirm nor deny” if there is another movie in the works.
Myers first appeared as Powers in 1997’s “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” That was followed by 1999’s “The Spy Who Shagged Me” and 2002’s “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” [via ET]
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Disney has released the first trailer for its “Lion King” prequel, “Mufasa: The Lion King.”
The film will explore the titular lion’s origin story, depicting his childhood with his brother Taka aka Scar, who becomes the main antagonist in “The Lion King,” says director BARRY JENKINS.
Many of those who appeared in 2019’s live-action version are returning for the prequel flick, including SETH ROGAN (Pumbaa), BILLY EICHNER (Timon), DONALD GLOVER (Simba) and BEYONCE (Nala).
Also, Bey’s daughter, BLUE IVY CARTER, will play Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” will hit theaters this December. [via Variety]
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CHELSEA HANDLER is not joining the cast of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
The comedian shut down the rumors on Instagram, posting a screengrab of a blog post claiming she had “inked a deal to become part of the highly popular TV series.”
“This is not true,” she wrote. [via Page Six]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE is being sued by a former security guard who claims he was treated unfairly.
Benjamin Deshon Provo worked for Ye at both the Donda Academy and the warehouse where the Yeezy brand clothing was stored. During his employment, Provo says Ye subjected Black employees to “less favorable treatment than their white counterparts.”
He also claims to have gotten fired for refusing to cut his dreadlocks.
Provo is seeking damages for the alleged discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, labor code violations and attorney fees.
BUT WAIT: Ye is also being sued by another former employee who claims the rapper “spewed hateful, anti-semitic and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric within earshot of students at the Donda Academy. [via People]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE will head to Nigeria some time in May for an Invictus Games Foundation event.
News broke over the weekend that Harry would travel to England for a similar event on May 8 – but without Meg. She’ll join him for the Nigeria leg of the visit, though no details have been released on specific dates.
A rep for Nigeria’s military says the couple will meet service members and participate in “cultural activities.” [via CBS News]
WORTH ASKING: Between her delayed-for-a-year podcast, the cooking and lifestyle show filmed at someone else’s Montecito mansion, and jarring a limited run of jams, where will Meg find the time?!
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Tie Dye Day
National Honesty Day
National Mr. Potato Head Day
Day of the Child
National Bugs Bunny Day
National Bubble Tea Day
National Raisin Day
National Oatmeal Cookie Day
International Jazz Day
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ON THIS DATE
1789 - George Washington is inaugurated as the first elected president of the United States.
Washington was chosen unanimously by the 69 electors of the 13 states. The ceremony was held on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York, the temporary seat of the new American government.
He would be unanimously re-elected in 1792. He chose not to run for a third term, setting an important precedent for future presidents before passage of the Twenty-second amendment, which set term limits.
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1803 - The French and American governments finalize the details of the Louisiana Purchase.
The transaction doubled the size of the United States, for a mere $11,250,000. That's about $233 million today.
In 1812, Louisiana became the first state from the territory to be entered into the Union.
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1927 - The first all-women prison opens in the U.S.
It's in Alderson, West Virginia. Any woman across the country who was sentenced to serve more than one year would stay at the Federal Industrial Institution for Women.
Many described the facilities as a fashionable boarding school, not a lock-up. Women were to be reformed, not punished. Inmates took typing and secretarial classes.
The first inmates were usually those convicted for violating prohibition laws.
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1939 - The World's Fair opens in New York City.
President Roosevelt and New York's governor were on hand for the festivities. The first TV broadcasts in New York coincided with the debut of the World's Fair.
Other technology on display included the FM radio, fluorescent lights, and even a primitive fax machine.
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1945 - Nazi leader Adolf Hitler kills himself in a bunker in Germany.
He took a cyanide capsule then shot himself for good measure.
The defeat of the Germans was imminent at that point, and soon Hitler's subordinates surrendered.
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1997 - In an episode of the TV sitcom "Ellen," the character played by Ellen DeGeneres announces she is gay, making her the first primetime TV star and character to do so — and it was GREAT!
Ellen came out of the closet herself in the week leading up to the episode — and that was GREAT, too!.
While the story made waves in entertainment and cultural circles, the show was canceled at the end of the season anyway — even though it was GREAT!!.
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2012 - The One World Trade Center becomes the tallest building in New York, overtaking the Empire State Building.
It stands at 1,792 feet, towering over the Empire State Building, which is 1,250 feet.
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2020 - UK Prime Minister states that Britain is past the peak of COVID-19.
Little did he know, the true peak wouldn’t occur for nearly a year.
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BIRTHDAYS
Monroe & Moroccan Cannon - Nick Cannon & Mariah Carey’s kids - 13
James Brittain-McVey - guitarist, The Vamps - 31
Travis Scott - rapper - 33
Ana de Armas - actress, “Knives Out” - 36
Paul Klein - pop singer, LANY - 36
Dianna Agron - actress, “Glee” - 38
Gal Gadot - actress, “Wonder Woman” - 39
Drew Seeley - actor, “The Cheetah Girls” & “Glory Daze” - 42
Kirsten Dunst - actress, “Bring It On” & Interview with the Vampire”- 42
Kunal Nayyar - actor, “The Big Bang Theory” - 43
Sam Heughan - actor, “Outlander” - 44
Johnny Galecki - actor, “The Big Bang Theory” & “Roseanne” - 49
Isiah Thomas - basketball player - 63
Born On This Date
Michael J. Smith - astronaut, 51L - 1945 (d. 1986)
Cloris Leachman - actress, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” - 1926 (d. 2021)
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