6/21/2024: Two Dictators & a Limo
PLUS: How to Hide Drugs; Tom & Vivian Do Paris; and Grandpa Charles
Today is Friday, June 21, 2024.
It is the 173rd day of the year.
193 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A mysterious tow truck driver aides a mother in need and home affordability hits new lows. Details in HIT LIST.
Protestors target TAYLOR SWIFT’s jet and DAVE PORTNOY is cancer free. More in SHOWBIZ.
PATRICK DEMPSEY is joining the cast of the “Dexter” prequel series. Details in CASTING CALL.
KHLOE signs a podcast deal on X. More in KARDASH.
THE KING will move mountains for grandpa duties. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
If you’re a drug dealer hiding your goods in your car, you’d probably put them somewhere that doesn’t arouse suspicion -- say, an empty Big Gulp, that big pocket on the back of the front seats, or even in a pinch, the glovebox and hope for the best.
Or, if you’re South Carolina’s Cory Bell, you stick your meth inside hand grenades.
Bell was pulled over for a routine traffic stop when the officer smelled marijuana, leading him to search the car. That’s when the cop found 166 grams of meth and a haul of fentanyl pills inside inert hand grenades.
Bell was arrested and has already pleaded guilty on the drug counts. [via WYFF]
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A tow truck driver in the right place at the right time helped a woman who had just delivered her baby on the side of a Pennsylvania highway last weekend.
Andrenna Reid says she felt contractions on Sunday morning. With her husband at work, she scrambled to get her 1-year-old son to a grandparent’s house around 3:00 am then get to the hospital. Even with the exit in sight, she knew she wasn’t going to get there in time.
Reid tells local media she was on the side of the road, in the dark of the early morning, in the full swing of labor.
Somewhere along the way, she heard a knock on her car door and saw a tow truck driver asking if she was okay.
“I was like, ‘Oh no, I just had a baby,” Reid tells local media.
The driver was able to call for help; state troopers and EMTs quickly arrived on the scene and got mom and baby to the hospital. Both are doing well -- but Reid says she never got the tow truck driver’s name. [via 6ABC]
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In the United States, ethics laws govern the kinds of gifts elected officials can give and receive. In Russia and North Korea, not so much.
During his official visit to North Korea this week, VLADIMIR PUTIN gifted KIM JONG JUNIOR a Russian-made Aurus limousine. Junior reportedly fell in love with the model when he visited Russia last year for a summit, and it is a favorite model of Putin’s.
North Korean state media showed photos and videos of the autocrats driving around in the fortified whip.
For his part, Junior gave Putin artwork depicting the Russian leader and a pair of hunting dogs native to North Korea.
Junior gave the same breed of dogs to his South Korean counterpart in 2018, before their diplomatic relations totally froze over. [via CBS News]
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A University of Michigan study of homebuying conditions shows a 40-year low in house affordability.
The researchers’ index of buying conditions hit a score of 27 in May. The lower the number, the worse the score; by contrast, in 2020, the buying condition score was around 140.
The tanking buying conditions coincide with a new record high for median US home sale price, at $393,627.
The last time the index was this low was in the 1980s, with 30-year mortgage rates typically ranging 12-to-19%, well over today’s 7%. [via KobeissiLetter]
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The Overall sisters from Missouri now hold the Guinness World Record for the highest combined age of six living siblings.
Norma Jacob, 101; Lorene Kollmeyer, 98; Maxine Cole, 97; Doris Griffith, 94; Margaret Norton, 90; and Elma Jennings, 88; have a combined age of 571 years, 293 days…and counting.
There is also an Overall brother, though he died in 2003 at age 81. [via People]
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DEATHS
Actor DONALD SUTHERLAND has died.
He passed away Thursday in Miami after a long illness, according to his talent agency and family.
Sutherland is best known for his roles in “Animal House,” “Hunger Games” and “M*A*S*H.”
He was 88.
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BABY NEWS
Actress JENNA DEWAN welcomed her third child, but second with fiance, actor STEVE KAZEE.
She announced the arrival Thursday, sharing photos of their newborn daughter, named Rhiannon Lee Kathryn Kazee.
Dewan and Kazee are already parents to son Callum. She is also mom to daughter Everly, whom she shares with her ex -- though still technically her husband -- CHANNING TATUM.
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Country singer KANE BROWN and his wife KAITLYN BROWN recently welcomed their third child, a baby boy.
Krewe Allen arrived this week, joining big sisters 4-year-old Kingsley Rose and 2-year-old Kodi Jane.
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SICK BAY
UPDATE: Actor IAN MCKELLEN will not return for the final three performances of “Player Kings” after falling off the stage on Monday night.
David Semark will replace McKellen, who plays John Falstaff in the play.
McKellen will return to the show for the national tour, which kicks off in two weeks.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 299 points (0.77%) to close at 39,134 on Thursday. The S&P lost 13 points (0.25%) to close at 5,473 and the NASDAQ lost 140 points (0.79%) to close at 17,721.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $82.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.45 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up slightly Thursday, trading just shy of $65,000 in the evening.
🛩 There were more than 2,700 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 120 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $80 million jackpot or a $38.2 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $72 million jackpot or a $34.7 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Avril Lavigne, “Greatest Hits”
Daryl Hall, “D”
Gracie Abrams, “The Secret of Us”
Joni Mitchell, “The Asylum Albums (1976-1980)”
Kehlani, “Crash”
Lauren Watkins, “The Heartbroken Record”
Wild Yaks, “Monumental Deeds”
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To the disappointment of many, the body cam footage from the youngster cop who arrested JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE will not be made public anytime soon.
In response to TMZ’s request for the footage, the local PD said they are unable to release it because of a New York law that states certain records cannot be shared that might interfere with an ongoing investigation.
No word on what exactly the investigation entails, especially as everyone has seen the video of JT blowing through a stop sign and swerving all over the road. Not to mention, his bleary-eyed mugshot. [via TMZ]
MEANWHILE: His wife, actress JESSICA BIEL, is reportedly very disappointed in what happened. No word yet on whether the situation leads to divorce or just the dog house.
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TRAVIS SCOTT was arrested in MIami late Wednesday for disorderly intoxication and trespassing following an argument on a yacht.
According to the arresting officers, Scott got into it with some fellow occupants of the yacht and was asked to leave. He was escorted off, but returned minutes later and was arrested as he tried to reenter the boat.
He allegedly reeked of booze too, hence the disorderly intoxication charge.
Scott wasn’t in the slammer long, however. He posted a $650 bond and was on a private jet out of Miami early Thursday morning. [via Variety]
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TAYLOR SWIFT’s private jet was targeted by a couple of protestors from the British environmental activist group, Just Stop Oil, this week.
The two protestors were hoping to make a big statement toward their mission by spraying Swift’s private plane, which had been parked at the Stansted airport. After realizing the aircraft was gone, the two decided to take out their frustrations on a different pair of private planes, which they then took selfies in front of.
WORTH NOTING: The group is the same one behind the vandalism at Stonehenge earlier this week. [via AP News]
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DAVE PORTNOY revealed this week that he was diagnosed with -- and has beaten -- cancer.
The Barstool Sports founder said he was told he had basal cell carcinoma on his neck during a routine check-up with his doctor.
After undergoing surgery, Portnoy says he is happy to announce he is now cancer free. [via X]
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TOM BRADY will be traveling to Paris for the Olympic Games this summer with his 11-year-old daughter, Vivian.
As for which events they hope to take in, Brady tells People that he and Vivian “love all sports!”
Brady is also dad to 14-year-old son Benjamin and 16-year-old son Jack. He shares the former, and Vivian, with ex-wife GISELE BUNDCHEN and the latter with ex, BRIDGET MOYNAHAN.
No word on why the boys are not also going with him. [via People]
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The late LESLIE JORDAN will be honored with an inaugural Leslie Jordan Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hollywood Museum next week.
The posthumous prize will be presented during a special event marking the opening of the museum’s LGBTQ+ tribute exhibit. It will be accepted by producer and longtime friend Del Shores of the Del Shores Foundation.
Jordan passed away on October 24, 2022. He was 67. [via THR]
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JENNIFER HUDSON is one of 27.
She made the revelation during a recent appearance on the “Your Mama’s Kitchen” podcast, saying she had no idea there were so many siblings until she was a teenager.
“Apparently my dad had 27 children,” she explained, while adding that she is the youngest.
As for her relationship with her siblings, Hudson says that she has not met all of them, though would love to have everyone all in the same room one day. [via Us Weekly]
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CASTING CALL
Two years after leaving “Chicago P.D.,” JESSE LEE SOFFER is joining the cast of “FBI: International.”
His casting comes on the heels of LUKE KLEINTANK’s exit from the show.
Soffer will reportedly not take over Kleintank’s character, Agent Scott Forrester, nor reprise his “Chicago” role as Detective Jay Halstead, but will instead be a new character that is yet to be announced.
Season 4 of “FBI: International” debuts this fall on CBS. [via Deadline]
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PATRICK DEMPSEY has joined the cast of “Dexter: Original Sin.”
He will play Aaron Spencer, the Captain of the Miami Metro Homicide department.
The “Dexter” prequel series stars PATRICK GIBSON as the titular serial killer, who was played by MICHAEL C. HALL in the original show.
The show also stars MOLLY BROWN, JAMES MARTINEZ, CHRISTINA MILIAN, ALEX SHIMIZU, and CHRISTIAN SLATER.
A premiere date has not yet been announced, though production is currently underway. [via Variety]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN signed a deal with X to host her very own podcast.
While details are being kept under wraps, TMZ reports that there are 26 episodes already lined up, with the first to premiere this fall.
The podcast will be part of the platform’s “Originals on X” lineup, so it will air exclusively on X for 24 hours before hitting other platforms. [via TMZ]
No word on a title yet, though “Keeping Up With Khloe” has a nice ring to it.
NOT HER FIRST RODEO: Fans of “KUWTK” will remember that Khloe once attempted her own radio show, alongside sister KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN’s then-boyfriend SCOTT DISICK. The two would sit in a bubble bath -- with swimsuits on -- and chat about a variety of topics.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES is reportedly pushing for an official state visit to the United States so he has an excuse to spend time with his grandchildren.
The monarch reportedly does have some contact through occasional video calls with PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE. Harry genuinely fears for his and his family’s safety in England without formal police security protections, so there’s little chance the whole brood would make it across the pond.
Royal insider Tom Quinn tells The Mirror, “there is no doubt if [the state visit] goes ahead, [Charles] would build in time to visit his youngest son and his grandchildren,” but adds there are “mountains of planning” to be able to arrange such a trip.
BUT WAIT: Quinn also notes that the King does travel without any public announcement. For example, he recently visited Transylvania to check out rental properties owned by the Crown Estate.
So maybe The King will pop over on a quiet private visit. “He is desperate to see them and hates the idea that Archie and Lily will not remember him as the warm friendly grandfather he wants to be,” Quinn says. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Take Your Dog to Work Day
National Smoothie Day
Wagyu Day
World Humanist Day
National Daylight Appreciation Day
National Peaches ‘N’ Cream Day
National Dachshund Day
World Music Day
Make Music Day
World Motorcycle Day
Ugliest Dog Day
World Giraffe Day
National Selfie Day
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ON THIS DATE
1788 - New Hampshire ratifies the US Constitution. As the ninth state to do so, the new legal framework for the new country comes into effect.
The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, providing for a stronger central government among the states.
The hesitations to approve the document were primarily over the guarantee of fundamental liberties -- these came to light in the Bill of Rights, passed shortly after the approval of the Constitution.
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1893 - The first Ferris Wheel opens.
It was located in Chicago, for America's first world's fair. The inventor was George Washington Ferris, who made a career of designing bridges. He wanted to debut something greater than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
At its highest, the Ferris wheel cars reached 264 feet.
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1948 - The first stored-program computer executes its first program.
The program took 52 minutes to run and performed 3.5 million calculations to determine the highest proper factor of 2-to-the-18th power. What made this unique was that computers would previously have to be re-wired each time they processed a new program.
The hardware was a computer called the Small-Scale Experimental Machine.
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1982 - The man who shot Ronald Reagan is ruled not guilty by reason of insanity.
John Hinckley was convinced that actress Jodie Foster spoke to him in her role in the movie “Taxi Driver.” His defense lawyers successfully argued that the movie's plot was the motivation for him to shoot the president, not his own motives.
He was institutionalized instead of headed to prison.
On the day Hinckley shot Reagan, three others were also wounded, including Press Secretary James Brady.
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2004 - The first civilian pilot makes his way into space.
SpaceShipOne was piloted by Mike Melville, and financed by tech gazillionaire Paul Allen.
The spacecraft was first launched to 46,000 feet by a special souped-up airplane, then separated and blasted into sub-orbit.
The total flight took 90 minutes and landed safely.
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2020 - Kurt Cobain’s guitar sells for a record $6 million.
The instrument was the one he played during Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged show.
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2020 - The WHO records a new record number of daily cases of COVID-19 with 183,020.
The majority of the cases are from North and South America.
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BIRTHDAYS
Natalie Alyn Lind - actress, “The Gifted” & “The Goldbergs” - 25
Rebecca Black - pop singer - 27
Scottie Scheffler - golfer - 28
Tyler Childers - country singer - 33
Lana Del Rey - pop singer - 39
Edward Snowden - NSA contractor who leaked classified info - 41
Jussie Smollett - actor, “Empire” - 41
Prince William - heir to the throne - 42
Brandon Flowers - rock singer, The Killers - 43
Chris Pratt - actor, “Guardians of the Galaxy” & “Jurassic World” - 45
Michael Bowen - actor, “Valley Girl” - 71
Joey Kramer - drummer, Aerosmith - 74
Bernie Kopell - actor, “Love Boat” - 91
Born On This Date
Judy Holliday - actress, “Adam’s Rib” - 1921 (d. 1965)
Jane Russell - actress, “The Outlaw” - 1921 (d. 2011)
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