Today is Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
It is the 179th day of the year.
186 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
As attorneys for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED exhaust their options, his trial for October 2 moves forward and an aggressive cow tours a college campus. More in HIT LIST.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE clears the air on her involvement in LIAM HEMSWORTH and MILEY CYRUS’ split and HARRISON FORD thanks TOM SELLECK for the role of Indiana Jones. More in SHOWBIZ.
RYAN SEACREST will take over PAT SAJAK’s hosting gig on “Wheel of Fortune” and filming on a new season of “Vanderpump Rules” is now underway. More in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN opens up about having to testify in a murder trial when she was only 14-years-old. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE are keeping their deal with NETFLIX – for now. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The new management at FTX has identified a specific amount owed to customers: $8.7 BILLION.
GOOD NEWS: So far, about $7 BILLION of those assets have been recovered, and more should be on the way. [via Coindesk]
BETTER NEWS: The judge overseeing the criminal charges against FTX founder SAM BANKMAN-FRIED has rejected a last-ditch effort to toss any of the criminal charges levied against him. That means a trial will likely begin on October 2. [via New York Post]
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A new study of 57,000-year-old cave inscriptions found in France suggest it’s the oldest example of Neanderthal drawings ever found.
The cave itself was discovered in the 1800s, but has only recently been analyzed to identify just how old the discovery might be. Early explorers of the space found stone tools and remains of animals like bison, horses, and deer.
The chalk-like cave walls made it easy for its inhabitants to draw with just their fingers.
Researchers acknowledge that they have no way yet to understand what the drawings and inscriptions might represent. [via Smithsonian Magazine]
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Chicago had the worst air quality for a major city in the world on Tuesday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed much of the Midwest; it was joined by Minneapolis and Detroit in the top 10 – alongside cities like Delhi, India and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Wisconsin’s DNR put an air quality advisory in place through Wednesday.
The Air Quality Index exceeded 200 in these cities, including Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Any score over 100 is considered unhealthy. [via Yahoo News]
WORTH NOTING: Official CDC guidance says that cloth masks aren’t useful to filter out the smoke particles.
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If you’re planning a summer getaway, maybe avoid Panama City Beach, Florida.
According to the National Weather Service, the coastal area has recorded seven deaths in the past nine days, making it the deadliest beach in America for 2023.
As the death toll rises, police in the area are warning tourists about the dangers of rip currents.
Deaths caused by rip currents have risen in recent years with a high of 113 in 2021, according to the NWS. There have already been 60 surf zone fatalities recorded nationwide so far this year. [via USA Today]
INFO TO KNOW: Rip currents are channelized currents of water that flow away from the shore. They can cause issues for even the strongest of swimmers, pushing them further and further out to sea. If you’re ever caught in a rip current, don’t swim against it, instead swim parallel to the shore or towards the breaking waves. If you're unable to do so then float with the current or tread water while signaling for help. [via Ocean Today]
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Students at Kutztown University received a peculiar -- yet concerning -- alert on their phones Sunday, warning them of an “aggressive cow” on campus.
“All should stay away from [the] cow. The animal is not safe to approach,” the alert read.
Officers chasing the cow noted that the animal seemed “disoriented” and “unfamiliar” with the area.
No word on whether or not the cow was caught or if it simply moo-ved on. [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
Actor JULIAN SANDS has died.
After going missing five months ago, his body was found and identified on Mt Baldy in California, where he was last known to be hiking. A cause of death has not yet been determined.
Sands is best known for his roles in “Warlock: The Armageddon” and “Arachnophobia.”
He was 65.
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Actor NICOLAS COSTER has died.
He passed away Monday night in a Florida hospital, according to a statement from his daughter.
Coster is best known for his roles on “Santa Barbara,” “All My Children” and “Another World.”
He was 89.
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Actor LEW PALTER has died.
He passed away in May after a battle with lung cancer, according to a recent statement from his daughter.
Palter is best known for his role as Isidor Straus in 1997’s “Titanic.” He also appeared in “Columbo,” “Kojak” and “Hill Street Blues.”
He was 94
WORTH NOTING: The real Isidor Straus, co-owner of Macy’s, died alongside his wife Ida, on the Titanic. He is the great-great-grandfather of Wendy Rush, who is married to Stockton Rush, who recently died on the OceanGate submersible.
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JACK and TERRY JANWAY, in-laws of NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON, have died.
According to Muskogee Police (that’s in Oklahoma) the couple were found Monday night after someone called 911 about a person with a gun. Their is death is being investigated as a murder-suicide. Officers believe Terry is the suspect, though a motive remains unknown.
An 11-year-old boy, believed to be Jimmie’s nephew, was also found dead in the home.
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Hockey player ALEX GRAHAM has died.
He passed away over the weekend, according to a statement from his team, the Sheffield Steelers. No other details were shared.
Graham had only recently signed his first professional contract with the team.
He was only 20.
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WEDDINGS
FRANKIE VALLI has tied the knot for the fourth time.
The FOUR SEASONS frontman said “I do” to former CBS marketing executive JACKIE JACOBS in Las Vegas on Monday.
He is 89 and she is 60.
Valli was married to Mary Delgado from 1958 to 1971, and then in 1974 he married MaryAnn Hannigan, but they split in 1982. In 1984 he tied the knot with Randy Clohessy, but they divorced in 2004. Valli welcomed two daughters and three sons in those marriages.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 212 points (0.63%) to close at 33,926 on Tuesday. The S&P added 49 points (1.51%) to close at 4,378 and the NASDAQ added 219 points (1.65%) to close at 13,555.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $68; BRENT CRUDE at $72.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.57 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN was up over 1%, trading over $30,600.
🛩 There were more than 5,300 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 1,640 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $462 million jackpot or a $242 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
Actor BRIAN KEMP revealed that he turned down a ride on OceanGate’s Titan last year due to several safety concerns.
The 58-year-old told The Guardian that he wanted to make a documentary in honor of the Titanic’s 110th anniversary, but was advised against making the journey by Atlantic Productions who shared their own set of concerns. [via People]
WORTH NOTING: In 2020, Atlantic Productions made a documentary about the Titanic, using footage obtained during a deep sea exploration in a two-man submersible vessel, led by explorer VICTOR VESCOVO. After last week’s Titan tragedy, Vescovo told People Magazine that he had warned Titan passengers HAMISH HARDING and PAUL-HENRI NARGEOLET about the “dangers of OceanGate.” [via People]
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LEONARD FOURNETTE is lucky to be alive after his Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat burst into flames while driving down the interstate in Tampa Bay.
Florida Highway Patrol told TMZ that the fire was due to a mechanical issue and not a crash.
The former Buccaneers running back shared a video of the front end of his whip burnt to a crisp on social media. [via TMZ]
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“Hunger Games” star JENNIFER LAWRENCE says she had nothing to do with LIAM HEMSWORTH and MILEY CYRUS’ split.
On a recent episode of “Watch What Happens Live,” Lawrence said the speculation that Hemsworth cheated on Cyrus with her was “not true,” calling it a “total rumor.”
The speculation ramped up after Cyrus released her hit song “Flowers,” in which she wore a gold dress that resembled the one worn by Lawrence at the Oscars.
Cyrus and Hemsworth tied the knot in 2018 and filed for divorce a year later. [via Page Six]
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As HARRISON FORD says good-bye to his decades-long run as Indiana Jones, he is making sure to give credit where credit is due.
While appearing alongside his “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” co-stars on a panel at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, Ford shared how he only got the job after TOM SELLECK was forced to drop out of 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
“Tom Selleck had the job, but he also incurred an obligation to do a television series and he was unable to get out of that contract. I became the second choice, and I’m very grateful for Tom. Thank you, Tom, man. If you’re listening, thank you again,” Ford said.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” hits theaters on Friday. [via Deadline]
BY THE WAY: The series that Selleck was forced to drop out for was “Magnum P.I.”
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PINK was mortified during her recent show in London when a fan tossed a ziplock bag of their mother’s ashes onto the stage.
“Is this your mom?” Pink asked while picking up the baggy, before adding, “I don’t know how I feel about this.”
After a few seconds, she set it back down and carried on with her show.
No word on who threw the ashes or why. [via TMZ]
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DRAKE was given a key to Memphis this week.
Even though he raps about the city in several of his songs, and his dad is from there, some were confused about why the Toronto-born rapper received the honor.
“Every Memphis Rapper Right Now 😭,” one person wrote, while another suggested that Drake doesn’t actually care about the city after canceling his show that was scheduled for this week. [via UPROXX]
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LEWIS CAPALDI has decided to take a step back from his tour as he focuses on his health.
The news comes after his performance at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK over the weekend during which Capaldi had to step away from the mic as he struggled with tics due to Tourette syndrome.
No word on when he will return to performing. His fans have responded with nothing but love and support of his decision. [via AP News]
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Film Stars KEVIN FEIGE, GAL GADOT, MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, CHRIS MELEDANDRI, CHRIS PINE, CHRISTINA RICCI and MICHELLE YEOH will receive their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024.
“Black Panther” star CHADWICK BOSEMAN will be honored posthumously with a star. He died of colon cancer in 2020.
TV stars getting their stars include KEN JEONG, EUGENE LEVY, MARIO LOPEZ, JIM NANTZ, SHERYL LEE RALPH, MICHAEL SCHUR, KERRY WASHINGTON, RAUL DE MOLINA and LILI ESTEFAN.
Musicians being added to the walkway are: GLEN BALLARD, TONI BRAXTON, DEF LEPPARD, CHARLES FOX, SAMMY HAGAR, BRANDY NORWOOD, DARIUS RUCKER, GWEN STEFANI and ANDRE “Dr. Dre” YOUNG.
Selections are made by a committee made up of fellow Walk of Famers. [via People]
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CASTING CALL
RYAN SEACREST has been named PAT SAJAK’s successor as host of “Wheel of Fortune.”
The “American Idol” host made the announcement Tuesday, saying he’s “truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak.”
Seacrest also stated that he is looking forward to working with “the great Vanna White,” who, as reported yesterday, is currently in contract negotiations. [via UPI]
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As producers start filming a new season of “Vanderpump Rules,” insiders say that RAQUEL LEVISS may no longer be part of the show.
According to TMZ, she is having second thoughts about returning after her involvement in “Scandoval.”
The rest of the cast is coming back, including TOM SANDOVAL and ARIANA MADIX.
Remember, Sandoval and Leviss had a months-long affair that was revealed in March. Madix, who had spent the last decade with Sandoval was completely blindsided and devastated by the betrayal. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN opened up in a recent interview with Vogue Italia about what it was like sitting through her boyfriend’s mother’s murder trial at only 14-years-old.
The trial took place in 1998, when Kim was dating TJ JACKSON, the nephew of MICHAEL JACKSON.
Four years prior, TJ’s mom, DELORES “Dee Dee” MARTES JACKSON was found dead in her boyfriend DONALD BOHANA’s pool. Kim had been close with Dee Dee, as the Kardashian and Jackson families were friends.
Kim said that not only was she there daily to support her boyfriend, but also had to testify, calling the whole experience “insane.”
Bohana was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life. He was released on parole last December. [via Vogue Italia]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
NETFLIX has put to rest the buzz that the deal with PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE is in jeopardy.
A rep for the streamer told People Magazine they “value our partnership with Archewell Productions” and noted that the “Harry & Meghan” documentary was the biggest debut ever on the platform.
The “Heart of Invictus” documentary about athletes participating in the Invictus Games that Harry created is due out in January. [via People]
MEANWHILE: Harry’s lawyers are expected to wrap up closing statements today in his lawsuit that accuses the Mirror Group of hacking his phone.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Paul Bunyan Day
National Insurance Logistics Day
National Ceviche Day
International Body Piercing Day
Happy Heart Hugs Day
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ON THIS DATE
1776 - The final draft of the Declaration of Independence is submitted to Continental Congress.
Less than a week later, Congress would proclaim independence from Great Britain.
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1838 - Queen Victoria is crowned at Westminster Abbey.
Her coronation takes place a year after she succeeded William IV to the British throne at age 18.
The day is remembered for the procession from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey, with about 400,000 spectators lining the streets.
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1950 - The Korean War begins in earnest, when the communist North rolls into the free south.
With the rise of communism after the end of World War II, the US was quick to defend the South.
But as the American military stormed the small Asian peninsula, the communist Chinese also supported the North.
After three years of fighting, the war would end in a stalemate, with both countries just as divided as ever. Politically speaking, North Korea remains at war with the South.
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1982 - The name of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s first born is revealed.
A week after the birth of their son, the couple share that they have chosen the name William.
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2015 - Escaped convict David Sweat is shot and captured near the Canadian border.
He is one of two prisoners who broke out of the maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6.
The other man, Richard Matt, was shot and killed by authorities three days prior.
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2018 - Lone gunman Jarrod Ramos shows up at the offices of Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland.
He shot and killed five employees. Two others were injured while trying to escape. Ramos was arrested shortly after the shooting began.
He would receive more than five life sentences without the possibility of parole in 2021.
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2020 - The global death toll from COVID-19 passes 500,000.
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BIRTHDAYS
Shakur Stevenson - boxer - 26
Bradley Beal - basketball player - 30
Kevin De Bruyne - soccer player - 32
Kellie Pickler - country singer - 37
Savage - rapper - 42
Felicia Day - actress, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” & “Monk” - 44
Rob Dyrdek - skateboarder & reality star, “Ridiculousness” - 49
Aileen Quinn - actress, “Annie” - 52
Elon Musk - entrepreneur, Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter - 52
Tichina Arnold - actress, “Martin” & “Everybody Hates Chris” - 54
John Cusack - actor, “Say Anything” & “Con Air” - 57
John Elway - football player - 63
Kathy Bates - actress, “The Blind Side” & “Titanic” - 75
Mel Brooks - director, “Blazing Saddles” & “Young Frankenstein” - 97
Born On This Date
Pat Morita - actor, “Karate Kid” films - 1932 (d. 2005)
Henry VIII of England - King (1509-1547) - 1491 (d. 1547)
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