Today is Friday, June 28, 2024.
It is the 180th day of the year.
186 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
NEXT WEEK: There will be a scaled-back and condensed newsletter Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for the Independence Day holiday.
On Thursday we will send a special Independence Day edition with premium subscriber bonus content.
There will be no newsletter Friday, July 5.
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WHAT’S ON TAP
The end is near for the International Space Station and a popular pharmacy chain announces major cutbacks. Details in HIT LIST.
MATT DAMON has concerns about BEN AFFLECK’s sobriety and some CLINT EASTWOOD memorabilia is up for grabs. More in SHOWBIZ.
SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR is the latest to join the cast of the new “Dexter” prequel. Details in CASTING CALL
KIM goes neutral in Malibu. More in KARDASH.
Is PRINCESS KATE’s next major public event in the works? Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
As the International Space Station nears the end of its decades-long mission, NASA has awarded SPACEX the contract to build the spacecraft that will bring it out of orbit in the next few years.
No end date for the controlled burn into the atmosphere has been identified, but it’s expected to be completed before 2030. [via Associated Press]
MEANWHILE: The space exploration company founded by ELON MUSK is preparing a tender offer at $112 a share, putting its value north of $210 BILLION. [via Marketwatch]
MEANWHILE, IN SPACE: Asteroid 2024 MK is set to zoom past Earth on June 29 (tomorrow).
The space rock, measuring 492 feet across, will pass closer to the Earth than the Moon at a speed of 5.82 miles/s (about 27 times the speed of sound).
The fly-by comes less than 48 hours after another asteroid, named 2011 UL21, cruised by at 16.1 miles/s (about 75.5 times the speed of sound). That one was approximately 7,600-feet-long (about the size of Mount Everest). [via Smithsonian]
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During a conference call on Thursday, WALGREENS CEO Tim Wentworth announced plans to close a significant number of the chain’s underperforming locations.
Of the 8,500 locations, one in four isn’t hitting its targets, but no official word yet how many of those will get shuttered.
On an ominous note, Wentworth said, “the current pharmacy model is unstable.”
Many of the employees at the closed stores are expected to be reassigned to other jobs.
WORTH NOTING: Walgreen’s has an internal minimum wage of $15 per hour. [via ABC News]
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HAITI UPDATE: Police forces from Kenya arrived in Haiti this week to help stabilize the embattled capital of Port au Prince, where gang violence has run rampant in recent weeks.
So far, the troops have held meetings with officials and have not yet deployed to the streets.
In the coming weeks, similar police forces from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica are expected to arrive. In total, the coalition will be an estimated 2,500 strong to take control of the situation. [via Associated Press]
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YOLO: Amid reports of a gangbuster summer travel season, a recent spate of surveys by financial institutions show Millennials and Gen Zers are actively taking on debt to finance their adventures.
Nearly half of millennials said they’re willing to go into debt to travel, at 47%, while 42% of Gen Z said the same. By contrast, Gen X and Boomers are more conservative in their travel spending, with only 31% and 22% willing to take on debt for leisure travel, respectively. [via Business Insider]
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A 100-foot-wide sinkhole spontaneously opened at a public park in Alton, Illinois on Wednesday, taking down a light pole -- and it was all captured by security cameras.
Officials say the incident resulted from a mine collapse deep underground and blames a company called New Frontier Materials. A rep for the mining outfit tells local media, “The impacted area has been secured and will remain off limits for the foreseeable future while inspectors and experts examine the mine and conduct repairs.”
In the meantime the park will remain closed during an investigation. [via NBC News]
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DEATHS
Country singer KINKY FRIEDMAN has died.
His passing was announced in a post on X yesterday, telling fans he “stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends,” after a battle with Parkinson’s.
Friedman is best known for his hits “Sold American” & “Honky Town Heroes.”
He was 79.
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BABY NEWS
BILL and MELINDA GATES’ eldest daughter, JENNIFER, is expecting her second child with husband NAYEL NASSAR.
She’s 29 and he’s 33.
The couple are already parents to 1-year-old daughter Leila.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW ticked up 36 points (0.09%) to close at 39,164 on Thursday. The S&P increased 4 points (0.09%) to close at 5,482 and the NASDAQ added 53 points (0.3%) to close at 17,858.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $81; BRENT CRUDE at $83.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.50 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN was up a point-and-change, trading around $61,400.
🛩 There were more than 4,875 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 345 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $116 million jackpot or a $55.4 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $113 million jackpot or a $54.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Anvil, “One and Only”
Camila Cabello, “C, XOXO”
Imagine Dragons, “LOOM”
Liana Flores, “Flower of the Soul”
Lupe Fiasco, “Samurai”
Neil Young + Crazy Horse, “Early Daze”
Still Woozy, “Loveseat”
The Warning, “Keep Me Fed”
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Insiders say MATT DAMON is trying to keep BEN AFFLECK on the straight and narrow amid rumors his marriage to JENNIFER LOPEZ is on the rocks.
As a former alcoholic, Affleck has many of his friends on their toes as he navigates the press, paparazzi and his own inner demons, the source added.
MEANWHILE: JLo is back home from her Italian getaway. [via Daily Mail]
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FOLLOW UP: It turns out TRAVIS SCOTT’s arrest in Miami could have been avoided had he not forgotten some personal items on the yacht he was escorted off.
Remember, the rapper was asked to leave after getting into a heated argument with some fellow passengers. He then later returned, at which point he was arrested for disorderly intoxication and trespass.
As for what happens next, a Miami Beach Police spokesperson says they are going to let the judicial process take its course. [via TMZ]
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POST MALONE is in his country music era.
After collaborating with MORGAN WALLEN and BLAKE SHELTON, Posty shared a clip of a new track featuring CHRIS STAPLETON.
No word on a title, but the song will appear on Posty’s debut country album, “F-1 Trillion,” which is due out August 16. [via Billboard]
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Diamond Estate Services is selling off a slew of movie memorabilia from the first home CLINT EASTWOOD owned in Los Angeles.
Included in the sale are cowboy boots and belt buckles from his western films, as well as framed movie set photos, vintage movie posters, director’s chairs, a massive vinyl collection and some arcade games.
Eastwood sold the place in 1983 to his friend, Eastwood Films producer, Fritz Manes, who lived there until his death in 2011. Manes’ wife stayed in the home until her death a few months ago. According to Diamond Estate Services, the house looks as it did when Eastwood sold it.
No word on why the famed director-actor didn’t want to reclaim the items for himself. [via TMZ]
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NEIL YOUNG announced that the CRAZY HORSE “Love Earth Tour” has been called off.
The cancellation comes amid an unknown illness that has plagued several of the band members.
He noted that the band will try to reschedule some of the missed dates when they are “ready to rock again.” [via People]
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Actor RYAN O’NEAL was allegedly investigated for elder abuse after allegedly ordering a doctor to end the life of his longtime love FARRAH FAWCETT, during her terminal battle with cancer, despite not having the legal right to do so.
According to Fawcett’s longtime friend Craig Nevius, O’Neal allegedly told her oncologist, “It’s time for her to go. She’s been an international beauty and would not want to be seen like this by anyone.”
Nevius details the whole ordeal in his soon-to-be finished book, “Fallen Angel: The Taking of Farrah Fawcett.”
WORTH NOTING: Nevius also writes about how everyone around Fawcett knew she was terminal, but her doctors in Germany allegedly made a pact to “keep [the] horrible secret from her.” She passed away June 25, 2009 at age 62. [via Radar Online]
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CASTING CALL
This week on “The View” JOY BEHAR said that she will one day be with a woman -- sexually.
The topic came about when comedian SANDRA BERNHARD asked Behar if she had “ever gotten it on with a lady.”
“No, but someday I will,” she replied, to which Bernhard advised the 81-year-old, “You better hurry up, Joy!” [via Daily Mail]
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SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR is joining the cast of “Dexter: Original Sin.”
She will play Tanya Martin, the CSI chief at the Miami Metro Police Department, who is also Dexter’s new boss at a forensics internship.
The new series follows Dexter, played by PATRICK GIBSON, as he evolves into a serial killer. In the original, the titular character was played by MICHAEL C. HALL. [via Deadline]
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LISA KUDROW is rewatching “Friends” to “celebrate” her late friend and co-star MATTEW PERRY.
“If I make it about Matthew, then that’s OK,” she told The Hollywood Reporter after admitting that she wouldn’t watch the show in the past because it's “too embarrassing to watch yourself.” [via THR]
SPEAKING OF PERRY: Rumors are swirling that CHARLIE SHEEN’s ex-wife BROOKE MUELLER has been questioned several times in connection to Perry’s death. The two reportedly “met in rehab and formed an unexpected friendship.” [via Marca]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Renovations on the $70 million Malibu mansion KIM KARDASHIAN scooped up two years ago are finally finished.
The place previously gave off a Mediterranean-vibe, which Kim replaced with her signature neutral-style.
Prior to Kim, the home was owned by “Yellowstone” actress BARRET SWATEK, who bought it from CINDY CRAWFORD and her husband RANDY GERBER. [via The Mirror]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Following PRINCESS KATE’s first official public event at the Trooping of the Colour, organizers at Wimbledon are hopeful she’ll be healthy enough to hand out trophies later this year.
The head of the All England Club says they want to give her “as much flexibility as possible” to work in attending the event with her cancer treatment and recovery. Kate’s been a patron of the organization since 2016, has handed out trophies every year since, and is a competitive tennis player herself.
Matches conclude in mid-July, so there’s time to iron out the details -- but so far no official word from Kensington Palace either way. [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Dream Big Day
National Insurance Awareness Day
National Paul Bunyan Day
National Logistics Day
National Cream Tea 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
Bradley Beal - basketball player - 31
Kellie Pickler - country singer - 38
Savage - rapper - 43
Rob Dyrdek - skateboarder - 50
Aileen Quinn - actress, “Annie” - 53
Elon Musk - engineer, entrepreneur & billionaire - 53
Tichina Arnold - actress, “Martin” & “Everybody Hates Chris” - 55
John Cusack - actor, “Sixteen Candles” & “Say Anything” - 58
John Elway - football player - 64
Kathy Bates - actress, “Titanic” & “The Blind Side” - 76
Mel Brooks - actor, “Blazing Saddles” & “Young Frankenstein” - 98
Born On This Date
Pat Morita - actor, “Karate Kid” - 1932 (d. 2005)
Henry VIII of England - King, separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church - 1491 (d. 1547)
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