Today is Thursday, June 29, 2023.
It is the 180th day of the year.
185 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An Amazon-backed startup is conducting public tests of driverless vehicles in Vegas and the great Ketchup debate has been solved (sort of). More in HIT LIST.
PETE DAVIDSON is in rehab to deal with some mental health struggles and SIMONE BILES is returning to the world of competitive gymnastics. More in SHOWBIZ.
JAMES GUNN has finally found his Superman and “Vanderpump Rules” is getting a spinoff. More in CASTING CALL.
A new BBC documentary shines light on YE’s antisemitic ways. More in KARDASH.
The Sussexes think your annoyance with their antics is mean. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
A company owned by AMAZON called ZOOX has begun testing a driverless taxi service in Las Vegas.
The vehicles couldn’t be driven by a person even if you wanted to: they have no steering wheels or pedals – but during testing, employees are on board and have control to intervene.
Reuters reports that Zoox has added about 300 employees so far this year, expanding its headcount to around 2,200.
The autonomous cars top out around 35 miles per hour. So far they’re staying off the busy Las Vegas strip. [via Reuters]
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A teenage hoodlum in Minnesota has been charged with misdemeanor assault, after he allegedly entered a restaurant and began throwing Skittles candies at people.
The 19-year-old, Tristan Stetina, was easily identified by face tattoos, and was familiar to police.
He was arrested shortly after leaving the restaurant, though it took three officers to get him in cuffs due to his noncompliance, which added another charge to the case. [via TSG]
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America’s fastest growing sport -- Pickleball -- will be responsible for $250 million to $500 million worth of medical costs this year, based on analytics from a 2021 medical study.
According to the NIH study, between 2010 and 2019, 86% of emergency room visits from pickleball injuries were in people over the age of 60. Of those, 60% were sprains, strains and fractures, while 20% were contusions, abrasions, internal injuries and 10% were lacerations or dislocations.
Based on analytics from that study, it is estimated that there will be around 67,000 ER visits, 366,000 outpatient visits and 9,000 outpatient surgeries related to pickleball injuries this year.
Pickleball interest has surged since the pandemic. In 2019 there were about 3.5 million players. That jumped to 8.9 million in 2022. This year the number of players is expected to reach 22 million, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.
WORTH NOTING: Seniors make up one-third of pickleball’s “core players” meaning those who “play at least eight times a year.” [via Business Insider, NIH]
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The typically clear blue water surrounding the city of Nago on the island of Okinawa turned deep red this week after a beer factory sprung a leak.
At first residents were alarmed to find the “venomous” colored water, but were soon relieved to learn it was just food coloring.
Orion Breweries, who owns the plant, said the water used for cooling called propylene glycol, dyed with food coloring, leaked into the nearby waters, turning it the startling red color. It is believed that that cooling water “seeped through rainwater gutters into a river, and consequently turned the ocean red,” according to a statement from the company.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, propylene glycol is “generally recognized as safe,” so the leak should have no major impact on the environment. [via Bloomberg, ATSDR]
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HEINZ has finally settled the long-standing debate of where to store your bottle of ketchup.
The official Heinz UK Twitter account posted this week: “FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. fridge!!!”
In response, Twitter user @dave_n84 asked, “So why is it on the shelves in supermarkets & shops then?” To which Heinz replied, “Where do you keep your soft drinks, Dave?”
Heinz also posted a poll, asking followers if they keep the condiment in the fridge or in a cupboard. The more than 2,500 votes were nearly split down the middle. [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
Former New England Patriots QB RYAN MALLETT has died.
He passed away Tuesday of an apparent drowning in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Mallett was with a group of people who were struggling to make their way back to shore from a sandbar when he went under. Despite life-saving measures he was pronounced dead at a hospital in Destin, Florida.
He was only 35.
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Bluegrass musician BOBBY OSBORNE has died.
He passed away Tuesday, according to a statement from the Hazard Community and Technical College in Kentucky, where he worked. No other details about his passing were shared.
Bobby, along with his brother SONNY OSBORNE, made up THE OSBORNE BROTHERS. Their version of “Rocky Top” became an official state song of Tennessee.
He was 91.
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BABY NEWS
CHRISSY TEIGEN and JOHN LEGEND shocked the world when they introduced their fourth child, a little boy born via surrogate.
Teigen broke the news yesterday, posting a photo of the newborn, named Wren Alexander Stephens, who arrived on June 19.
The couple are already parents to daughters Luna and Esti and son Miles.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Former PUSSYCAT DOLLS singer NICOLE SCHERZINGER is engaged to former rugby player and musician THOM EVANS.
The pair met in 2019 on a celebrity edition of the “X Factor” when Evans appeared as a contestant and Scherzinger was a judge.
She’s 44 and he is 38.
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Actor SCOTT SPEEDMAN is engaged to Julliet Swimwear founder LINDSAY RAE HOFFMAN.
The pair have been dating since 2017 and are parents to one-year-old daughter Pfeiffer Lucia Speedman.
He’s 47 and she will turn 32 on July 5.
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SICK BAY
MADONNA was in the ICU over the weekend after suffering a bacterial infection.
Her manager shared an update Wednesday, telling concerned fans that Madge is “improving” but still “under medical care.” She is also reportedly out of the ICU expected to make a full recovery.
The health scare has put a pause on Madonna’s “Celebration” tour, which was scheduled to kick off on July 15.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 73 points (0.22%) to close at 33,853 on Wednesday. The S&P lost 1 point (0.034%) to close at 4,376 and the NASDAQ added 36 points (0.27%) to close at 13,591.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $69; BRENT CRUDE at $73.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.55 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN slid on Wednesday, trading around $30,100.
🛩 There were more than 4,100 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday, and 860 such cancellations, as hazy conditions spurred by the Canadian wildfires affected air travel in Midwest and Northeastern states..
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $368 million jackpot or a $193.4 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
PETE DAVIDSON is in rehab to deal with some mental health struggles.
The comedian, who suffers from borderline personality disorder and PTSD, periodically checks himself into rehab centers to help work through his issues, insiders told TMZ.
His girlfriend, actress CHASE SUI WONDERS, is said to be “rallying behind him.”
No word on if a particular event was triggering or if Davidson simply felt like he needed to take a break. [via TMZ]
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Gifting PINK unique items during her concerts seems to be a trend.
After being tossed a bag of someone’s ashes this week, another fan passed the singer a large wheel of cheese.
While chatting with concertgoers at her recent show at Hyde Park in London, a fan motioned to Pink, who was spotted on video bending down and accepting a circle of Brie de Meux, which she hugged to her chest while mouthing, “I love you” to the fan. [via Billboard]
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Actor JOHN BOYEGA gave an update on JAMIE FOXX this week, telling People Magazine that he is “doing well.”
“He finally picked up the phone. Thank you, bro,” Boyega said. “He’s doing well. And then, you know, we [are] just giving him the privacy, and we can’t wait for his return.”
Producer DATARI TURNER echoed Boyega’s comment, telling the outlet that Foxx is “doing amazing.”
Boyega and Foxx starred together in “They Cloned Tyrone,” which Turner co-produced. [via People]
There have been many positive updates from those close to the actor over the past few weeks, but still no details about what exactly happened in April that caused Foxx to end up in the hospital.
Stay tuned…
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The Buffalo Bills training staff will be honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at this year’s ESPY Awards for saving DAMAR HAMLIN after he suffered cardiac arrest on the football field.
“These professionals didn’t waste a moment before jumping into action for one of the most frightening scenarios they could have prepared for -- on the world’s stage no less,” Marie Tillman Shenton, co-founder of the Pat Tillman Foundation, stated.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service is given annually to an individual or group that has served others, just like the former NFL player it’s named for, who enlisted in the Army after the September 11th attacks. Tillman fought and served in Afghanistan, where he lost his life in April 2004.
The 2023 ESPYs will air live on July 12 on ABC. [via People]
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SIMONE BILES is making a return to competitive gymnastics at the US Classic in Chicago this August.
The event is her first competition since the 2020 Olympic Games. It also comes about a year ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Biles, a seven-time Olympic medalist, has not yet announced if she will be competing at the Paris Games.
Many may recall that Biles took some time off after the Tokyo Games to focus on her mental health. She was struggling so much at the time that she bowed out of multiple events at the Games. During her hiatus from the sport, Biles also got married to Green Bay Packers defensive back JONATHAN OWENS. [via AP News]
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TODD CHRISLEY’s mom, NANNY FAYE, says she is in a “real dark place” as her son serves his 12-year prison sentence.
Speaking to her granddaughter, LINDSIE CHRISLEY, on the latest episode of her “The Southern Tea” podcast, Faye said she believes “everything is done for a reason” and “there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel.”
“We are going to come out bigger and better,” she exclaimed.
Todd’s wife, JULIE CHRISLEY, was sentenced alongside him for tax fraud and is currently serving a seven-year sentence. [via Page Six]
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ELVIS PRESLEY’s stepbrother, DAVID STANLEY, is apologizing for saying that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll died by suicide in the Amazon Prime documentary that was released earlier this year, titled “Elvis’ Women.”
Stanley posted his apology on social media this week, writing that there is “no excuse” for claiming that Presley “couldn’t carry on” due to the guilt he felt from having relationships with minors.
In the documentary, Stanley says, “[Elvis’] taste for young girls, aged 15 or 16, made me sick. I told him that it’s a miracle he didn’t get busted. He got away with things most people didn’t, because of his money, fortune, fame and power, charisma and magnetism.”
“He premeditated taking the medications that killed him. Love, hurt, pain, exposure -- he just couldn’t take it anymore,” Stanley later claimed.
Presley died of a heart attack caused by a drug overdose in August 1977. He was 42. [via Entertainment Weekly]
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CASTING CALL
DAVID CORENSWET has been tapped to play Superman in JAMES GUNN’s upcoming “Superman: Legacy.” Lois Lane will be played by “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” actress RACHEL BROSNAHAN.
The casting news was confirmed by Gunn, who tweeted, “Accurate! (They are not only both actors, but also wonderful people).”
Superman was most recently played by HENRY CAVILL, who revealed last December that he would no longer be the DC superhero.
“Superman: Legacy” is scheduled to hit theaters in July 2025. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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Bravo is working on a “Vanderpump Rules” spinoff, featuring former cast members.
According to Deadline, the new series will follow former “Vanderpump” stars JAX TAYLOR and his wife BRITTANY CARTWRIGHT, who have traded “bottle service for baby bottles.” KRISTEN DOUTE, who starred alongside Taylor and Cartwright, will also appear in the spinoff.
The news comes as cameras started rolling on Season 11 of “Vanderpump Rules,” which will continue to capture the fallout from “Scandoval.” [via Deadline]
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“Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” star EVAN PETERS will star opposite JARED LETO in Disney’s “Tron: Ares.”
Details of Peters’ role were not shared, though it has been revealed that Leto will play Ares.
The first “Tron” flick, starring JEFF BRIDGES, was released in 1982, followed by a sequel -- “Tron: Legacy” -- in 2010, starring GARRETT HEDLUND, OLIVIA WILDE and Bridges.
Years ago it was rumored that a third film, starring Hedlund, Wilde and Bridges was in the works, though those plans were ultimately scrapped, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Tron: Ares” is expected to take a different direction than the previous films which were set in the world of computers. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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COURT CASES
KEVIN SPACEY’s sexual assault trial kicked off yesterday in London.
The actor faces charges of sexual assault, indecent assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. He has pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges.
The trial is expected to last four weeks. [via CBS News]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE’s former business partner ALEX KLEIN has accused the rapper of making more antisemitic comments.
Detailing the incident in BBC’s documentary “The Trouble with KanYe,” Klein said the rapper was “angry” after he wanted to dissolve their partnership over previous antisemitic rants the rapper had made. In response, Klein says Ye told him “I feel like I wanna smack you” and “you’re exactly like the other Jews.”
To that Klein asked, “Do you really think Jews are working together to hold you back?” and Ye replied, “Yes, yes I do.”
Last year, Klein told the LA Times that Ye also called him “racist” when he said that “attacking a whole race of people wasn’t good for him.” [via Deadline]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE are, once again, feeling victimized by the public.
Us Weekly reports that the couple thinks there are “people lining up to take cheap shots at them” and “both [Meg] and Harry are sick and tired of it.”
BUT WAIT: The pair are using that chip on their shoulder to keep at it and come back “stronger than ever,” apparently. That includes finding a new home for Meg’s “Archetypes” podcast and continued video projects with Netflix, among whatever else they have up their sleeves. [via Us Weekly]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Handshake Day
National Camera Day
World Industrial Design Day
National Bomb Pop Day
International Mud Day
National Almond Buttercrunch day
National Waffle Iron Day
Hug Holiday
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ON THIS DATE
1613 - A staged cannon blast during a performance of "Henry VIII" at Shakespeare's Globe Theater sets the whole building on fire. It would eventually burn to the ground.
The three-story facility had room for 3,000 guests and was built entirely from lumber, complete with a straw roof -- a prime fire hazard.
By the following summer it was rebuilt.
In 1642, Parliament would issue an order closing all London theaters on the grounds that plays expressed "lascivious Mirth and Levity" in a time that called for general "Repentance, Reconciliation, and Peace with God, which probably may produce outward Peace and Prosperity."
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1929 - The Bird of Paradise plane completes the first flight from mainland California to Hawaii.
The tri-motor Atlantic-Fokker C-2 aircraft was developed for the US Air Corps. It was capable of carrying two tons of crew and cargo 2,500 miles.
The whole trip took 25 hours and 50 minutes, landing at 6:29 am local time in Hawaii, where the crew was greeted by thousands of spectators.
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1958 - Brazil wins its first World Cup soccer title, besting Sweden 5-2.
International star Pele led the team to victory, at only 17 years old.
Brazil would win again in 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
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1995 - The Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with Russia's Mir space station, marking only the second time foreign ships joined in space. The move created the largest man-made satellite in history.
Previously, a Soyuz and Apollo capsule docked in 1975.
American commander Robert Gibson completed the maneuver, just two seconds before the scheduled completion time and using 200 pounds of fuel less than had been anticipated.
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2007 - Apple releases the first-generation iPhone.
While in development under the watchful eye of Steve Jobs, the project, code-named "Project Purple," was initially supposed to create a new type of tablet -- but Jobs redirected the team to work on a phone.
An iPad did eventually come out of the project.
Since then, the various models have sold billions of units worldwide.
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2020 - Golden State Killer and former police officer Joseph DeAngelo Jr pleads guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder and more than 50 rapes, which he committed in the 1970s and ’80s throughout the state of California.
DeAngelo was arrested in 2018, after DNA from a crime scene matched genetic material from a relative registered on a genealogy site.
He would later receive 11 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, another life sentence and an additional eight years.
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BIRTHDAYS
Alexys Nycole Sanchez - actress, “Grown Ups” - 20
Jude Bellingham - soccer player - 20
Michael Porter Jr. - basketball player - 25
Camila Mendes - actress, “Riverdale” - 29
Oliver Tree - rock singer - 30
Kawhi Leonard - basketball player - 32
Colin Jost - comedian - 41
Lily Rabe - actress, “American Horror Story: Asylum” - 41
Nicole Scherzinger - pop singer - 45
Charlamagne Tha God - radio host, “The Breakfast Club” - 45
Lance Barber - actor, “The Comeback” & “Young Sheldon” - 50
Suzette Quintanilla - drummer & sister of the late Selena - 56
Richard Lewis - comedian - 76
Gary Busey - actor, “Point Break” & “Rookie of the Year” - 79
Born On This Date
Robert Evans - actor, “The Godfather” - 1930 (d. 2019)
Ruth Warrick - actress, “Citizen Kane” & “All My Children” - 1916 (d. 2005)
Nellie Tayloe Ross - first female governor, Wyoming 1925-1927 - 1876 (d. 1977)
William James Mayo - surgeon & co-founder of Mayo Clinic - 1861 (d. 1939)
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