Today is Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
It is the 157th day of the year.
209 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
SBF returns to NYC and a fraud case in Minneapolis takes a wild turn. Details in HIT LIST.
IPPEI MIZUHARA pleads guilty and JAMES CORDEN has a scary flight. More in SHOWBIZ.
JENNIFER LOPEZ’s Netflix flick finds success and a prehistoric series is heading to PBS. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE faces another lawsuit. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE ANDREW makes good on his promise to fix up his royal residence. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
SAM BANKMAN-FRIED has not been relocated after all.
While the convicted crypto-fraudster was indeed transported to Oklahoma toward the end of May, he ended up back at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The judge overseeing his case had seemed to support keeping him in New York City as he prepares an appeal of his 25-year sentence -- but the judge can only recommend where a prisoner stays; the Bureau of Prisons makes the final determination.
No confirmation yet why SBF was on the road for a bit only to end up where he started. [via CoinTelegraph, Morning Martini]
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A burglary ring in Southern California has been specifically targeting stores that resell LEGO sets.
Reps for the niche chain of stores, called Bricks & Minifigs, say seven stores have been hit since April, losing more than $100,000 in merchandise. In one instance, security camera footage shows two bandits breaking in and making off with their haul in under 42 seconds. The owner believes they had cased the store ahead of time and knew exactly what to get.
LEGO sets can fetch hundreds of dollars even on the resale market. [via CBS Los Angeles]
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A Colorado man survived a gun attack after the bullet miraculously struck the 10 millimeter-wide chain necklace he was wearing, sparing him what could have been a fatal wound.
IT GETS NUTTIER: The 32-year-old man was attacked by his own father, who was reportedly drunk when they got into an argument. The Old Man was arrested shortly after and charged with first-degree attempted murder. (Rest assured if he doesn’t spend the rest of his life in prison he’ll certainly end up in a home.)
Police say the chain wasn’t even pure silver, saying in a statement, “maybe think twice before you knock a knockoff. Just incredible.” [via CNN]
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Here’s one way to get out of jury duty: Tell the judge someone gave you a bag of $120,000 in cash to vote to acquit the defendants.
The juror was promptly dismissed from a case in Minneapolis that alleges seven people stole $40 MILLION in pandemic relief funds from a program that was supposed to provide food benefits to children.
The unnamed juror said she got the bag from her father-in-law, who was approached by a mysterious woman who said the juror would get a second bag if she voted to acquit. The 23-year-old juror went straight to the police.
The jury has been sequestered for the remainder of the trial. [via NBC News]
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Dr. Pepper has overtaken Pepsi as the second-most popular soda in the United States.
According to CNN, Pepsi has held the spot since 1985.
Meanwhile, Coke remains No. 1, with Sprite in fourth and Diet Coke in fifth. [via CNN]
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DEATHS
Actor ERICH ANDERSON has died.
He passed away Saturday after a battle with cancer, according to a statement from his family.
Anderson is best known for his roles in “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” and “Felicity.”
He was 67.
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BABY NEWS
Actress TRINA MCGEE is pregnant!
The “Boy Meets World” alum announced the news on Instagram, while also asking fans for “prayers” as she is 54-years-old.
This will be McGee’s fourth child, though her first with husband, actor MARCELLO THEDFORD.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 140 points (0.36%) to close at 38,711 on Tuesday. The S&P ticked up 7 points (0.15%) to close at 5,291 and the NASDAQ increased 28 points (0.17%) to close at 16,857.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $72 on Tuesday; BRENT CRUDE at $76.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.51 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN surged past $70,000 on Tuesday, trading around $70,500.
🛩 There were more than 3,200 FLIGHTS delayed within, into or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 55 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $185 million jackpot or a $86 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
SHOHEI OHTANI’s interpreter, IPPEI MIZUHARA, pleaded guilty to two federal charges on Tuesday in connection to his money laundering case.
The 39-year-old admitted to the judge that he stole over $17 million from the MLB superstar’s bank account to settle his massive gambling debt.
Sentencing has been set for late October. Mizuhara faces up to 33 years behind bars. [via ESPN]
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While performing in Green Bay, Wisconsin over the weekend, BEBE REXHA had security remove several people for allegedly throwing things at her.
Based on clips from fellow concertgoers, Rexha also stopped the show to discuss the consequences of chucking things at performers, referencing last year’s incident when she was hit in the face with a phone.
By the way -- the concert was part of Titletown District’s annual Summer Fun Days Showcase, so it was free for fans. [via People]
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DEMI MOORE and JOE JONAS are the newest friendly and flirty couple on the block.
Insiders tell Page Six that the two “have bonded” after meeting through mutual friends in the South of France last month. The same source was quick to shut down rumors of any sort of romantic relationship, however.
Jonas recently split from model STORMI BREE after five months of dating. It was his first relationship post divorce from actress SOPHIE TURNER. [via Page Six]
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A video of JAMES CORDEN voicing his frustrations to British Airways employees has gone viral.
As a passenger on a flight from London to Portugal, Corden and his fellow fliers were told to assume the brace position for landing shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue with the wings. Once safely on the ground in Lisbon, passengers reportedly sat on the runway for three hours before being removed from the plane. During that time Corden tried to keep things light by engaging with others and allowing everybody to take a selfie with him.
After exiting the aircraft more chaos ensued, with passengers being placed in the wrong queues. Seeing the frustration mounting, Corden reportedly found a British Airways employee and helped get people where they were supposed to be. [via Standard]
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RIHANNA’s Fenty Beauty brand will soon include hair products.
RiRi announced the new venture on Instagram, with a video of her rocking a blonde cropped mullet, and showing off some of the products.
Fenty Hair launches on June 13. [via TMZ]
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BRAD PITT is “aware and upset” about daughter SHILOH JOLIE PITT dropping his last name from hers.
For him it means he has truly lost his connection to his children, which has been an ongoing theme as Pitt’s divorce from their mom, ANGELINA JOLIE, continues, a source told The Blast.
The former couple’s other children have also distanced themselves from their dad over the years, and have also stopped using his last name, though Shiloh is the only one who has taken legal steps to cut ties. [via The Blast]
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MEGAN THEE STALLION is releasing her long-awaited third studio album, “Megan,” this month.
She is currently on her “Hot Girl Summer” tour.
“Megan” drops June 28. [via People]
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CASTING CALL
In light of the crumbling marriage rumors and her canceled tour, JENNIFER LOPEZ does appear to have one thing going right…her Netflix movie, “Atlas” is a hit with viewers.
The Sci-Fi thriller raked in over 1.3 BILLION viewing minutes on the streamer, making it the biggest title of the week in either film or TV.
In the movie, JLo plays Atlas Shepherd, a data analyst who is distrustful of artificial intelligence. [via TMZ]
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ALEC BALDWIN, his wife HILARIA, and their seven kids will star in a new reality show on TLC called “The Baldwins.”
Premiering next year, the show will follow the “ups and downs, the good, the bad, the wild and the crazy” inside the Baldwin home. [via Page Six]
WORTH ASKING: Will Alec’s forthcoming legal woes also be featured? Or is this to pay for all the lawyers?
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“Walking with Dinosaurs” is stomping its way back to TV.
Twenty-five years after its debut, the six-part series returns with an immersive journey into the prehistoric era, uncovering the lives of the ancient giants. Each episode will focus on a different dino that is currently being excavated by paleontologists.
It is slated to premiere in 2025 on BBC and PBS. [via Variety]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
A former personal assistant to YE is suing him for breach of contract, sexual harassment, wrongful termination and hostile work environment.
Laruen Pisciotta claims she was hired by the rapper in 2021 to assist him with his fashion line, and even collaborated with him on three songs on “Donda.”
Over the next year, she claims Ye sent her a series of sexual text messages and that he would often masturbate during phone conversations with her. In late 2022, Pisciotta claims she was fired, but offered a $3 million severance, which she says she never got.
Ye called the claims “baseless” and said Pisciotta tried to “pursue him sexually to coerce employment and other material benefits.” When her attempts went unanswered, she started blackmailing him. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
ROYAL LODGE SAGA: Contractors have been spotted at the Royal Lodge, where PRINCE ANDREW is contractually obligated to maintain the palatial estate in order to keep his cushy 250-Pound-a-week lease.
Andrew is reportedly spending 20,000 Pounds on an exterior paint overhaul. Workers were spotted erecting scaffolding around the residence on Tuesday. One insider says that despite all the drama in recent months, he waited until now just so the weather would improve.
Another insider tells Express that the Lodge is “the last real show of royal power [Andrew] has left. The only way he will leave the property is if he’s carried out in a wooden box.” [via Express]
WORTH ASKING: Could Andrew follow in the footsteps of his nephew and sell a reality show about rehabbing a royal property?
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Veggie Burger Day
National Gingerbread Day
Global Running Day
National Moonshine Day
Random Acts of Cardness Day
National Tailors Day
World Environment Day
Hot Air Balloon Day
National Sausage Roll Day
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ON THIS DATE
1832 - Parisian students rise up against the French monarchy of Louis-Philippe in the June Rebellion.
The rebellion protested the July Revolution two years earlier, in which Louis-Phillippe was installed as king.
25,000 French soldiers squashed the riots, killing 800. The insurrection was the basis for Victor Hugo's novel “Les Miserables.”
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1851 - “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe is first published in serial form in a magazine called “The National Era.”
The novel depicted life for African Americans under slavery. It energized anti-slavery forces in the North, and caused widespread anger in the South.
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1872 - The Republican National Convention convenes in Philadelphia.
That year, the party nominated Ulysses S. Grant, who would run with Henry Wilson.
Grant would win the election the following November, beating Horace Greeley.
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1947 - General George Marshall outlines what would become known as the Marshall Plan.
In a speech at Harvard University, Marshall spoke about the plans to rebuild Europe after World War II, both in infrastructure and in government.
One element included offering financial aid to the Soviets, which they rejected. As Europeans put their lives back together, the U.S. contributed $13 billion to the effort.
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1955 - New York Yankee Mickey Mantle hits his 550th home run.
Mantle knocked a fastball from White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce over the 160-foot-high back wall of Comiskey Park. Outside, the ball smashed a car windshield.
A parking lot attendant took the ball home.
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1956 - Elvis Presley performs "Hound Dog" for the first time in public.
He appeared on “The Milton Berle Show,” a variety program. His swinging hips and charisma were scandalous for its time.
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1968 - Sirhan Sirhan assassinates Bobby Kennedy.
Poised to become the Democratic presidential nominee, Kennedy was campaigning in Los Angeles, when Sirhan jumped the minimal security and shot him three times.
Presidential candidates were not offered official secret service protection at that time. One of Kennedy's bodyguards punched Sirhan in the face while other spectators tackled him.
Kennedy would die 26 hours later. Sirhan was convicted and sentenced to death; that was commuted to life in prison. As recently as 2021 he was granted parole but his release was blocked by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Hubert Humphrey would win the Democratic nomination in ‘68 but lose to Richard Nixon in the General Election.
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1977 - One of the first personal computers built by Apple goes on sale.
The Apple II displayed 24 lines and 40 columns of uppercase-only characters.
It cost $1,298 (about $6700 today) and boasted 4 kilobytes of RAM. Today's low-end Apple laptop has more than 500,000 times that much memory.
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1989 - The lone "Unknown Rebel" stands in the face of communist tanks in China.
His protest followed the day after the Tiananmen Square massacre.
As Chinese tanks passed through to assert the government's superiority, the man stood defiantly. The column of tanks were forced to halt.
Two men wearing blue pulled the man away. It is unknown whether they were sympathizers trying to save his life or government agents. Either way, the man was never identified.
It's most likely he was dragged away, beaten, and killed.
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2004 - Ronald Reagan passes away after years of battling Alzheimer's Disease.
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2012 - A gubernatorial recall election is held in Wisconsin.
Governor Scott Walker wins, becoming the first governor to survive a recall election.
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2018 - Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges in New York Supreme Court.
The disgraced producer faced two counts of rape and one first-degree criminal sex act charge. He denied all allegations and was able to walk out of court after posting $1 million cash bail.
The accusations against Weinstein played a major role in the #MeToo movement.
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BIRTHDAYS
Rylee Arnold - dancer, “DWTS” - 19
Kate Martin - basketball player - 24
Pete Wentz - bassist, Fall Out Boy - 45
Nick Kroll - actor, “The League” - 46
Liza Weil - actress, “Gilmore Girls” - 47
Joe Gatto - comedian - 48
Mark Wahlberg - actor, “Ted” & “Daddy’s Home” - 53
Brian McKnight - R&B singer - 55
Rick Riordan - author, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” - 60
Jeff Garlin - actor, “The Goldbergs” - 62
Kenny G - saxophonist - 68
Kathleen Kennedy - film producer, “Jurassic Park” - 71
Suze Orman - TV personality, “The Suze Orman Show” - 73
Robert Kraft - owner of the New England Patriots - 83
Born On This Date
Spalding Gray - actor, “Beaches” - 1941 (d. 2004)
Richard Scarry - children’s author - 1919 (d. 1994)
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