6/8/2023: Driverless Car Chaos 🚗
PLUS: $130,000 Speeding Ticket; Morgan Wallen Returns; and Harry in Court, Day Two
Today is Thursday, June 8, 2023.
It is the 159th day of the year.
206 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Officials crack down on the mob for a diamond heist straight out of the movies and investigators wonder why a car lot lets dead bodies go unnoticed. More in HIT LIST.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO and GIGI HADID were spotted dining with his parents, as rumors of a romance continue to swirl and MARTHA STEWART thinks the “work-from-home culture” is ridiculous. More in SHOWBIZ.
CHRIS LICHT is out as CEO of CNN and TOM HOLLAND is taking a break from acting. More in CASTING CALL.
A class action lawsuit against KIM KARDASHIAN for her role in promoting crypto is moving forward. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY takes the stand for a second day. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
A rare glimmer of hope in the FTX bankruptcy saga: At least one major investment made by the company has so far worked out.
The company bought a $500 million stake in an A.I. startup called ANTHROPIC, which could be sold off for at least what they paid for it. This means nine figures of money in the pot to eventually pay back customers.
Semafor reports that now the question is whether to sell now or hold onto the stake, as A.I. companies continue to surge in value and could mean an even bigger payout down the road. [via Semafor]
MEANWHILE: New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art says it is returning a $550,000 donation made by FTX last year. [via ARTnews]
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San Francisco doesn’t just have a crime and drug problem – driverless cars are adding to the chaos, too.
Last year, the California Public Utilities Commission authorized two autonomous vehicle startups to put a limited fleet of driverless cars on city streets in the city. Customers could hop in and take them to their destination, just like an Uber, only without the driver.
BUT WAIT: The cars have a real problem with figuring out what to do in construction zones. When they can’t compute how to proceed, they stop completely out of an abundance of caution – right in the middle of the street.
In another case, a driver reports getting trapped behind an autonomous vehicle that couldn’t compute how to get around a double-parked truck.
IT GETS WORSE: One analyst says that driverless vehicles that stall for just a few minutes can cause traffic disruptions for two and a half hours. [via SFGate]
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A Finnish millionaire has been slapped with a speeding ticket that will cost him nearly $130,000 – thanks to Finland’s “Day-Fine” system that determines fines based on income.
Andres Wilköf was going 20 miles an hour over the limit, and says he was trying to slow down when the speed zone changed abruptly.
But the officer showed no mercy. Under the “Day-Fine” system, the fine is equal to half the driver’s daily income, then multiplied depending how much over the limit they were driving. Wilköf has also had two other hefty fines in the last decade, which likely made this ticket so much more expensive.
He’s also had his license suspended for ten days. [via The Guardian]
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Members of the Lucchese and Gambino crime families were arrested this week in connection to a $2 million diamond heist.
The mobsters posed as construction workers before holding up two Manhattan jewelers -- first on January 3 and then on May 20.
One of the men arrested for the crime is Frank “Skip” Dipietro, a Luchese family associate, who served 19 years in federal prison for killing a witness. The others include Vincent Cerchio, Vincent Spagnulolo, Michael Sellick and Samuel Sorce. All of whom are in their upper 60s, expect Sorce who is only 25.
They have all been charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in connection with a crime of violence. The Hobbs Act charges carry a 20-year maximum sentence, and the firearm charge has a minimum sentence of seven years.
Sounds like a good plot for a sequel to the “Italian Job.” [via Daily Mail]
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The body of 17-year-old James Stokes was found in a car that had been towed away from an accident in Milwaukee, Wisconsin four days prior.
The vehicle, which was stolen, was towed to the lot on June 1 after a 16-year-old male driver crashed it into a tree, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. Stokes' body was not found until Monday.
Both the MPD and the Department of Public works are investigating how Stokes’ body went unnoticed, as there are a “set of rules and responsibilities that apply to [the] officers at the tow lot” when it comes to searching the vehicle, a Milwaukee-based attorney told CBS 58. [via CBS]
BY THE WAY: This isn’t the first time something like this happened in Milwaukee. In 2018, a four-year-old girl spent the night alone in the tow lot after her mom was arrested for OWI. In 2022, human remains were found in a burned out car that had been towed to the lot hours earlier. [via Fox 6]
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DEATHS
Businessman IVAN MENEZES has died.
He passed away yesterday after a brief illness and hospital stay to treat a stomach ulcer. Menezes was the CEO of Diageo, which owns Johnnie Walker whisky, Smirnoff vodka and Guinness.
He was 63.
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Musician TONY MCPHEE has died.
He passed away “peacefully at home” on Tuesday after suffering complications from a fall last year, his band, THE GROUNDHOGS, said in a statement.
McPhee was 79
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Hall of Fame wrestler THE IRON SHEIK, born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, has died.
He passed away Wednesday, according to a tweet from his team. No details were shared. Sheik was one of HULK HOGAN’s first rivals, and WWF Tag Team champion alongside NIKOLAI VOLKOFF in the ‘80s.
He was 81.
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Grammy-winning pianist GEORGE WINSTON has died.
He passed away Sunday after a 10-year battle with cancer, according to a statement on his website. Winston was best known for blending jazz, classical, folk and other styles of music for his albums “Autumn,” “Winter Into Spring,” and “December.” His most recent album, “Night,” was released last year.
He was 73.
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SICK BAY
POPE FRANCIS underwent intestinal surgery yesterday to repair a hernia in his abdominal well. The procedure comes two years after he had 13 inches of his colon removed.
According to The Vatican, the surgery lasted three hours and there were no complications. Now, the 86-year-old will stay at the Gemelli hospital in Rome for several days.
Following his surgery in 2021, Francis spent 10 days in the hospital.
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Actress SHANNEN DOHERTY revealed this week that her breast cancer has spread to her brain.
Doherty was first diagnosed in 2015. She underwent numerous rounds of chemo before going into remission in 2017. Then in 2020, she revealed the cancer had returned and was Stage 4.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 91 points (0.27%) to close at 33,665 on Wednesday. The S&P lost 16 points (0.38%) to close at 4,267 and the NASDAQ lost 171 points (1.29%) to close at 13,104.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $72; BRENT CRUDE at $76.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.55 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN tumbled Wednesday more than 3% and was trading around $26,300.
🛩 There were more than 3,054 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 145 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $240 million jackpot or a $124.4 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
Taking a dig at Pride Month, JUSTIN BIEBER’s dad tweeted out “Don’t forget to thank a straight person this month for your existence,” and later added that people “need to celebrate families.”
While Justin has not commented on the tweet, others were quick to slam it, calling JEREMY BIEBER a “bigot” and “nepo daddy.” One user also pointed out that Jeremy has four children with three women and was absent during Justin’s childhood.
The topic has not been something Justin has been vocal about, though in a 2011 Rolling Stone interview he said that homosexuality “doesn’t affect [him] and shouldn’t affect anyone else.” [via Page Six]
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Just when things appeared to be over between LEONARDO DICAPRIO and model GIGI HADID, the two were spotted hanging out with the actor’s dad and stepmom.
While the foursome were among a group of people at an event organized by Leo’s friend British Vogue Editor EDWARD ENNINFUL, the night still seemed like a milestone in the relationship.
Dating rumors have followed the two since last September, though neither have publicly commented on the relationship. [via TMZ]
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MORGAN WALLEN has been given the green light by his doctors to get back to singing.
He shared the good news with fans on Instagram, writing “the doc cleared me to talk and sing…we back.”
On May 9 Wallen revealed that he was going to have to postpone a handful of performances to take some vocal rest after injuring his vocal cords. All of those shows have been rescheduled for later this year. [via ET]
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CARLY PEARCE is cleaning out her closet for a good cause.
The country singer is hosting her second Carly’s Closet charity event, where fans can buy some of her clothing, shoes and accessories. The pop-up shop will be hosted at Nashville’s Hotel Noelle, as well as online.
Proceeds will go to the ASPCA. [via People]
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MARTHA STEWART is bashing the “work-from-home culture.”
The 81-year-old shared her thoughts on the matter with Footwear News, saying there is no way that people “can possibly get everything done working three days a week in the office and two days remotely.”
Backing up her argument, Stewart said that she worked “five days a week” during the pandemic. [via Daily Mail]
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NICKI MINAJ is being sued over some custom jewelry that a West Hollywood jeweler says she borrowed and returned damaged.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Nicki’s stylist signed a contract for the jewels, with a promise of returning the pieces within a week and would cover any damages.
The jeweler claims the pieces were returned late and a set of earrings and a ring were damaged to the tune of more than $26,000. Nicki’s camp says everything was returned on time and it was only after they were back in the jeweler’s possession that the damage occurred.
Now, the jeweler is getting the court involved to collect the dough. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
CHRIS LICHT has been fired as CEO of CNN.
His axing comes one month after he orchestrated a controversial Town Hall featuring DONALD TRUMP. While the special drew in huge ratings for the network, blowback from the left was swift.
Licht took over as CEO in May 2022 after JEFF ZUCKER’s resignation.
In his absence, a panel of execs and COO DAVID LEAVY will head the network. [via TMZ]
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One year after exiting “So You Think You Can Dance,” actor MATTHEW MORRISON is returning to the small screen in the Great American Family channel’s TV movie “Paris Christmas Waltz.”
The movie, which has already been filmed, is a sequel to 2000’s “The Christmas Waltz.” Other than Morrison starring as the male lead, no further details were shared.
Many may recall that Morrison left “SYTYCD” amid rumors of an “inappropriate relationship with a contestant,” though he says that wasn’t the case. [via Daily Mail]
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TOM HOLLAND is taking a break from acting.
After the toll producing and starring in “The Crowded Room” for Apple TV+, had on him, Holland says he is “now taking a year off,” because of “how difficult the show was.”
In the show, Holland plays Danny Sullivan, an unsuspecting young man who is arrested for a shooting at Rockefeller Center in the summer of 1979. The movie also stars AMANDA SEYFRIED, EMMY ROSSUM, WILL CHASE and SASHA LANE.
“The Crowded Room” premieres June 9 on Apple TV+. [via Extra]
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“Star Wars” spinoff “Ahsoka,” starring ROSARIO DAWSON, will debut on August 23 on Disney+.
The series takes place after the death of Darth Vader -- though the dark lord will make an appearance. As previously reported, HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN reprises his role in the show. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald refused to toss out claims against KIM KARDASHIAN for her allegedly deceptive promotion of EthereumMax crypto tokens.
While initially granting a motion to dismiss the class action suit, the judge decided this week that there is enough in the 162-page complaint to “adequately” support that Kardashian was “profiting off endorsements at fans’ expense by touting an investment opportunity that had no legitimate business plan.”
Many may remember that Kardashian paid $1.26 million to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last year after failing to reveal the $250,000 she was paid to promote the crypto biz.
Other celebs in the class action lawsuit include boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER and basketball player PAUL PIERCE. [via Reuters]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY returned to the witness stand on Wednesday in his lawsuit alleging that the Mirror hacked his phone.
When the attorney for the media group got down to brass tacks, Harry again could not point to any proof he was hacked, despite alleging it had happened “consistently” between 1996 and 2011. “It could have been happening on a daily basis, I simply don’t know,” the Duke of Sussex said.
When pressed for evidence, he replied, “No, that’s part of the reason I’m here.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: Even most princes didn’t have cell phones in 1996.
[via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Name Your Poison Day
National Best Friends Day
World Oceans Day
National Jerky Day
National Farm Workers Day
National Upsy Daisy Day
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ON THIS DATE
1789 – James Madison introduces a batch of 12 amendments to the brand-new US constitution.
Two years later, 10 of these amendments would be ratified, and the Bill of Rights was born.
One of the straggler amendments was finally ratified 203 years later; it dealt with congressmen not being able to vote themselves pay increases within a single term.
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1948 – The first Porsche is completed.
Ferdinand Porsche was an engineer and designer who had worked for the Austro-Daimler Company. He was the brains behind many of the Mercedes racing cars in the 1920s.
In 1931, Porsche formed his own company. He was tasked by Hitler to build a car for the people, and he produced the first Volkswagen.
After the war he was imprisoned by the allies, but his son kept the business going. When he was released, he okayed the production of a new sports car. The prototype was built completely by hand.
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1949 – Joe McCarthy wasn't the only one looking for commies. The FBI produced a list of actors known to be communists on this date.
The report alleged that these actors and actresses were using their art to spread communism.
Dorothy Parker, Helen Keller, Paul Robeson, Edward Robinson and Frederic March were all named.
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1949 – Same day, ironically: "1984" is published.
George Orwell wrote it. He was a socialist who hated communism, oddly enough.
Orwell was a frequent commentator on politics and language, his works included “Animal Farm” and lengthy essays on rights and liberty.
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1966 – The American Football League and National Football League announce plans to merge.
At the end of the season, the Packers would beat the Chiefs in the first Super Bowl. It took another 2 seasons before the leagues integrated their schedules and brought all operations under one roof.
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2004 – The rare Venus Transit occurs. It is the first since 1882.
The planet passed between the Sun and the Earth. It was visible from Earth as a small black dot moving across the face of the sun.
It lasted six hours.
The next ones will occur in 2117 and 2125.
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2020 - New York begins reopening after 100 days of lockdown due to the COVID-19 virus with just 702 hospitalized. (This didn’t last long).
Meanwhile, the World Bank says the pandemic will shrink the global economy by 5.2%.
Also, a study by the Imperial College London says lockdowns likely saved 3 million lives across Europe.
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BIRTHDAYS
Charlotte Lawrences - pop singer - 23
Alexis Morris - basketball player - 24
Owen Warner - actor, “Hollyoaks” - 24
Tom Grennan - pop singer - 28
Joel Dommett - comedian - 38
Torrey Devitto - actress, “Chicago Med” & “Pretty Little Liars” - 39
Ashley Biden - youngest daughter of Joe - 42
Maria Menounos - TV show host, “Extra” & “Access Hollywood” - 45
Ye aka Kanye West - rapper - 46
Frank Grillo - actor, “Zero Dark Thirty” & “Prison Break” - 58
Bonnie Tyler - pop singer - 72
Nancy Sinatra - country singer - 83
Born On This Date
Joan Rivers - TV show host, “The Joan Rivers Show” - 1933 (d. 2014)
Jerry Stiller - actor, “Seinfeld” & “Zoolander” - 1927 (d. 2020)
Barbara Bush - 41st First Lady - 1925 (d. 2018)
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