7/12/2024: Would You Like Pepper With That?
PLUS: Bankruptcy News; Two Spicy Lawsuits; and The King’s Condo
Today is Friday, July 12, 2024.
It is the 194th day of the year.
172 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A Chinese tourist survives at sea and New York City seeks to change a controversial policy. Details in HIT LIST.
An investigation into DANNY TREJO’s parade scuffle is underway. More in SHOWBIZ.
BILL BELICHICK finds his new gig and ELLEN DEGENERES shares her post-tour plans. Details in CASTING CALL.
KIM discusses her latest beauty trend in KARDASH.
THE KING has an unexpected new property. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Fast-casual restaurant chain MOD PIZZA announced earlier this week it was considering bankruptcy, but said Wednesday a restaurant management group will acquire the operation.
If it closes, the deal would reportedly be for a total equity buyout to Elite Restaurant Group, which is based in Southern California and owns a handful of franchised food brands predominantly in the Western US.
MOD currently has more than 540 locations across North America and appointed a new CEO in January. Fewer than 100 of those locations are franchised. [via Restaurant Business Online, CNN]
ALL ARE NOT SO LUCKY: An S&P Global Intelligence report shows more corporate bankruptcies have been filed year-to-date than during 2020, when pandemic restrictions forced many companies to go belly-up. [via Business Insider]
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Restaurant patrons dining outdoors at a spot in Norman, Oklahoma, reported being pepper-sprayed in a drive-by attack earlier this week.
At least ten patrons called in the attack to local police, but by the time officers arrived most people had fully recovered. Not surprisingly, no one had a description of the suspect, on account of the whole “being blasted with pepper spray while trying to have a sandwich and not being able to see” factor.
Based on reports, the attack could have been conducted with pepper spray or even bear spray. [via KOCO]
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A Tucson-area farmer says one of his horses died from the stress of hearing fireworks go off last week.
The 18-year-old, blonde-haired Tennessee Walker, named Sunny, was reportedly healthy, but over the years demonstrated skittishness around exploding fireworks. A few hours into a day of hearing fireworks, Sunny’s body started shutting down, involuntarily inducing colic when its bowels stopped functioning. Bloodwork conducted by a vet showed a spike in stress hormone cortisol. Eventually the owner made the decision to put Sunny down.
The owner says she’s begun contacting lawmakers to pass legislation to prevent similar incidents in the future. [via KGUN 9]
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A Chinese woman was rescued 37 hours after and more than 50 miles away from where she went for a leisurely swim off the coast of Japan this week.
A passing cargo ship spotted the floating woman early Wednesday morning, and crew members were able to pull her aboard. Other than being slightly dehydrated, she appeared in good health, but was taken to a local hospital just to be safe.
Members of the Coast Guard say she is lucky to be alive, having not suffered the effects of heat stroke, hypothermia or being hit by a ship in the dark. [via Independent]
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Amid an influx of migrants seeking shelter and accommodations in New York City, Mayor ERIC ADAMS announced this week he supports an effort from the City Council to repeal the Big Apple’s “sanctuary city” status.
Such cities have passed local legislation that promises to protect undocumented migrants living there from federal deportation by forbidding cooperation between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
“New Yorkers have a right to be safe in their city,” Adams said, calling originally enacting the status a “big mistake.” The rule prohibiting legal cooperation first went into place in 2014, though some policies first went into place in the early 2000s.
Democrat City Council Member Robert Holden recently said, “We have enough criminals in this city; we don’t need to import more and protect them as well.” [via Politico]
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DEATHS
Actress SHELLEY DUVALL has died.
She passed away in her sleep of complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, Texas on Thursday.
Duvall is best known for her role as Wendy Torrance in “The Shining.”
She was 75.
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BABY NEWS
Actress ALEXANDRA DADDARIO is expecting her first child with husband, producer ANDREW FORM.
She’s 38 and he’s 55.
Daddario is six months along. She waited to share the news after having previously dealt with a pregnancy loss.
While the child is the first for the couple, Form is already dad to two sons, whom he shares with ex-wife, actress JORDANA BREWSTER.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 32 points (0.08%) to close at 39,753 on Thursday. The S&P lost 49 points (0.88%) to close at 5,584 and the NASDAQ lost 364 points (1.9%) to close at 18,283.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $83.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.54 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN was down on Thursday, trained around $57,350.
🛩 There were more than 4,920 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 165 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $203 million jackpot or a $94.9 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $54 million jackpot or a $25.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Cassadee Pope, “Hereditary”
Hardy, “Quit!!”
Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?”
OneRepublic, “Artificial Paradise”
Phish, “Evolve”
SPEED, “Only One Mode”
Tech N9ne, “COSM (Class of Strange Music)”
Travis, “L.A. Times”
Zacari, “Bliss”
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Day Two of ALEC BALDWIN’s manslaughter trial focused heavily on the evidence, specifically the ammunition on set.
The defense was harsh in their cross-examination of a crime scene technician from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, arguing that Baldwin simply did as he was instructed to do as an actor.
REMEMBER: The judge ruled that Baldwin’s status as producer on “Rust” could not be entered into evidence, despite the state arguing that it shows his extra responsibility for the goings on on set.
TODAY: “Rust” armorer HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED, who is currently serving an 18-month sentence, is expected to testify. [via NPR]
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FOLLOW UP: The LAPD is now looking into whether or not DANNY TREJO’s parade scuffle was a potential hate crime.
Insiders say that a battery/hate crime report has been filed and authorities are eager to get to the bottom of what exactly happened.
As previously reported, by the time officers arrived on scene, those involved had left. When speaking about the incident in the days after, Trejo revealed that he felt targeted by the water balloon because of his race. [via NY Post]
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JENNIFER LOPEZ and BEN AFFLECK’s Beverly Hills mansion is now publicly listed, hitting the MLS on Thursday afternoon.
The couple are asking $68 million for the 38,000-square-foot, 24-bedroom, 24-bathroom house.
As previously reported, Ben and Jen were initially hoping to quietly sell off-market, but that didn’t pan out.
WORTH NOTING: It took them two years of searching before settling on the mansion last year. They paid $60 million for it -- so that plus renovations, they may not be making very much, if any, profit on the sale. [via TMZ]
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Musician JOSH KLINGHOFFER is being sued by the family of the man he allegedly ran over and killed in Los Angeles earlier this year.
The former RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer was making a left turn when he fatally struck Israel Sanchez, who was in the crosswalk.
According to the suit, Sanchez’s daughter claims Klinghoffer was seen “using a device mere seconds before” the accident, leading her to believe he was “driving while distracted.” She is seeking a jury trial and damages, including funeral, burial and medical expenses, attorney fees and financial compensation for pain and suffering.
Klinghoffer is currently touring with PEARL JAM. [via People]
SPEAKING OF CHILIS: The BEASTIE BOYS are suing Chili’s over an ad from 2022, that resembled their 1994 music video for “Sabotage.” The band says they don’t license any of their songs to third party advertisers, and want the ad removed. [via TMZ]
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KATY PERRY confirmed rumors of a forthcoming album this week, telling fans that “143” will be released on September 20.
It marks her first album since 2020’s “Smile.”
The first single, “Woman’s World,” dropped yesterday. [via ET]
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CASTING CALL
BILL BELICHICK will be one of the analysts on “Inside the NFL” for the upcoming season.
He will also make appearances on the “ManningCast” during “Monday Night Football” and “The Pat McAfee Show” for draft coverage.
Belichick joins fellow analysts RYAN CLARK, CHAD JOHNSON and CHRIS LONG. The latter two played for Belichick in New England. [via ESPN]
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ELLEN DEGENERES is leaving Hollywood following her “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up” tour.
She shared her plans during a recent Q&A following her latest show, during which she was asked about her future acting, hosting, presenting, etc. plans. “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done,” she replied.
The final leg of her shows will be filmed for the special. [via Variety]
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ANDY SAMBERG recently spoke about his exit from “SNL,” telling KEVIN HART on the “Hart to Heart” podcast that the sketch comedy show took a toll on his mental health.
“[I] hadn’t slept in seven years basically,” he admitted. “Physically and emotionally, like I was falling apart in my life.”
Samberg left the show in May 2012, following the conclusion of Season 37. He returned to host the show in 2014 and has made several cameo appearances since.
Despite the toll it took, Samberg says he still considers it an honor to be part of the iconic show. [via EW]
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Showtime series “Your Honor” took the top spot on Nielsen’s top 10 streaming viewership chart with over 1.5 BILLION minutes of viewership for the first week of June.
Not far behind, Disney+’s “Bluey” racked up 1.14 BILLION minutes viewed, followed by “Grey’s Anatomy” on Hulu/Netflix with just over 1 BILLION minutes.
Surprisingly, Netflix’s “Bridgerton” landed in 9th with only 806 MILLION minutes of viewership for the week. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN opened up about her latest beauty venture on this week’s episode of “The Kardashians.”
“I got a salmon sperm facial, salmon sperm injected into my face,” she told her mom, KRIS JENNER.
Kim’s no stranger to trying out different methods of looking youthful. She once had a “vampire facial,” which involved drawing blood from one’s face and applying it topically.
BY THE WAY: Actress JENNIFER ANISTON swears by the salmon sperm facial. [via ET]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES has purchased a New York City condo for $6.6 MILLION -- but it’s not entirely clear why.
Property records for Unit 11A at 111 W. 57th Street show the deed holder as “His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, Represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.” A Canadian diplomat working in NYC signed on the King’s behalf.
The condo includes three bedrooms and 4.5 baths across more than 3,600 square feet.
If he ever decides to stay there, the King would have access to a communal pool, sauna, and fitness center, with the ability to mingle with neighbors in a residents’ lounge. [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National French Fry Day
World Kebab Day
Paper Bag Day
International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms
National Pecan Pie Day
National Simplicity Day
National Eat Your Jello Day
Collector Car Appreciation Day
Etch A Sketch Day
National Different Colored Eyes Day
New Conversations Day
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ON THIS DATE
1543 - Henry VIII marries his sixth and final wife Catherine Parr.
The King notably went through a number of wives, trying to find one who would bare him a male heir. After his second wife, Anne Boleyn, failed to produce a son and had a series of miscarriages she was erroneously executed for adultery.
His third wife, Jane Seymour, gave him a son, but died just two weeks later.
Catherine was widowed by Henry in 1547. He died from complications of severe obesity, a condition that began after a jousting accident in 1536, when he became unable to move without great assistance.
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1804 - Alexander Hamilton dies after being shot by Aaron Burr.
The previous day, Alexander Hamilton and sitting Vice President Aaron Burr shot it out. Hamilton was mortally wounded and carried to a friend’s home where he passed away.
Hamilton founded the US mint and was the first secretary of the US Treasury.
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1862 - US Congress authorizes the creation of the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military award and is given by the President in the name of Congress. It is awarded to those who risk their lives above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
The first act for which the medal would be awarded occurred on February 13, 1861 when Army Assistant Surgeon Bernard Irwin rescued 60 soldiers during the Civil War. He would finally receive the Medal of Honor in 1894.
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1876 - Maria Spelterina walks across Niagara Falls on a tightrope with peach baskets on her feet.
The trip took 11 minutes to go out and 10 minutes to come back. One week later she did it blindfolded, and a week after that she did it with her hands and feet cuffed.
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1962 - The Rolling Stones perform their first concert.
The show took place at the Marquee Club in London. The band was billed as “The Rollin’ Stones” for their first gig.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were the only band members who were part of their inaugural performance.
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1979 - Disco Demolition Night commences at Comiskey Park in Chicago.
The promotion was one of the most memorable in baseball history second to “Ten Cent Beer Night” in Cleveland during the 1974 season.
The event included the destruction of a crate of records using explosives. The idea for the promotion occurred when a popular local DJ left his job after the station switched its programming from rock to disco music.
Fans were able to bring disco records and gain free admission to the game. After the game had concluded the DJ walked into center field dressed in military garb and destroyed the records while leading the crowd in a “disco sucks!” chant.
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1984 - Geraldine Ferraro is tapped to run with Walter Mondale on the Democratic presidential ticket.
Ferraro became the first woman to be nominated by either major party for a spot as vice president.
She and Mondale would lose by the biggest margin in national history -- winning only Minnesota.
Ferraro would run for Senate twice in 1992 and 1998 -- and lose both times.
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1996 - Michael Jordan signs the richest one-year contract in NBA history.
He agreed to a $30 million deal for the 1996-97 season with the Chicago Bulls.
MJ would reward the franchise by delivering its fifth league championship.
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2018 - The world’s longest fingernails are cut.
Shridhar Chillal’s nails had a combined length of 358.1 inches, while the longest individual nail measured 77.87 inches.
The nails were cut with power tools at Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in New York City.
Although proud of his record, Chillal faced physical difficulties due to the weight of his fingernails, including disfigurement of his fingers and loss of function in his left hand.
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BIRTHDAYS
Issac Ryan Brown - actor, “Raven’s Home” - 19
Nico Williams - soccer player - 22
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - basketball player - 26
Malala Yousafzai - advocate for female education & Nobel Peace Prize recipient - 27
Phoebe Tonkin - actress, “The Vampire Diaries” - 35
Melissa O’Neal - actress, “The Rookie” - 36
Michelle Rodriguez - actress, “The Fast and the Furious” films - 46
Steve Howey - actor, “Reba” & “Shameless” - 47
Brock Lesnar - wrestler - 47
Cheyenne Jackson - actor, “Descendants 2” & “Call Me Kat” - 49
Born On This Date
Natalie Desselle-Reid - actress, “Family Matters” & “Madea’s Big Happy Family” - 1967 (d. 2020)
Charlie Murphy - comedian & brother of Eddie - 1959 (d. 2017)
Donda West - mom of Ye - 1949 (d. 2007)
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