Today is Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
It is the 198th day of the year.
168 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
More details on the attempted assassination of DONALD TRUMP and festive confections in time for the Olympics. Details in HIT LIST.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE slashes ticket prices to reach capacity and WIZ KHALIFA apologizes for smoking on stage. More in SHOWBIZ.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. almost had a very different role in the DC Marvel Universe. Details in CASTING CALL.
An Argentine model claims YE slid into her DMs. More in KARDASH.
KING CHARLES sends a private letter to DONALD TRUMP. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
More bizarre developments in the investigation of Saturday’s attempted assassination of DONALD TRUMP:
– The building where the shooter posted up was a staging area for local police and a tactical team tasked with keeping an eye on the crowd, according to reporting by ABC News. Some firsthand accounts have suggested the shooter climbed a tree to get on the roof and did not use a ladder. [via ABC News]
– Local media in Butler, Pennsylvania, reports that law enforcement had eyes on the shooter for nearly a half hour before he opened fire on Trump and his supporters. One officer first spotted the shooter on the roof about 25 minutes before he started firing, though no confirmation if the officer was aware he had a weapon. And certainly no explanation for why he wasn’t stopped, or why Trump was allowed to take the podium with a suspicious person not fully investigated. [via WPXI]
MEANWHILE: The FBI was able to crack the shooter’s phone but so far the Bureau has said there’s no immediately obvious details to reveal the shooter’s motive -- though it’s a good guess he didn’t like Donald Trump very much.
MEANWHILE, IN DC: Department of Homeland Security Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS announced on Monday that independent presidential candidate RFK JR will (finally) receive formal protection. [via Morning Martini]
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A man traveling from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, China was caught with 104 live snakes in his pants.
Customs officials say they found “six canvas drawstring bags” that each contained “living snakes in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors” on the passenger.
One of the largest hubs for illegal animal trafficking, Chinese officials have been making more of an effort to crack down on those seeking to profit from the trade.
No word on what punishment was handed down to the traveler. [via CBS]
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A review committee at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Monday recommended that former Chancellor and porn star JOE GOW should lose his tenured teaching post at the school. In a report, the faculty committee said that Gow’s response to the controversy did not support the university’s best interests, and that he appeared to leverage it to drum up more support for his pornographic content.
The UW System Board of Regents will have final say on the measure.
Gow was dismissed as Chancellor after the news first broke about his sordid side hustle late last year. He’s remained on paid leave since in a quest to remain in a teaching role. He had already been planning on stepping aside as head of the school before the porn project came to light. [via Associated Press]
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KRISPY KREME has a Paris-themed doughnut box hitting shelves just in time for the Olympics.
The “Passport to Paris” collection includes three special-recipe doughnuts: creme brulee, double chocolate eclair, and raspberry-vanilla. The special offering will be available through the duration of the Olympics, with some six-packs available at retail grocery stores.
ALSO: Wash it down with an even sweeter creme brulee-flavored latte, also available for a limited time. [via USA Today]
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A 75-year-old man survived four days in a bog in Maine after falling in during a hike last week.
Search crews found Michael Altmaier laying down in the muck, unable to stand up and free himself. Miraculously, he was found in “surprisingly good condition, one person on site told NBC News. As crews rendered aid, a helicopter was dispatched to airlift him to a hospital. So far no word on his condition. [via NBC News]
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DEATHS
Actor JAMES B. SIKKING has died.
He passed away Saturday of complications from dementia, according to his publicist.
Sikking is best known for his roles in “Hill Street Blues” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.”
He was 90.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 210 points (0.53%) to close at 40,211 on Monday. The S&P increased 15 points (0.28%) to close at 5,631 and the NASDAQ increased 74 points (0.4%) to close at 18,472.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $81; BRENT CRUDE at $84.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.52 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN continued to rebound, up 5.6% and trading around $64,400.
🛩 There were more than 6,460 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 380 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $226 million jackpot or a $106.9 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
“The Tortured Poets Department” landed its 12th consecutive (and total) week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking TAYLOR SWIFT’s longest-leading No. 1 album.
The streak surpasses WHITNEY HOUSTON’s 1987 album “Whitney” to become the only album by a woman to spend its first 12 weeks at No. 1.
Only two other albums have spent at least their first 12 weeks at No.1 -- STEVIE WONDER’s “Songs in the Key of Life” and MORGAN WALLEN’s “One Thing at a Time.” [via Billboard]
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Contrary to what some believe, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE has been struggling to sell out arenas for his current “Forget Tomorrow World Tour.”
According to The Sun, following his DUI bust, JT was forced to slash ticket prices for a run of shows -- lowering some to just $9 for his recent show in Kentucky.
Reports of slashed ticket prices come just a month after he canceled his show in Columbia, South Carolina -- without explanation. [via The Sun]
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WIZ KHALIFA was busted in Romania over the weekend with cannabis, which is illegal for recreational use in the country.
According to Romanian anti-organized crime prosecutors, the rapper possessed over 18 grams of cannabis and consumed another undisclosed amount on stage during a music festival held at the Costinesti resort.
Wiz later apologized for his actions on X, writing that he meant no “disrespect to the country of Romania by lighting up on state.” [via THR]
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SANDRA “PEPA” DENTON -- one half of musical duo SALT-N-PEPA -- was booted from a Southwest flight after attendants deemed she posed a safety risk.
She says what happened is that after purchasing two seats on the plane, due to her knee injury, attendants told her she could not occupy both spots because she wasn’t in a cast. Then she was told because she was in a brace she could use both seats, only later to be asked to give up one of the seats to a fellow flier.
After calling her assistant to ask what to do, Pepa says she was asked to exit the plane without a proper explanation.
Southwest claims Pepa ignored crew member instructions, causing concern for the safety of other passengers. The airline did reimburse her for both of her seats, however. [via TMZ]
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MADONNA’s 18-year-old son DAVID BANDA is ready to make his own way, offering private guitar lessons for $200 an hour.
The new business venture comes on the heels of him performing alongside his mom on her “Celebration Tour,” guitar in hand. [via The Mirror]
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SNOOP DOGG recently opened his first licensed cannabis store in Los Angeles.
S.W.E.D. -- an acronym for Snoop’s iconic phrase “Smoke Weed Every Day” -- features top-tier premium products and services set amongst decor representing some of the rapper’s most memorable moments in music.
The store is located between LAX Airport and SoFi Stadium.
Snoop is also opening a S.W.E.D. coffee shop in Amsterdam next month. [via The Blast]
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JACK BLACK’s bandmate KYLE GASS made a disgusting remark in response to the attempted assassination on former president DONALD TRUMP over the weekend: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
He made the comment during TENACIOUS D’s show in Sydney, Australia, in response to Black asking what he wanted for his birthday.
Response to the horrific sentiment has been swift, with people condemning Gass. It is unknown if Black -- a devout Biden supporter -- later addressed the topic with his bandmate. [via Daily Beast]
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CASTING CALL
Prior to landing the role as Iron Man, ROBERT DOWNEY JR. auditioned to play “Fantastic Four” villain Doctor Doom.
Downey Jr. played the iconic superhero in 10 films before leaving the franchise after 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.”
BY THE WAY: The role of Doctor Doom went to actor JULIAN MCMAHON. [via Deadline]
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CHRIS KATTAN is set to launch his new podcast, “Idiotically Speaking With Chris Kattan” on July 24.
The weekly comedy and variety show will feature guests chatting with the “SNL” alum and his co-hosts ANDY BOLDUC and JOSEPH NUNEZ before participating in an improv comedy scenario.
The lineup of guests include several “SNL” alums, including FRED ARMISEN, DANA CARVEY, RACHEL DRATCH, TIM MEADOWS, BOBBY MOYNIHAN, CHRIS PARNALL and CECILY STRONG. [via THR]
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“Despicable Me 4” has grossed over $437 MILLION at the global box office, pushing the “Despicable Me” franchise to become the first to pass the $5 BILLION mark.
ANIMATION DOMINATION: “Inside Out 2” has earned over $1.36 BILLION globally, making it the only 2024 release to join the $1 billion club. [via Variety]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
There appears to be more trouble in paradise for YE and BIANCA CENSORI.
Argentine model MIKAELA LAFUENTE claims the rapper messaged her on Instagram in March asking to “hang out” and listen to his new album. She found the request “odd” as she had never met Ye before, while also wondering if the account was even real.
After determining it was in fact Ye, Lafuente called the messages “inappropriate,” while questioning if he and Censori have some sort of open relationship agreement. Her boyfriend, TikTok star BRYCE HALL, has also called out the rapper over the alleged messages.
Ye and Censori tied the knot in December 2022. [via Radar Online]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES sent a private letter to DONALD TRUMP after the former president survived the assassination attempt on Saturday.
The British Embassy in Washington DC delivered the note, the details of which remain under wraps.
Trump and the King last crossed paths publicly in 2019 for a state banquet in the UK. [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Fresh Spinach Day
National Atomic Veterans Day
Rural Transit Day
World Snake Day
National Corn Fritter Day
Guinea Pig Appreciation Day
National Cherry Day
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ON THIS DATE
1661 - The central bank of Sweden issues the world's first banknotes.
The bank began when its owner, Johan Palmstruch agreed to pay King Charles X Gustav half of all profits.
The institution was the foundation for the Sveriges Riksbank, which was the precursor to Sweden's central bank.
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1769 - The church mission San Diego de Alcala is founded by Father Junipero Serra.
The small chapel was the first civilized institution in what would become San Diego and one of the first Christian outposts on the west coast.
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1790 - Congress, working in New York, establishes the Residence Act.
The legislation put Washington, D.C. in a small corner of Maryland and Virginia.
President Washington would select the site, which perhaps not coincidentally, was just up the river from his Mount Vernon estate. It was to be finished by December 1800, with Washington personally overseeing the construction of all federal buildings with the help of three appointed commissioners.
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1808 - After returning from their adventures in the frontier, William Clark and Meriwether Lewis create a new trading company.
They saw the potential for harvesting the bountiful animals they found along their journey.
Lewis was a silent partner, as he had been appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory -- his involvement was highly unethical.
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1945 - The first atomic bomb is tested in New Mexico.
It culminated in the Manhattan Project, a clandestine initiative to create the most destructive weapon in human history.
The explosion blasted 40,000 feet into the air and had the force of 20,000 tons of TNT.
The original budget to develop an atomic weapon was $6,000. It took almost $2 billion in the end.
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1969 - Apollo 11 blasts off from Cape Canaveral.
It carried the first men who would walk on the Moon three days later.
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1999 - John F. Kennedy Jr's Piper Saratoga II HP airplane fails to land as scheduled near Martha's Vineyard.
After 15 hours, a search and rescue team is assembled. Miraculously, the wreckage was discovered the next day.
JFK Jr., his wife Carolyn and Lauren Bessette were on board and found in the crash.
It was ruled the crash was due to pilot error, with JFK Jr. not having the appropriate training to attempt a landing at night flying over water.
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2002 - President George W. Bush announces a new cabinet position to help coordinate the efforts of domestic intelligence initiatives.
The Department of Homeland Security was a response to the September 11 attacks the year prior.
It was also the debut of the often-mocked color-coded danger chart.
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2004 - Martha Stewart is sentenced to five months in prison plus five months on home confinement for lying to federal investigators about the sale of ImClone Systems stock in late 2001.
The lifestyle diva told reporters post-sentencing that it was a “shameful day.”
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2015 - Four US Marines and one US Navy sailor are killed when Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez goes on a shooting spree at a military recruitment center and US Navy Reserve center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Abdulazeez would later be killed in a shootout with police.
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2023 - Taylor Swift’s re-recorded album “Speak Now” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts.
It is her 12th No. 1, surpassing Barbra Streisand’s record for No. 1 albums by a female artist.
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BIRTHDAYS
Luke Hemmings - pop singer, 5 Seconds of Summer - 28
Alexandra Shipp - actress, “Straight Outta Compton” & “Love, Simon” - 33
James Maslow - pop singer, Big Time Rush - 34
Gareth Bale - soccer player - 35
Carli Lloyd - Olympic soccer player - 42
Kim Rhode - Olympic skeet shooter - 45
Bobby Lashley - wrestler - 48
Corey Feldman - actor, “The Goonies” & “The Lost Boys” - 53
Barry Sanders - football player - 56
Will Ferrell - actor, “SNL” & “Anchorman” & “Elf” - 57
Phoebe Cates - actress, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” - 61
Michael Flatley - Irish dancer-choreographer, Lord of Dance - 66
Jimmy Johnson - HOF football coach & sports analyst - 81
Born On This Date
Orville Redenbacher - popcorn magnate, Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popcorn - 1907 (d. 1995)
“Shoeless” Joe Jackson - baseball player - 1887 (d. 1951)
Roald Amundsen - polar explorer who led the first expedition to the South Pole - 1872 (d. 1928)
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