Today is Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
It is the 206th day of the year.
160 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The head of the Secret Service steps aside and more bad news for house hunters. Details in HIT LIST.
JOE GUIDICE is ready for his turn in the boxing ring and HAILEY BIEBER is focusing on her new family. More in SHOWBIZ.
SNOOP DOGG will carry the Olympic flame and “Verity” heads to the big screen. Details in CASTING CALL.
Is KIM running for President? Find out in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY is set to earn a windfall. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Senator JOSH HAWLEY released a whistleblower report suggesting law enforcement officers who were assigned to cover the location where DONALD TRUMP’s would-be assassin positioned himself, left their post because the weather was too hot.
IT GETS WORSE: Hawley’s report adds, “The whistleblower further alleges that concerns over the heat prompted law enforcement to forgo patrolling Building 6 and instead to station security personnel inside the building.”
MEANWHILE: After giving incompetent testimony to the House Oversight Committee on Monday, KIM CHEATLE resigned as the Director of the Secret Service. She’s been replaced by Deputy Director Ron Rowe, appointed by Department of Homeland Security Director ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS.
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French security officials say they’ve conducted an estimated ONE MILLION background checks for volunteers and workers ahead of the Paris Games.
The screening process resulted in the rejection of 5,000 applicants. Of those, about a thousand are on watch lists under suspicion of spying for other countries. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said, “We’re here to make sure ... that sport isn’t used for spying, for cyberattacks or to criticize and sometimes even lie about France and the French.” [via AP News]
WORTH REMEMBERING: A cyberattack knocked some systems offline during the opening ceremonies for the 2018 winter games in South Korea. A group of North Korean-sponsored hackers are believed to have conducted the attack. With safety concerns mounting for Jewish and Israeli competitors and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the next few weeks in Paris are a prime target for bad actors looking to wreak havoc.
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The median sale price of a house hit $426,900 in June, marking a more than 4% rise year-over-year.
MEANWHILE: Previously-occupied home sales dropped more than 5% between May and June, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline.
Despite a 23% increase in house inventory nationally year-over-year, interest rates make new home ownership increasingly out of reach. [via CBS News]
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An Oscar Mayer Wienermobile took a tumble on a Chicago-area highway during the lunchtime rush on Monday.
According to Illinois State Patrol, the Wienermobile struck a Hyundai Sedan, lost control, overcorrected and tipped onto its side.
No injuries were reported.
The iconic vehicle was scheduled to make an appearance at Tony’s Fresh Market in Round Lake Beach on Saturday. No word on whether one of the other six Wienermobiles will be sent in its place [via ABC]
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Wild tigers have been extinct in Kazakhstan for at least seven decades – but the country’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is beginning a targeted effort to reintroduce them, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature.
The project began in 2021, with the introduction of 61 Bukhara deer in the Southern Balkhash Region, which have been extinct for a century. They’re also a favorite prey of wild tigers. Nine of these deer have satellite tracking collars to monitor their movements.
Kazakhstan’s government is also working to reforest areas that tigers enjoy living and hunting in. Ecologists believe the Southern Balkhash Region can support up to 120 tigers. [via Astana Times]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 57 points (0.14%) to close at 40,358 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 8 points (0.16%) to close at 5,555 and the NASDAQ lost 10 points (0.05%) to close at 17,997.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $77; BRENT CRUDE at $81.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.50 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN tumbled on Tuesday, down over 2.4% and trading under $66,000.
🛩 There were more than 6,410 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 760 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $114 million jackpot or a $54.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Introducing OLIN REYNOLDS.
Actor RYAN REYNOLDS revealed the name of his fourth child with BLAKE LIVELY during the NYC premiere of his new film, “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
The 1-year-old attended the premiere alongside siblings, 9-year-old James, 7-year-old Inez and 4-year-old Betty. [via Page Six]
BY THE WAY: “Deadpool & Wolverine” is Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first R-rated film, and for a good reason. The threequel, out Friday, includes more than 100 F-bombs; the most of any “Deadpool” film so far. [via NY Post]
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A collection of drawings by MICHAEL JACKSON is hitting the auction block.
The 78 sketches feature images of the late singer, as well as drawings of chairs, Michelangelo’s David, several U.S. Presidents, Peter Pan, Andy Warhol, Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II. They are also each signed by MJ.
Kings Auctions is hosting the sale, and requiring an opening bid of $1 million for the lot. Should that not be met, the pieces will be sold off individually. Bidding begins August 3. [via Billboard]
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“Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum JOE GIUDICE is set to fight actor ANTIONIO SABATO JR. in a Celebrity Boxing match.
Both men are 52.
The bout will take place this December in the Bahamas, as that is the closest Joe can be to the U.S. since being deported. [via The Sun]
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HAILEY BIEBER says she is no longer “super close” with her famous family.
“I’m my own individual now, and I’ve built my own family. But when I look back on my childhood and how I grew up, I have very fond, beautiful memories,” she told W Magazine.
Hailey, who is the daughter of STEPHEN BALDWIN, is expecting her first child with husband JUSTIN BIEBER. [via Us Weekly]
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A new report from Radar Online states that MATTHEW PERRY was seeking companionship in the days leading up to his death.
An insider told the outlet the “Friends” star was communicating with two women on an adults-only website, asking them if they wanted to “be friends -- and maybe more.” When asked about their communication, the women said Perry was “never anything beyond a funny gentleman.”
Perry passed away last October after drowning in his hot tub. An autopsy later found he had an obscene amount of ketamine in his system. [via Radar Online]
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JESSIE JAMES DECKER is ready to downsize.
After welcoming baby No. 4 with her husband ERIC DECKER, the singer told fans she is considering getting smaller breast implants.
Jessie got the implants in 2021 after she and Eric decided they were done having kids. Things got complicated for her after she unexpectedly got pregnant with their fourth in 2023.
“It was fun while it lasted. But phew dey bigz already and I’m over it,” she said during an Instagram Q&A. [via Page Six]
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RUMOR IS: CELINE DION will perform during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday.
If it’s true, the performance will be her first since stepping away from the spotlight after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.
Variety reports that Dion is already in Paris, and staying at the Royal Monceau hotel. LADY GAGA is also rumored to be staying at the hotel, and has been named as another potential opening ceremony headliner. [via Variety]
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CASTING CALL
SNOOP DOGG will carry the Olympic flame around the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Friday.
From there the torch will head to its final destination -- the Olympic cauldron -- in the Tuileries Gardens in central Paris, where it will stay for the duration of the 2024 Olympics.
The identity of the final torchbearer is not yet known.
As previously reported, Snoop will be on hand to give his unique perspective on the games. [via Deadline]
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Netflix confirmed yesterday that the fourth season of “Bridgerton” will focus on LUKE THOMPSON’s character, Benedict Bridgerton.
“It has been brought to this author’s attention that perhaps it is time to unmask the newest suitor of the marriage mart…Benedict Bridgerton’s story is coming next season,” the streaming service posted on X -- emulating the voice of the show’s notorious Lady Whistledown.
The forthcoming season will have eight episodes. A premiere date has not yet been announced. [via THR]
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COLLEEN HOOVER’s best-selling book “Verity” is heading to the big screen.
This will be Hoover’s second book to get adapted into a film, joining “It Ends With Us,” starring BLAKE LIVELY.
No further details are known. [via Today]
BY THE WAY: “It Ends With Us” hits theaters August 9.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
RUMOR IS: KIM KARDASHIAN is running for President.
It all started when a photo of Kim standing alongside KAMALA HARRIS began trending online. From there, Kim’s past comments about one day running for office resurfaced. And who can forget her ex-husband YE’s infamous attempt to reach the Oval Office?
While she has no current plans to seek office, Kim is no stranger to being in the White House. This past April she sat down at a roundtable with Harris, and also visited President DONALD TRUMP in 2018. [via The Sun]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY is expecting to get an inheritance from a trust setup by his late grandmother, QUEEN ELIZABETH, when he turns 40 on September 15.
The windfall will be worth about $8.5 MILLION. His brother, PRINCE WILLIAM, already received a similar share after the Queen’s passing – but he also now manages the lucrative Duchy of Cornwall as the Prince of Wales and heir apparent.
Thanks to the United Kingdom’s aggressive inheritance tax, Harry will fork over about 40% of the inheritance to taxes. [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Pioneer Day
Samaritans Awareness Day
“Talk to Us” Day
National Tequila Day
National Tell An Old Joke Day
National Drive-Thru Day
International Self-Care Day
National Cousins Day
National Amelia Earhart Day
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ON THIS DATE
1567 - Mary Queen of Scots is forced to abdicate the throne.
Her one-year-old son became King James VI of Scotland, with his uncle, James Stewart, Earl of Moray acting as regent.
Mary fled to England, seeking the protection of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, but would be imprisoned and then executed in 1587.
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1847 - Brigham Young and his Mormon followers arrive at Salt Lake City, Utah.
The group migrated from the east after the murder of Joseph Smith, the sect’s founder and first leader.
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1866 - Tennessee becomes the first secessionist state to return to the Union. Its federal representatives were also welcomed back to Congress.
The Tennessee legislature had approved the 14th amendment, which provided for equal protection, due process, and other reconstructive elements.
It also eliminated any debts payable to anyone fomenting rebellion against the U.S. Most importantly, all men were counted as whole persons, eliminating the rule that counted each slave as three-fifths of a person.
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1911 - Hiram Bingham arrives at Machu Picchu in the Andean mountains.
The site once belonged to the Incas and is thought to have been a spiritual retreat for tribal elders.
Local peasants and farmers were familiar with the crumbling walls and eroding stonework that marked the outskirts of the ancient city, but Bingham was the first Westerner documented to have visited the ruins.
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1959 - Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev hold a heated debate in Moscow during the American National Exhibition.
Vice President Nixon was on hand to open the monument to America, as part of an effort from both countries to share the other's culture. The Soviet version had opened stateside the month prior.
In a mock American living room and kitchen, Nixon demonstrated nifty appliances and a color TV. Khrushchev was not pleased.
The Soviet premier then railed on Nixon for the recent passage of the Captive Nations Resolution in Congress, which asked for Americans to pray for the liberation and freedom of oppressed Eastern European countries.
He then declared that Russia would have all the same technology within a few years.
The debate escalated from there, with finger pointing and blame pushed around over one nation goading the other into nuclear war. The exchange ended with both men sheepishly apologizing in front of reporters.
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1969 - The first men to walk on the Moon safely return to Earth.
Neil Armstrong, "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins crewed the first manned landing mission to the Moon, with Collins being one of the more forgotten men in all of history.
After being recovered in the Pacific Ocean wearing biological containment suits, the men were kept in isolation for three weeks to ensure they hadn't picked up unknown germs while on the Moon.
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1998 - “Saving Private Ryan” opens in theaters.
The World War II drama would rack up five Oscars, including those for Steven Spielberg for directing and other technical awards.
It was one of the first movies to graphically and authentically replicate the Normandy invasion.
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2019 - Hungarian swimmer Kristof Milak breaks Michal Phelps’ 200m butterfly world record at the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
The 19-year-old swam a 1:50.73 -- 0.78 seconds faster than Phelps.
Phelps had set the record 10 years earlier.
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BIRTHDAYS
Casie Colson Baker - daughter of MGK - 15
Bindi Irwin - daughter of Steve Irwin - 26
Cailee Spaeny - actress, “Priscilla” - 27
Kyle Kuzma - basketball player - 29
Mitch Grassi - pop singer, Pentatonix - 32
Emily Rickards - actress, “Arrow” - 33
Mara Wilson - actress, “Matilda” - 37
Anna Paquin - actress, “True Blood” - 42
Elisabeth Moss - actress, “Mad Men” & “The Handmaid’s Tale” - 42
Rose Byrne - actress, “Insidious” & “Bridesmaids” - 45
Danny Dyer - actor, “Skins” & “EastEnders” - 47
Torrie Wilson - wrestler - 49
Jennifer Lopez - pop singer & actress - 55
Kristin Chenoweth - actress, “Wicked” & “Descendants” - 56
Barry Bonds - baseball player - 60
Karl Malone - basketball player - 61
Lynda Carter - actress, “Wonder Woman” - 73
Born On This Date
Amelia Earhart - aviation pioneer - 1897 (disappeared in 1937)
Bill the Butcher - gang member, Bowery Boys - 1821 (d. 1855)
Alexandre Dumas - author, “The Three Musketeers” & “The Count of Monte Cristo” - 1802 (d. 1870)
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