Today is Friday, August 16, 2024.
It is the 229th day of the year.
137 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The Secret Service readies new plans to protect DONALD TRUMP and an unlikely culprit shepherds drugs into the clink. Details in HIT LIST.
Arrests made in connection to the death of MATTHEW PERRY. Find out more in SHOWBIZ.
Is the end of late-night TV imminent? Details in CASTING CALL.
A life update on KIM in KARDASH.
A peek into the late Queen’s luxury air travel in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The Secret Service announced Thursday it is implementing an enhanced security plan to protect DONALD TRUMP in the closing weeks of the 2024 campaign.
Trump has agreed to hold more rallies indoors, but when he is outside again, he will be protected by bulletproof glass, a feature typically reserved for sitting presidents and vice presidents.
A rep for the Secret Service said the agency is also adding “technical security assets,” but did not go into detail of what that entails, though it could include remote controlled drone surveillance.
Trump has indicated he will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, for a rally to honor the life of COREY COMPERATORE, who was murdered on July 13 in the same attack that left Trump and two others wounded. [via Washington Post]
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UPDATE: A day after news broke that Chipotle exec BRIAN NICCOL is headed to take over STARBUCKS, the coffee chain filed disclosures indicating he’ll earn as much as $116.8 MILLION in his first year.
Most of that is in the form of incentive-based bonuses and stock. Niccol’s base salary is $1.6 MILLION, with the option to earn another $7.2 MILLION in cash and equity awards worth up to $23 MILLION.
GOLDEN PARACHUTE: And just for leaving Chipotle in better shape, he’s taking home a $10 MILLION departure bonus and $75 MILLION in equity. Chipotle’s stock is up 773% since he took over as chief executive. [via CNBC]
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An Iowa prison guard has been busted for being a drug mule for the very inmates he watched over.
Mario Antonio Rocha, 26, was arrested and charged on four counts of possession of contraband in a correctional institution. Each count is a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office – that’s the Des Moines area – got a tip earlier this month that Rocha was bringing in synthetic marijuana. Rocha admitted to doing so on four occasions after an initial questioning. A court filing also suggests Rocha used his personal cell phone to communicate with significant others of some prisoners. [via Des Moines Register]
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DEERE & CO – known for their iconic green-and-yellow tractors and farming equipment – announced massive production layoffs and administrative cutbacks in a Thursday call with industry analysts.
The company has laid off more than 2,000 workers at assembly plants and cut “hundreds” of salaried employees and managers. “It’s all about taking out excess costs and restructuring the business,” said CEO John May.
Deere reported a 42% drop in quarterly profit year-over-year and overall sales down by 20%. Despite the grim numbers, they exceeded industry expectations, bolstering Deere’s stock 7%. [via WSJ]
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Five people in New Hampshire were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease last month after being exposed to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower in downtown Lincoln.
Four of the individuals required hospitalization and were later discharged. All five have since recovered from the disease.
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services alerted the public to the contamination, saying those “within a half-mile” of the cooling tower may still be at some risk of exposure, as it is still “in operation while remediation is ongoing.”
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ typically include headache, muscle aches, a cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain, and usually show up two to 10 days after exposure.
Approximately 250 people die from the disease each year in the U.S. [via NBC, Mayo Clinic]
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DEATHS
Actor-turned-singer-turned-game show host PETER MARSHALL has died.
He passed away Thursday at his California home of kidney failure.
Marshall is best known for his 16 years hosting “The Hollywood Squares.”
He was 98.
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WALLACE “Wally” AMOS JR., the founder of Famous Amos cookies, has died.
He passed away peacefully at home on Monday after a battle with dementia, according to a statement from his family.
Amos Jr. opened the first Famous Amos cookie shop in Hollywood in 1975.
He was 88.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 554 points (1.39%) to close at 40,563 on Thursday. The S&P increased 88 points (1.6%) to close at 5,543 and the NASDAQ increased 401 points (2.34%) to close at 17,594.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $77; BRENT CRUDE at $80.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.42 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN slid nearly 3% on Thursday, trading around $57,000.
🛩 There were more than 4,330 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 $464 million jackpot or a $228.2 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $35 million jackpot or a $17.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Amy Shark, “Sunday Sadness”
Foster the People, “Paradise State of Mind”
Post Malone, “F-1 Trillion”
The Script, “Satellites”
The Wiggles, “Wiggle & Learn”
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Five people have been arrested in connection to actor MATTHEW PERRY’s death, in what prosecutors have dubbed a “broad underground criminal network.”
Two of the five are doctors, one of which allegedly wrote in a text, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Let’s find out.” A woman known as the “ketamine queen” was also arrested, along with Perry’s personal assistant, and a go-between by the name of Erik Fleming.
In the two months leading up to his passing, court documents show that Perry paid around $55,000 in cash for vials of ketamine.
While Perry drowned in his hot tub last October, it was the high amount of ketamine in his system that ultimately led to his death. [via NYT]
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Olympic gymnast JORDAN CHILES issued a statement Thursday, calling the back-and-forth over her Bronze medal “unjust” and “a significant blow.”
Going forward, she said she plans to “make every effort to ensure justice is done.”
Chiles is referring to the back-and-forth between USA Gymnastics and the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the Bronze medal she was awarded for her floor routine. It was later ruled that it belonged to Romania’s ANA BARBOSU.
Read her entire statement here>
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Many fans were quick to take BLAKE LIVELY’s side in the rumored on-set feud between her and director/star JUSTIN BALDONI…until past clips resurfaced painting her in a not-so-sweet light.
Reporter Kjersti Flaa shared footage from an interview she did with Lively in 2016, which she called the “most uncomfortable interview situation” ever. It was so bad that afterward, Flaa considered quitting.
MEANWHILE: Lively is choosing to discuss her bestie, TAYLOR SWIFT, and how she wishes her concerts were “47 hours long,” rather than all the drama. [via Page Six]
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ROB SCHNEIDER apologized to his daughter ELLE KING this week, after she called him out over parenting choices he made when she was younger.
When asked by TUCKER CARLSON about King’s comments, Schneider admitted he wasn’t a good father and asked for her forgiveness. He also said his only wish is for her to be happy.
No word from King if she will accept his apology. [via TMZ]
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KATY PERRY’s team claims they secured “all necessary permits” when it came to filming her music video on the ecologically sensitive sand dunes on the Spanish island of Formentera.
“We adhered to all regulations associated with filming in this area and have the utmost respect for this location and the officials tasked with protecting it,” the team said in response to reports an investigation had been opened by the Spanish government.
The local environment department for the islands claims Perry and her team did not have permission to film there. [via The Independent]
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The buyer of KEVIN SPACEY’s Baltimore mansion claims the actor won’t vacate.
Sam Asgari (not to be confused with Britney Spears’ ex-husband Sam Asghari) purchased the 9,000-square-foot waterfront home at a foreclosure auction for $3.24 million. What appeared to be a smooth transaction has left him dealing with Spacey’s lawyers, who have asked for six more months in the home for their client. Oh, and without him paying for anything.
If Spacey chooses not to leave, Asgari plans to begin eviction proceedings. [via NY Post]
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CASTING CALL
JIMMY KIMMEL thinks there is about 10 years left of late-night TV.
He shared his thoughts on the matter on the latest episode of GAVIN NEWSOM, MARSHAWN LYNCH and DOUG HENDRICKSON’s “Politickin” podcast.
Laying blame on streaming services, Kimmel said, “It used to be Johnny Carson was the only thing on at 11:30 p.m. and so everybody watched and then David Letterman was on after Johnny so people watched those two shows, but now [there are] so many options.”
Kimmel has been hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for 21 years. [via Variety]
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BEN AFFLECK’s cousin, ZAC AFFLECK, is set to be part of Hulu’s forthcoming reality series, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
Zac’s wife, TikToker JEN AFFLECK, stars in the show alongside other Mormon moms who have also risen to fame on the video sharing app.
Per the official synopsis, the series will follow the “scandalous world of a group of Mormon mom influencers that implodes when they get caught in the middle of a swinging sex scandal.”
The full eight-episode season will drop on September 6. [via People]
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The home that served as the setting for STEVEN SPIELBERG’s horror flick “Poltergeist” is for sale.
The 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath pad sits on a 16,000-square-foot lot and features a large swimming pool and jacuzzi.
It has a $1.174 million asking price. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN may be enjoying the single life, but her kids are on the hunt to find her a love match.
During a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,” Kim shared that her kids make lists of potential suitors, which include some of their favorite athletes and social media influencers.
With three divorces under her belt, Kim says she is going to be extra particular about the next guy she dates. [via TMZ]
MEANWHILE: Kim inked a multi-year deal with 20th Television, that spans drama, comedy and limited series. Her first project, titled “Group Chat,” will star one of her gal pals, LA LA ANTHONY. The comedy is based off of Anthony’s book, “The Love Playbook: Rules for Love, Sex, and Happiness.” It will air on Hulu. [via Deadline]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
When QUEEN ELIZABETH and PRINCE PHILIP traveled to Southeast Asia in 1989, they flew on a British Airways jet. Now, the notes kept by one of the flight attendants crewing that flight have been sold at auction, including details about the amenities the late monarch enjoyed in the air.
According to the attendant, Elizabeth Evans, the Queen liked to have a martini before interacting with any guests. She also specifically asked for a bowl of Velamints-brand breath mints. The queen’s staff also brought her own pillows for the journey.
Most importantly, Evans and other airplane crew were told to let the Queen sleep if she was still dozing when the plane arrived. [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Men’s Grooming Day
Gold Cup Parade
National Rum Day
Kool Aid Day
National Tell A Joke Day
National Airborne Day
National Roller Coaster Day
World Bratwurst Day
Surveillance Day
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ON THIS DATE
1501 - Michelangelo is awarded the contract to create his statue of David by the Overseers of the Office of Works of the Duomo, Florence’s cathedral church.
The statue would be completed three years later
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1812 - The British Army captures Detroit without having to fire a shot.
American General William Hull, foreseeing a losing battle, surrendered what was then just a fort.
Hull was a veteran of the Revolution, and understood the prowess of the British Army. He also had family with him inside the fort.
He was later court-martialed and sentenced to death for cowardice. President James Madison would commute that sentence for his service in the revolution.
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1841 - Protesters gather outside the White House and burn President John Tyler in effigy.
The protestors, from his own Whig party, were angry that he vetoed an effort to establish a Bank of the United States.
Following the riot, the District of Columbia established its own police force.
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1896 - George Carmack finds gold in the Yukon territory.
He saw the shiny metal in a creek bed after traveling west on intel that there was plenty of gold in Alaska.
The news quickly spread and sparked a mining rush into the Yukon territory.
Some dispute that Carmack was the one who made the discovery, believing that it was actually one of his Native American guides named Skookum Jim.
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1948 - Babe Ruth dies from cancer in New York City.
Following his death, he was laid in state at the entrance of Yankee Stadium. Thousands showed up to pay their respects.
He would finally be laid to rest in Hawthorne, New York.
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1977 - Elvis Presley kicks the bucket in his Graceland mansion.
The King was on the toilet when he suffered a heart attack.
In his later years, his unhealthy diet and drug habit was notorious, contributing to his early death at only 42-years-old.
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2008 - Michael Phelps wins his 7th gold medal at the Beijing Olympics for his time in the 100-meter butterfly.
He also set a new Olympic record of 50.58 — besting Milorad Cavic of Serbia by 0.01.
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2018 - British Columbia, Canada declares a State of Emergency with 566 wildfires scorching the area.
More than 3,000 people were evacuated.
So far, more than 1,800 fires have charred more than 939,000 acres, marking the province’s fourth worst fire season since it began keeping track in 1950.
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BIRTHDAYS
Skylar Dunn - actress, “The Greatest Showman” - 17
Talia Ryder - actress, “Strangers” - 22
Jack Met - pop singer, AJR - 27
Caeleb Dressel - Olympic swimmer - 28
Cameron Monaghan - actor, “Shameless” - 31
Evanna Lynch - actress, “My Name is Emily” - 33
Rumer Willis - daughter of Bruce & Demi Moore - 36
Okieriete Onaodowan - actor, “Station 19” - 37
Arden Cho - actress, “Teen Wolf” - 39
Vanessa Carlton - pop singer - 44
Taika Waititi - director - 49
Jase Robertson - reality star, “Duck Dynasty” - 55
Steve Carell - actor, “The Office” - 62
Angela Bassett - actress, “Black Panther” & “Malcolm X” - 66
Madonna - pop singer - 66
James Cameron - director - 70
Reginald Veljohnson - actor, “Family Matters” - 72
Lesley Ann Warren - actress, “Cinderella” - 78
Lorraine Gray - “Jaws” films - 87
Born On This Date
Fess Parker - actor, “Davy Crockett” & “Old Yeller” - 1925 (d. 2010)
Glenn Strange - actor, “Gunsmoke” - 1899 (d. 1973)
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