9/15/2022: Nicki Minaj Gets Litigious
PLUS: MORE Free Money; What Really Killed The Dinosaurs?; and More “Masterchef”
Today is Thursday, September 15, 2022.
It is the 258th day of the year.
107 days remain.
TRENDING
Jesse Powell was trending Wednesday after news of his death circulated. More on his passing in Deaths.
Dairy Queen landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends yesterday after a man claiming he wanted to “restore Trump to president of the United States,” walked into a Pennsylvania Dairy Queen armed with a handgun. He also allegedly threatened to “kill all Democrats.”
Brett Favre was trending Wednesday. Head to Sports to see why.
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LONDON BRIDGE IS DOWN
The Queen’s casket arrived at Westminster Hall Wednesday, where it will remain until her funeral on Monday.
Immediate members of the royal family joined a procession behind the coffin from Buckingham Palace en route to Westminster as mourners looked on.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the line to see the casket and pay respects stretched nearly three miles.
HIT LIST
An unnamed staff member at Northeastern University in Boston is recovering after a small package bomb exploded when it was opened.
Officials were called Tuesday night after the explosion, and reports indicate a similar device was found at a nearby art museum.
No suspects or motive have been identified.
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A new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal suggests an enormous asteroid didn’t kill dinosaurs after all – and instead it was a terrifying increase in volcanic activity.
The researchers’ main theory is that geologic history shows massive volcanic eruptions line up with other mass extinction events over the eons. These “flood basalt” episodes cause large swaths of land to be covered in lava over the course of a million years, which is pretty quick on the geologic time scale.
WORTH NOTING: Given the million-year timescale of a continental lava flood, the authors admit the asteroid could have also been a death blow for the inevitable.
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Netflix has been pitching advertisers on its discounted, ad-supported tier slated to roll out in the coming weeks.
Internal documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal suggest the streamer expects 40 million viewers using the supported plan a year from now.
The “projected unique viewers” number is different from the number of subscribers, given how many people share their plans.
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Ahead of a potential national railroad workers strike, Amtrak is ramping down its long-distance service.
Amtrak owns and operates its own routes in the Northeast, so it will maintain service in many parts of the country, but freight rail will suffer if the strike goes on.
Nearly 115,000 employees represented by BNSF, Union Pacific, and CSX would strike Friday if a deal is not ironed out.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow was flat Wednesday, picking up just 30 points (0.097%). The S&P 500 was up 13 points (0.34%) to close at 3,946 and the Nasdaq was up 86 points (0.74%) to close at 11,719.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate was just shy of $89 a barrel Wednesday, while Brent Crude closed at $94.10.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.70 on Wednesday.
₿ Bitcoin was back under $20,000 on Wednesday, losing more than $200 and trading around $19,900.
🛩 There were 2,117 flights delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and 73 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Watch as these fishermen get the shock of a lifetime when a shark leaps out of the water and onto their boat.
The video, which was shared by Sea Ventures Charters, has been viewed more than 3.3 million times.
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DEATHS
JESSE POWELL has died.
The R&B singer passed away Tuesday at his Los Angeles home. No cause of death was shared.
He was 51.
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IRENE PAPAS has died.
The Greek actress, known for her roles in “ Zorba the Greek” and “The Guns of Navarone,” passed away Wednesday. No further details were shared.
She was 96.
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BREAKUPS
Actress BRITTANY SNOW, 36, and her husband, realtor TYLER STANALAND, 33, have called it quits.
Infidelity rumors have plagued the couple for months, but insiders told TMZ “there is no truth to any of those.”
Sources attributed the split to distance, as Snow lives in Los Angeles and Stanaland resides in Orange County.
Snow announced the breakup news on Instagram Wednesday.
The exes got married in 2020.
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SICK BAY
WENDY WILLIAMS is back in rehab for substance abuse issues.
While it is unknown where she is seeking treatment, a source told Page Six that her issues “have gotten worse.” Adding, “She went from wine to straight up vodka.”
Williams’ rep told the US Sun that the former TV show host is in a “wellness facility” to “manage her overall health issues.”
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THE SWAMP
Not only has President JOE BIDEN authorized blanket student loan forgiveness to the tune of $10,000 for millions of Americans – he’s refunding payments made during the pandemic, too.
As part of the program, payments made up to $10,000 – or $20,000 for those who qualify – since March 13, 2020 will be automatically refunded for those who have federally-backed loans.
If you managed to pay off your balance, you’re in luck – you can request up to $10,000 in free money through your loan provider.
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The Wisconsin Senate Race has tightened significantly over the last month.
In August, incumbent Republican Senator RON JOHNSON trailed Lieutenant Governor MANDELA BARNES by 7 points, 45-to-52.
Now, Johnson has a one point lead, according to the Marquette University Law Poll, up 49-to-48.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Friday night’s drawing will be for a $256 million jackpot or a $137.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
NICKI MINAJ is suing blogger NOSEY HEAUX for calling her a “cokehead.”
Heaux posted a video to social media this week claiming that Minaj shoves “all this cocaine up her nose. Allegedly.” She later added, “I’m not saying allegedly on that. Nicki Minaj is a cokehead.”
According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, Minaj is also upset over comments Heaux made about her one-year-old son, whom she shares with her husband KENNETH PETTY.
Referencing Petty being a registered sex offender, Heaux claimed their child “will need therapy” because he is “going to be a rapist, too.”
Minaj is suing the blogger for defamation and seeking damages of “no less than $75,000.”
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BRITNEY SPEARS shed a few tears while dancing on camera at her home, concerning many of her followers.
In an attempt to get ahead of any falsehoods, Spears captioned the footage “It’s been a while since I’ve cried on camera !!! It’s not a breakdown assholes, it’s a release that I’ve needed for a very long time now !!!”
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DEMI LOVATO says that her current tour will be her last.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, the singer shared photos looking out a hotel room window with the words, “I’m so [effing] sick I can't get out of bed. I can’t do this anymore. This next tour will be my last. I love and thank you guys.”
While she wrote “this next tour” multiple outlets took that to mean her current tour for her eighth studio album “Holy Fvck” will be her last.
WORTH NOTING: She is only a month into the tour.
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EMINEM sat down on SiriusXM’s “Paul Pod: Curtain Call 2” Wednesday, where he chatted about his “little issue” with fellow rapper, SNOOP DOGG.
The animosity between the two started due to some “miscommunication” over an album collaboration some time ago, and finally came to a head when their close friend and collaborator DR. DRE suffered a brain aneurysm last year.
Em said he couldn’t remember which of them reached out first, but that they both agreed their feud “wasn’t worth it.”
As many may recall, Dre was hospitalized in January 2021 with the aneurysm.
A year later, all three performed alongside each other during the Super Bowl halftime show.
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JOSH DUHAMEL was in the emergency room just hours before marrying former pageant queen, AUDRA MARI, earlier this month.
Mari told Australia Vogue that the actor threw his back out after “pulling some wild dance moves” on a party bus the night before their big day.
Doctors found he had slipped a disc. One cortisone shot later and he was feeling fine to walk down the aisle.
WORTH NOTING: Perhaps Duhamel, who is 49-years-old, is having a hard time keeping up with his 28-year-old bride.
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RYAN REYNOLDS teamed up with Lead From Behind, a colon cancer awareness organization, in an effort to destigmatize colonoscopies.
Per the deal, the 45-year-old actor agreed to have his first ever colonoscopy filmed and broadcast on his YouTube page. While he was fine with a “camera being shoved up [his] ass” for a good cause, he was shocked when he was told that doctors found and removed a “subtle polyp.”
“This was potentially life-saving for you -- I’m not kidding, I’m not being overly dramatic,” the doctor told Reynolds.
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JOHN STAMOS is working on a memoir.
The book, titled “If You Would Have Told Me,” is set to be published next fall.
Stamos described it as his “story about Hollywood, fame, fortune and [eff-ups]. It’s also about home, heart and healing.”
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CASTING CALL
There was a shooting near the set of “Chicago Fire” on Wednesday.
Chicago Police confirmed the news to Deadline, stating that an unknown offender, armed with a handgun, shot at a group of people standing on a street corner yesterday afternoon. No one was hit and the gunman left in a dark color SUV.
Cast members of the NBC show were reportedly close to the location and cameras were rolling at the time. Production stopped for the day following the close call.
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ABC announced additional celebrity guests set to appear in the upcoming “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter” special.
GEORGE CLOONEY, LAVERNE COX, TOM HANKS, RITA MORENO, and more join previously announced JENNIFER ANISTON, JIMMY KIMMEL, AMY POEHLER and OCTAVIA SPENCER.
Performers for the special include, ANTHONY ANDERSON, KRISTEN BELL, TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, KELLY ROWLAND, MICHELLE WILLIAMS and more.
The special is set for Thursday, September 22
Lear created television classics such as “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times,” Sanford and Son,” “One Day at a Time” and many, many more. The special was announced on his 100th birthday, July 27, 2022.
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FOX has renewed GORDON RAMSAY’s “Masterchef” for a 13th season.
Season 12 concluded Wednesday night.
The season averaged 4.7 million multi-platform viewers, according to the network.
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COURT CASES
R. KELLY was found guilty on 6 of 13 charges in his federal trial in Illinois on Wednesday.
The jury convicted him on the child pornography counts, but acquitted him on the rest, including charges of conspiracy and enticement.
Kelly will be sentenced at a later date.
WORTH REMEMBERING: He was already sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal sex crime charges in New York.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN says she has not allowed her son MASON, 12, to have french fries in over a year.
Speaking to WSJ. Magazine about her new vitamin and supplement brand Lemme, the mom-of-three shared how her healthy lifestyle affects her kids.
“Today I was having my one-on-one time with my son [Mason] and he said ‘Mom, I need McDonald’s french fries today, please. It’s been a year since I’ve had it.’ I was like, ‘Today’s not the day, sorry.’”
WORTH NOTING: When the kids are with their dad, Kourtney’s ex, SCOTT DISICK, their eating habits are not nearly as strict, which fans of their reality show have noted.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY’s memoir is still on the back burner, even after the passing of his grandmother, QUEEN ELIZABETH.
While it was previously reported that the book was set to be pushed back until early 2023, it appears that it will now be delayed further.
One source told Variety that Harry is likely combing through the book one last time to remove anything that could be perceived as negative against the Queen.
Another insider called the further delay “a matter of respect for Her Majesty.”
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SPORTS
Former Mississippi Governor PHIL BRYANT reportedly helped former QB BRETT FAVRE get welfare funds to build a new volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi. The claim was made in a new investigative report from Mississippi Today.
According to the outlet, text messages from 2017 and 2019 between Favre, Bryant and NANCY NEW, the founder of the Mississippi Community Education Center, show the three discussing how to “divert at least $5 million in welfare funds to build a volleyball stadium” at the school.
WORTH NOTING: Favre played football at the university, and his daughter was a volleyball player at the school at the time some of the texts were sent.
Favre -- through his lawyer -- has denied knowing he received welfare funds. Bryant has also denied directing welfare funds to the project.
MEANWHILE: New, whose job at the nonprofit was to delegate the spending of tens of millions in federal welfare funds to help the state, has already pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering in a larger public fraud case. Favre and Bryant have not been criminally charged.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Greenpeace Day
National Online Learning Day
National Cheese Toast Day
National Linguine Day
National Felt Hat Day
National Double Cheeseburger Day
National Creme De Menthe Day
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ON THIS DATE
1789 – George Washington signs a law that makes some tweaks to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
It would from then-on be called the Department of State. Its initial responsibilities included managing the U.S. mint and taking the census, though these duties have been funneled to other federal organizations through time.
John Jay was serving as the interim secretary of the department, until Washington appointed Thomas Jefferson to the slot later that month.
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1835 – Charles Darwin arrives at the Galapagos Islands, on board the HMS Beagle.
Darwin's observations made on the island chain impelled his theories of evolution and natural selection.
Darwin also proved himself as a knowledgeable geologist and popular author. His published journal from the time he spent on the Beagle became popular in Britain and elsewhere.
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1857 – The first trans-continental mail service begins. Two stage coaches each leave from St. Louis and San Francisco. Along with the mail and packages, each coach held 6 passengers. A one-way fare cost $200.
The trip usually took just under 25 days.
The Butterfield Overland Mail Company owned the stage coaches. They had been awarded a $600,000 government contract to provide the service.
When the trans-continental railroad was completed in 1869, their contract expired.
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1884 – Surgeon Carl Koller's research that cocaine works as a local anesthetic is presented at a medical conference in Germany.
Koller had proven that cocaine dissolved in water worked to numb nerve endings. It became particularly useful for early eye surgeries.
One doctor started injecting cocaine as a local anesthetic. Though it worked, the recipients of the drug suddenly wanted more and more of it.
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1914 – Allied and German forces build trenches for the first time during World War I during the Battle of the Marne.
The trench strategy would continue throughout the war, prolonging bloody battles.
Laid end-to-end, the trenches stretched 25,000 miles -- that's about the circumference of the Earth.
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1954 – The iconic photo of Marilyn Monroe giggling while a subway vent lifts her skirt is shot while she filmed “The Seven Year Itch.”
The pic ticked off her husband, Joe DiMaggio, who thought it was rather un-ladylike.
The pair soon divorced.
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1968 – Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 launches.
It would fly around the Moon and successfully return to Earth -- the first to do so. On board were two turtles, flies, and other insects and bacteria. Most of the critters survived, proving that life could survive a trip to the moon and back.
The mission was a precursor to planned manned Soviet missions to the Moon, which never got off the ground.
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2008 – The reality of the American mortgage crisis starts sinking in when Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
It was the largest company to go under in American history. The Dow Jones lost 500 points that day.
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2021 - Elon Musk's SpaceX launches the first all-civilian spaceflight.
The three-day orbit around Earth blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, with four non-professional astronauts aboard.
The amateur astronauts were: Jared Issacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski and Dr. Sian Proctor.
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BIRTHDAYS
Matt Shively - actor, “True Jackson” & “VP” - 32
Chelsea Kane - actress, “Baby Daddy” - 34
Heidi Pratt - reality star, “The Hills” - 36
Prince Harry - royal - 38
Ben Schwartz - actor, “Parks and Recreation” - 41
Tom Hardy - actor, “Venom” & “The Dark Knight Rises” - 45
Jimmy Carr - comedian - 50
Queen Letizia of Spain - royal - 50
Lisa Vanderpump - reality star, “Vanderpump Rules” - 62
Brendan O’Carroll - comedian - 67
Pete Carroll - football coach - 71
Tommy Lee Jones - actor, “The Fugitive” & “Men in Black” - 76
Born On This Date
Agatha Christie - novelist, “Murder on the Orient Express” - 1890 (d. 1976)
Marco Polo - explorer - 1254 (d. 1324)
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