9/25/2023: Who Will Be Crowned the Biggest Bear? đ»
PLUS: Terrible Tourists; Taylor & Travis; and Royal Name Drop
Today is Monday, September 25, 2023.
It is the 268th day of the year.
97 days remain.
WHATâS ON TAP
Space rock returns to Earth and a missing toddler is found with her two dogs at her side. More in HIT LIST.Â
Former President JIMMY CARTER attends the Plains Peanut Festival and BRITNEY SPEARSâ Mercedes-Benz is for sale. More in SHOWBIZ.Â
âMean Girlsâ the musical is heading to theaters and September 22 is now âJersey Shoreâ Day. More in CASTING CALL.
Has BIANCA CENSORI accomplished what no one has been able to do before? Find out in KARDASH.Â
PRINCE HARRY turned down a chance to reunite with KING CHARLES and MEGHAN MARKLE has given up on claiming Archetypes. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
NASAâs first asteroid samples landed in the Utah desert on Sunday to conclude a seven-year journey.Â
In a flyby, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft released the sample capsule from 63,000 miles out before setting off in search of the asteroid Apophis, which it will reach in 2029.Â
Scientists believe the capsule holds about a cup of rubble from the carbon-rich asteroid known as Bennu. The contents are the biggest haul of substances from beyond the moon, and will help scientists better understand how Earth and life formed.Â
A public show-and-tell is being planned by NASA for next month. [via NASA]
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A picturesque road in Pomfret, Vermont has been closed during peak foliage season to avoid a stampede of influencers and traffic to the area.Â
After several complaints of heavy traffic, drones and people trespassing on private property to get the perfect shot for social media, the selectboard voted to close Cloudland Road from September 23 to October 15.Â
Vermont has become synonymous with Fall on social media, especially on TikTok, where some influencers get paid thousands of dollars to film on Cloudland Road, which is where the Sleepy Hollow Farm is located. [via Insider]
TERRIBLE TOURISTS: Meanwhile, across the country, Point La Jolla and parts of Boomer Beach in California have been closed for the next seven years after negative interactions between humans and sea lions. The beaches were previously closed from May to October for âpupping season,â when moms and their newborn pups bond, nurse and learn to swim, but tourists still couldnât stay away. [via Insider]
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A 73-year-old woman believed to be asleep on her flight from London to Nice was actually dead.Â
Upon landing passengers on the plane became concerned after not being able to wake up the sleeping woman. Emergency services were called, but paramedics were unable to revive her.Â
It is believed that she suffered a heart attack mid-air. [via Connexion]
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A TODDLERâS BEST FRIEND: A missing two-year-old was found sleeping with her two dogs in a wooded area off a hiking trail in Michigan last week.Â
Thea Chase was reported missing after she had wandered away from a home in Faithorn, which is located about an hour from the Wisconsin border.Â
After four hours of searching, Thea was found sleeping, using the familyâs English Springer as a pillow, while their Rottweiler stood guard.Â
Despite the cool weather that evening, Thea did not appear to have any injuries or health concerns; her two pups likely kept her warm. [via CNN]
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Fat Bear Week is back!Â
The annual event, created by administrators at Katmai National Park in Alaska, celebrates the local community of brown bears, who are fattening up for the winter.Â
From October 4-10 the public can vote on who they think the meatiest bear is. To see who is in the running, a bear bracket will be posted on October 2 on FatBearWeek.com.
By the way -- the boys typically weigh between 1,000 and 1,400 pounds, while the girls reach weights of 700 to 800 pounds, according to Ranger Naomi Boak. [via NPR]
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DEATHS
Former mob boss JOSEPH âBig Joeyâ MASSINO has died.Â
He passed away at a New York City rehab center on September 14, according to a family source.
Massino was the first head of one of New Yorkâs five mob families (the Bonnano family) to ever turn into a rat.Â
He was 80.Â
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Hockey player NIC KERDILES has died.Â
He passed away early Saturday morning after crashing his motorcycle into the side of a vehicle in Nashville.Â
Kerdiles, who once played for the UW-Madison hockey team, was also previously engaged to reality star SAVANNAH CHRISLEY.Â
He was only 29.Â
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RELATIONSHIPS
Actor BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN and dancer SHARNA BURGESS are engaged.Â
The couple announced the news on an episode of Greenâs iHeart radio podcast, âOld-ish,â revealing that he popped the question during his surprise birthday party in July.Â
Three of Greenâs kids, including the one-year-old he shares with Burgess, were on hand for the proposal.Â
Green was previously married to actress MEGAN FOX, whom he shares sons Noah, Bodhi and Journey with. He is also dad to Kassius, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend, actress VANESSA MARCIL.Â
Heâs 50 and sheâs 38.Â
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LEONARDO DICAPRIO is dating model VITTORIA CERETTI.Â
Speculation of a romantic relationship started in August when the two were spotted getting cozy at a club in Ibiza. Insiders claim it is more than just a casual fling.Â
Heâs 48 and sheâs 25.Â
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PETE DAVIDSON is dating actress MADELYN CLINE.Â
While it is unknown how or when the two connected, insiders say they are officially an item.Â
Davidson recently split with actress CHASE SUI WONDERS, while CLINE was previously linked to her âOuter Banksâ co-star CHASE STOKES.Â
Heâs 29 and sheâs 25.Â
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WEDDINGS
HULK HOGAN married yoga instructor SKY DAILY on Friday in an intimate, spur-of-the-moment ceremony in Clearwater, Florida.Â
This is Hulkâs third marriage. He shares two kids with first wife Linda Claridge -- son Nick and daughter Brooke. Nick was in attendance for the nuptials, but Brooke was unable to make it due to the short notice.Â
Hulk was married to Jennifer McDaniel from 2010 to 2021.Â
By the way -- he is 70 and she is 45.Â
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Oppenheimer: $1.6 million (down from 9)
9. Blue Beetle: $1.8 million (down from 6)
8. Dumb Money: $2.5 million (up from 19)
7. It Lives Inside: $2.6 million (new)
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3: $3 million (down from 4)
5. Barbie: $3.2 million (stayed at 5)
4. The Equalizer 3: $4.7 million (down from 3)
3. A Haunting in Venice: $6.3 million (down from 2)
2. Expend4bles: $8.3 million (new)
1. The Nun II: $8.4 million (stayed at 1)Â
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BY THE NUMBERS
đ The DOW lost 106 points (0.31%) to close at 33,963 on Friday. The S&P lost 9 points (0.23%) to close at 4,320 and the NASDAQ lost 12 points (0.092%) to close at 13,211.Â
đą WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $90 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $92.Â
✠The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.85 on Sunday.
âż BITCOIN was trading around $25,505 on Sunday.
đ© There were more than 3,387 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 91 such cancellations.
đ°Tuesday nightâs MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $230 million jackpot or a $107.8 million cash payout. Tonightâs POWERBALL drawing will be for a $785 million jackpot or a $367 million cash payout.Â
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
More than 35,000 Swifties registered to vote on National Voting Day (September 19) after TAYLOR SWIFT posted a message on Instagram urging her followers to do so.Â
âIâve heard you raise your voices, and I know how powerful they are. Make sure youâre ready to use them in our elections this year!â she wrote alongside a link to Vote.org. [via Billboard]
SPEAKING OF SWIFT: Rumors that Taylor is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end TRAVIS KELCE were all but confirmed on Sunday when she was spotted sitting next to his mom in a suite at the Chiefs game.Â
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More bad news for â90s kids.Â
An insider told TMZ that rumors of NSYNC, The BACKSTREET BOYS and DESTINYâS CHILD performing at the Super Bowl are not true. [via TMZ]
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: The ladies of Destinyâs Child reunited to perform at the Super Bowl in 2013 and NSYNCâs JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE performed at the big game in 2018 and 2004 -- the latter of which being the infamous âNipplegateâ with JANET JACKSON.Â
YEAH!: As for who will be performing at the 2024 Super Bowl, the NFL announced Sunday that USHER will headline the event. This will be his second time performing at the big game; he made an appearance at Super Bowl XLV in 2011. [via Page Six]
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LAMAR ODOM is taking sober life seriously.Â
The former NBA star reached out to reality star SHANNON BEADOR, offering her treatment at one of his 14 treatment centers.Â
Remember, Beador was arrested last week on DUI and hit-and-run charges after crashing her car into a home in Newport Beach. [via Radar Online]
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KEVIN BACON demolished a haunted house on his Connecticut farm because the previous owner was concerned he would become âpossessed.âÂ
After buying up plots of land around his property to keep the area private, Bacon said the previous owner was willing to sell him the land, but not the home, which he claimed to be haunted. Eventually the two came to an agreement that Bacon could buy the land -- house included -- but he had to knock it down within a month of the purchase.Â
The backstory of the haunted house -- per the owner -- is that a Native American was killed there by a colonial soldier in the 1700s. [via NY Post]Â
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KEVIN COSTNERâs âOne805 Live,â a charity event for first responders in California, was full of Hollywood A-listers.Â
In attendance were OPRAH WINFREY, ELLEN DEGENERES, PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE.Â
MAROON 5 also took the stage later on in the evening.
WORTH NOTING: Costnerâs ex-wife CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER is not believed to have been in attendance despite her name being listed alongside his as host of the event. [via People]
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Former president JIMMY CARTER made a public appearance to celebrate his 99th birthday in Georgia on Saturday.Â
He was met with loud applause as he attended the Plains Peanut Festival, alongside his wife, ROSALYNN CARTER.Â
The outing comes seven months after Jimmy entered hospice care.Â
He will turn 99 on October 1.Â
WORTH NOTING: Not only is Jimmy the oldest living President, but his 76-year marriage to Rosalynn is the longest between any President and First Lady in US history. [via Daily Mail]
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BRITNEY SPEARSâ iconic black 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK350 -- once deemed the most dangerous vehicle on the streets of L.A. -- is for sale.Â
Volo Auto Museum in Illinois, where the car has been on display since 2011, has listed the vehicle for $70,000.Â
Many may recognize the vehicle as the one Brit was driving when her life began to spiral out of control. In this car, she would fly through red lights to avoid paparazzi and was even involved in a hit-and-run.Â
The car -- and her decision-making -- were taken away in 2008, when she was placed under a conservatorship. No word on whether or not she is looking to buy back her ride. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and WGA met over the weekend to negotiate a new three-year contract.
An agreement would bring the end to the nearly five-month long strike, though there would still be some paperwork involved before things would be official.Â
WORTH NOTING: Sunday was day 146 of the writersâ strike, putting it within two weeks of the longest strike in the unionâs history, which lasted 154 days in 1988. [via CNN]
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The âMean Girlsâ Broadway musical is heading to theaters.Â
According to Deadline, the project was originally intended to stream on Paramount+, but will now hit theaters in January 2024.Â
The movie stars RENNE RAPP as Regina George, head of the plastics, while TINA FEY reprises her role as Ms. Norbury.Â
Others in the film include ANGOURIE RICE, AULIâI CRAVALHO, JAQUEL SPIVEY, JENNA FISHER, BUSY PHILIPPS, AVANTIKA, MAHI ALAM, CHRISTOPHER BRINEY, BEBE WOOD, ASHLEY PARK, CONNOR RATLIFF and JON HAMM.Â
The original âMean Girlsâ movie premiered in April 2004. [via Deadline]
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September 22 is now and forever âJersey Shoreâ Day in Atlantic City.Â
The cast of the reality TV show -- MIKE âThe Situationâ SORRENTINO, PAULY D, ANGELINA PIVARNICK, DEENA CORTESE and SAMMI âSweetheartâ GIANCOLA, were honored by Mayor Marty Small outside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino last week. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
BIANCA CENSORI has been dubbed âThe Kanye West Whispererâ by his team.Â
A source close to the couple told The Sun that Censori seems to be the âonly one who understands how to talk to him without turning him off.âÂ
âPeople who work with him would ask Bianca if she could âYe translateâ important things,â the insider continued.Â
This of course is a stark difference to the concerns Censoriâs friends have shared about their relationship, with some claiming Ye is controlling and manipulating her. [via The Sun]
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WEâLL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY was given the option of staying at Balmoral Castle with KING CHARLES and QUEEN CAMILLA on the anniversary of QUEEN ELIZABETHâs death, but turned it down.Â
Insiders told The Daily Mail that Harry had asked for royal accommodations and security during his recent trip overseas for the WellChild charity bash, but was told none would be available for him.Â
Later, a senior aide reportedly told him that most of the staff would be at Balmoral and he would be more than welcome there. Instead, Harry stayed at a mystery location, where he marked the anniversary of his grandmotherâs passing on his own. [via Daily Mail]
Meanwhile, back in The StatesâŠ
MEGHAN MARKLE has officially withdrawn her attempt to trademark âArchetypesâ after an unsuccessful 17-month battle to have the title protected.
It follows the end of her multi-million dollar deal with Spotify that was nixed this past June. [via Daily Mail]
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MORE LOST TITLES: Britons are no longer naming their babies âHarryâ or âMeghanâ after the drama that seems to follow the Sussexes.Â
According to an analysis by UK-based BabyCentre, both names saw a significant drop in registrations.Â
Taking the top spot is âMuhammadâ for boys and âLilyâ for girls. [via BabyCentre]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Daughter Day
National Family Day
World Dream Day
World Pharmacists Day
National One-Hit Wonder Day
National Psychotherapy Day
National Comic Book Day
National Cooking Day
Better Breakfast Day
Binge Day
National Quesadilla DayÂ
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ON THIS DATE
1639 - The first printing press in America is set up in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony under the guaranty of Harvard College.Â
It printed some of the first books in the New World, including âThe Freemanâs Oath,â a pledge taken by every man over the age of 20 who owned a house and wanted to be a citizen of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.Â
The press would remain in continuous use for 150 years.Â
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1789 - Congress passes 12 amendments to the country's new constitution, which are sent to the state legislatures for ratification. Ten of the surviving 12 amendments are known today as the Bill of Rights.
The first failed amendment dealt with adjusting the number of citizens each US Congressman represented, and provided for a minimum of 200 representatives in the House.
The other amendment would eventually pass -- in 1992. It said that Congressmen could not vote themselves a pay raise until a new Congress was elected.
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1804 - The Lewis and Clark expedition comes upon some hostile Teton Sioux Indians. This is soon after departing from St. Louis.
Chief Black Buffalo demanded some form of gift or tribute before the crew could pass. His warriors also tried to sneak off with some of the Americans' boats.
A tense shouting match and standoff ensued -- but eventually the Chief stood his men down. The Americans enjoyed a couple days of the Indians' hospitality before departing.
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1878 - British physician Charles Drysdale suggests smoking tobacco could have harmful health effects in an article printed in the Times of London.
By his estimation, 15 million British Pounds were spent on tobacco annually and called the habit a "retrograde influence."
Years earlier, Drysdale would write that smoking caused extreme heart palpitations.
The next year, he published a book called âTobacco and the Diseases It Produces.â
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1894 - President Cleveland pardons Mormons who had ever engaged in polygamous relationships.
This came four years after the leader of the Church of Latter-Day Saints adjusted the organization's stance on permitting marriage between more than two people.Â
Afterward, the government poured resources into monitoring Mormons, to catch those still engaging in unlawful marriages.
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1970 - âThe Partridge Familyâ premieres on ABC.
The show was born from the success of âThe Monkees,â a TV program whose fictional band became a very real and very successful one.
The production company hired five child actors without marked singing talent.
The fictional Partridge familyâs first song "I Think I Love You" became a huge hit on the show. It did in the real world too -- but the actors on the show weren't the real singers.Â
David Cassidy, who played Keith Partridge, achieved status as a teen pop idol in his own right.
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2002 - An unidentified object causes a strange explosion in a remote region of Siberia.
American missile defense satellites picked up on the detonation, which scientists concluded was a stray comet nucleus crashing to Earth.
By American measurements, the blast was between 0.2 and 0.5 kilotons -- but some Russians measured it near five kilotons; to put that in perspective, the bomb dropped over Nagasaki in World War II measured about 13 kilotons.
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2015 â Bruce Jenner becomes Caitlyn Jenner.Â
The gold medal decathlon winner officially changes gender from male to female.Â
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2018 - Bill Cosby is sentenced to three to 10 years in jail for sexual assault.Â
He is the first celebrity to be jailed in the #MeToo Era.Â
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2020 - Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes the first woman to lie in state in the US Capitol in Washington DC.Â
She had passed away a week prior after a battle with pancreatic cancer.Â
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BIRTHDAYS
Bella Ramsey - actress, âGame of Thronesâ & âThe Last of Usâ - 20
Joy Sunday - actress, âWednesdayâ - 27
Rosalie - pop singer - 31
Donald Glover - actor, âCommunityâ - 40
T.I. - rapper - 43
Chauncey Billups - basketball player - 47
Catherine Zeta-Jones - actress, âChicagoâ & âWednesdayâ - 54
Will Smith - actor, âThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airâ & âBad Boysâ - 55
Scottie Pippen - basketball player - 58
Mark Hamill - actor, âStar Warsâ films - 72
Michael Douglas - actor, âFatal Attractionâ & âTrafficâ - 79
Born On This Date
Michael McGrath - stage actor, âMemphisâ - 1957 (d. 2023)
Christopher Reeve - actor, âSupermanâ - 1952 (d. 2004)
Barbara Walters - journalist, âThe Viewâ & â20/20â - 1929 (d. 2022)
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