Singer, songwriter, provocateur and politician Kinky Friedman dies at age 79
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Kinky Friedman, the singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist who also ran for governor and was involved in Texas politics, has died. Friedman, 79, died Thursday at his family’s ranch near San Antonio, Texas, his close friend Kent Perkins told The Associated Press. Perkins said Friedman had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for several years. Friedman led an alt-country band, the Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan and sang with Willie Nelson, building a devoted following that spanned musical and literary genres.
Joey Chestnut heads to an event at an Army base in Texas after losing at a 4th of July hot dog contest in New York
NEW YORK (AP) — Competitive eater Joey “Joes” Chestnut will take his hot dog-eating skills to an Army base in Texas this Fourth of July after a falling out with organizers of the famous Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in New York. The Indiana native will instead compete against soldiers in El Paso. At Fort Bliss in El Paso, he will try to eat more in five minutes than four soldiers combined. He says if the soldiers each eat 10 hot dogs and buns, they have a chance to beat him. He also says he won’t return to the New York City competition unless he receives an apology from the event’s organizers.
Marilyn Monroe’s former Los Angeles home designated a historic landmark to save it from demolition
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marilyn Monroe fans have won a battle to preserve her mark in Los Angeles, moving one step closer to seeing a towering statue of the silver-screen icon remain in Palm Springs. The Los Angeles home where Monroe briefly lived and died in 1962 was designated a historic-cultural site on Wednesday, while a decision by Palm Springs’ city planning commission raises the possibility that a 26-foot-tall statue called “Forever Marilyn” will remain there. The historic designation comes after a lengthy battle for the home. The current owners live next door and wanted to demolish it. Their lawyers argue that renovations by 14 previous owners have left nothing reflecting Monroe’s time there.
Music Review: Johnny Cash’s ‘Songwriter’ is a journey through unreleased songs from 1993
NEW YORK (AP) — In 1993, Johnny Cash was between record deals and embarking on an iconic collaboration with producer Rick Rubin that would begin with 1994’s “American Recordings” and span the final decade of his life. During this critical period in his career, Cash threw himself into writing and recording original demos that showcased his songwriting prowess. Those songs were shelved and will be released Friday as a complete album. In his review, John Carlucci of The Associated Press wrote that the collection allows listeners to evaluate Cash as a performer, composer and lyricist, highlighting a unique intersection in his artistic journey.
Walgreens is taking a hard look at underperforming stores and may close hundreds more
Walgreens is putting together a turnaround plan that could lead to the closure of hundreds of additional stores over the next three years. CEO Tim Wentworth told analysts Thursday morning that “changes are imminent” for about 25 percent of the company’s underperforming stores. The drugstore chain currently operates more than 8,600 stores in the U.S. Wentworth said the company’s plan could include closing a “significant portion” of those 2,100 stores. Walgreens shares fell after quarterly earnings fell short of expectations and the company lowered its full-year profit forecast.
U.S. sanctions Boeing for leaking information about 737 MAX 9 investigation
Boeing has been sanctioned by U.S. investigators for leaking information about a 737 Max 9 door plug investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday that Boeing “blatantly violated” the board’s investigation rules and a signed agreement by providing nonpublic investigation information to the media and speculating about what caused a door plug to explode on a Boeing passenger jet in Portland, Oregon, on January 5. In the accident, a panel blocking the space left for an extra emergency door blew off an Alaska Airlines Max 9. The pilot was able to land safely and no one was injured.
Prolific, wise character actor Bill Cobbs dies at age 90
NEW YORK (AP) — Veteran character actor Bill Cobbs has died. He was 90. Cobbs became a ubiquitous, wisecracking presence on the big screen in older years, appearing in films like “The Hudsucker Proxy” and “The Bodyguard.” A spokesman for Cobbs said he died Tuesday at his home in California’s Inland Empire, surrounded by family and friends. A Cleveland native, Cobbs was an actor throughout his career, appearing in about 200 films and TV shows, most of them in his 50s, 60s and 70s, and filmmakers and TV producers often turned to him to breathe wizened, jaded souls into their characters.
Bronny James wasn’t selected in the first round, so the second round awaits.
NEW YORK (AP) — Draft night appears to have arrived for Bronny James. The son of all-time scoring leader LeBron James wasn’t selected in the first round of the NBA Draft in New York on Wednesday and will now see if he’s picked in the second round when it resumes Thursday afternoon. The pick that might make the most sense for Bronny James is No. 55 overall, a position that happens to be held by the Los Angeles Lakers, the team LeBron James has played for since 2018 when he is widely expected to become a free agent next week.
Viva France! Hawks select Zachary Lisacher as first pick in NBA draft, making him French for second consecutive year
NEW YORK (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks selected Zachary Lisacher with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday night, the second consecutive year that a player from France has been selected at the top of the draft. Lisacher doesn’t have the stature or buzz of Victor Wembanyama, the towering center who won Rookie of the Year last year with San Antonio. But the Hawks considered Lisacher their best choice in a draft that has long been seen as devoid of elite talent. It’s the first time in consecutive years that a player who played at an American college level has not been selected at the top of the draft.
Giant panda pair heads from China to San Diego Zoo under conservation partnership
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A pair of giant pandas are en route from China to the United States, where they will be cared for at the San Diego Zoo as part of ongoing conservation cooperation between the two countries. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance staff traveled to China on Wednesday for a farewell ceremony to mark the departure of giant pandas Yunchuan and Xinbao. The celebration included cultural performances, video greetings from Chinese and U.S. students and a gift exchange between conservation partners, according to a statement from the zoo. After the ceremony, the giant pandas began their journey to Southern California.
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