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Lady Gaga offers $500,000 reward after her dog walker is shot and two dogs stolen

Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and two of the singer’s French bulldogs were stolen in Hollywood during an armed robbery on Wednesday night. The dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is expected to make a full recovery. Fischer was walking three of Lady Gaga’s dogs at the time, but one escaped and has been recovered safely.

The pop star “is offering half-a-million dollars to anyone who has her 2 dogs, no questions asked. Anyone who has the dogs can use this email — KojiandGustav@gmail.com — to retrieve the reward.” The dogs’ names are Koji and Gustav. Gaga is currently in Rome filming the movie “Gucci.”

According to Los Angeles police, the victim was walking the dogs when an unknown male shot him about 9:40 p.m. local time in the 1500 block of North Sierra Bonita Avenue.  Authorities are searching for the shooter, who they said used a semiautomatic gun and sped from the scene in a white vehicle. French bulldogs are small and known for their large, bat-like ears. They are the fourth most popular dog breed in the United States.

Lady Gaga’s dog walker shot, two of her French bulldogs stolen

Via rss.cnn.com
 

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House passes legislation protecting LGBTQ rights

On Thursday, the House passed legislation that would extend existing civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. The bill would ensure equal treatment for LGBTQ individuals in areas including employment, education, housing, credit, public accommodations and others.

The House voted 224 to 206 to pass the legislation largely along party lines. All Democrats and three Republicans voted in favor of the bill. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it will require at least 10 Republican votes to avoid a Senate filibuster and move the bill to a vote. As of now, no Senate Republicans have signed on to support the legislation.

The Equality Act passed in the House in 2019, but stalled in the Republican-led Senate when conservative opponents claimed the legislation would infringe on their religious freedom. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a press conference Thursday. “I will use my power as Majority Leader to put it on the floor and let’s see where everybody stands.” President Joe Biden also supports the bill, and listed it as a top priority during his presidential campaign.

House passes sweeping LGBTQ rights bill

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

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Ex-U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach John Geddert dies by suicide after being charged with human trafficking

Former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach John Geddert died by suicide Thursday after being charged with 24 crimes stemming from alleged sexual, physical and emotional abuse against gymnasts in his care. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a statement confirming that authorities found Geddert’s body late Thursday afternoon after the charges against him were announced.

Geddert, 63, was charged with 20 felony counts of human trafficking for allegedly subjecting his athletes to forced labor or services “under extreme conditions that contributed to them suffering injuries and harm.” He was also charged with individual felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and continuing a criminal enterprise.

Geddert also faced one charge of lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigation for false or misleading statements to authorities investigating former Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar who was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for sexually assaulting hundreds of girls. Nassar worked as Geddert’s team physician and in-house medical expert for 20 years and was the sole medical doctor whose advice he would accept.

Ex-Olympics gymnastics coach John Geddert commits suicide after sexual assault charges

Via www.msn.com
 

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Paramount+ confirms ‘Frasier’ revival with Kelsey Grammer

Paramount+ announced this week that Kelsey Grammer is confirmed to return in his trademark role in a new Frasier series coming to the streaming service. Grammer said in a statement: “I gleefully anticipate sharing the next chapter in the continuing journey of Dr. Frasier Crane.” 

Grammer debuted as Frasier Crane on Cheers as a love interest to Diane Chambers (Shelley Long.) The character of Frasier Crane remained on Cheers after Long left the show, and the character got his own spinoff in 1993 after Cheers ended. On Frasier, Crane moved in with his father (John Mahoney) and brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce). Crane became a radio show therapist for 11 seasons.

Mahoney died in 2018 at the age of 77. Paramount+’s statement did not indicate whether Pierce or Frasier costars Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin would be involved in the revival. Grammer will executive produce with writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli.

‘Frasier’ is being rebooted, with Kelsey Grammer reprising the role 17 years after show ended

Via rss.cnn.com
 

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Marvel’s “Loki” gets new Disney + premiere date

 Marvel’s Loki is finally getting a confirmed premiere date on Disney+ after facing delays. Back in December, Marvel revealed that Loki was slated to arrive in May. However, the highly-anticipated series soon faced delays and its May release date was pulled.

Now, a new premiere date for Loki has finally been confirmed, with Marvel Studios revealing that the original series is premiering on June 11. The show follows Loki (played by the Tom Hiddleston), the God of Mischief, as he steps out of his brother Thor‘s shadow. The Disney+ show takes place after the events that transpired in Avengers: Endgame. Along with Hiddleston, the show also stars Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant.

Marvel’s ‘Loki’ Series Gets Disney+ Release Date, ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Also Gets Debut Date!

Via www.justjared.com
 

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Former aide of NY Governor Cuomo details harassment and misconduct claims against him

A former member of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration offered new details Wednesday of sexual harassment claims she made against him, saying he once kissed her on the lips without consent after a private meeting. Lindsey Boylan, an economic advisor in Cuomo’s administration, said that during her more than three years working for him Cuomo “would go out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs,” amongst other accusations.

Boylan wrote in a blog post on the website Medium that the kiss happened after she gave Cuomo a one-on-one briefing on economic and infrastructure projects in his New York City office. Boylan, a Democrat running for Manhattan borough president, confirmed that she had posted the blog and said decided to elaborate because she hoped it would empower other women to come forward. She said the governor created a culture of pervasive sexual harassment, and that two other former Cuomo staffers have privately confided in her that they were also sexually harassed by the governor in the workplace.

The new detailed account of Boylan’s allegations against Cuomo comes amid mounting criticism against the Governor. Boylan had tweeted back in December that Cuomo sexually harassed her, but she didn’t reveal details and declined interview requests. At the time, Cuomo denied that he did anything inappropriate. Cuomo’s spokesperson Caitlin Girouard said Wednesday that all of Boylan’s “claims of inappropriate behavior are quite simply false.”

‘Pervasive harassment’: Former Cuomo adviser says governor ‘kissed me on the lips’

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

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Postmaster General DeJoy calls mail delays ‘unacceptable’ calling for urgent reform

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Wednesday to answer lawmakers’ questions on how to put the USPS on a better financial footing. The service came under scrutiny in the fall after DeJoy ordered certain service cuts.

DeJoy said that recent postal delays were “unacceptable” and suggested officially slowing first-class mail to accommodate the U.S. Postal Service’s difficulties making on-time deliveries. Mail delivery times became unreliable in 2020 amid an increased use due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a greater use of mail-in voting for the presidential election.

DeJoy said to account for those delays and manage costs, the USPS may need to reduce the amount of mail transported by plane, thereby increasing the amount of time it may take for some mail to be delivered.  He told the panel the USPS is losing some $10 billion a year in what he described as a “death spiral.” Part of the blame for the large losses is a change in 2006 requiring the USPS to pre-fund about $120 billion in retiree healthcare benefits.

U.S. Postal Service on ‘death spiral’ without urgent reform: chief

Via news.yahoo.com
 

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David Foster and wife Katharine McPhee welcome a son

American Idol alum Katharine McPhee has given birth to her first child with husband David Foster. A rep for the couple told People, “Katharine McPhee and David Foster have welcomed a healthy baby boy. Mom, Dad and son are all doing wonderfully.”

Just moments before the news broke, Katharine had revealed she was expecting a son during an appearance on the Women on Top podcast.  In addition to his new son, Foster is also dad to Erin Foster, Amy Foster, Sara Foster, Allison Jones Foster and Jordan Foster.

In early October it was revealed that the 36-year-old and the 71-year-old music producer were expecting.  The couple were married in June 2019 at the church of St. Yeghiche in London.

It’s a Boy! Katharine McPhee and Husband David Foster Welcome a Son

Via people.com
 

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Cast of MTV’s The Real World: New York are reuniting for ‘Real World: Homecoming’ on Paramount+

The original seven roommates from MTV’s The Real World: New York are reuniting for The Real World Homecoming: New York, a multi-episode docuseries.  The series will air on streaming service Paramount + (formerly CBS All Access) and will star all seven of the original MTV housemates: Becky Blasband, Norman Korpi, Kevin Powell, Eric Nies, Julie Gentry, Heather B. Gardner, and Andre Comeau.

Created by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray, The Real World debuted nearly 30 years ago on MTV. Billed as “the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a loft and have their lives taped,” The Real World helped launch the modern reality TV genre. The series ran for 25 years on MTV before moving to Facebook Watch in 2019.

Homecoming went into production recently in New York City; and the network was able to secure the same SoHo loft where The Real World: New York was filmed.  The Real World Homecoming” New York premieres Thursday, March 4 on Paramount+.

MTV Is Reuniting The Original Cast Of ‘The Real World: New York’ With New Show

Via hiphopwired.com
 

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Texas energy board members resign after crisis due to winter storm power outages

Four board members of Texas’ power grid operator will resign after last week’s blackouts left millions of people without electricity after a winter storm hit the area. More than 3 million people and businesses were left without power after a major winter cold front swept Texas last week, leaving Texans without power in below-freezing temperatures. Residents struggled to stay warm, and the lack of heating froze pipes, contributing to a water crisis in the state.

The board chairwoman and vice chairman of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”) along with two other board members, issued a joint statement announcing their intention to resign at a meeting Wednesday. Their statement read: “To allow state leaders a free hand with future direction and to eliminate distractions, we are resigning from the board effective after our urgent board teleconference meeting adjourns on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.” The four members said in the letter that they have heard the concerns about “out-of-state” board leadership and want to acknowledge Texans’ “pain and suffering” during the past week. 

Gov. Greg Abbott said he welcomed the resignations, issuing a statement which read: “When Texans were in desperate need of electricity, ERCOT failed to do its job and Texans were left shivering in their homes without power,” Abbott said. “ERCOT leadership made assurances that Texas’ power infrastructure was prepared for the winter storm, but those assurances proved to be devastatingly false.”

4 ERCOT board members to resign amid backlash over Texas storm

Via www.cbsnews.com
 

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