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AMERICANALMANAC (Ken Jacobs) - Newsom-appointed judge released illegal immigrant one day before he allegedly stabbed California retiree to death Fri Aug 14 16:59:51 2026

A 36-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant already facing burglary charges walked out of a California courtroom on his own recognizance, and one day later, prosecutors say, he fatally stabbed a 68-year-old retiree outside the man's home. Marcos Iriarte-Valdez now faces a murder charge with special circumstances in the killing of Todd Stewart, a retiree in Martinez, […] The post Newsom-appointed judge released illegal immigrant one day before he allegedly stabbed California retiree to death appeared first on American Almanac .

A 36-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant already facing burglary charges walked out of a California courtroom on his own recognizance, and one day later, prosecutors say, he fatally stabbed a 68-year-old retiree outside the man's home. Marcos Iriarte-Valdez now faces a murder charge with special circumstances in the killing of Todd Stewart, a retiree in Martinez, a quiet suburb east of San Francisco in Contra Costa County. Contra Costa County District Attorney Diane Becton, a Democrat, filed a felony complaint alleging Iriarte-Valdez committed the killing during a burglary attempt, a special circumstance under California law that could mean life in prison without parole if he is convicted. The complaint also includes enhancement…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Jack Newsome) - NTSB finds bird strike evidence after Ryanair passenger was nearly pulled through shattered window Fri Aug 14 16:59:50 2026

A broken fan blade sent engine debris ripping through the fuselage of a Ryanair Boeing 737, shattering a passenger window and partially ejecting a 61-year-old man, and investigators now say a bird strike may have triggered the catastrophic failure. The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on the July 10 incident aboard Ryanair […] The post NTSB finds bird strike evidence after Ryanair passenger was nearly pulled through shattered window appeared first on American Almanac .

A broken fan blade sent engine debris ripping through the fuselage of a Ryanair Boeing 737, shattering a passenger window and partially ejecting a 61-year-old man, and investigators now say a bird strike may have triggered the catastrophic failure. The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on the July 10 incident aboard Ryanair Flight 1879, detailing how fragments from the plane's No. 2 engine sliced into the fuselage at multiple points, destroyed a window in row 11, and caused rapid cabin depressurization minutes after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece. The flight, bound for Memmingen, Germany, carried 149 passengers and six crew members. Only one person, the Serbian man seated in 11F, was injured, and his…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Alan Benson) - CCP intelligence official's foundation buys building 650 feet from the White House Fri Aug 14 16:59:46 2026

A man identified by investigators as a senior Chinese Communist Party intelligence official just spent $8.4 million on a century-old building steps from the White House, and national security experts say the purchase demands an immediate federal response. Philip Qiu, also known by his Chinese name Qiu Feili, purchased the Securities Building on 15th Street […] The post CCP intelligence official's foundation buys building 650 feet from the White House appeared first on American Almanac .

A man identified by investigators as a senior Chinese Communist Party intelligence official just spent $8.4 million on a century-old building steps from the White House, and national security experts say the purchase demands an immediate federal response. Philip Qiu, also known by his Chinese name Qiu Feili, purchased the Securities Building on 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., on July 21 through the Philip Qiu and Family Foundation. The building sits roughly 650 feet northeast of the White House grounds. A Daily Caller News Foundation investigation published on August 13 identified Qiu as a former detective in the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, China's equivalent of the FBI, and a current officeholder in at least three arms of the…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Charles McAdams) - Woman faces two felony charges for defacing World War II Memorial with graffiti and soap Fri Aug 14 16:59:46 2026

Federal prosecutors charged Melissa L. Farris with two felonies after she allegedly spray-painted a message on the World War II Memorial and poured bubble soap into its fountain, the latest in a string of attacks on Washington's most revered monuments. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges Friday, moving swiftly after the vandalism was […] The post Woman faces two felony charges for defacing World War II Memorial with graffiti and soap appeared first on American Almanac .

Federal prosecutors charged Melissa L. Farris with two felonies after she allegedly spray-painted a message on the World War II Memorial and poured bubble soap into its fountain, the latest in a string of attacks on Washington's most revered monuments. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges Friday, moving swiftly after the vandalism was discovered Thursday afternoon at the memorial on the eastern end of the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool. Farris was in federal custody by Friday morning, the New York Post reported , facing two counts that each carry up to ten years in prison: depredation against property of the United States, and destruction of veterans' memorials. The memorial, a granite tribute to the more than 400,000…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Nicole Kidman speaks on post-divorce life, says she's 'embracing love' amid new romance speculation Fri Aug 14 16:59:45 2026

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman told British Vogue she is "embracing love" and moving forward after finalizing her divorce from Keith Urban in January, even as she has yet to confirm rumors linking her to a private equity investor. Kidman, 59, sat for an interview published Thursday in British Vogue in which she reflected on the […] The post Nicole Kidman speaks on post-divorce life, says she's 'embracing love' amid new romance speculation appeared first on American Almanac .

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman told British Vogue she is "embracing love" and moving forward after finalizing her divorce from Keith Urban in January, even as she has yet to confirm rumors linking her to a private equity investor. Kidman, 59, sat for an interview published Thursday in British Vogue in which she reflected on the end of her nearly two-decade marriage, the fear and vulnerability that followed, and a deliberate choice to remain open to whatever comes next. The interview arrives weeks after she was spotted with Michael Reinstein, a private equity investor, during a getaway in Italy, a sighting that set off a fresh round of dating speculation the actress has so far declined to address. The actress and Urban, 58, separated…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Alex Tanzer) - Jamie Lee Curtis called her 'New Girl' stint 'awful' — then walked it back on Instagram Fri Aug 14 16:59:45 2026

Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis sparked backlash after describing her guest role on the hit Fox sitcom "New Girl" as "awful" and "not fun" during a panel promoting her new NBC comedy, then posted a lengthy Instagram clarification dismissing the uproar as overblown. Curtis, 67, made the remarks on August 10 at an NBCUniversal panel […] The post Jamie Lee Curtis called her 'New Girl' stint 'awful' — then walked it back on Instagram appeared first on American Almanac .

Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis sparked backlash after describing her guest role on the hit Fox sitcom "New Girl" as "awful" and "not fun" during a panel promoting her new NBC comedy, then posted a lengthy Instagram clarification dismissing the uproar as overblown. Curtis, 67, made the remarks on August 10 at an NBCUniversal panel while promoting "Newlyweds," a new multi-camera sitcom she co-created with Gail Lerner. The show, which stars real-life couple Téa Leoni and Tim Daly, is set to premiere October 23 on NBC. Curtis serves as executive producer and has a recurring role. But it was her off-the-cuff comparison between multi-camera and single-camera comedy formats that drew attention, and not the kind a press tour is designed…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Ken Jacobs) - Margot Robbie made $50 million from 'Barbie' — and Warner Bros. still can't close a sequel deal Fri Aug 14 16:59:44 2026

Three years and more than six rejected offers after "Barbie" earned $1.4 billion worldwide, Warner Bros. Discovery and the film's core creative team remain locked in a contract standoff that could send the franchise to a rival studio. Margot Robbie pulled in a reported $50 million for starring in and producing the 2023 blockbuster, Page […] The post Margot Robbie made $50 million from 'Barbie' — and Warner Bros. still can't close a sequel deal appeared first on American Almanac .

Three years and more than six rejected offers after "Barbie" earned $1.4 billion worldwide, Warner Bros. Discovery and the film's core creative team remain locked in a contract standoff that could send the franchise to a rival studio. Margot Robbie pulled in a reported $50 million for starring in and producing the 2023 blockbuster, Page Six reported , citing a Variety investigation into the stalled sequel negotiations. Director Greta Gerwig, 43, made "tens of millions" herself. Co-star Ryan Gosling, 45, whose Oscar-nominated turn as Ken helped define the film's cultural moment, is now asking $20 million to come back. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has refused to approve those numbers. The studio says it has made repeated attempts…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Bob Iger and Josh Kushner buy the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion — but questions follow the deal Fri Aug 14 16:59:43 2026

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner have purchased the Los Angeles Lakers at a record-shattering $12.5 billion valuation, a deal that closed faster than most people buy a car. The pair unveiled the acquisition Wednesday morning after what Iger described as a 72-hour negotiation sprint. They bought the majority stake from […] The post Bob Iger and Josh Kushner buy the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion — but questions follow the deal appeared first on American Almanac .

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner have purchased the Los Angeles Lakers at a record-shattering $12.5 billion valuation, a deal that closed faster than most people buy a car. The pair unveiled the acquisition Wednesday morning after what Iger described as a 72-hour negotiation sprint. They bought the majority stake from Mark Walter, a billionaire whose corporate empire is currently the subject of a federal investigation, and who held the team for barely more than a year before flipping it at a $2.5 billion markup. The deal still requires approval from the NBA's Board of Governors, a process Breitbart noted could take several weeks. That timeline alone should raise eyebrows. Walter took control of the Lakers from…Open

NEWSNATIONNOW (Jeff Arnold) - What is the open plea Luigi Mangione entered in court? Fri Aug 14 16:57:49 2026

By entering the plea, Mangione avoids state charges or sentencing in New York under double jeopardy protections.

DAILYCALLER (Andrew Powell) - Rising Golf Star Jessica Bang Dead At 18 After Brain Hemorrhage While Playing In Thailand Tournament Fri Aug 14 16:50:30 2026

Jessica Bang collapsed and was transported to a hospital where she received emergency brain surgery