Jul 13, 2023 By Ap 6 min read

Hollywood actors join screenwriters in historic industry-stopping strike as contract talks collapse

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actors will join screenwriters in a combined strike that will have huge consequences for Hollywood. Leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents the actors, voted Thursday to strike after contract talks collapsed with the studios and streaming services that hire them. It’s the first time actors from film and television shows have gone on strike since 1980. And the first time both actors and writers have been on strike since 1960. Industry leaders expressed disappointment in a walkout they said comes at the worst possible time. The group representing studios and streaming services said early Thursday that the actors’ decision to end negotiations was their choice and will hurt thousands financially.

Lisa Marie Presley died from small bowel obstruction caused by bariatric surgery, coroner says

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say Lisa Marie Presley died from complications from bariatric surgery she had several years ago. The details were revealed in an autopsy report released by coroner’s officials on Thursday. Presley’s death was ruled as being from natural causes. The singer, songwriter and heir of Elvis Presley died at a Los Angeles hospital at age 54 on Jan. 12. Paramedics had responded to a 911 call of a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. Presley was buried at Graceland, the home where she lived with her father as a child that has become a museum, tourist attraction and shrine for Elvis fans.

Andrew Tate sues his accusers in human trafficking case

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Controversial social media personality Andrew Tate is suing a Florida woman, saying she lied when she accused him of human trafficking. The widely followed former kickboxer and his brother are suing the woman in Palm Beach County where she lives. They say she made false statements to Romanian officials, leading to their arrest in that country. They say she made the accusations after an attempt to defraud them failed. Romanian officials arrested the Tates in December, charging them with human trafficking and rape. Investigators say they forced seven women into pornography. They have denied the charges. They are seeking $5 million in the lawsuit.

Soda sweetener aspartame now listed as possible cancer cause. But it’s still considered safe

The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has deemed the artificial sweetener aspartame a “possible” cause of cancer, while a separate group looking at the same evidence said it still considers the sugar substitute safe. The differing results of the coordinated reviews were released early Friday by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and and a separate group of experts. Scientists said that as long as people don’t exceed recommended levels, they shouldn’t worry about any potential cancer risk from aspartame, which is widely used in diet sodas and foods. Aspartame joins a list of more than 300 other possible cancer-causing agents.

FTC investigating ChatGPT creator OpenAI over consumer protection issues

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into ChatGPT creator OpenAI and whether the artificial intelligence company violated consumer protection laws by scraping public data and publishing false information through its chatbot. The agency sent OpenAI a 20-page letter requesting detailed information on its AI technology, products, customers, privacy safeguards and data security arrangements. An FTC spokesperson had no comment on the investigation, which was first reported by the Washington Post, which posted the letter online.

Northwestern fires baseball coach Jim Foster amid misconduct allegations

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern baseball coach Jim Foster has been fired amid allegations of misconduct, three days after football coach Pat Fitzgerald was dismissed because of a hazing scandal. Foster spent just one season as the Wildcats’ coach. The move was announced in a brief statement from athletic director Derrick Gragg. The Chicago Tribune and WSCR-AM reported this week that Foster led a toxic culture that prompted several assistant coaches to quit, and that his bullying and verbally abusive behavior prompted a human resources investigation by the university. Northwestern went 10-40 under Foster. Assistant Brian Anderson will take over as interim coach.

Usher’s ex-wife wants to drain Georgia’s largest lake, where a boater fatally struck her son

ATLANTA (AP) — The ex-wife of R&B singer Usher wants to drain Georgia’s largest lake. Fashion designer Tameka Foster’s son was fatally injured on Lake Lanier a decade ago. She’s collected more than 2,500 signatures for her online petition calling on officials to “drain, clean, and restore” the lake, so that safety improvements can be made and hazardous debris can be removed. Lake Lanier, northeast of Atlanta, covers nearly 60 square miles. It attracts millions of visitors each year and provides drinking water to 5 million people. Its dam generates hydroelectric power for metro Atlanta. Foster’s 11-year-old son, Kile Glover, died there after being struck by a personal watercraft.

Justice Kavanaugh seeks to dispel the notion that the Supreme Court is partisan

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — Justice Brett Kavanaugh points to the mixed decisions that emerged from the U.S. Supreme Court this term as he seeks to dispel notions of a partisan high court, He told a judicial conference in Minnesota on Thursday that the high court is “an institution of law, not of politics, not of partisanship.” They were the first public remarks by a justice since the court recessed for the summer. Kavanaugh noted that the Supreme Court handled a number of politically charged issues this term. But he says he thinks the justices have lived up to the ideal of deciding cases based on law, not partisanship.

Thousands of Ukraine civilians are being held in Russian prisons. Russia plans to build many more

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are being detained across Russia and the Ukrainian territories it occupies, in centers ranging from brand-new wings in Russian prisons to clammy basements. Most have no status under Russian law. An Associated Press investigation also found that Russia is making plans to hold potentially thousands more. A Russian government document obtained by the AP dating to January outlined plans to create 25 new prison colonies and six other detention centers in occupied Ukraine by 2026. In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in May that would make it easier for Russia to deport Ukrainians who resist Russian occupation deep into Russia indefinitely, which has already happened in multiple cases documented by the AP.

First over-the-counter birth control pill gets FDA approval

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, a major change that will broaden access for women and teenagers. The Food and Drug Administration decision on Thursday means drugmaker Perrigo can sell its once-a-day Opill without a prescription. Previously all birth control pills required a doctor’s note. Perrigo won’t start selling the pill until early next year. Hormone-based pills have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S. Medical societies and women’s health groups have pushed for wider access. They note that young women and those from low-income and minority backgrounds face extra hurdles getting a prescription.